This article does not actually name a winner among the two kinds of lenses. Rather, it lists the advantages and disadvantages of each kind, and leaves it to the reader to decide which is more appropriate for his or her use. Only general attributes are mentioned, however. The individual models of lenses have their own perks that set them apart from all the others, may they be of a different or a similar kind.

Perhaps the biggest advantage in buying a zoom lens is the fact that it is very versatile. It has a lot of uses, and with it, a photographer can take pictures of a single subject with multiple frames in a matter if seconds. Also, when an opportunity for a great shot presents itself and a photographer has to react in the blink of an eye, the zoom lens is definitely the best lens to use. A zoom lens is also appropriate for shooting subjects that are rapidly moving towards or away from the photographer. When zoom lenses are used, the number of lens changes is minimized. This lessens the hassle and assures that there is less time and effort wasted. This also means that there is less chance of dust getting into the camera’s sensor while changing lenses. However, there are some zoom lenses that push air out or pull air in when adjusted. Dust may also get into the sensor because of this action.

The greatest advantage to fixed-focus lenses, or prime lenses on the other hand, is the speed. It can be used at high shutter speeds, even when there is little light. It is great for taking action shots indoors. When a fast lens is used, the background is also blurred. As a result, the subject is isolated and the results can be very impressive. Fixed-focus lenses are generally cheaper than zoom lenses. However, a photographer may need to buy a number of these fixed-focus lenses if he wants to be able to cover the same range of distances and focal lengths as a single zoom lens. However, if you have more than one lens, you are always sure to have a back-up in case something goes wrong.

Digital Camera

Digital cameras come with a dial that allows you to choose the mode suited to the kind of picture you want to take of your subject without having to worry about the appropriate shutter speed or lens aperture. The right combination of shutter speed and lens aperture is automatically set by the camera once a shooting mode is selected.

These modes are represented by certain symbols found on a dial on the camera. You want to fully understand what such symbols represent, and what type of shooting situations they are suited for. The modes are:

• Automatic. This is represented by an image of a camera with the words “AUTO” underneath. It is the setting you use when you do not need any special effect.

• Landscape. The symbol for this is two mountains. It is used to capture expansive sceneries, keeping both the foreground and the distant images in sharp focus.

• Sports/Action. Symbolized by a running athlete, this mode allows you to freeze your subject’s action. Its fast shutter speed eliminates blurring, and can also be used to take a series of shots in rapid succession.

• Macro/Portrait. The symbol for this mode is a flower. It enables you to take very close and frame-filling photos of your subject such as a flower. Pictures such as these are very powerful as they allow your viewer to see minute details about your subject.

• Night landscape. A star is added to the two mountains of the landscape mode to signify that this setting is for low-light conditions. In this mode, a slow shutter speed is set to allow nighttime colors to pass through your camera’s lenses. With this slow shutter, however, be sure to maintain a steady hold on your camera. Better yet, use a tripod.

• Night portrait. For this mode, a star is set beside a human image. It is intended to soften the background of your subject when taking photos at night or in low-light conditions. This will enhance your subject and lessen any distraction from the background. You may further strengthen your subject’s image by keeping it within flash range.

• Party. This is symbolized by a party hat, and is intended for taking indoor pictures in the nighttime or in low-light settings.

• Sunset. A figure of the sun sinking into a sea of horizontal lines depicts this mode and is meant is take great pictures of sunsets. It automatically selects the best exposure and white balance settings that will faithfully portray the whole range of colors seen during sunsets.

A few new models of digital cameras may include additional modes but these are the most commonly featured settings. Get acquainted with them through constant use, and your pictures will soon start looking like they’ve been taken by a pro.

Landscape

Although there are a lot of possible subjects even just within your residence and your neighborhood, there are a lot more if you take the time to go the woods and the wilderness. Mountains, lakes, beaches, trees, shrubs, and wild flowers offer endless possibilities for extraordinary pictures.

