SLR Camera Buying Guide
| SLRs, or Single Lens Reflex cameras, offer the greatest opportunities for enthusiastic photographers to take creative control of their pictures. SLRs provide the widest choice of camera operation modes, special lenses, external flashguns and other accessories. There is now an increasing number of digital SLRs as well as the traditional film-based models; the latter are more affordable but the latest digital models offer superb picture quality. Unlike compact and digital cameras, an SLR's most important benefit is that what you see in the viewfinder is what ends up on the film. This is particularly important when you are photographing close-up subjects, and you want to ensure your picture is correctly framed. When composing your picture on an SLR, you’re actually looking through the same lens that will expose your picture. A hinged mirror reflects the image up into a special prism, and thence into the viewfinder. When you press the shutter button, the mirror swings up out of the way. SLRs once required in-depth knowledge to operate, but nowadays they have all the convenience features of compact cameras, such as autofocus, built-in flash and motorised film winding. Numerous different operating modes range from fully automatic settings allowing 'point and shoot' photography, through to semi-automatic and manual modes that allowing more experienced users to make their own decisions about camera settings for enhanced creativity. If you do plan to compose artistic images, it's worth paying more for a camera with advanced light metering. Systems called matrix, segment or multi-pattern metering average light readings from several parts of the image to produce greater accuracy. Also look out for spot metering, which allows you to get a precise exposure reading for the very centre of your picture. Many SLRs are supplied complete with a basic zoom lens that extends from a moderate wide-angle (focal length 20-30mm) to a slight telephoto (focal length 80-90mm). More extreme wide angle and telephoto lenses are available separately. These days, lenses attach to the camera body using a bayonet mount system - insert the lens and rotate to lock. Each manufacturer has its own bayonet mount pattern, and each offers a number of add-on lenses. It's worth comparing the availability of lenses between different marques, before committing to a camera body. Another key add-on is a flashgun - even for SLRs with a built-in flashgun, since this may be of limited power. For best results, more advanced SLRs require individually compatible flashguns that can interact with the built-in exposure metering systems. Our Camera Lens/Flash department lists a number of options from the principal camera brands, as well as several fine add-on lenses and flashguns from third-party manufacturers. |
