Posted by M.Kumar at 29 June , 2009

In my last post “Choosing a DSLR (Part-I)” I explained one of the 5 steps that I would recommend to choose a DSLR. In this post I’ll emphasize on the remaining steps.

2.      Getting familiar with the important features.

In the previous step I only stated the feature that you will be looking in your new DSLR. Let me brief out the features along with some common specifications.

1.1.   Image Stability- One of the most important features you will like to have in your DSLR. This feature is required in almost all the available scenarios and comes in two ways these days; one integrated with in the camera body and other in the lenses. When activated minor tremble to the camera will be eliminated resulting in sharper, crispier images even in the darker conditions. Some manufacturers term it as “Vibration Reduction” and some call it “Image Stabilization” but both means the same.

1.2.   Sensor Size- Basically larger sensors capture even a finest detail of your subject. Digital cameras use an array of sensors containing millions of tiny pixels which constitute to your final image. Each pixel contains a bucket like structure called “photosites”. When you press the shutter release button the light rays coming from camera’s lens is poured in to these photosites and once your camera completes the exposure, these photosites are sealed. These photosites are then internally processed to apply true colors using filters.

Although understanding these sensors is a big chapter and might occupy two three posts of mine but I tried my best to brief out in a layman’s terms.

A camera that has large sensor will try to grab more of these light particles and thus fill in more of those photosites resulting in attaining a great detail of the subject. Following are some common sensor sizes available:

Sensor Type	Width (mm)	Height (mm)	Aspect Ratio
1/3.6″	4.000	3.000	4:03
1/2.3″	6.160	4.620	4:03
1/2″	6.400	4.800	4:03
1/1.8″	7.176	5.319	4:03
2/3″	8.800	6.600	4:03
1″	12.800	9.600	4:03
4/3″	18.000	13.500	4:03
1.8″	23.700	15.700	3:02
35 mm (film)	36.000	24.000	3:02

Sensor size Examples:

Camera	Model	Width (mm)	Height (mm)	Aspect Ratio
Nikon	D90, D80	23.700	15.700	3:02
Canon	EOS 450D / Digital Rebel Xsi	22.200	14.800	3:02

1.1.   Burst Or Continuous Shooting Mode- As the name suggests, this feature will allow you to take a burst of images while pressing down the shutter release button.  This helps in capturing sports actions or a fast moving subject like a racing car, your quick pet and of course kids. This is generally indicated as “Frames per Second”. Most of the DSLR these days are capable of capturing full resolution images at a rate of 3.5 Frames per Second. You can look for more if your budget allows you to do.

1.2.   Larger Buffer- When you shoot images in burst/ continuous mode, your camera process the images and store them temporarily in its buffer memory. You must see if the buffer memory is enough to store the images captured in a burst/continuous mode. If at all your cameras buffer in not large enough to hold the images, it will automatically decrease the rate of frames per second at which the picture is expected to be taken.

1.3.   Built in dust reduction- Since a DSLR has a capability to change lenses; you will more often mount/ unmount lenses based on the shooting requirements. This will expose your camera’s expensive optics to expose the risk of getting dust particles. Once dust particles stick on the image sensor or on any inner optics, it is very difficult and risky to clean. It will require professional of a good experience to clean the same.

Basically there is a vibration mechanism which removes the dust particles from camera’s optics and most of the DSLRs these days have an inbuilt dust removal/ reduction system installed. You get an option to choose it to activate or deactivate. My camera gives me an option to dust removal during startup and or shutting down the camera.

3.      What’s your budget?

Ok, now that you know what category or categories you are going to be in, you are ready to set your budget. Buying DSLR doesn’t only mean buying one product it means you are going to buy a list of items to make up your photo gear. If you are upgrading from a point-n-shoot then you are not going to end up buying camera alone instead you may have to buy a variety of lenses based on the shooting requirements, filters, tripod, monopod, external flash unit, remote shutter release, reflectors, additional battery, memory cards, etc.  So split your total budget into two parts, one for buying the camera body and another for buying its initial accessories.