It is not enough, however, to merely point and shoot your camera at a spectacular sight to create a spectacular picture. You will want to remember a few tips to capture a picture you can show your family and friends with pride.

When taking a picture of a beautiful landscape, you will want to include something a little bit more striking than the rest of the photograph. Without this, the viewer’s eyes will only wander around the scenery, thus, actually seeing nothing. The eyes will need to rest on something. And this could be a snow-capped mountain, a cluster of flowers with colors that contrasts with the background, a tree with gnarled branches, or anything that catches the eye of the viewer.

You may also want to include any interesting object in the foreground. Apart from adding depth to your picture, it also serves as the object where a viewer’s eye could rest. In a photo of a lake where the water is dark, for example, you can put a bright red boat in the foreground.

Keep the rule of thirds in mind. A landscape could get boring if the point-of-interest is positioned in the middle of the photo. Imagine two vertical and two horizontal lines dividing your frame into nine equal parts. Try to position your subject at those places where the vertical and horizontal lines intersect. The rule also holds true for the horizon in your picture. It should be positioned on either of your imaginary horizontal lines.

The height of a waterfall or the girth of trees may not be apparent in a picture without any reference. The easiest way to convey size is to include people in your photo. Sometimes it is the size of the main subject that impresses the viewer.

In landscape shots, sometimes lines formed by roads or fences can be used to direct attention to your point of interest. For example, in a photo of an old farmhouse in the distance, you can position the road leading to it in the foreground, allowing it to direct a viewer’s eye to the house.

The best time for landscape photography is from early morning until shortly after sunrise, and in the late afternoon. Lights are softer and the long shadows could be manipulated to produce dramatic effects.

Go out and explore the wilderness. And then come back with great pictures.

Bird At Flower

The great outdoors is an inexhaustible source of great pictures, yet you don’t need to go hiking into the wilderness to capture fantastic photos. You can start with your garden. The vibrant colors and pleasing shapes of the flowers in your garden often make pictures equally vibrant and pleasing. Apart from flowers, you can also try your neighborhood birds. They, too, are lovely subjects

Picking the Flowers

When photographing flower, or a cluster of flowers, eliminate any background that might compete with its colors. For example, when photographing a bright yellow rose, be sure there are no equally bright colors behind it, such as orange or bright red. This will only distract the viewers’ attention. A good solution to this if you cannot move the distracting background is to place a black cardboard right behind the yellow rose.

Try to get as close to the flower as your camera will allow. Use the close-up mode of your camera. This is usually indicated in the dial as a, well, flower. With this mode, your subject will fill up your viewfinder or LCD screen and display its minute details.

Approach your subject from different angles. Some flowers are better photographed from the top. Others look better when taken at their own levels. If your camera is one of those that have an LCD screen that can be flipped, you may even want to try taking a photo from a low angle. Study your subjects carefully before pressing your shutter.

Lights greatly affect your pictures so use them creatively. Backlighting is a favorite technique of photographers. This simply means allowing light to come from behind a subject. You will need to experiment on the amount of light coming from behind and on its angle but once you find a good balance, you can give the flower a wonderful radiance.

Shooting the Birds

You can attract birds into your garden by constructing a bird feeder. Position it in a way that you get a good background when shooting the birds—with your camera. Be sure to provide a good supply of bird seeds so your guests will keep coming back.

Try to get as close as possible to the birds without scaring them. If you cannot get close enough, use your camera’s zoom to its maximum to capture the image. You can crop the picture later with your photo editing software to come up with a frame-filling photo that gives more impact. Remember to blur the background for even more emphasis on the subject.

If you think just getting out of your house to shoot will scare the birds away, you can still take a picture behind your window. In situations like this, zoom lenses are useful. If you are shooting behind a glass pane, switch your camera to infinity mode, indicated by a symbol of a mountain, so that it will focus on the birds and not the glass.

