Hump Day Hardware: Digital SLRs

In the past month or so they have been some big releases in the world of digital SLRs. SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex and that means you can interchange lenses on these digital cameras. It also means that these cameras do have a higher price tag than the typical point and shoot camera. Then again, they pack a lot of power for their price.

First up is the Nikon D90. Of the two cameras I'm going to cover, it is the least expensive. That doesn't mean it isn't a very good camera. It shoots 12.3 megapixel images. The sheer number of megapixels does not determine quality, though this camera definitely shoots a very high-quality image. The killer feature for this model is that it can shoot HD video! Prior to this release, the digital SLRs just didn't shoot any video. It is available with a lens or just the camera body if you already have Nikon lenses.

Just over a year ago I got a Canon 5D. It is a great camera and I've taken some amazing shots with it. Canon has now come out with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and they have really upped the ante. It has a full frame sensor that captures 21.1 megapixels of data. That is one huge image. It also supports full HD video capture. These cameras may not be as stable as a dedicated video camera, but they have higher quality optics and interchangeable which allows them to shoot terrific video quality. Just like the Nikon D90, this camera is available packaged with a lens or as just the camera body. The Canon does bring with it a much higher price tag so it is not for everyone. It is definitely worth every penny if you want great images!

These cameras represent a great leap forward at the higher end of digital cameras as they not only bring video, but HD video. I don't regret buying my 5D last year, but I'm already saving up my pennies (dollars?) to get the Mark II. There is no doubt that cameras will continue to improve. The Nikon D90 and Canon EOS 5D Mark II have taken DSLRs to new heights!

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Hump Day Hardware: Point and Shoot Digital Camera

In the beginning, just having any kind of digital camera was a good thing. Nowadays I'm convinced that it is good to have different digital cameras for different situations. Most people now have some kind of a camera as part of their mobile phones. They work great for very basic shots, but I've yet to see a phone that could take a decent picture. In short, they are convenient. That's about it.

Graphics pros should also have a digital SLR for situations when they need really high-quality photos. The prices have come down a lot in the last few years and the quality continues to get better. I'll look at these in a future post.

Today we're going to focus (no pun intended) on point and shoot digital cameras. We want a camera that is very easy to carry with you. Preferably something that can fit in a pocket. In addition, we want good quality pictures. The last attribute we want is a reasonable price.

My pick is the Canon PowerShot SD1100IS. It shoots 8 megapixel images, has 3X optical zoom, features image stabilization and comes in several stylish colors. It can comfortably fit in a shirt pocket or a purse and doesn't take too much money out of your purse with a sales price of under $170 at Amazon.

It isn't the latest and greatest camera since it has been out for over eight months. But that helps keep the price down a bit. Given that the holiday shopping season is coming soon, there is no doubt that newer models are coming soon. That's OK, it will only help the price of this model drop a bit more. Remember, we're not looking for the absolute best camera, but rather one that takes good pictures and is convenient enough to carry almost everywhere.

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