Today's photographers are spoiled for choice, with entry-level DSLRs out-performing the best DSLRs of a few years ago.
Fierce competition in the global DSLR market has forced manufacturers to produce excellent cameras throughout their product range.
Entry-level Consumer 1.6x Crop Factor
EOS 450D (Rebel XSi), EOS 500D (Rebel T1i), EOS 1000D (Rebel XS).
As with other brands, entry-level Canon DSLRs are capable of producing professional quality photographs.
Their 1.6x crop factor image sensor is 40 percent the size of a full frame sensor. This gives good performance under most situations, being noticeably worse than high-end large sensor cameras only:
- Under no-flash low light conditions (high ISO), compared with large sensor cameras with similar megapixel resolution,
- If prints are enlarged beyond 8 x 12 inches, compared with large sensor cameras with higher megapixel resolution.
These cameras do have advanced features such as
- Depth-of-field preview button.
- Spot meter (except the 1000D, which does have a partial metering mode that is close to a spot meter).
- Optional external battery grip. This gives a larger and firmer grip, and the ability to use AA alkaline batteries in an emergency.
- High 1/4000 seconds maximum shutter speed.
However they do have non-professional features including:
- No 100 percent coverage viewfinder (pentamirror viewfinder shows 95 percent of actual image).
- Relatively low continuous shooting frame rate (3 plus photos per second).
- No top panel LCD display to show important camera settings.
- Slightly slower flash sync speed of 1/200 seconds.
- Automatic and manual color balance setting, but no color temperature setting.
EF (full frame) and EF-S (cropped) lenses can be used on 1.6x DSLRs.
Semi-Professional or Advanced Consumer 1.6x Crop Factor
A 1.6x crop factor means that these cameras have the same size image sensor as the consumer DSLRs. Image quality is therefore similar. The difference is the addition of more advanced features. The EOS 7D has similar or better specifications than the EOS 40D and EOS 50D.
EOS 40D, EOS 50D.
- Better pentaprism (not pentamirror) viewfinder, with slightly higher magnification, but still only 95 percent coverage.
- Higher continuous shooting frame rate (6 photos per second).
- Top panel LCD display to show important camera settings.
- Slightly higher flash sync speed of 1/250 seconds.
- Higher maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 seconds (not really necessary for most situations).
- Automatic and manual color balance setting, including color temperature setting.
- Optional wireless WiFi control grip, including web interface with remote viewfinder and remote shutter release.
EOS 7D
- 100 percent coverage pentaprism viewfinder.
- 8 photos per second frame rate.
- Remote control of external flash units (Integrated Speedlite Transmitter).
Professional 1.3x, EF lens only
EOS 1D Mk III.
With a larger image sensor, these DSLRs have better high ISO performance than the 1.6x crop factor DSLRs. The sensor is 60 percent the area of a full frame sensor, 50 percent larger than a 1.6x sensor.
Some features are also enhanced:
- Higher continuous shooting frame rate (10 photos per second).
- Slightly higher flash sync speed of 1/300 seconds.
These cameras can only use EF full frame lenses, not the smaller EF-S lenses designed for 1.6x crop cameras.
Professional 1x, EF lens only
EOS 5D, EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 1Ds Mk III.
These full frame cameras have the highest image quality, either high ISO performance or resolution depending on the megapixel resolution of the model.
In other performance aspects (flash sync speed, frames per second, remote control) the 1.3x DSLRs can have higher specifications.
The Best Canon DSLR
Professional photographers typically spend more on their lenses than on their cameras. They know that:
- Photos taken with different cameras but the same lenses, look the same except under extreme conditions (low light, large blow-up prints).
- Photos taken with the same camera but with different lenses, can look very different.
A beginner photographer would do well to also spend less on the camera. One possible purchasing sequence is:
- Entry-level Rebel DSLR and 18-55mm kit lens.
- 50mm f1.8 or 50mm f1.4, for no-flash available light photography.
- 55-200mm or 18-200mm zoom.
- Second Rebel DSLR so that 2 lenses can be used at the same time.
The above will give more photographic bang for the buck, compared to getting a more expensive camera and scrimping on the lenses.
Resources
- Full Frame Versus Cropped Digital SLR Cameras
- Canon EOS Versus Nikon Digital SLRs
- Nikon and Canon DSLR Primes
- Canon DSLR Comparator
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