So, you’ve decided to make the jump from simple point and shoot cameras into the realm of SLR photography. If you’ve done any sort of research, your mind and eyeballs are probably reeling from an overload of information. Digital SLR photography, is one those hobbies that is rich with technological jargon. It gets worse, if your one of the perfectionist type that really likes to minutely analyze any major purchase . . . intent on getting the best digital SLR camera for your money. You could be in for a long bumpy ride. Today it’s time to shorten that ride and smooth out the bumps.

Lets get right to it. It’s very true, that the immense popularity of digital cameras (SLR and otherwise) and rapid technical advances have produced a glut of choices and features that can be bewildering to the average consumer. Those same trends have have also pushed manufactures and retail establishments to be highly competitive in both design and pricing. That’s something that can only benefit the consumer. In a couple of ways actually. Not only do you have a bevy of choices, but the vast majority of those SLR choices are really good cameras. Long story short . . . it’s hard to go wrong in this category. I’ll make it even simpler for you. Pick any one of the following three digital SLR cameras, and you won’t be disappointed. They are the Canon Digital Rebel XTi, the Nikon D40, and the Olympus Evolt E510. As of this writing, the 10 megapixels flavors for these cameras are all available for about $600. That includes a basic kit lens. That feels like highway robbery, compared to the $1000 I paid for a good point and shoot digital just a few years back.

When looking for the best digital SLR camera you can find, the important word to remember is “YOU”. Ask a dozen camera enthusiasts why they their favourite camera is their favourite, and you likely get a dozen answers. Every photographer takes pictures for different reasons, values different attributes in the finished pictures, and handles a camera differently. And so will you. A good hands-on exercise before making your final selection, would be to go to a speciality camera store with lots of models on hand, during a non busy time. Try out as many models as you can, taking pictures of people, things, shadows, and any odd lighting areas of the store you can. Try different lenses to. Have lots of questions for the sales people, but take their answers with a grain of salt. They are sales people after all. The actual experience of handling and using the camera should be your final factor in making your decision. Not specifications like burst mode, megapixels, ISO, or sensor size. The best digital camera, is the one that enables YOU to take the best pictures you can.

By: Chris Campbell

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Still feel a need to look some more? That’s fine. Like I said there are a crazy number of choices when it comes to digital SLRs. It never hurts to take a peek into what Canon, Nikon, Olympus and others are offering as the latest and greatest SLR cameras. Just remember, the more time you spend looking for a camera, the less time you spend taking pictures.

All the photography purists that cringed, squawked, and moaned, when digital photography hit the scene, but now own and use digital cameras, should all take a seat in the back of the room. The same goes for the new round of purists, that are whining about how live view has no business in the hoity toity world of high end digital SLR, and should be sent back to the basement with point and shoot crowd.

Live view is here to stay, and has been for over a year now. I think it was Canon that first brought it out in their Digital Rebel XSi, and Nikon quickly followed suit. For those who are a unaware of what live view is, it means being able to frame your picture with the LCD screen. Something that has been common place in the lower priced point and shoot digitals forever. It used to be, with SLRs you could only do that through the viewfinder.

To further solidify the argument for live view, one needs to look no further than arguably the two best SLR cameras offered by Nikon. Specifically the D300, and the D700. While there is a big difference in price between these two suckers, there’s good reason for it. Obviously live view isn’t the reason, but lets have a look.

The D300 is meant for prosumer to semi pro digital photographer. That’s just one step below the world of professional photographers. One of it’s biggest claims to fame has to be it’s speed. This camera is simply the fastest machine you’ll find the in prosumer price range. How does snapping six photographs per second sound to you. Well, if that’s not impressive, how about 100 pictures in a row. Now even I could find one good picture out of that bunch. Wiggly kids or not.

If your looking at the D700, and you don’t know what full frame stands for, then put that wallet away boy, and do some more research. If you do decide to get this one, you can be rest assured it’s the last camera you’ll ever buy. For $3000 I would hope you wouldn’t be missing much. Of course, that won’t stop you from buying a trunk full of lenses and accessories to play with.

By: Chris Campbell

About the Author:
Getting the perfect camera, is never an easy thing, especially with the way digital technology is constantly changing. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful websites online, that can narrow down your search and help you find the camera with all the features important to you.