| For most people, making the decision to invest in | | | | and disadvantages, however the distinctions are |
| a digital SLR camera is not something that can be | | | | minimal and shouldn't make any noticeable |
| taken lightly. The cost of a DSLR can be a lot | | | | difference to the average photographer. |
| more than a simple point-and-shoot camera, | | | | Image stabilization is built into the body of the |
| especially if you intend to purchase additional | | | | Sony camera, allowing you take sharper photos |
| lenses and other accessories. However, if you | | | | even if you're hands are a little shaky. The Canon |
| love taking photos and would like to extend your | | | | and the Nikon both also offer image stabilization |
| skills, buying a good entry-level digital SLR camera | | | | but it is built into their lenses instead. This may |
| will surely be worth every cent that you spend as | | | | mean that you have to spend a bit more when |
| you'll be able to experiment with more advanced | | | | you buy your camera's lenses if you want to |
| techniques and produce beautiful photos that you | | | | have this feature included. |
| can keep forever. | | | | In order to achieve consistent exposure when |
| This digital SLR comparison between three of the | | | | taking photos, it's important to have a good range |
| current most popular entry-level cameras should | | | | of ISO sensitivity. In a digital SLR camera, this is |
| help you to decide which camera is best for you. | | | | the equivalent of measuring the film speed. The |
| The three DSLRs I'll be comparing are: | | | | Canon and the Nikon cameras both have an ISO |
| -Canon EOS 1000D | | | | sensitivity of 100-1600, whereas the Sony has a |
| -Nikon D60 | | | | much better range at 100-3200. This may mean |
| -Sony DSLR-A200 | | | | that its better at capturing photos in low lighting |
| These are all great entry-level cameras in my | | | | conditions. |
| opinion, but they all have different pros and cons. | | | | The monitor size on the Sony digital SLR camera |
| The cheapest of the three is the Sony | | | | is the largest at 2.7" compared to 2.5" on the |
| DSLR-A200 which can be found for as cheap as | | | | Canon and the Nikon cameras. However the Sony |
| $400. The Canon EOS 1000D and the Nikon D60 | | | | and the Nikon do not have a 'Live View' function. |
| are both currently about $500, though prices can | | | | Only the Canon has this feature so you don't |
| vary depending on where you look and whether | | | | have to look through the view finder to take |
| you buy them as part of a package or not. | | | | your photos, you can preview everything on its |
| The Sony is the heaviest, weighing 532g, the | | | | LCD screen. |
| Nikon is the second heaviest at 495g and the | | | | My personal advice is not to get too hung up on |
| Canon weighs just 450g. Neither is necessarily | | | | all the details between each model when making a |
| better; it really comes down to your personal | | | | digital SLR comparison. The most important |
| preference, so if you can you should try to hold | | | | consideration should be finding a digital SLR |
| the cameras in a shop to see if you prefer a | | | | camera that you're comfortable with using. You |
| heavier or lighter weight body. | | | | should also bear in mind that the body of the |
| The Sony and the Nikon both use CCD type | | | | camera is not as important as the lenses. It's |
| sensors and have a 10.2 megapixel effective | | | | easy to get bogged down picking through all the |
| resolution. The Canon uses a CMOS type sensor | | | | different features that the various brands and |
| and has a 10.1 megapixel effective resolution. | | | | models offer, but the sooner you pick up a DSLR, |
| There is some debate over which type of sensor | | | | the sooner you'll be on your way to producing |
| is superior and both have their own advantages | | | | high quality photographs! |