Purchasing Your First Digital SLR Camera

By Mike Major

A little background on the technology digital SLR cameras use is in order.Unlike film cameras that use a mechanical/chemical process to capture an image, digital SLR cameras use an electronic process combined with an image sensor. Image sensors come in two basic flavors, CCD [charged coupled device] and CMOS [complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor]. Both were designed in mid 1960 to early 1970. The CCD image sensor at that point in time was the benchmark for image sensors used in digital cameras. The CMOS image sensor lagged behind because of its inability to offer the resolution needed for the high end cameras of that time. This is not the case now. CMOS image sensors have come of age and now you find quality digital SLR cameras using both, and the technology driving them is ever growing and evolving.

Another very worthwhile option that should make most anyone want to jump into the digital SLR camera gene pool is the ease for a complete novice, with no prior photographic experience, to take first rate pictures. All digital SLR cameras have an automatic mode that controls the aperture setting, [f-stop] and the shutter speed. In essence, this function turns them into a high end point and shoot camera.. Every digital SLR camera has a number of presets built in for photographing in different situations such as landscape, portrait, hi-key, lo-key, fireworks, documents, macro and the list goes on and on. But being a true digital SLR camera, they can be used in fully manual mode and many combinations of auto/manual mode. I would have to say that anyone with a background in film SLR cameras would have an advantage over the novice, but the digital SLR camera is a great learning tool in that one does not have to worry as much over their mistakes. You can simply delete them. This is not the case with film cameras. One could spend a fortune learning to become proficient on a film camera. I sure did!!! The digital SLR cameras technology has even went so far as to allow us to edit the photos we take while they are in the camera.

All digital SLR cameras functions are basically the same. The specifications from one camera to another are near the same. The buttons that control the functions vary somewhat and some digital SLR cameras weigh a bit more than others.

Digital SLR cameras have been around for twenty plus years. Considering the overwhelming technology involved, none of them are perfect. They all have shortcomings. This is where firmware comes into play. Firmware helps correct these weaknesses. A firmware update is easy to do. All that's needed is a USB cable compatible with your camera and a computer The manufacturer of your particular camera has these firmware updates and offers them for free. Update your firmware and in essence you have a new camera.

One has to think, is there a foreseeable end to the technology driving the digital SLR camera industry? Not on your life!!! Even as we speak,new technology is emerging and later this month the CMOS image sensor will draw on the digital gene pool once again to better itself.

So, now the ground work is set. The rest is up to you. You're all frugal shoppers and spend your hard earned bucks wisely. Follow the information here and the purchase of your first digital SLR camera could be your last.

Happy Shopping

Author- Michael F. Major
To see where this new Technology has taken us, check out "What's Hot" at The F-Stop Shop.
You'll find that "One Picture is Worth a Thousand Words"

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