Digital SLR: How to buy the best digital SLR Best digital SLR features
Buying lenses adds to the cost of a digital SLR
The camera features to look for when buying a DSLR
When shopping for a digital SLR, there are certain features that may appeal more than others, and it’s worth considering what you’ll really need, particularly when you’re budgeting for such a potentially expensive piece of equipment.
To find digital SLR reviews of cameras with specific features, try using our handy digital SLRs compare features and prices tool. This lets you select digital SLRs:
- by price
- by manufacturer
- by megapixel count
- by weight
- with HD movie modes
- with Live View screens
Digital SLR resolution
Digital SLRs can be found with high resolutions of 12Mp and above. However, remember that a high resolution will not in itself guarantee great image quality.
A high resolution is useful if you frequently enlarge your photos when printing, or if you’re interested in digitally zooming and cropping images.
These days, most new cameras offer a resolution of at least 10Mp. This still offers plenty of scope for enlarging your prints or digitally cropping pictures, so don't feel obliged to pay for higher resolutions unless you'll really make use of them. It’s worth remembering that high-resolution images take up much more space on a memory card, email or hard drive.
| Digital resolution required for print | |
|---|---|
| Image size for print | Digital resolution required (megapixels) |
| 6x4 inches | 2.2Mp |
| 7x5 inches | 3.2Mp |
| 10x8 inches | 7.2Mp |
Digital SLR lenses
Not all digital SLRs use the same standard of lens fitting, and it’s vital that you check which lenses will be compatible with your camera before buying.
In some cases, you can buy lens adaptors to fit certain lenses to your digital SLR, though you’ll usually have to sacrifice the automatic features of the lens and have to rely on manual focusing only.
Check our expert Which? advice on buying a digital SLR lens for more on picking the right lens for your camera.
Hot shoe connection on digital SLRs
All digital SLRs have hot shoe connections to allow you to connect an external flash or, in some cases, an external microphone for movie recording.
It’s always worth checking that any external attachments you buy will be compatible with your own digital SLR, as some are brand-specific.
Digital SLRs with image stabilisation
Image stabilisation in digital SLRs tends to be vastly more effective than it is in compact digital cameras. In some cases, the image stabiliser may be built in to the body of the camera itself, meaning that it will be functional no matter what lens you attach.
At present, though, it’s more common to find that image stabilisers are built in to specific lens kits rather than the body of the digital SLR itself. This can add to the cost of the lenses as you buy them.
Digital SLRs' Live View function helps you compose your shots
Live View on digital SLRs
Live View is a relatively new innovation for digital SLRs, and it's a feature that may appeal to those more familiar with composing shots on a compact digital camera.
Live View allows you to preview your final shot on the LCD screen as you adjust the digital SLR’s settings, giving you an idea of how your picture will look as you make adjustments.
It’s not possible to perform this preview on a digital SLR’s optical viewfinder. This feature isn't available on all DSLRs, though it’s becoming increasingly popular.
Digital SLRs with rotatable screens
There are times when it can be handy to flip and rotate the LCD monitor on a digital SLR. For example, if you’re holding the camera above you in a crowd, rotating the screen downwards can help you compose a shot.
Alternatively, it can be interesting to photograph objects such as flowers from below rather than from above, and a moveable LCD screen with Live View can make this much easier.
HD movies from digital SLRs are rarely as good as HD camcorders' videos
Movie recording on digital SLRs
It’s increasingly common to find a movie recording function on newer digital SLRs, with a number of models offering HD video recording.
Digital SLRs with HD movie modes include the Canon EOS 500D, the Pentax K-7, the Nikon D90 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1, a micro four-thirds system camera.
If you're keen to record movies in the highest quality, check our expert Which? reviews of the best HD camcorders, where you can find a Best Buy camcorder that's sure to impress.