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EOS Canon Digital Rebel XTI Camera – The Best Entry Level DSLR Under $1000
Nov 12th
If you have been using a point and shoot camera for many years, the jump to SLR photography can be a little daunting. There are a couple of reasons for this. Number one is the cost of SLR photography. Typically, to get a nice camera and lens the cost can go upward to over $1000. If you have been using a point and shoot for many years, you might remember that they once cost quite a bit and have come down in price. So too, have the digital SLR cameras.
The EOS Canon Digital Rebel Xti Camera specifically, and the Rebel line in general has been one of the most popular entry-level SLR cameras in recent years. The XTi is known as an entry-level camera, but it out performs it’s entry-level stigma. Noted for it’s excellent image quality and ease of use, it provides quality with a good value.
Staying under $1000 should not be a problem with buying a body only or even the kit. I have seen prices from $400 – $600 for the camera and on occasion the kit. If you are comfortable with buying the body only, I would suggest a better lens then comes in the kit. That lens is a 18-55mm. One lens that would give you everyday versatility is the 17-85mm. With that lens, you should be able to come in under the budget of $1000.
Finding a good, everyday camera that let’s you do what you want in photography can be a time consuming search. The EOS Canon Digital Rebel XTI camera offers an unbeatable combination of performance, ease-of-use and great value.
Find out more details, read about the specs, and learn more about the great performance of the XTi at my website, EOS-Canon-Digital-Rebel-XTi. Would you like to purchase your camera for the best price on the internet? What about additional lenses? See my website at EOS-Canon-Digital-Rebel-XTi.
Nikon Coolpix L6 Great Deal for the Entry Level Shutterbug
Nov 10th
Capsule Review: Nikon Coolpix L6
The Nikon Coolpix L6 packs in great features for the low price. Long battery life, simple controls and a bright 2.5” LCD screen make this a great camera for the casual shutterbug or as a first digital camera. Nikon promises 1,000 pictures on one pair of lithium AA batteries (or 400 on alkalines), and offers easy-shot features like Face Priority, D-lighting and In Camera Red-Eye Protection to appeal to entry level users. Easy to find at less than $150 USD, the Nikon Coolpix L6 gives you the features that most new users want in a digital camera – and truly impressive battery life.
Summary
The Nikon Coolpix L6 is Nikon’s latest entry in their line of Coolpix digital cameras. It features low price, long battery life and simple controls that make it easy for anyone to shoot good digital pictures. The Coolpix L6 is lightweight, easy to use and perfect for the entry level shutterbug who wants a reliable camera that’s easy to use and offers good picture quality. Nikon has aimed the camera squarely at the young and young-at-heart crowd with its advertising, styling and user friendly features that make the Coolpix line popular.
Highlighted Features – Long Battery Life
By far the most impressive feature of the Coolpix L6 is the record-breaking long battery life. Nikon has partnered with Energizer (yes, the company with the bunny) to research and engineer energy saving features that conserve battery life. Their innovations give this camera a very impressive 1,000 shots per set of AA lithium Energizer batteries – and just to get you started, they include a set of Energizer lithium batteries. With most other cameras in any price range averaging 200-300 shots of battery life, Nikon has good reason to wave the flag about their performance in this area.
As the mother who missed the shot of her daughter being handed her sheepskin because I was changing the batteries on my digital camera, this is a feature I truly appreciate. Even with alkaline batteries, you’ll get about 400 shots out of the Coolpix L6 before you have to change the batteries.
Easy Controls
Nikon bills the Coolpix L-series of cameras as ‘memories made easy’, and the L6 delivers on that promise. The camera does away with complex controls and gives you features that make it easy to take high quality pictures with very little experience. This is not the camera for the experienced shutterbug who wants total control over every technical aspect – but it doesn’t pretend to be. This is the camera for my mother, who has a professional quality digital that she routinely hands to the nearest grandchild at every opportunity because she has no idea how to set the lens speed, adjust the flash or any of the other myriad settings it offers.
With the Coolpix L6, you really can just point and shoot. If you want more control, though, there are fifteen ‘scene’ settings that allow you to choose from settings with easy to understand names like daylight, low light or portrait. You can choose to add fun extras like color effects,
Image Correction Features
The Nikon Coolpix L6 also offers three in camera innovations that let even inexperienced picture takers eliminate common picture problems. In camera red eye protection automatically corrects the infamous red-eye effect when taking flash pictures. The Face Priority mode will automatically recognize facial features when taking portrait shots and enhance the facial area of subjects so that you don’t get out of focus faces. And the D-light detection will automatically correct under and over exposed shots by making a copy of the photo and adding in detail to only the out of balance areas of the photo.
Super Cool Coolpix Features
The Coolpix L6 also offers two special features that help the amateur photo buff get the most out of a digital camera. The Best Shot Selector will automatically select and save the sharpest image from a series of up to ten pictures taken in sequence. And if you’ve ever ended up with a blurred, out of focus memory of a special moment, you’ll really appreciate the Blur Warning, which will let you know when a photo you’ve shot is out of focus so that you can retake the shot before leaving the scene.
Image Quality
The Nikon Coolpix L6 offers great image quality for even the newest of users. With 6.0 megapixel capability and a 3x Niktor Zoom lens, the L6 gives users the ability to take a wide range of photos from tight close-ups and full panoramic scenery shots. Nikon technology puts high quality digital images within the range of anyone who can point and shoot.
