Digital SLRs - The Battle for #1

Wonder what it looks like in the marketing think-tanks at Nikon and Canon right now. Is anyone getting any sleep? What should we, the camera buying public look for before making our purchase?

The Battle
If you check the sales in Entry Level Digital SLRs right now, you will find that Nikon is holding a slight edge over Canon at the number one sales spot on Amazon. But right behind is Canon at the second and third spots. Number four and five are... Nikon, again.
Here are the ratings:
1. Nikon D3000
2. Canon EOS Rebel T1i
3. Canon EOS Rebel XSi
4. Nikon D5000
5. Nikon D90

It does appear that the marketing departments are working overtime as we approach the biggest sales period of the year. And there is good reason. There is much at stake here. If you watch prime time TV, it is clear that both manufacturers are investing major $$$ in advertising right now, and it is targeting their top sellers in the Digital SLR market.

The Breakdown
So how does that affect us, the consumers? How do we evaluate the cameras?
It's really a crazy situation because the differences are difficult to find. But let's focus on the top 4 sellers.
There are two categories - Inexpensive:hereafter referred to as Cheap and Very Inexpensive: aka Dirt Cheap.
When you are looking to buy in the semi-pro market, cheap equates to something under $1000, and Dirt Cheap is under about $700.

A closer look:
Dirt Cheap - Nikon D3000 vs Canon XSi - similar feature sets, excellent image quality, NO video mode
Cheap - Nikon D5000 vs Canon T1i - slightly better image processor than the Dirt Cheap models, but the major difference is that they include HD video.

Does it matter which brand you choose? Absolutely not, unless you already have lenses for one or the other. If you do have some lenses, it will benefit you to stick with that brand of camera.

The Bottom Line
So the bottom line is that the advertising gets your attention. Buying a Digital SLR based on the advertisement that impresses you will not be a problem. You WILL get an excellent camera and a good deal. No second guessing necessary here.

Side-by-side comparisons
CLICK - Cheap DSLRs
CLICK - Dirt Cheap DSLRs

Canon EOS 7D 18-Megapixel Camera - What an Amazing Camera

Can you imagine what are your friends and family going to think when they see you with your new Canon 7D?

If you have been waiting for the perfect time to upgrade, wait no longer. The reviews are pouring in and they are all excellent! All you have to do is type "Canon EOS 7D 18-Megapixel Camera Review" into your favorite search engine and start drooling.

Even though this is very high quality DSLR, it is still in the semi-professional category because it is an APC-S model (this means that the image sensor has a 1.6 crop ratio rather than the 1-to-1 pixel ratio of a full-frame sensor). However, the feature set rivals that of its full-frame brothers. Speaking of which, here is a brief list of some of the features that make this an excellent choice for your next DSLR:

• 18 megapixel APS-C CMOS image sensor
• 3.0" LCD with 920,000 pixel resolution
• Dual DIGIC 4 processors for faster performance
• ISO speed of 100-6400 with excellent noise control in low light photos
• 100% coverage of the image about to be captured on the LCD or in the viewfinder
• 1080p HD video recording with an external microphone port
• 19 point Auto Focus system
• 8 fps (frames per second) continuous burst speed, even when capturing images in RAW with 14-bit detail
  

To sweeten the pot, this camera has an excellent build. In your hands, it feels very substantial. It also is weather sealed for protection against intrusion of water and high humidity.

When your new Canon EOS 7D 18-Megapixel Camera arrives at your door, of course, the first thing you will do is shoot a few shots to get the feel of it. However, the next thing you need to do is to read the manual. Yes, it is long at about 250 pages, but it is packed with information and hints about your new toy that you may not even be aware of.

Even though this little gem fits the semi-pro DSLR category, it performs like a pro!
You really need to get this Canon 7D because it is THE best photographic tool to be released in a long time. Go to www.digital-photographic-resources.com for more details.