As with any other picture, lighting is important. When photographing birds, it is best to take them either in the early morning or late afternoon. The soft lights and long shadows help create a dramatic picture.

Even if you are not the outdoor type who goes hiking in the wilderness, you still have ample opportunity to create beautiful nature pictures. All you need to do is look around your house.

Baby Boy Picture

Babies are great subjects for photography. They are beautiful, uninhibited, and spontaneous. And if it is your own baby you want to capture on your camera’s image sensor, or on film, you will definitely want to make the picture look great.

You will also want to record every “first” your baby goes through. So take your camera out of the closet and practice using it. You may also want to learn a few tips.

1) Go down to the baby’s level. This may require you to sit or even lie down but the baby’s expressive eyes and captivating smile will be well worth the effort. You don’t have to get the baby to look at the camera. This task is close to impossible. Getting down to their eye level is enough to provide your picture with a personal touch.

2) You can create a more powerful picture by isolating the baby from its surroundings. By opening up your camera aperture you can decrease the depth of field. If you focus correctly on the baby, your large aperture will blur any distracting background. Of course you can simply carry the baby and place it against an uncluttered background. You can also move around your subject, taking pictures as you go. One way or another you will come up with a picture with a clean background.

3) A smiling or laughing baby makes for a great picture. But so does one who is frowning, crying, scared, yawning, or even screaming. Try to capture the gamut of the baby’s emotions. It is natural for them to experience a wide range of emotions and to display them candidly. Besides, it will be fun showing those pictures to the baby 10 or 15 years later.

4) Get up close. This should create a very powerful picture as your subject dominates the entire photograph. It focuses attention on the baby to the exclusion of everything else.

5) To record the growth of the baby, photograph it at regular intervals and try to show some scale. For instance, if the baby was born on the 1^st day of January, take a picture every 1^st day of the month. And when you do, show the baby in a fixed part of your house, or yard, or any permanent structure. This should give the viewer an idea of the baby’s size.

Take pictures as often as possible. Time flies so fast you won’t even notice your baby has turned into a toddler. A few more minutes and the child is a pre-schooler. Do not limit your photographs only to selected special moments in your baby’s young life. Instead, photograph as many moments as you can.

Boy with Camera - Courtesy-www.fotosearch.com

Photography can be an exciting hobby where you can express your creativity and discover new subjects and new ways of looking at old subjects. However, if you are new to this pursuit, you have a few things to learn before you can fully appreciate photography’s pleasures.

To take great photos, you will want to remember these basic concepts:

1) Composition. Although it has long been said that the whole is greater than its parts, the parts must complement and be in proportion with each other. In photography, you have to consider all the elements that make a good picture. You have to study your subject, the foreground, background, lighting, and focus. This is because any single one of these elements going awry will result in an unsatisfactory picture. You may have a small boy smiling brightly at the camera but if you missed the tree branch that appears to have sprouted from his head, the picture isn’t worth much.

2) Subject. Know your subject. Sometimes you want to show too many things in a photo that you end up showing nothing. If you are unsure of what subject you want to highlight lower your camera, study the area, and consider the possibilities. Your subject doesn’t need to be big or colorful. A small ant can make a good subject. So can a tall tower.

3) The Rule of Thirds. The center of the photograph is not necessarily the best part to position your subject. Research has shown that the human eye is naturally drawn to areas around the center of the picture. Mentally divide the picture into three equal parts both vertically and horizontally. The points in which your imaginary lines intersect are the best places to locate your subject. The areas along the lines are the second best.

4) Foreground and Background. Before pressing your camera shutter, be sure to examine everything in front and behind your subject. Take care to check if there is any unwanted clutter around your subject or anything sticking out of it. A picture of a young girl receiving her first communion could be ruined by little boys giggling in the background.

5) Focus. By adjusting your camera’s aperture settings, you can control which part of your picture will be in sharp focus and which part will be fuzzy. You can choose to have a blurred foreground to direct attention to your subject and its background, or, conversely, blur the background and focus on your subject and foreground.

