Digital SLR Camera Comparisons

Are you ready to get started on some digital SLR camera comparisons? Before we do that, make sure you know the type of photos you want to take and that you understand some digital SLR jargon. Why? Because this knowledge will make your digital SLR camera comparisons 100 times easier. Here's a pop quiz to help you out: Are you an action or portrait photographer? What do ISO and crop factor mean?

Compare SLR Cameras Introduction By Megapixels By Cost (Inexpensive) By Ratings (Top Rated) By Size (Smallest) By Speed (Fastest) By Special Features By Type

If you can't answer question one, go to Step 1 - Find Your Best Digital SLR.

If it's question two that has you stumped, jump to Step 2 - What is a Digital SLR?.

If you know the answer to both questions then keep reading to discover the easiest way to make your digital SLR camera comparisons.

The Digital SLR Matching Game

Let's play a matching game.

It's fun, and the goal is to save you time. If this works, you won't have to compare every digital SLR camera on the market, just a few.

Let's begin with your favorite photographic style that you selected in step one:

• Action and Sports
• Portrait
• Landscape
• Macro
• Night/Low Light
• Travel/Outdoor
• Indoor
• Spontaneous
• Planned/Studio

Do you remember the one you identified with? Did you write it down?

If not, go back to Step 1 right now and decide which one best describes your photography style. Don't worry, I'll wait.

Got your photographic style? Good.

In the following table, the photographic styles are on the left, and the most important camera features to look for are on the right.

Find your style, and you'll see just what features you need in your digital SLR camera.

This process should make your digital SLR camera comparisons significantly easier.

Action and Sports	High continuous speed Large buffer Fast multi-point autofocus
Portrait	Image stabilization Live view LCD Color control (especially flesh tones)
Landscape	Image stabilization Extended dynamic range Dust control Color control (especially earth tones)
Macro	Image stabilization Live view LCD Compatible with macro lenses
Night/Low Light	Image stabilization Low noise at high ISO settings Image noise reduction for slow shutter speeds Remote shutter release
Travel/Outdoor	Image stabilization Small size and low weight Extended dynamic range
Indoor	Image stabilization Low noise at high ISO settings Lots of external flash options
Spontaneous	Fast multi-point autofocus
Planned/Studio	Live view LCD Compatible with lighting accessories

Any digital SLR camera is compatible with more than one photography style.

The point is to find a camera that matches your primary photographic need first, and then see how well it works for other styles of photography.

Example: if you enjoy action and sports photography, get the best digital SLR for action.

This camera will also take photos of stationary objects, but if you purchase a slower camera you might be disappointed with your action and sports shots.

Focus on the camera features that satisfy your primary photographic need, then use that camera for other styles of photography.

Start Your Digital SLR Camera Comparisons

Now you can really begin your digital SLR camera comparisons.

You're not only informed about your photographic style, you also know exactly what features to look for.

There are three ways that you can tackle this step:

1 - Compare By Features

If you go this route, you need to select the one camera feature that's most important to you.

Maybe it's the speed of the camera, or how much it costs.

Whatever the defining feature may be, there is probably a digital SLR out there that will match your needs.

• Megapixels - if you're positive you want to print at large sizes, then you need a camera with a lot of megapixels.
• Cost - don't have Donald Trump's income? You might be looking for an inexpensive digital SLR.
• Ratings - find out what others think and which digital SLR gets the highest ratings by users.
• Size - when you don't want to lug around a brick all day, a small-sized digital SLR is ideal.
• Speed - capturing motion is not easy for every camera, so you'll need one that can keep up.

2 - Find the Best

This approach to digital SLR camera comparisons is for those who only want the best.

Let me say this first: the best is relative.

The cameras that I present in this section are my choices as the best digital SLRs in each category. No panel of judges was involved.

I justify my "best of" camera choices in detail, so you can see how I reached my conclusions.

If this approach is helpful to you, then find out what's the best digital SLR camera.

3 - Read a Guide

This technique is for those who like details.

Rather than finding out what I think are the best cameras, or deciding ahead of time which feature is most important, you'd like to find out the specifics of each digital SLR camera.

That's what the in-depth digital SLR camera guides on this site are all about.

They'll walk you through all of the camera features, and identify the pros and cons of each one. You'll get to see plenty of photo samples taken by the camera along the way.

Once you're finished with a digital SLR camera guide, you'll have a much better sense of whether or not the camera is the best digital SLR for you.

Good Luck

It's my sincere hope that you can now complete your digital SLR camera comparisons with ease.

Comparing digital camera features can be a slow and painstaking process. With any luck you've just eliminated half of the models to consider.

And just think - once you get done with your digital SLR camera comparisons, you can go ahead and buy it.

If you're used to film SLR or digital compact cameras, a digital SLR will be a whole new world of fun for you.