Camera Buying Guide 2010

10. SLR Transition: $600 to $1,000

Trying to tackle the SLR segment here is futile. We would need a whole article just to scratch the surface. So consider this a peek into the much larger world of SLR shooting. There are many less expensive options,  such as the Rebel XS kit ($549.99), which starts Canon’s SLR family. But for those wanting the latest features and capabilities at a sub-$1,000 price point, we’re very fond of the Canon Rebel T2i kit with its 18 mm to 55 mm lens ($899.99).

With the T2i, Canon jumps to an 18.0 MP sensor, which should be enough pixels to satisfy even the hungriest consumer prone to turning his or her pictures into posters. Having a through-the-lens viewfinder eliminates the parallax problems you sometimes encounter when shooting close-range subjects with cheaper cameras because the lens and the viewfinder aren’t centered at the same point. The T2i uses the DIGIC 4 processor, supports RAW, spans up to ISO 6400, has a 63-zone metering system, can track subjects to maintain focus on them, and can shoot up to 3.7 FPS.

As Canon’s flagship Rebel, there are simply too many features here to describe. Having a self-cleaning sensor is a great perk, but even better is having a live-view capability. This is the ability to see your shot in real-time, before taking the picture, as it would appear when recorded. With live view, you can see the final depth of field, exposure, and so on. It’s a tremendous time saver when you’re using manual settings. We wish Canon would implement live view a bit lower down its price scale, as in the PowerShot G-series, but you can’t have everything.

Also key with the T2i is the ability to shoot 1080p video with manual exposure control and interchangeable lenses. The camera can also do 720p at 60 FPS and will take an external microphone input. This is a very significant advance, because the CMOS sensor in the T2i is larger and better than the sensors used in most entry- and mid-level camcorders. For the first time, SLRs are now able to replace camcorders and deliver superior results.

Alternatives

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 ($799) is a recent member of the Micro Four Thirds camera category promoted by Olympus and Panasonic. Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds are not open standards, but supporters still hope to attract a broad range of interchangeable lens options. The advantage of Micro Four Thirds is having a much larger sensor compared to compact cameras, although the sensor is still smaller than APS-style sensors used in SLRs. In terms of form factor, Micro Four Thirds aims right between ultra-compacts and SLRs. Panasonic’s G2 is a 12.1 MP unit with a 14 mm to 42 mm optical IS lens. It’s a good unit with many SLR features, but at this price we’d probably shoot for a T2i body ($799) and a used lens or two.

Honestly, at $600 and up, the sky is the limit. Unless you’re a professional or semi-pro, odds are that you need to worry less about increasing megapixel counts and more about image quality. Definitely investigate Nikon as a counterpoint to Canon in this range, as many users swear allegiance to Nikon’s D-series. The D5000 in particular makes a great entry point into Nikon’s SLR field.

Whatever camera you pick, just do us one favor by learning it. So many people have no idea of what their cameras can truly accomplish. We hope you’ve seen in these pages some idea of what sorts of quality and functionality you can expect as you pay up the price scale. But even at the low-end, cameras can do so much more than simply shoot in auto mode. Explore. Experiment. With an extra five seconds of preparation, you can turn an ordinary scene into a work of art.