6) Lighting. Lighting could make or break your picture. Study the lights on and around your subject before shooting. Often, because of the uneven contour of your subjects, light that is reflected on it is uneven. A portion of the subject’s face, for instance, may be shaded. You will need to correct this either by using light reflectors or fill flash, or by repositioning your subject.

There are a lot more lessons to learn to be able to create a great picture, but for a beginner, these are the steps that point you into the right direction.

Digicams Courtesy - fotosearch.com

Digicams, or fixed-lens digital cameras, differ from their more expensive cousins, the DSLR, or digital single lens reflex cameras. If you are in the market for a camera but cannot decide which of the two you would rather buy, read on.

There are a few you things you should know about DSLRs and how they differ from digicams before investing your dollars in them. You definitely do not want to buy a camera now and regret it later.

Single lens reflex cameras use an automatic mirror system that allows the user to see the exact image that his camera will capture. This is called WYSIWYG, meaning What You See Is What You Get. The lenses gather the light forming the image, while an angled mirror reflects this light and sends it, through a pentaprism, to the viewfinder. When the shutter is pressed, the mirror folds to allow the light to fall directly on the film or, in DSLR cameras, the digital sensor.

Zooming in with DSLR cameras is done manually. Focusing can also be done manually if desired. These are usually faster, more precise, and more responsive than electronic zooms. In addition to this, DSLRs usually feature full manual override of the different camera features, such as ISO sensitivity, white balance, aperture, and shutter speed.

These features of the DSLRs result in photos that have better image quality than those taken by fixed lens digicams. Low image noise and a better retention of details allow DSLRs to score better than the digicams. This is especially true at higher ISO levels. The dynamic range of luminance that DSLRs can capture is also wider. This results in more pronounced contrasts of light and darkness.

As far as color, white balance, and exposure are concerned, both types of cameras are basically equal in capability.

DSLRs can focus and shoot faster than digicams. Start-up times and the gap between one shot and the next are also shorter. These features are fully appreciated when shooting subjects in action, such as in sporting events or modeling.

The two main objections to DSLRs are the price and sensor dust. Even the cheapest DSLR is more expensive that the average fixed-lens camera. If you choose to buy two or more lenses, the cost soars even higher. Sensor dust refers to the possibility of dust getting into the camera sensor while changing lenses.

Other issues include the bulk of the camera and its loud shutter noise. The bulky frames of DSLRs make them rather inconvenient and cumbersome to carry.  Indeed, there is an unacknowledged rule that the larger the camera, the less pictures are taken. Some people object to the loud shutter noise of these cameras as they can be distracting in quiet places, such as in a courtroom or chapel.

The bottom line is the purpose for which you will use your camera. If you are the average new father who just wants photos to document his baby’s first years, you don’t need a pricey DSLR. When the baby grows older and begins learning how to ride a bike or a horse and begins exploring places away from home, that’s the time you start thinking about moving up to a DSLR.

Camera Courtesy -fotosearch.com

People who use film cameras, whether these people are professionals, amateurs, or fathers taking photos of their kids, are dwindling. You can easily feel like a dinosaur walking around with your good old 35 mm film camera. Switching to a digital camera, however, can be a wrenching experience. This is especially true if you and your film camera have spent countless hours capturing all kinds of images in all kinds of places. And there are all those new words you have to learn like megapixels, firmware, digital zoom, grayscale, or PictBridge.

Still, if digital cameras are not better, why is almost everybody making the switch? Here is why:

• There are no film and developing costs. With digital photography you can take all the pictures you want, view and manipulate them in your computer, and throw away those you don’t like. And you can do all these at zero marginal cost.

