Whatever the Subject, We'll Help You Capture
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Whatever the101 subject, we’ll help you capture it. e r u t P a c Capture 101 ◊ May 2014 1000589467389 2569841872 14 12 10 8 If you’ve outgrown your point-and-shoot camera, it might be time to Contents 4 make the move to a digital SLR. Here’s how to choose the right one. 1 How to Buy How to buy a New D-SLR Camera A New D-SLR Camera By Jim Fisher April 9, 2014 If you’re feeling limited by what your point-and-shoot camera can do, there are plenty of reasons to consider a D-SLR. These advanced shooters feature larger image sensors, superior optics, robust manual controls, faster Basic Photo Tips: Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO performance, and the versatility of changeable lenses. All this added functionality doesn’t come cheap, though, as the cost of a D-SLR can add up, especially when you start buying lenses. And the cameras are understand- ably larger and heavier than their compact and mirrorless interchangeable lens counterparts. You also need to How to Photograph Fireworks Displays remember that you’re buying into a camera system. If your first D-SLR is a Canon, chances are that your next one will be as well, simply for the fact that you’ll be able to make use of existing lenses and accessories. Here are the most important aspects to consider when you’re shopping for a digital SLR: 10 Tips for Beginner Photographers Understanding Sensor Size Most consumer D-SLRs use image sensors that, while much larger than those found in point-and-shoot cam- eras, are somewhat smaller than a 35mm film frame. This can be a bit confusing when talking about a camera’s Essential Camera Equipment for Photography Students field of view, as focal lengths for compacts are often expressed in terms of 35mm equivalency. The standard APS-C sensor features a “crop factor” of 1.5x. This means that the 18-55mm kit lens that is bundled with most D-SLRs covers a 35mm field of view equivalent to 27-82.5mm. If you’re upgrading from a point-and-shoot that has a 3x zoom lens that starts at about 28mm, the D-SLR kit lens will deliver approximately the same field 10 Photographers to Look to for Inspiration of view. Capture 101 1 HERE ARE MANY inherent Choose a Camera that Feels Right magnification and coverage numbers for advantages to a larger sensor. It It’s very important to choose a camera that pentaprism finders, as they give you an allows you to better control the feels comfortable in your hands. While idea of the actual size of the finder and Tdepth of field in images, making it possible most D-SLRs are similar in size and build, how much of the captured image can be to isolate your subject and create a blurred the styling of the handgrip, position of seen. In both cases you’ll want to look for background. This blur is often referred controls, and other ergonomic features can a higher number. to by the Japanese term bokeh. Much differ drastically. The camera you choose Another Option: The EVF has been written about the quality of the should be one that you are most comfort- A few cameras on the market offer a bokeh created by different lenses, but the able using. If a D-SLR is too big or small third viewfinder option—an electronic general rule of thumb is that the more light for you to hold comfortably, or if the con- viewfinder. Sony cameras that feature a lens can capture—measured numerically trols are not laid out in a way that makes fixed, translucent mirrors, like the Alpha as its aperture, or f-number—the blurrier sense to you, chances are you won’t enjoy 77$1,398.00 at Amazon, are referred to the background can be. A lens with a max- shooting as much as you should. as SLTs. Rather than redirecting light to imum aperture of f/1.4 lets in eight times Get the Best Viewfinder your eye, the semi-transparent mirror in as much light as one of f/4, and can create By definition, a D-SLR features an optical these cameras redirects it to an autofo- a shallower depth of field at an equivalent viewfinder that shows you the exact image cus sensor. If you aren’t set on an optical focal length and shooting distance. that the camera’s lens is capturing—but not finder, these cameras are worth consider- Another reason to go for the big sensor is all of these viewfinders are created equal. ing. Even Sony’s flagship full-frame Alpha to minimize image noise. A 14-megapixel A mirror directs light from the lens to the 99$2,298.00 at Buydig.com uses an OLED Live View and HD Video the smaller sensor in consumer D-SLRs, may also want to consider a mirrorless D-SLR has much larger pixels than a point- viewfinder, which is one of two types. The EVF, eschewing the glass pentaprism Video recording is now a standard feature a 35mm f/2 is the current equivalent. The camera, like our Editors’ Choice Olympus and-shoot of the same resolution. These first, the pentamirror, is generally found found in other full-frame SLRs. in D-SLRs. When shopping for a D-SLR, standard-angle gives you a field of view OM-D E-M10$699.00 at Amazon. That larger pixels allow the sensor to be set at on entry-level cameras like the Canon Shooting and Autofocus look for one that continues to autofocus that is not far off from that of your eye, camera uses a Micro Four Thirds sensor a higher sensitivity, measured numerically EOS Rebel SL1$449.00 at Amazon and D-SLRs have another big advantage over while recording. You should also check and the fast aperture makes it possible to which is just a bit smaller than an APS-C as ISO, without creating as much image Nikon D5200$599.99 at Dell. This type of point-and-shoots—speed. The time that its autofocus speed when taking photos shoot in lower light, and to isolate your D-SLR sensor, and replaces an optical noise. Another advantage to the larger viewfinder uses three mirrors to redirect it takes between hitting the shutter but- using live view, as that can often be very subject by blurring the background of viewfinder with an electronic one. This surface area is that changes in color or the image to your eye, flipping it so that it ton and the camera capturing a picture, slow. A microphone input jack is import- your photos. Prices for these lenses vary a class of cameras, which was launched by brightness are more gradual than that of appears correct, as opposed to the upside referred to as shutter lag, and the wait ant if you plan on using the video function bit depending on your camera system, but Olympus and Panasonic in 2008, relies on a point-and-shoot. This allows more nat- down and backwards image that the lens is time between taking photos—recycle often—an external mic will capture much expect them to run you between $175 and live view rather than optical viewfinders. ural-looking images with a greater sense actually capturing. time—are often concerns with compact better sound than the camera’s built-in $350. This makes it possible to pack larger sen- of depth. The second type of optical viewfinder is cameras. D-SLRs generally focus very microphone. Even though consumer D-SLRs have sors into smaller bodies, giving you many Some higher-end D-SLRs, like the Canon the pentaprism. This is a solid glass prism quickly and deliver shutter lag that is Be Realistic about Accessories built-in flashes as a rule, many photogra- of the image quality advantages of a D-SLR EOS 6D$1,699.99 at Dell, feature sensors that does the same job as the pentamir- nearly immeasurable. Most first-time D-SLR users aren’t going phers opt to use a more powerful external without the added bulk. that are equal in size to 35mm film. These ror. A pentaprism is generally heavier and Continuous shooting is measured in frames to purchase a whole bevy of lenses, but flash. These flashes emit more light and If you do opt for a D-SLR, following our full frame cameras are much more expen- brighter than a pentamirror. The extra per second. At minimum, you should look there are a few to consider to supplement can often be repositioned so that you can guidelines will help you to choose the sive than their APS-C counterparts. If you brightness makes it easier to frame images for a camera that can shoot 3 frames per the kit lens that ships with the camera. use reflected light to illuminate a subject. camera and lens system that fits your do see yourself moving up to a full frame and to confirm that your photo is in focus. second, although sports and nature shoot- The first is a telezoom to complement the Bouncing flash off of a ceiling to brighten needs and your budget. Just be sure to take camera in the future, be careful in buying Pentaprisms usually start appearing in ers will want to look for a camera that can standard 18-55mm lens. There is usually a room is possible with a dedicated flash time and research your purchase, and go lenses.