Digital Camera Buyers' Guide - Year of the SLR
by Wesley Fink on November 23, 2007 6:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
Many predicted that 2007 would be the year of the digital SLR, and industry shipments confirm the huge growth in DSLR sales. In a time where home sales fell through the floor in the US and gas prices began to soar, digital SLR sales have grown dramatically. In the third quarter of this year digital camera sales increased 22% compared to the previous year, but industry breakdowns show DSLR sales almost doubled in the same period.
That means that this holiday season many of you will be looking for a new digital SLR camera to replace an aging point-and-shoot digital or an earlier DSLR. While there haven't been many new entry-level models in the last year, the $1000 "advanced amateur" models of last year are today's entry-level DSLR. Several manufacturers have also redefined "entry-level" SLR down to $400 and have very capable models selling for that price, including a lens.
Only a few new models have appeared in "Entry-level" this year. We will cover these in a look at entry-level choices. However, the last few months have seen a deluge of new "prosumer" digital SLRs aimed at the photo hobbyist, advanced amateur, and even some pro photographers on a budget. The important thing about the advanced amateur and prosumer DSLR markets is the influence those cameras will eventually have on entry-level models. For that reason, we will explore some of the most interesting features of the new prosumer models.
The digital SLR market has also seen the downward push of pro or near-pro models into the consumer space. A prime example of that is the Canon EOS 5D full-frame SLR. When it was introduced a couple of years ago it was hailed as a true bargain at around $3500. If you look around today, you will find this popular semi-pro model has dropped to a $2499 list price and you can actually find the 5D for around $2000 if you shop carefully. That is certainly close to the $1400 to $1800 prosumer price range, providing an additional option for photo hobbyists or pros looking for a good buy.
If you are shopping for a digital camera but you're not really a photo hobbyist, you might want to start with our overview of digital photography in Digital Photography from 20,000 Feet. In that introduction, we cover the terms and concepts used in this DSLR Buyers' Guide. If you're already a photo hobbyist then dive in.
To put the current DSLR market in perspective, the full-frame (24mmx36mm) sensor and the Olympus 4/3 sensor (13.5mmx18mm or half the diagonal of full-frame 35mm) represent the two ends of the current DSLR market. Full-frame DSLRs use traditional 35mm lenses, so you don't need to worry about multipliers. 4/3 is a digital-only standard supported by Olympus, Leica, Panasonic, Sigma, Fuji, and Sanyo. Lenses designed for 4/3 will work on any 4/3 camera and they are not designed to be used with larger or smaller sensors. Since the sensor diagonal is half the size of 35mm, the 4/3 lenses behave like 35mm lenses that are twice their focal length.
You can see these two ends in a Canon 5D with an optical image-stabilized 28-135mm lens sitting beside the diminutive Olympus E-510 with a 14-42mm lens and body-integral (mechanical) image-stabilization. The full-frame Canon 1Ds Mark III, 1D Mark III and upcoming Nikon D3 are even larger than the EOS 5D, but you get the idea. Similarly, the Olympus E-410 is even smaller than the E-510.
However, the majority of today's digital SLRs fall in between these two standards, using a very nonstandard sensor somewhere around APS-C size (22mmx15mm). This is why we have a range of lens multipliers on today's DSLR cameras, depending on brand. Nikon, Sony, Pentax, and Samsung are at 1.5x, Canon is at 1.6x, and the specialized Sigma Foveon sensor is at 1.74x. These multipliers represent how 35mm lenses will appear on these cameras - because they mainly use 35mm lenses. That means an 18-70mm lens on a 1.5x camera would appear like a 27mm-105mm lens on a 35mm film camera. There are also dedicated lenses for these in-between sensors with names like DX. They work fine on the digital SLR, but they are not usable on full-frame DSLR or 35mm film cameras.
It isn't as complicated as it sounds, since you mainly will pick your camera brand and stick with it, buying camera maker lenses or those compatible with the DSLR you choose. However, understanding the larger picture also helps in making informed long-term buying decisions.
