Choosing a Digital SLR Camera

If you have thought about taking your photography up a notch, you should think about acquiring a digital single lens reflex camera (SLR). This is what professional photographers all use. An SLR allows you to view your image through the lens itself, so your eye sees almost exactly what the camera will see when it snaps the picture.

An SLR also allows you the freedom to use different lenses, like wide angles, telephotos, and macro lenses for extreme closeups of small objects. The lenses just twist off the camera and the new one just twists right on. Also SLR's allow you to shoot RAW images (and JPEG's also) that really can make a difference in your picture quality (see my blog on 11/7/05).

Normally, SLR cameras are quite a bit more expensive than the standard point-and-shoot cameras, because of their engineering and complexity. But that difference has diminished enormously lately. For instance, the new 8 megapixel Olympus E-500 is available at Costco for $699 after a $100 rebate. That includes not only the camera, but two lenses, a wide-angle-to-normal zoom lens and a zoom telephoto lens. And let me tell you, this camera is just outstanding. The pictures it takes will knock you socks off!!

Pentax also has one of their new digital SLR's on sale at Costco for $549. And, they also carry a Nikon D50 SLR with 2 lenses for $899. I don't know much about the Pentax, but I know the Nikon has also received great reviews.

By the way, I'm not trying to be a shill here for Costco, but I can't say enough good things about them. If I could buy everything in my life through them, I would. Besides the low prices, their service is fantastic. When my first digital camera developed sensor problems after 3 months, they gave me a new camera. I don't know any other company that would swap out a camera after three months.

Anyway, if you are thinking about buying a digital SLR, here is a link to an article in this month's PC Photo magazine on that very subject. It's a good in-depth article that should provide you some good guidance. By the way, PC Photo also has a good article on the top ten shooting tips for digital cameras that is also quite good.

Here are a few other articles that might help you select the right camera:

1. Digital Camera Headquarters
2. CNET - Guide to Buying a D-SLR
3. BetterPhotos.com - Best Digital Cameras
4. Digital Camera Reviews (the most in-depth analysis of cameras on the planet today)