Suppose you are an entry level to a mid level photographer and your goal is not to out reach your limits beyond 1500 USD. Divide it into two parts; let’s say you keep 800 USD for Camera body and remaining 700 USD for its accessories. Generally you will get a good deal when you buy camera body along with an initial lens this will act as a bonus for you and you might save a couple hundred dollars. Here your budget for buying a camera body will be 800 USD.

Write down your first budget part and proceed to next step.

4.      Compare and Shortlist.

You are now ready to do a research on what models are available in market that suits your requirements and budget. For this you don’t have to step out yet, just visit some good consumer websites like:

• Cnet
• ConsumerReports
• Amazon
• Digital Camera HQ
• Digital Photography Review
• Crutchfield

You can prepare a comparison chart based on your feature requirements you gathered in above steps. I am going to give you an example below and you can also download a template which you can fill in to make your final decision:

Feature	Nikon D90	Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi
Price Body Only	close to 1000 USD	under 700 USD
Price 18-200 mm lens	Close to 650 USD	Close to 450 USD
Sensor Size	23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS	22.2 x 14.8 mm CMOS
Mega Pixels	12.3 million effective pixels	12.2 million effective pixels
Image Sizes	4288 x 2848 3216 x 2136 2144 x 1424	4272 x 2848 3088 x 2056 2256 x 1504
ISO	ISO 200- 3200 ISO 100- 6400 with Boost	ISO 100- 1600
Dust Reduction	Yes	Yes
Built in Flash	Yes	Yes
Continuous	4.5 fps	3.5 fps
White Balance	Auto, 6 presets, Kelvin, manual	Auto, 7 presets
LCD	3.0″ TFT LCD 920,000 pixel TFT 170 degree viewing angle	3.0″ TFT LCD 230,000 pixel TFT 160 degrees viewing angle
Dimensions	132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in)	129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in)
Weight	620 g (1.4 lb)	475 g (1.0 lb)
Live View	Yes	Yes
Movie Mode	Yes	No
Autofocus	11 area TTL	9 point CMOS sensor
Viewfinder Frame Coverage	96% Frame Coverage	95% Frame Coverage

5.      Step out to analyze

Wow! You are now at the very last step of finalizing your DSLR. Until now you have a shortlist of DSLRs that fit into your requirements and budget. Not you have all the arms and ammunitions to fight with all those greedy dealers who just want to sell their product no matters how worst it is.

Visit your nearest store where you can locate the shortlisted DSLRs, hold the models, look and ask any type of questions from the sales man. I am sure he/ she will get frustrated with the amount of questions and counter question you ask but it is their duty and they are being paid for this job.

Don’t buy from the very first store, just bargain the price and get out of the store without making any deal. Visit a couple of other stores and gather the best prices offered. This way you will have a chance to feel the camera and each time you hold, you will see a new point that will raise a question.

Finally sit under a tree or grab a coffee at Starbucks and compare the deals you are getting from an online dealer and that from your local dealer. In countries like US and Canada you can easily do online shopping without any risk of losing your money in fact 80-90% shopping is done online in these countries. Anyways, it all depends upon ones discretion.

What next??

Well; I don’t think you need me anymore J Go and do your homework before doing DSLR shopping. I am sure if you follow these guidelines you will surely gain something.

I my further posts I’ll try to come up with top 10 DSLRs based on the reviews and study I do.

Please leave a comment so as to let me know that this post is at least helping some one

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Tags: Aspect Ratio, Auto Focus, Burst Mode, Camera Buffer, Choosing DSLR, Compare DSLR, Continuous Mode, DSLR, DSLR Buffer, Dust Reduction, Flash, FPS, Frames Per Second, Image Sensor, Image Sensor Size, Image Stability, Large Buffer, LCD, Live View, Photography, Photosites, Pixels, Sensor Type, Vibration Reduction, Viefinder
Posted in: Choosing a DSLR , Photography