Most people will be surprised and some will also disagree with me but most (and I mean most consumer level digital SLR's) are created for the most part equal. Some have more megapixels, some a faster frame rate, some give you less noise when shooting at high ISO and some are just way more expensive. You as the consumer have to balance your budget, justify expenses and understand that unless your equipment is paying for itself, this is just a hobby. Your choice of lens is as critical if not more critical than your camera purchase.
The two main players in the digital SLR field are Nikon and Canon. Each of these manufacturers are renowned for their high quality products, commitment to excellent consumer support and ability to offer products that can perform admirably at just about any price and budget. There are other players such as Pentax, Sony, Olympus and more but I choose to stick with the two most prominent as they will offer more selection down the road to your ever growing collection of equipment.
Nikon offers the D series of cameras. They have three categories of digital cameras. Essential DSLR (D40, D60), Advanced DSLR (D80, D200, D300, D90) and Professional DSLR (D2XS, D3 and D700) ranging from about $400 - $5000+. Canon as well offers a complete line of cameras ranging in price from about $500 - $8000+. The entry level Rebel is one of their most popular cameras. The price and performance are very good. The EOS-1DS MKIII is pretty much the top of the food chain in digital SLR cameras. All of these cameras all have the ability to capture stop action photography. It's the advancement in technology, camera construction and overall durability and quality that make the difference from lower end to high end. While those of you who don't have a DSLR camera yet may be somewhat intimidated by the fact that JUST the camera costs more than your Point and shoot and the camera has no lens yet. Remember that it's all about the extensible ability of the camera. You need to have FULL control of your settings to shoot sports with any amount of success and consistency. If you are looking at upgrading to a DSLR or want to upgrade your current DSLR to something higher end, it is always best to do your budget first and to decide the most important features you need.
The choices while seemingly endless can be based on two things. What you NEED and what you can AFFORD. If we all had buckets of money, we would go out and buy the best of everything regardless of price or need. In the real world, most of us balance ourselves by looking at what we REALLY need and then apply our budget to it. There are always gives and takes. The following is a list of features and how they are important to shooting sports.
1. Megapixels
In the last couple years, the average size of a camera's Megapixel has drastically increased. From the standard 6.1 we now have cameras ranging all the way to nearly 22 megapixels and most are at least 10. While the average camera user is really impressed by the amount of Megapixels a camera has, they really aren't that critical. How many times do you intend on making a poster or billboard sized print of your subject? Every entry level DSLR that is currently sold will make photos EASILY up to 12 x 18 and even larger without any problem whatsoever.
2. ISO Range
Most cameras range from 50 or 100 ISO up to around 1600. For most users this range is more than adequate. ISO allows you to capture photos at a higher shutter rate in lower light. It effectively increases the camera's sensor to be more sensitive to light thus giving you the flexibility to maintain a higher shutter speed. Higher ISO settings on most consumer cameras will start creating a "grainy" effect on your photos. This is called noise. On the advanced professional DSLR cameras, new technology has allowed them to create ISO settings up to 25,600 with only marginal noise! It is amazing what $6000 will buy you these days!
3. FPS and Shutter response time
The number of Frames per second and the quickness that your camera will respond to a depressed shutter release are very important but again, not so much that you need to be concerned. An entry level DSLR will likely perform up to 3 FPS which is likely all you are going to need. My cameras will perform up to 11FPS but I can tell you that I have NEVER used that power in all my years of shooting. The one thing it does offer you is the comfort of knowing that you will have the quickness when it is needed. Equally as important is your latent response time. This is the amount of time it takes for your shutter to respond when you have pushed the release button. The quicker the response, the better chance you have of getting the shot. For most beginners and aspiring amateurs, you will not have many concerns with any of the entry level cameras as you likely won't be shooting any NASCAR or Sprint Aerobatics. Learning your sports and being able to follow the action will make you that much better anyway!
4. Other Features
Body construction, image processor, ergonomic design and overall feel of the camera are very important aspects. How your camera handles and feels is critical as you may be holding it for extended periods of time. Optional vertical grips are available on most consumer DSLR's. The grip allows you to load an extra battery and will give you the flexibility to shoot vertical orientation (most sports photos are done this way) with a second button located on the right side of the grip. Most professional level DSLR's have an integrated grip with this button. The image processor is less of a concern on most entry level cameras as your frame rate will never exceed the capacity of the camera buffer. On higher level cameras with larger image size, the processor ensures a quick read to right time so that the camera can continue to take photos in large batches. The newest Canon boasts 110 continuous frames at 10 FPS!
IN SHORT
While this is not a complete or comprehensive buying guide, it is more than enough information to get you on the path to making well educated decisions about your camera needs. It is also a good guideline to begin your understanding of some of the terminology that will be important as you get further into photography. You need to be comfortable with your camera and familiar with its abilities. A good photographer will always make the absolute most with what they have.
Mike Cheliak is the founder of Mike's Commando Guide where you can learn to get the most out of your digital photography experience and truly shoot like a pro. Sign up for our free newsletter at: http://www.mikescommandoguide.com.
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