• The 35 mm film rolls typically come in 12, 24, or 36 exposures. Memory cards or memory sticks used with digital cameras can store literally hundreds of photographs. There are even extreme cards that can hold thousands. If you want your film camera to have the shooting capacity of the digitals, you will have to carry a load of film rolls. Otherwise, you will have to be more selective with what you shoot.

• Digital cameras allow you to immediately view your pictures via the LCD screen. Thus, if you are not satisfied with the photo, you can take another one, and another one until you are satisfied. You do not have to wait until your photos are developed and printed before you can see them.

• Since digital photos are digital media files, they can be edited with the use of photo processing software. Colors, contrasts, and brightness can be enhanced. Redeye can be banished. In the case of film-based photos, you will have to scan them before they can be edited with computer software.

• Digital cameras are more adaptable to changing shooting conditions. In one photo session you may have to shoot outdoors with the bright sun in the background, then move indoors where the light is low. Maybe you have to shoot both stationary and moving subjects. A digital camera allows you to adjust its settings for each picture you take. With a film camera, you will have to change your film if you need to go to a different setting.

• While printed pictures fade over time, digitally stored photos do not change their quality. If you keep your digital files you can always have new prints whenever you want to.

With all these advantages, it is really not surprising why film-based cameras are on their way to becoming relics of a bygone era.

Digital Cameras

When we see photographers carrying Canon EOS 40D’s or Nikon D700s we often think those cameras must take great pictures. If we happen to be taking pictures of our friends or kids with our Canon PowerShot A 590 IS or a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W150 at the time, we may even shy away from taking more pictures and pocket our small cameras instead. It is true that those high-end SLRs can take world-class photographs. It is also true that entry-level cameras can take phenomenal pictures. The truth is, great pictures are taken by great photographers, not great cameras.

There are a few tips lesser mortals like us could use to make our photos look like a million dollars.

When shooting outdoors we normally just point the camera and shoot. If we have live subjects, we may tell them to smile, say “ready” and press the shutter. That’s it. No adjustments. Just use the default settings. Next time you shoot outdoors, try adjusting the white balance from the default auto to cloudy. This enhances the reds and yellows of your image, making it look warmer and more alive.

Polarizing filters are useful tools when taking pictures outdoors, especially of landscapes. They reduce glare and unwelcome reflections and they produce rich and saturated colors. If you don’t have these filters, or if your camera doesn’t accommodate them, take off your polarized sunglasses, hold them as close to the camera lens as possible and take your shot. Be sure you don’t shoot the rims of the glasses.

Use the fill flash or flash on mode. We often think of the flash as something to use indoors, or when it is dark. Not anymore. Use the flash on mode to illuminate your subject when he or she or it is under a shade. You can also use it if there is a bright light coming from the back or side of the subject resulting in uneven lighting over its surface. This technique is called rim lighting and if you position your subject at just the right angle to the lights, you can come up with great pictures.

You can also try to get up close and personal with your subjects. Switch your camera to macro or close up mode. In some cameras this setting is symbolized by a flower. Get as close as possible to any subject you like. It could be a flower, an insect, or a shell. Point your camera, wait for it to focus, then press the shutter. For photos like these, the depth-of-field is very shallow, so take care to focus on that part of the subject you want to be sharp.

Professional photographers with their SLRs are not the only ones who can take pictures depicting motion. You can take them with your PowerShot. This model features manual shutter speed control. If you set the shutter speed to 1 second or more you can portray flowing rivers. You will want to use a tripod for these long-exposure shots to avoid camera shake. And it is also wise to use the self-timer to activate the shutter. The picture will show the water in motion with all other objects around it staying sharp and focused.

So go ahead, take your pictures.  And remember, it’s not the camera, it’s the photographer.

Download the update to version 1.02 here.

Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera

Average customer review:

Description

Includes Nikon 18-200 Zoom Lens / Auto and Manual Focus and Exposure Modes / CompactFlash Memory Card Slot / Video HDMI and USB outputs TTL full-aperture exposure metering Integrated Dust Reduction System with self-cleaning ultrasonic sensor unit minimizes degradation of image quality due to dust particles Two LiveView shooting modes, Hand-held or Tripod is perfect when shooting in a studio, remote situations or from challenging angles Picture Control settings give photographers dramatically advanced color control with 4 preset options – Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome, as well as 9 customizable settings Rugged magnesium-alloy construction and durable shutter mechanism Edit Delete Function – - Card format, All photographs delete, Selected photographs delete Sensitivity – ISO 200 to 3200 in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV HDMI 1.3 – Composite A/V – USB connectivity ports Text Input – Up to 36 characters of alphanumeric text Lens Mount – Nikon F Mount with AF coupling and AF contacts Built-in Speedlight – Manual pop-up with button release Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) – Approx. 5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in. (147 x 114 x 74 mm); Weight – Approx. 1.82 lbs. (825 g) without battery Supplied Accessories* – EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, MH-18a Quick Charger, UC-E4 USB Cable, EG-D100 Video Cable, AN-D300 Strap, BM-8 LCD monitor cover, Body cap, DK-5 Eyepiece Cap, DK-23 Rubber Eyecup, Software Suite CD-ROM; *May vary

D300 Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1188 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Nikon
• Model: 9481
• Dimensions: 10.00" h x 14.00" w x 12.00" l, 7.00 pounds

Features

• 12.3-megapixel captures enough detail for poster-size photo-quality prints
• Kit includes 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Nikkor zoom lens
• 3.0-inch LiveView LCD display; new 51-point AF system
• In burst mode, shoots up to 100 shots at full 12.3-megapixel resolution
• Self-cleaning sensor unit; magnesium alloy construction with rubber gaskets and seals

“As for photo quality, the D300 delivers great results, with a visibly superior noise profile to the D200 as well as to the Sony DSLR-A700 (which uses the same sensor). At their best, photos are sharp, with excellent exposures, accurate colors, and broad tonal ranges. Flash with the SB-800 Speedlight unit especially showed off how well the metering system works, with none of the harsh, overexposed look that I frequently get on the most difficult shots. (For more details on the photo quality, click through the slide show.)

Although the lack of in-body stabilization can be a big liability for certain users, and its interface not quite as streamlined as I’d like, these negatives are more than offset by the great performance and class-leading photo quality delivered by the Nikon D300–earning it an Editors’ Choice.”

The Nikon D300

Our Price: $2,449.95

Average Customer Rating:

D300 Features
12.3-megapixel captures enough detail for poster-size photo-quality prints
Kit includes 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Nikkor zoom lens
3.0-inch LiveView LCD display; new 51-point AF system
In burst mode, shoots up to 100 shots at full 12.3-megapixel resolution
Self-cleaning sensor unit; magnesium alloy construction with rubber gaskets and seals

Suggested D300 Accessories
Nikon 85mm f/2.8 PC Micro Nikkor Manual Focus Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Nikon 24mm f/2.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Nikon 28mm f/2.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Related ItemsNikon MB-D10 Multi Power Battery Pack for Nikon D300 DSLR Cameras
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
TechPower Premium Battery for Nikon D300 Digital Camera

Nikon D300 DX details

Includes Nikon 18-200 Zoom Lens / Auto and Manual Focus and Exposure Modes / CompactFlash Memory Card Slot / Video HDMI and USB outputs

TTL full-aperture exposure metering Integrated Dust Reduction System with self-cleaning ultrasonic sensor unit minimizes degradation of image quality due to dust particles

Two LiveView shooting modes, Hand-held or Tripod is perfect when shooting in a studio, remote situations or from challenging angles

Picture Control settings give photographers dramatically advanced color control with 4 preset options – Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome, as well as 9 customizable settings.

The bottom line: Visibly better photo quality and slightly improved performance make the Nikon D300 a significant upgrade over the D200 and an excellent all-around choice.