Other Coolpix L6 Features
- Lightweight and compact, easy to hold and shoot. The L6 is slim and comfortable to hold, with all the controls on the right hand side of the camera, making it possible to take one-handed shots. It weighs in at just 4.4 ounces without the battery or SD memory card. The dimensions (3.6 x 2.4 x 1.0 inches) make the Coolpix L6 a slim pocket-size camera.
- Menu available in choice of 20 languages
- USB capability to transfer pictures to your PC for editing and sending in email.
- In camera editing and fun effects let you trim and frame pictures without connecting to the PC
- Movie mode lets you record at up to 15 frames per second
- 23 MB internal memory, supports SD memory card for more storage capability
- Built in flash with four modes for best flash selection
- 2.5” super bright LCD monitor for excellent picture viewing
- Slideshow capability for playback of images
- Included Nikon’s Picture Project software for organizing, sharing and editing pictures
The technical specs on this nikon digital camera can be found at your consumer electronics.
Canon Rebel T1i – A Sweet Entry Level DSLR
Nov 10th
The Canon Rebel T1i is their newest entry level DSLR, and it is YOUR best choice if you are looking to purchase a sub $800 DSLR camera.
Here are the facts, and the facts are undisputed (from A Few Good Men):
15.1 megapixel CMOS image sensor with DIGIC 4 processor (Canon’s newest technology) 3″ LCD Clear View screen with scratch resistant finish and 920,000 dot resolution which shows well in high light situations ISO settings of 100 to 3200 (and even expandable as high as 12800) Live view – similar to what you are used to on Point and Shoot cameras rather than using the view finder (which is still available) Full HD Video Capture at 1920 x 1080 (highest resolution in its class) Creative Auto – coming from point and shoot you are familiar with this, however it is new to DSLRs. It is the ability to use creative photo settings on the fly, getting fantastic photos without having to edit in photoshop User Rating of 4.46 (out of 5) Stars at amazon.com
The Canon Rebel T1i (aka 500D) has improvements over its predecessor, the Rebel XSi in image sensor size, going from 12.2 to 15.1 megapixels. Also improved is the upgrade from DIGIC 3 to DIGIC 4 processor which allows for the brand new Video capture feature (also not available in the Rebel XSi). And finally, Creative Auto is new in the T1i.
Creative Auto makes the transition from point and shoot to DSLR much easier. It allows new DSLR users to learn how to use the new DSLR camera while still taking fantastic photos with the creative presets in the camera software.
When you combine the Canon Rebel T1i with an equally advanced lens that has Image Stabilization, there is no limit to the amazing photos you will be taking.
But one quick tip. Read the manual. Even though you will take great pictures without reading it, there are so many fantastic features and settings on your new Canon DSLR, you will want to know every one of them so that you do not limit yourself and your photography.
No fooling, the Canon Rebel T1i is THE camera for you. You will not be sorry about this purchase. No buyer’s remorse this time. More information at http://www.squidoo.com/canon-rebel-xsi-x1i
I love photography and all things related to it. Cameras, camera gear, and image editing software fascinate me, so I am either buying the newest piece of equipment (or software) or researching my next purchase. Be sure to visit the Cameras-N-Stuff Blog.
Best DSLR Camera For Beginners – Nikon D5000 Entry Level DSLR Review
Nov 10th
The factors that should be the deciding ones for you are:
Image quality Ease of use for a beginner Are all the features you want included Ratings of current users
The first three factors can be easily found by checking a couple of the more reliable camera review sites. Two excellent sources are dpreview.com and imaging-resource.com.
The final factor can be checked by going to the places where cameras are sold, such as amazon, B & H Photo, or Adorama, where there are reviews by those who have purchased the cameras. Camera buyers are extremely honest in their opinions. After all, what do they have to gain by fabricating a false review?
How does the Nikon D5000 entry level DSLR stack up?
First, the image quality is excellent. DPReview has given its highest rating to the Nikon D5000 – “Highly Recommended” – with this one recommendation. You should shoot your pictures in RAW mode rather than in JPEG mode. This is because the in-camera software processes the images without as much sharpening as Canon’s Rebel T1i. To the average viewer, this would not be obvious without it being pointed out. Suffice it to say that the Nikon D5000 produces excellent image quality.
Second, the ease of use of the D5000 is also excellent. The camera controls are well placed and easy to navigate. They are quite intuitive even for a beginning DSLR user.
The third factor could be the deciding one. Nikon has included two very desirable features that are not on the less expensive Nikon D3000 or the Canon Rebel XSi. The first is HD video similar to the more professional Nikon models. This being said, if you are buying a camera expecting the same video capabilities as a dedicated camcorder, you will need to look elsewhere. But the quality of the D5000 video is excellent when compared to other DSLRs.
Finally, checking the users’ ratings of the Nikon D5000 on Amazon shows that consumers are very impressed with their purchase. They have given the D5000 an average rating of 4.13 out of 5. And at B & H Photo, the users are just as happy with their purchase. They have rated the D5000 at 4.25 out of 5. (These ratings would actually be higher, except there was a recall of the initial release due to a faulty chip, but that has been resolved.)
Finding the best DSLR camera for beginners is not an easy task, but if you have good information, it will make your choice much easier. See a side-by-side comparison of the Nikon D5000 with its younger sibling, the Nikon D3000 at http://www.digital-photographic-resources.com. Once you make your decision, you will be on your way to a rewarding hobby or career.
Happy Shooting!
I love photography and all things related to it. Cameras, camera gear, and image editing software fascinate me, so I am either buying the newest piece of equipment (or software) or researching my next purchase. Be sure to visit the Cameras-N-Stuff Blog.