Looking for a GREAT Walk Around Lens - the New Sigma 18-250mm Could Be Your Best Bet

When buying your first (second, or third) DSLR camera, you may want to consider getting just the camera body along with a lens other than the recommended kit lens. There are a few reason for this:

• Get a wider focal range than what is offered in the kit lens
• Get better image quality than what is offered in the kit lens
• Save money by not having to purchase more than one lens initially

Sigma has just released a new lens that is excellent for the "walk around" lens category. It is the Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Zoom Lens. It is made specifically for APS-C cameras such as the Canon Rebels and Nikon D3000 or D5000.

I know that is a mouthful of lens, but it has already made an impact on DSLR owners because of its quality and performance.

This is from the B & H Photo Lens Description:

"The Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Zoom Lens utilizes an anti-shake compensation function, with a 13.8 times zoom ratio. This lens's Hybrid Optical Stabilizer provides not only an anti-shake function for the camera body, but also compensates for image shaking in the view finder as the Optical Stabilizer is built in to the lens.

Four special low dispersion glass elements and three aspherical lens elements, results in excellent image quality throughout the entire zoom range. With a minimum focusing distance of 17.7" at all focal lengths and a maximum magnification of 1:3.4 reproduction ratio, this wide-range zoom is great for close-up photography as well as for telephoto shooting.

Note! This lens is only for APS-C / DX sensors (not full frame).

• Optical Stabilizer
• Low Dispersion Glass
• Super Multi-layer Coating Inner Focusing System
• Magnification of 1:3.4 For Close-up Photography
• Petal-type Lens Hood"

And here is just one comment from a happy buyer:

"I recently bought it (Sigma 18-250) to replace my Sigma 17-70mm and Canon 55-250mm IS lenses. This 18-250mm is very much like the 17-70mm in overall quality. It is of high quality! I've used it mostly so far for night photography and also for fast action, and wildlife (crocodiles in Jamaica; can't trust that ear to ear smile of theirs). All the pictures I shot with it were hand held and the OS system performed flawlessly. I DID brace myself against columns, trees, etc... when necessary for some night shots. So I was relatively stable, though not 100%. The OS took care of the rest and my exposures were blurr-free. I use it on my EOS 40D and it complements very well the speed and low light capabilities of the camera. It is fast and quiet. The zoom action is quite precise though smoothness varies over the range... understandable for a 13.9:1 zoom range! It shows virtually no play when fully extended. Also, I've checked its macro ability, and found it to be approx. 1:2.5, far better than Sigma's very conservative spec. Very highly recommended!!!!"

I am waiting for delivery of my new Sigma 18-250 right now. I will post a personal review at www.digital-photographic-resources.com as soon as I have tested it. If you are looking for a great digital camera, please look here.

Canon Rebel XSi has a new Rival - Nikon D3000

The Canon Rebel XSi continues to draw lots of traffic and sales. The main competitor to the Rebel has always been the two Nikon entry level DSLRs, the D40 and the D60. The Nikon D40 has been extremely popular right from its original release. Now, Nikon is pulling the manufacturing plug on the D40. The replacement is the Nikon D3000.
I'm guessing that the D3000 is going to take over right where the D40 is leaving off. Nikon has purposely brought their new "cheap" camera in at a price point below the Rebel XSi. The D3000 with the 18-55mm kit lens is being advertised at $599 while the Rebel XSi continues to sell for about $650.
Of course there is still the age old Canon/Nikon debate that will keep many of the proponents of either Nikon or Canon from jumping ship to go over to the "other side", no matter how good the newest release is.
Personally, I struggled with that decision before buying my first Rebel, but I am in no way a naysayer of the Nikon brand. Some of the world's best photographers are using Nikon (Moose Peterson is my very favorite) while others use Canon, and yet others use some of the less popular brands of cameras and still manage to come up with great photos.
Much more info at www.digital-photographic-resources.com/blog.

Panasonic ZS1 vs ZS3 - Great Mid-Range Digital Compact Cameras

I know, the title says this is a Canon blog, but if you have read my former posts, you will realize that I am NOT a Canon snob.

