Jacobs Digital | Digital SLR

When choosing which DSLR to purchase, it’s worth considering more than just the actual camera – because you’re also buying into a particular manufacturer’s system. What that means is compatibility with a host of lenses and other useful photographic accessories that will expand your creative horizons.

It’s worth bearing in mind that not all camera systems boast the same level of support however – with some offering nearly three times as many lens options as others – while there are also operational quirks to take into account.

For example, though many DSLRs now feature sensor shift mechanical image stabilisation to help avoid the blurring effects of camera shake when shooting at longer focal lengths and in low light, Nikon and Canon users need to buy specially equipped lenses to achieve similar results. The upshot though is that those two market-leading manufacturers offer a greater choice of compatible lenses than direct rivals.

Lens Mounts & System Compatibility
A lens mount is the mechanism by which a lens is attached to a DSLR, and, while there are many different names, essentially they’re the same. Manufacturer’s lenses are mostly brand specific however – notable exceptions being Olympus and Panasonic, Pentax and Samsung, Sony and Konica Minolta. This means that you can’t, say, use a Canon optic on a Nikon camera or vice versa. So check the size of each manufacturer’s range.

LCD Screens & Live View
Most DSLRs now allow photographers to utilise the rear LCD screen for framing a shot and, if necessary, checking manual focus – a feature known as Live View, with the larger screen size an aid to visibility. Likewise an increasing number of cameras also offer rear screens that can be angled or rotated: useful if you’re shooting at a low angle or over the heads of a crowd.

Image Stabilisation
Achieving naturalistic, blur-free results when shooting in low light without flash or at extreme telephoto setting is greatly aided by image stabilisation, also known as ‘anti shake’. While experts debate whether a stabilised sensor or stabilised lens is more effective, both provide photographers with a higher proportion of sharply focused images than without.

Dust Prevention & Removal
As you swap a lens you momentarily expose a DSLR’s sensor. Any dust or hairs on the sensor can reveal themselves as dark smudges or dots in an image, so are best avoided. So now most DSLRs feature some form of dust prevention and removal. One method is to coat the chip with an anti-static layer and vibrate it free of any undesirables. These subsequently fall onto an adhesive strip beneath the sensor, thus preventing their return.

High Definition Video
A feature fast becoming a ‘must have’ on DSLRs is the ability to shoot High Definition video clips alongside still photos. Bear in mind though that there is some variation between models in terms of movie resolution, frame rate (fps) and sound facilities; for example whether stereo or mono, and if there’s the facility to attach an extra microphone for more professional results.

Increased Light Sensitivity
DSLRs offer an increasingly wide range of settings for those looking to shoot in available light, ranging all the way from ISO50 for shooting in bright conditions up to, on more professional cameras, ISO 102400 for shooting in near darkness. Image noise (similar to film grain) can be a problem at higher settings, but noise reduction systems, plus at times a slight lowering of resolution, helps prevent it ruining shots.

Faster Shooting Speeds
With entry-level DSLRs typically allowing you to capture and freeze action at three frames per second (3fps), more professional DSLRs aimed at sports photographers have pushed this to 9 or even 11fps. DSLR users shooting maximum quality unprocessed RAW files, slower to write to memory than JPEGs, can also boost operational speed with the latest generation high-speed memory cards.