The Nikon Coolpix P60

Features

8.1-megapixel resolution for stunning prints as large as 16 x 20 inches
5x optical zoom; vibration reduction
2.7-inch high-resolution LCD; Electronic Viewfinder
In-Camera Red-Eye Fix; enhanced Face-Priority AF automatically focuses on up to 12 faces
Capture images to SD memory card (not included)

The Nikon Coolpix P60

Features

8.1-megapixel resolution for stunning prints as large as 16 x 20 inches
5x optical zoom; vibration reduction
2.7-inch high-resolution LCD; Electronic Viewfinder
In-Camera Red-Eye Fix; enhanced Face-Priority AF automatically focuses on up to 12 faces
Capture images to SD memory card (not included)

The Olympus SP-570UZ

Features

10-megapixel image sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
20x optical dual image-stabilized zoom
2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD
Perfect Fix in-camera editing; includes Olympus Master 2 software
Stores images on xD Picture Cards (not included)

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ10

Features

10-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-sized prints
5x wide-angle optical zoom; Mega Optical Image Stabilized
2.5-inch Intelligent LCD screen; Face Detection
Intelligent ISO; Intelligent Scene Selector
Captures images to SD memory cards (not included)

Watch the video preview done by DigitalCameraInfo.com

The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi joins a successful line of Rebels that rank as the manufacturer’s top seller. This 12.2-megapixel entry-level DSLR is the third in the series. The XSi incorporates features borrowed from its flagship professional cameras, mixed with functions targeted for its PowerShot customers to cater to the point-and-shooter upgrading to an SLR for the first time. With its added features of Live View, Spot metering, improved autofocus, and faster burst shooting, combined with an image-stabilized kit lens, the Digital Rebel XSi is sure to do well in the market. It still faces competition from Nikon, Sony, and Pentax, all of which undercut the XSi’s near-$900 kit price. Despite that, we anticipate Canon’s brand recognition and history of the Digital Rebel will make the XSi a favorite among entry-level DSLR consumers.

The Canon Digital Rebel XSi will be available in both black and silver finishes, and sold as body only or in kit form with the new Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Image Stabilized IS zoom lens.

The 10 mega pixel Alpha DSLR-A300

• 10.2 effective Megapixel CCD
• Supports all Minolta/Sony Alpha-mount lenses with a 1.5X focal length conversion ratio
• Sensor-shift image stabilization
• Live view on a 2.7-inch, tilt-able LCD display (with 230k pixels)
  • Sony uses a secondary CCD near the viewfinder to provide the live view; they did things differently than Olympus did with the E-330, though — there’s a tilting mirror instead of a prism, so the viewfinder is still bright
  • Due to the design of the live view system, the camera can use phase detection AF at any time; no mirror flipping necessary!
• Optical viewfinder has 0.74X magnification and 95% coverage
• Dust reduction system uses image stabilizer to shake dust off the sensor
• Full manual controls; ISO goes to 3200, shutter speed range is 30 – 1/4000 sec
• Can shoot up to 6 RAWs or an unlimited number of JPEGs at 3 frames/second
• 9-point center cross AF sensor
• Hot shoe for external flash
• CompactFlash Type I/II slot
• Optional battery grip
• Uses NP-FM500H li-ion battery; 730 shots per charge with LV off, and 410 shots with LV on
• USB 2.0 High Speed supported
• Ships with an 18 – 70 mm lens this April for $800

The 14 mega pixel Alpha DSLR-A350

• 14.2 effective Megapixel CCD
• Burst rate drops to 2 frames/second
• Shipping in March for $800 body only, or $900 with the 18 – 70 mm lens

In addition to the new D-SLRs, Sony also announced two new zoom lenses, both of which use Sony’s Super Sonic Wave Motor for silent focusing. Here they are:

• F2.8, 24 – 70 mm Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* lens – ships this spring for $1750
• F4.5-5.6, 70 – 300 mm Sony lens – ships this spring for $800