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StephenP - Friday, November 23, 2007 - link
I forgot to say nice article :). Just a little too much focus on sensor mega pixels, anyone into photography knows that stuffing a camera with mega pixels isn't enough to make a good camera. The new 400D has "only" 10mp of resolution but, that provides for A3 or even A2 prints. Does one really need more? ok, you can crop more, sure but what is the real difference between 3000x4000 pixels (12mp) and 2800x3700 (10mp), 2-300 pixels isn't a very impressive extra crop. I'll take better high ISO performance to more MPs anyday.AsicsNow - Friday, November 23, 2007 - link
Yeah, the unless you are using a full frame camera, the lens itself is limiting the effective resolution to not much more than 1OMP anyways. If you want a higher resolution without just adding garbage pixels that will end up as adding more noise(look at so many point and shoots that have these issues these days) you have to goto a larger format sensor, aka. 4" x 5" which is WAY beyond the scope of any non-professional photographer unless if you're a rich prick yuppie :)The D40 is a steal though if you can live without manual focus, and I can't wait for the 18-55 VR to come out. (Though I wish I could afford a 12-24 instead hehe)
Lord 666 - Friday, November 23, 2007 - link
Wes, while it might be under NDA, what is the time frame for the Nikon 18-55 VR? Real soon, Q1, Q2 kind of thing? If they are coming out with it, very surprised they didn't launch for this holiday season.PS - You should do these updates more often. Way back a while ago you started writing the DSLR column, but didn't continue. Keep it up ;)
Wesley Fink - Saturday, November 24, 2007 - link
The Nikon Press announcement for the 18-55mm VR was 11/19/2007. The street price for the new lens is $199 and it is said to be available now.Camaban - Friday, November 23, 2007 - link
Hmm, so the Olympus E-510 is something like $570-$670, while on Amazon UK, it's £618.....Ya know, that's like the equivilent of $1250 or something.
Ridiculous.....
makulit - Friday, November 23, 2007 - link
Pentax? Ever heard of them???mcnabney - Friday, November 23, 2007 - link
No kidding!!!!!!11 months ago there was a review, RIGHT HERE, that identified the K10D as one of the best choices. It is barely mentioned here, even though it is being written elsewhere as a camera of the year due to the turnaround it has caused.
Why choose Pentax?
Built-in 3 axis image stabilization which works on ALL lenses.
Almost every Pentax and Pentax-compatible lens that has ever been made works just fine on this body
Dust and water sealed body - you have to spend double elsewhere to get this
Great prices and growing library of high quality and reasonably priced lenses
takumsawsherman - Friday, November 23, 2007 - link
This is an excellent point. Pentax has actually had great, low-priced cameras from the film days. The K1000 was an awesome camera on the cheap.Minolta Maxxum cameras (now Sony) was also a less expensive, but excellent camera. I have owned the Maxxum 7000, 600si and Minolta Maxxum Alpha 707 (my current camera). Although the 7000s were more durable, these cameras have excellent autofocus (they have almost always more fast and accurate than Canon/Nikon), great lenses, and are loaded with features. I am still looking for a cheap Maxxum 9 now that film is less popular.
If I were to get a new body, I would get a Sony A700, since my lenses will work, and be image stabilized (ever look at the cost of Canon's IS lenses? Ouch!). However, if I were buying a completely new system, I would be seriously tempted by Pentax, as I trust Sony less than I trusted Minolta :).
All of my pro photo customers are using Canon, even the Nikon fans. Anything big and they use a Hasselblad-Leaf system. I've heard lots of complaints about the D40x shooting JPEG poorly. Apparently to get good results one must shoot in RAW. I doubt any will switch to Sony or Pentax. Not because they aren't as good (and I think that the Sony is as good). But Minolta and Pentax have always been considered "second tier" amongst that crowd, and I just don't see that changing, whatever the merits.
Regarding lack of Minolta lenses, I have not noticed any difficulty getting good, reasonably-priced lenses, and there is a large used market in the form of eBay and B&H if one prefers something not-new.
Frumious1 - Friday, November 23, 2007 - link
I'm not sure how they "missed" the Pentax K10D....Page 4: "One of the amazing price drops of this season is the Pentax K10D, which can be found with the kit lens for around $750, or as a body alone for as little as $650. The Pentax K10D is the only camera in this group that has full dust and moisture sealing. It also features body-integral image stabilization, auto sensor cleaning, and an 11-point focusing system."
Page 5: "Alternative: If low-light performance is a major concern, then you would do well to choose the Sony A100 kit with the 18-70mm kit lens. For a bit more money, the Pentax K10D gives you a great 11-point focus module, all the other features, and pro-type dust and moisture sealing."
takumsawsherman - Saturday, November 24, 2007 - link
Maybe you missed the word "barely". I read the review. I know what it said, and agreed with the OP that Pentax got "barely" a mention, where it really produces because it has to in order to compete against the name power of Nikon and Canon.