| Considering you can spend between $400 and $3500 | | | | megapixels, as they are two completely different |
| for a good Nikon SLR camera these days, it would | | | | specifications. A 10 megapixel compact camera may |
| behoove, any potential buyer to do their homework, | | | | have a 7.19mm x5.27mm image sensor, while a 10 |
| and understand what they are getting. There are | | | | megapixel SLR camera may have a 28.7mm x |
| obviously quite a few differences between the bottom | | | | 17.8mm image sensor. The SLR will obviously take a |
| of the Nikon SLR line D40, and the top of the line D3, | | | | better picture. |
| currently selling in the mid 3K price range. I'm obviously | | | | Camera lenses are much more tangible, and we can |
| only referring only to the realm of digital cameras here. | | | | at least, quite literally get a feel for them. A well |
| So, if your looking for film only camera gems like the | | | | constructed heavy lens, is simply going to feel better |
| Nikon F2, you'll have to look elsewhere. | | | | than a cheap light, plastic lens. While weight is obviously |
| Two of the biggest determining factors in the price of | | | | not the main factor to be considered here, you can get |
| the digital SLRs from Nikon (or any camera | | | | a good feel for the lens you'll be buying, and how it |
| manufacturer), are lens quality and image sensor size. | | | | works by holding it. |
| Pretty much everyone is familiar with what a lens is, | | | | The biggest factor in good pictures, however, has |
| but image sensor is perhaps not so obvious. An image | | | | nothing to do with the camera, and everything to do |
| sensor is inside the camera, and replaces the film of | | | | with the person holding the camera. You! It's good to |
| old school cameras. Larger image sensors collect | | | | look around, do your research, and see what cameras |
| more light, dynamic range, and will result in less image | | | | are out there before making your actual purchase. |
| noise. Don't confuse image sensor size with | | | | |