UK’s Top 10 Digital SLR Cameras of 2008 for Professional Photographers
With each passing year, the list of friends and relatives may increase, indicating now you have more people to greet and wish. It also indicates that in the upcoming years you will have lots of events and functions to be remembered about. With the growing years and increasing work pressures it may not always be possible to physically attend all these events and functions. Many hire a professional photographer to capture these special moments to be shared with near and dear ones. However these days the market is filled with many professional cameras that have users friendly operations and rich features, available at affordable prices. Thus we came up to a decision to sort out and list the top 10 most desired and preferred SLR cameras of the past year.
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Topping the list is the Nikon D3 Digital SLR Camera. It is slightly on the expensive side; however it includes the brand new Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 N-series lenses and Nikon’s incredible 14-24mm N-series wide-angle zoom. It provides a continuous shooting modes at the rate of 9 to 11 frames per second. The light sensitivity range offered by the Nikon D3 is also higher at ISO 200 to ISO 6400. It provides more colour option, lesser noise rate and higher sharpness in the images. With its 14-24mm zoom this camera will not miss out on any of the finer details. The only flip side is that this camera offers a picture resolution of only 12 mega-pixels while many other professional SLR’s offer much higher. But the other positive functionalities of this camera out-weigh this factor; and 12MP is still a lot. |
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A close competitor is the Canon EOS 1D Mark III SLR Camera. Canon has managed to incorporate a lot many features in this camera. This comes with a picture resolution of 10 mega-pixels and a 3-inch LCD screen for pre-viewing images. Almost every single factor of this camera has been re-designed to suit a professional photographer. Canon has decreased the number of operating buttons and switched to a dial mode. With the Mark III Canon has introduced a Live mode option that helps you in capturing realistic images. It includes a fabulous range of menu options for customising the camera to suit personal requirements. It has also introduced a new S-mode that is a silent shooting modes for a quieter shooting environment. The images need to be shot in RAW mode for getting the maximum benefit of this camera. The flip side is however the price of this camera, which falls in the higher bracket, but anyone who would want to have a lot many professional features, is sure to take this one. |
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Following on heels is the Olympus E-3 Digital SLR Camera. Though the camera is a little bulky, it feels good in the hands of a professional photographer. It comes with an anti-dust technology that prevent the dust from accumulating on the camera lens. This has been designed to withstand the stress and strain of a professional photographer. The Olympus E-series have been a favourite amongst professionals as all of them have been designed to deliver high quality images that can satisfy a proficient user. It comes with new auto-focus system, a powerful sensor, a faster continuous shooting speed and a higher shutter speed. It includes the TruePic III image processing engine that provides better colour effects and improves the tonal details of images. It also includes a higher light sensitivity for sharper images. |
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Close behind them is the Pentax K20D Digital SLR Camera. This camera offers a photo fanatic with a lot of novel features. The Pentax Real Image Engine makes the camera an ideal widget to be used in low light conditions. This imaging engine combined with the Pentax Shake Reduction system, helps deliver blur-free and noiseless images even in low light conditions. A dust alert function provided with this camera checks the dust accumulation in the sensors. A new custom image function allows you to provide finishing touch to an image. It offers a picture resolution of 14 mega-pixels which is a lot. The only flip-side with this camera is its clumsy controls and complex interface. But for these factors this camera is sure to receive a 5-start rating from its users. |
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Following them is the Canon EOS 450D Digital SLR Camera. For anyone on the lookout for an SLR with a lower price tag, this is the one. Packed with stunning features this camera provides users with 12.2 mega-pixels of resolution to play around with. It also has a unique functionality which keeps the noise level low and the image quality high. It uses Canon’s famous DIGIC III processor that helps deliver smoother and well saturated images. These images however require some level of sharpening. But this can be overcome by shooting images in RAW mode. After shooting images in RAW mode users can process them using the Digital Photo Professional software. It comes with a Live View feature which is instrumental in delivering realistic images. However the Live View mode puts a strain on the batteries. |
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Neck to Neck is the Nikon D300 Digital SLR Camera. This is one gizmo that has been designed to deliver maximum satisfaction to professionals. This is a compact piece compared to the others in the market. It provides a picture resolution of 12.3 mega-pixels, that delivers images with finer details. It is a user friendly device with easy to access menu settings and flexible buttons. It has a self-cleaning sensor that maintains the sensor and lens area dust free. The light sensitivity ranges between ISO 200 to ISO 3200, which produces clear and sharp images. Additionally it comes with advanced Scene Recognition Technology that modifies the shape, position and contrast of the image before shooting. However one feature that Nikon could have included in this camera is an automatic self timer and a better white balance performance modes. Still it provides great value for money. |
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Right on heels is the Samsung GX-20 Digital SLR Camera. This camera features a 14.6 mega-pixels resolution, a CMOS sensor and an excellent design. It provides one of the fastest image processing, an optical image stabilisation technique and a high precision 11-point auto focus system. This camera is sturdy, thus making it compatible to be used in wet, sandy or dusty surroundings. It is also water resistant and features a Dual Dust removal system, which prevent dust accumulation on the lenses. Images can easily be switched to be shot in the RAW mode with a one touch RAW button. Images can be shot continuously at the rate of 3 to 9 frames per second. However Samsung could have incorporated a quieter shutter release function and auto-focusing system which is a bit noisy. Also the aperture and shutter speed cannot be changed once the camera is activated. Notably a good piece in the mid-range SLR camera market. |
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Another device that is the result of Nikon’s imaging technology is the Nikon D60 Digital SLR Camera. This camera provides the option of editing photos in the playback mode. You can capture an image in the RAW mode and later change the image to JPEG mode and take another shot. It comes with an eye sensor that switches off the LCD screen once you place the viewfinder to your eye. It includes Vibration Reduction function which produces blur-free images. It provides sharp and realistic images. Nikon has incorporated the active D-lighting function that automatically adjusts the contrast and exposure settings in case of very low light and high lighting areas. This camera with its compact design and large lens is best suited for beginners who want to try out various functions but it may be a little irritating for a professional as all the functions need to be adjusted time and again. |
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Next is the Sony A350 Digital SLR Camera. Introduced by Sony this camera has been roaring with some innovative and clever features. For amateurs venturing into the professional field this is an ideal camera. It comes with a tilting 2.7-inch LCD screen and a Live View mode for realistic images. It provides a 14.2 mega-pixel resolution along with SteadyShot image stabilisation technology. This technology enables additional exposure to deliver blur-free images. The BIONZ processor used in this camera includes a D-range optimiser. This is useful in adjusting the contrast and exposure in very low light and high light areas to produce realistic images. The major advantage of this camera is its price tag, its processor and picture resolution. However the flip sides include clumsy controls, low-grade plastic body and a flappy shutter noise. However it can deliver excellent images. |
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The last position is occupied by the Fujifilm S100 Pro Digital Camera. This one provides a resolution of 11 mega-pixels along with an optical zoom of 14.3x. This means that the images shot can be magnified up-to 14 times its size without any loss to image quality. It offers Face Detection technology and image stabilisation function. This camera delivers sharper images owing to the higher light sensitivity of ISO 3200. Also with its 28-400mm wide angle lens, no image or shot will go un-shot. However the camera needs to be made weather proof to be able to withstand the stress and strain of a professional photographer. |
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