NOTE: This is a basic guide for people who are looking to get into DSLR cameras and want an entry level DSLR. If you'd like a list of all Canon cameras, please use this link(Wikipedia). If you'd like a comparison of all Nikon cameras, please use this link(Wikipedia as well). Hey everyone, today I'll be discussing ENTRY LEVEL DSLR cameras and which one is best for you. The reason I bolded entry level is because many people are looking for a cheap camera and often think that a $400 camera will do the trick. $400 cameras are entry level. If you're looking for a semi-pro/pro camera, you'll be finding cameras that are around $2000-$6000. This may seem like a lot, but the lens is really what you're paying for. Another thing to note: just because a camera looks like a DSLR doesn't mean it is one. I made this mistake when getting my first camera(a SX530). Some point and shoots look different than DSLRs but some look similar. So, how do you differentiate between a DSLR and a point and shoot? The biggest feature that separates DSLRs and point and shoots are that DSLRs have detachable lenses. DSLRs come with the body and a lens, in two pieces. This allows for different lenses to be on the same camera. Lenses can cost anywhere from $50 to $70,000. And no, that's not a typo. There really are lenses that cost that much. When you buy a DSLR, you're paying mainly for the lens(for more expensive cameras). With point and shoots, you get the camera and lens in one piece. It's near impossible to take the lens off without breaking it. Point and Shoots can cost from $50 to $2250(that's usually where they cap). Point and shoot lenses are generally not as good as DSLRs. Point and Shoots also don't have optical viewfinders, which is helpful if you're taking pictures in a very bright place. It's easier to see the quality of an image if you look through a small viewfinder compared to a 3 inch viewfinder. DSLRs are also more customizable and take higher quality pictures. Even if the Point and shoot has more megapixels(which is found by multiplying resolution like 4000x3000 and dividing by a million - 4000x3000 is 12MP) DSLR's quality is always going to be better. DSLRs have more options when it comes to ISO, Aperture Speed, Shutter Speed, Colors, Balancing, etc. I've talked enough about DSLR vs point and shoot, and by now you probably know which one I prefer. I have a Canon EOS Rebel T3i with an 18-55 IS lens. I may do a review on it as well as a guide on lenses but for now I'll stick to cameras. Let's talk about brands. The two biggest camera companies currently are Canon and Nikon. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. The topics we'll be comparing are functions, picture quality, sensors, and video. FUNCTIONS: CANON VS NIKONCanon seems to beat Nikon by a small margin here. One feature that makes gives Canon a major disadvantage is that the on/off button is often not on the same dial as the shutter release. Nikon's, however, is on the same dial so it's easier to start it up and take a picture than Canon. Another thing that sets Canon apart from Nikon is the scroll dial. Canon's is often on top of the camera, near the shutter release, while Nikon's is usually embedded in the front with the LCD(do a quick search of nikon cameras and you'll see what I mean). Canon's is so much easier to scroll since all I have to do is move my finger back a little bit. As for the other functions, they both come pretty close, but Canon seems to have a little better design than Nikon. PICTURE QUALITY: CANon VS NIkONNikon's higher end cameras tend to have better photos. They have higher burst fps and better optical LPFs(low pass filters). What optical low pass filters do is use a technique called anti-aliasing which makes images smoother, but it also makes images less detailed. Some LFPs made by Nikon eliminated moires. Moires are the streaks made by light inputting into the sensor. However, Canon has the better megapixel camera. Megapixels are calculated by multiplying the resolution together, then dividing by 1 million. Canon has come out with a camera, the EOS 5DS, with 50.6 megapixels - the highest in the market. Nikon is close behind with the new D850 at 45.7 megapixels. Comparing image quality, Nikon has the better quality. SENSORS: CANON VS NIKONSensors are another big factor when looking at cameras. There are two types - CMOS and CCD. They stand for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor and Charged Coupling Device. CCD sensors take a lot more power, but they produce higher quality images with less noise. CCD sensors are a lot more expensive than CMOS sensors. Not many cameras use CCD sensors, even the high end ones. There are many parts that lead up to a sensor. There is the sensor itself then there are a lot of filters that "improve" the image. The main one is the OLPF, or the Optical Low Pass Filter. The optical low pass filter works by using anti-aliasing, which makes things smoother. This is helpful, but it can also reduce image quality as things at a smaller size will be blurrier. An OLPF also can do some helpful things like remove dust or cancel unwanted light streaks. Canon stepped forward with their Canon EOS 5DS and made an extra layer to cancel out the effect of anti-aliasing from the OLPF while still retaining the helpful features. Nikon, however, has come forward as well in 2017 with their D850. It completely removes the optical low pass filter and replaces it with dedicated filters to do the things that it usually does. When looking at sensors, Nikon definitely has the better sensor. VIDEO: CANON VS NIKONThis is the part I'm most concerned with. I take a lot of videos so I want to make sure that the video quality is good. Generally, Canon has cameras that take better video, but they usually max out at about 1080p60. If we look at which one has the best, Nikon trumps Canon by a far range. Canon does have camcorders that record 4k video, but no DSLR(that I know of). Nikon's new D850 is capable of 4k UHD 30fps. That seems to be the best on the market as of right now. Comparing video quality, Canon has the better standard, but Nikon has the highest quality. Which Camera Should You Buy?I like both Canon and Nikon but I like Canon better. Their lenses tend to be a bit better, and I need a good lens for the photos I'm taking. However, Nikon has some good features too. My recommendation is: if you're looking for low-end cameras, use Canon. If you're looking for high-end, use Nikon. Which camera should you buy? It depends on your needs. Here is the Canon EOS Rebel line, and here is the Nikon Camera line. Here's a list of the pros and cons of each type of camera discussed: Point and Shoot, DSLR, Canon, and Nikon. Point and shoot CAMERASPros: - Cheap - Easy to Use - Don't have to worry about using the right lens Cons: - Don't take high quality photos/videos - Not as customizable for pictures DSLR CamerasPros: - High quality images/videos - Interchangeable lenses help with different situations - More customizability than a Point and Shoot Cons: - More expensive - Have to buy an expensive lens with the camera Canon CamerasPros: - Better entry-level cameras - Cheaper entry-level cameras - Better functions/entry-level video quality Cons: - Not as good sensors/picture quality Nikon CamerasPros: - Better semi-pro/pro level cameras - Better sensors - Better image quality Cons: - More expensive - More expensive entry-level cameras Now go get yourself an expensive camera(from Canon or Nikon!)
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Authori'm a 13 year old graphic designer based in california. i love to travel, play basketball, play video games, eat good food, read good books, and especially love design. my favorite type of design is modern. ArchivesCategories
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