I am shopping for a digital SLR camera...

There are times in everyone’s life when giving a gift or just shopping for your own is made more challenging by a lack of 'the insider information' that will give you the edge on what is best or most appropriate. Time and accessibility is another factor to be addressed. Will it be more convenient to get one online? If you are looking for an electronic type product with an esay to comprehend standard configuration, for example a digital SLR camera, then there is not a reason not to do so.

Before you click on the 'Buy Now! button, let's have a look at some pointers that might help to you make a better decision.

Digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras are the choice for serious photo enthusiasts and is almost the standard for professional photographers. Just like the SLR film cameras of the past era, digital SLR's are designed in such a way that it can be used with many different lenses, with different focal lengths, that will permit you an accurate preview of the framed image up to the moment of exposure. This is one versatility that can be used to combines both skill and creativity of the photographer into an artistic mold.

Digital SLR camera make and models, both in specification and price-points, are generally geared towards the following user category:

• Professional - These are the top-of-the-line or flagship models, inherently high-priced but complemented with the best and the out-most each manufacturer can muster from their research and engineering innovations. These professional level cameras are the yardstick by which each manufacturer and all the others models they produced are measured.

• Advanced Enthusiast - The main bulk of available models, in most cases with more than one model from each manufacturer, catering for differing levels of enthusiasm and expected usage.

• Entry Level Enthusiast - For those who are just breaking into the SLR world, just starting out or upgrading from a compact point-n-shoot or a single lens superzoom.

While entry level users may not advance from the level they are at, and thus are content with what they start with, advanced enthusiasts will always be challenged for additional equipment or hardware, may it be an additional lens, an electronic flash unit, a tripod or a nice comfortable backpack sizable enough to carry their DSLR equipment safe and secure.

Even if you are getting one from your local brick-and-mortar superstore, you can always look it up here for information what's favored and available, and their comparative price-points:

• I Am Shopping For A Digital SLR Camera, Best Buys, Auction Deals!
• Digital Camera Reviews and News: Digital Photography Review: Forums,..

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New and Used Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses, Accessories
** Digital and Film Cameras, Accessories, Collectibles Catalog

Nikon FM 35mm Film SLR Collectibles

With the photo imaging world fully entrenched in the digital camp, there are still the few of us stalwarts who refused to be budged by the influence and continues with image captures on film citing image quality as the hold beyond compare. On the same token, many a digital camera enthusiast are finding the calling in film cameras too, some just trying it, some experimenting with colors and processing, while others use film cameras as supplementary to their existing. Let the fad catches on.

Most film cameras built during the all-metal mechanical age are built to last, with refine construction quality and many are still in good, excellent or even in mint working condition despite their years, one to be displayed as one of your 'greats.'

The Nikon FM is one of these greats. Launched in 1977 (set to replace the Nikkormat FT3 which was introduced only a few months prior), it was an entirely of a new design concept - compact, rugged and was built around a copper-aluminum alloy chassis that would become the basis for Nikon's highly-successful range of compact semi-professional SLR cameras, laying claim as one of the most reliable 35mm SLR designs ever built.

The Nikon FM sold very well compared to the competing mechanical Pentax MX (released 1977) and Olympus OM-1N (1979) cameras. It was also a very popular backup camera among professional photographers using the Nikon F2 and F3. Because of its durability and access to the Nikkor lens line, the FM came to dominate its market niche and was rewarded by the introduction of an improved successor, the Nikon FM2 in 1982.

Time has proven the FM to be tough and reliable and it is now regarded as one of the finest SLRs of its generation:

• Nikon FM Series 35mm Film SLR Cameras, Classic Collectibles

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New and Used Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses, Accessories
** Digital and Film Cameras, Accessories, Collectibles Catalog

New Sony Alpha Digital SLRs for the holidays

Sony has moved themselves up to the ranks of major digital Japanese SLR manufacturers and are competing with the likes of Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Olympus for a share of the lucrative DSLR market. With all the major manufacturers having a range products catering for the professionals, advanced enthusiast and entry-level users, Sony is as well equipped, and in time for the coming holiday season, enthusiasts now can look forward to a choice of the Sony Alpha DSLR A850, A550 or A500.

Tha Sony Alpha DSLR A850 is interesting, it is the second full-frame digital SLR from Sony, sitting a rung below the pro-spec A900, is the ruggedly built in a die-cast magnesium-alloy shell, yet surprisingly lightweight. The A850 offers almost all features of the flagship full frame A900, but at a more affordable price, it is built around the same 24.6MP CMOS sensor and incorporates the 3.0 inch 921k LCD, sensor-shift image-stabilization and Dual Bionz processors of the A900 albeit with a slight;y smaller viewfinder coverage and a slower continuous shooting speed when compared to the A900.

For the advanced enthusiast comes the Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 and A500. These two very highly specified models are based around new CMOS sensors, with manual focus confirmation live view mode using the main imaging sensor in addition to Sony's secondary-sensor Quick AF live view system. Both cameras feature Sony's better noise reduction system, incorporates an Auto HDR mode and offer sensitivity of up to ISO 12800. The 14.2 MP A550 features a high resolution 921k dot 3 inch. tilt-angle LCD, while the 12.3 MP A500 comes with a 230k dot resolution 3 inch tilt-angle LCD.

Knowing what you are getting is easy:

• Sony Alpha A850 24.6MP Digital SLR Camera, Full-Frame, SteadyShot
• Sony Alpha A550 and Alpha A500 Digital SLR Cameras, Exmor CMOS

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New and Used Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses, Accessories
** Digital and Film Cameras, Accessories, Collectibles Catalog

Olympus Pen Series Half-Frame 35mm Film Cameras, Classic Collectibles

It was not long ago, 50 years to be exact, that the first generation of Olympus Pen Half-Frame film camera was introduced. The Olympus Pen series, introduced in 1959, with variations and model upgrades over the course of it's production cycle, sold over 17,000,000 units. The design culminated with the most advanced half-frame camera that was designed as such from the start, the Olympus Pen F single lens reflex system cameras.

A half-frame camera is a film format camera that uses only half the frame size of a standard exposure film for each shot. For example, where the normal frame size of a 35mm film is 24x36mm, images recorded in half-frame is 18x24mm. With these half-frame camera, one can fit twice as many pictures onto a standard roll of film. For example, 72 exposures on a 36-exposure roll, 48 on a 24-exposure one, and so on.

Placed alongside the new Olympus Pen E-P1 and E-P2, the Pen Series film cameras will no doubt stand it's grace and elegance and add to the charm and aura of any display. Collectibles now, mostly available at the auctions, fetching prices that vary depending on model and condition:

• Olympus Pen F Series Half-Frame 35mm SLRs, Classic Collectibles
• Olympus Pen 35mm Half-Frame Film Cameras, Classic Collectibles

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New and Used Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses, Accessories
** Digital and Film Cameras, Accessories, Collectibles Catalog