Cheap DSLR cameras are not "a dime a dozen" as the old saying goes. However, when you consider where digital cameras were with regard to price just a mere 10 years ago, they certainly have come down in price significantly. In fact, how many other products can you name that have been reduced more than 50% over the past 10 years? (Real estate does not count.) Think back to the first sub-thousand dollar digital SLR. Do you know which one it was? If you guessed that it was a Canon Rebel 300D, you win the prize. Nikon was not far behind in the price reduction. Their Nikon D40 was the next contender in the cheap dslr cameras category. Since those two manufacturers set the standard, prices have tumbled to under $500 in some cases. And now, there are even more producers. The truth is that all photography equipment manufacturers have a model or two in contention. This is paying off in a major way for both the new photographer and the manufacturers. People are absolutely flocking to the sales counter to pick up one of these cheap DSLR cameras. Not all the entries of today are true Single Lens Reflex models. The newest models employ "mirrorless" technology. Manufacturing the insides without the use of a mirror allows for a major reduction in the size of the overall unit. The mirrorless models are now barely larger than some of the point and shoot models. In fact, if it were not for the detachable lens protruding from the front, it would be difficult to tell that it was not a point and shoot. This brings up an excellent question. Why do people buy cheap dslr cameras rather than the even less expensive point and shoot models? After all, the technology has also improved on those as well. This is actually and excellent question that begs an answer. The truth is, no matter how much they improve point and shoot models, there are still two areas that cannot compare to the more complex (and, yes, more expensive) models. The first difference is the sensor size. The sensor in the more compact models is a mere fraction of that in even the cheap dslr camera models. With a larger sensor, the images will naturally be of better quality. Even in cases where the pixel count is the same, the physical size of the sensor makes a remarkable difference. The second difference is the reaction time when you press the shutter button. While they are getting better all the time, there is still some shutter lag, or delay, between the time you press the button and the time the photo is recorded. This causes many a disappointed photographer. Even the least expensive of the semi-professional models does not have the shutter lag problem. At the end of the day, you will be so glad you spent the extra money for your expertly crafted piece of photographic equipment, whether it is one of the dirt cheap dslr cameras or just one of the less expensive entry level models.
Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