In fact, Panasonic makes some great Digital Compact cameras.

Their newest King of the Compact Hill may be the Lumix DMC-ZS3. It is the replacement (after only one year) of the TZ5. Now, the TZ5 is still a great camera, and one that I endorse as a terrific "pocket/all purpose" camera.
But the newest siblings are making a run for the top.

Upgrades from the TZ5?

Glad you asked.

First, the new ZS3 has more "zoom" at 12x. It is wider on the short side, and longer on the long side. Image quality is still first in its class (according to DPReview.com). Also, the video mode has been improved to include AVCHD along with the original Quicktime capture technology. The new technology takes less storage space and renders the movies in a cleaner, smoother playback mode.

But wait, this is supposed to be about the ZS3 vs ZS1.

There is a big difference in the price tag. ZS1 is over 100 smackers less than its snooty cousin. (Can I thow in here that the TZ5 is less than either of the new cameras?)

The ZS1 has the same image quality, zoom (12x), and image sensor.
Video mode on the ZS1 is quite different.. the capture is standard definition video up to 848x480 pixels with mono sound, and does NOT include AVCHD.
The LCD on the ZS1 is only 2.7" vs 3.0 on the ZS3, and LCD image quality is lower at 230,000 pixels vs 460,000 pixels.

Well, which is the best buy? Many folks are going for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3, but those who have purchased the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 have not been disappointed. The users ratings on Amazon and DPReview.com are as high as the TZ5 ratings.
Read more at www.digital-photographic-resources.com.
All 3 cameras are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

What's the Highest Rated Prosumer Compact Camera

What is a Prosumer camera?, you might ask.
Prosumer is the highest you can go without actually getting into the DSLR cameras.
You can expect to pay more for a prosumer digital camera than you would for a mid-range compact camera. But you get so much more. Prosumer cameras are for photographers who want to take more control of their shots, rather than letting the camera select the settings.
So, with that said, the Highest Rated Prosumer Compact Camera is... drum roll please... (and, yes, I know this is a blog titled Canon..., but, hey, I calls 'em like I sees 'em)

Panasonic DMC-LX3

Here's the formula for determining the highest rating:

• Check DPReview.com Camera Ratings (this could take a while - there are lots)
• Check Imaging-Resource.com Camera Reviews
• Narrow choice down to Canon G10, Nikon P90, Panasonic Lumix LX3 (trust me, I want the Canon to win)
• Check User Ratings at DPReview, Amazon, B&H Photo
• Enter all these numbers into my computer brain for analysis.

Voila, my brain spits out the winner!
(The Canon G10 came in a close second)
I spent lots of time compiling these results, not just for Prosumer Compacts, but for other categories, as well. I posted them on a Squidoo lens and on my website: www.digital-photographic-resources.com.

What's the Highest Rated Mid-Range Digital Compact Camera?

I'm thinkin' the highest rated mid-range digital camera might be the Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ5.

The ratings I'm referring to are from those who have actually purchased and used the camera on a day-to-day basis.

I value the input of users like me and you. OK, I value the camera geeks' ratings too, but they are not every day users who have trouble figuring out how to change settings away from total camera control to, let's say, a higher Aperture. Don't know what an Aperture is? See, that's what I'm talkin' about.

So, I look at the user ratings at places like Amazon, B&H Photo, and DPReview to see what the real users think of a camera. If there are no ratings, I pretty much steer clear of that product. Or, if there are a bunch of folks who didn't like the way the camera handled, I might think twice about making the purchase.

But the Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ5.. practically everyone who ordered it (and took time to post a review) LOVED it!

And, I'm just gonna throw in my personal favorite here. It's the Canon Powershot SX110 IS.

Research shows that the family that takes pictures of each other while enjoying fun activities stays together. (I just made that up, but it must be true.)

I have been finding out so much about digital cameras of late, that I'm compiling all this information on a new web site: digital-photographic-resources.com. It has a nice ring to it, huh? Hope you stop by.
Wayne