The best digital SLR cameras match up well with the top film SLR cameras and are designed and priced for professional photographers, though prices have been dropping. You won't be carrying your digital SLR cameras in your pocket...they are much bigger and heavier than the ordinary digital cameras.
The digital SLR uses a roof pentaprism above the optical path through the lens to the film plane. A movable mirror reflects light upwards into the pentaprism where it is reflected several times aligning it with the viewfinder. Releasing the shutter causes the mirror to move out of the light path and the light shines directly onto the CCD or CMOS imaging sensor capturing the image.
Higher end digital SLR cameras let you mount different lenses, so if you are moving from a film camera, check to see if your current lenses are compatible with any digital SLR cameras. You may save yourself a bundle by not having to replace them.
Designed for the professional photographer, the digital SLR cameras can come with a hefty price tag. A
Nikon D40 DSLR 6.1 megapixel camera
runs normally about $650 (but this week it's on sale for $499), while the
21-megapixel Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
costs about $8,000 and this doesn't include the lens.
If you are serious about your photography and you don't mind spending a little cash, the digital SLR cameras will bring you professional quality along with ease of use. If you don't feel like investing that much, then there are many 35mm or regular digital cameras that can provide good quality photos at a much lower price.
See you next time.
