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So many choices, especially when it comes to digital cameras. How to choose the best one for your needs, especially if you’re just breaking into digital photography and/or you don’t have a large budget for expensive gear? We can help.
In this article, Photo.net takes a look at basic, entry level DSLRs from the major manufacturers, namely Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax and Olympus. We’re limiting the selection to DSLRs with true optical reflex viewing and to models that are widely available new at a total cost of less than $550 with a lens. That limits the number of possible choices somewhat but there are nevertheless some interesting and capable cameras available. Sigma also make DSLRs, but no current models are available in this price range.
Just as background, here are a few general comments on the camera features of each manufacturer:
Canon – Canon has an extensive system of accessories and lenses and a history of innovation. They had the first lens using an ultrasonic motor, the first lens with built in image stabilization and were the first to use a CMOS sensor. Their crop sensor cameras have a 22.3 × 14.9 mm sensor, giving a “lens multiplication” factor of ~1.6×.
[View the Photo.net Canon Cameras & Equipment Guide.]
Nikon – Like Canon, Nikon has an extensive system of lenses and accessories along with a long history of professional support. They too now have ultrasonic and image stabilized lenses. Current Nikon DSLRs can use many of Nikon’s older manual focus lenses. Nikon crop sensor cameras have a 23.1 × 15.4 mm sensor, with a ~1.5x “lens multiplication” factor.
[View the Photo.net Nikon Cameras & Equipment Guide.]
Sony – Building on the knowledge base of Minolta and Konica-Minolta, Sony has developed an extensive line of cameras. most of which now include image stabilization built into the body of the camera rather than the lens. Sony cameras have the same lens mount as the autofocus Minolta bodies and so can fully use Minolta AF lenses. Their sensors are typically 23.5 × 15.6mm (~1.5x).
[View the Photo.net Sony Cameras & Equipment Guide.]
Pentax – Like Sony, Pentax DSLR bodies now incorporate image stabilization in the body of the camera. Building on their long history, Pentax DSLRs can use any Pentax AF lens, plus earlier manual focus Pentax lenses (an adapter is need for screw mount lenses). Pentax DSLRs typically use 23.7 × 15.7 mm sensors (~1.5x).
[View the Photo.net Pentax & Equipment Guide.]
Sigma – Sigma DSLRs are unique in using a Foveon sensor which measures all three colors (red, green and blue) at each pixel position. Everyone else uses sensors with individual red, green and blue sensitive pixels. Each system has its own set of advantages. Their sensors are typically 20.7 × 13.8mm (1.7x).
[View the Photo.net Sigma Cameras & Equipment Guide.]
Olympus – Olympus chose to go with a “four-thirds” size sensor, approximately 18mm x 12mm, giving a “lens multiplication” factor of ~2×. Most of their bodies now feature built-in image stabilization.
[View the Photo.net Olympus Cameras & Equipment Guide.]
A factor to consider when choosing a DSLR might be 3rd party lens support. The major 3rd party lens makers (Tamron, Tokina and Sigma) pretty much always support the Canon and Nikon systems. Usually they also support Sony and sometimes Pentax. There’s less 3rd party support for Olympus and only Sigma make lenses which are compatible with Sigma DSLRs. This can be something to consider if you have a need for a particular lens that is only available from a 3rd party lens maker, such as, for example, the Tamron 60mm f/2 DI II Macro Lens [Nikon], (compare prices) (review), which isn’t currently available in Pentax or Olympus mounts.
Which cameras cost less than $550 with a lens? If you buy from a reputable dealer and you want a new camera (not used or refurbished) there are currently only 6 options (as of March 2011). All (except for Olympus) come with an 18-55mm lens, which gives about the same field of view as a 28-85mm would on a full frame camera. The Olympus E-620 comes with a 14-42mm zoom, but due to the 2x focal length multiplier, it gives about the same field of view (28-84mm in full frame terms).
In each case, the zoom provides the range from wideangle to short telephoto and is useful for anything from wideangle shots to travel and portraits. None are really long enough for sports and wildlife work.
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS (EOS 1000D)
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS kit, (compare prices) is Canon’s most basic and least expensive DSLR kit. It was introduced in June 2008. The XS is a good starter camera with most of the functions a newcomer to DSLRs is likely to need. It has a full set of automatic and manual exposure modes, good image quality from the 10MP CMOS sensor and good control over noise. Possible limitations are a maximum ISO setting of 1600, no spot metering and only 7 AF zones. There is also no video mode (in fact the Pentax K-x is the only camera with video capability in this group). The Rebel XS uses SD/SDHC memory cards. It is supplied with a Li-ion battery and charger.
The Rebel XS offers DOF (depth of field preview), exposure bracketing over a +/- 2stop range and exposure compensation over a +/- 2 stop range
The Rebel XS can record both JPEGs and RAW images and Canon supply their Digital Photo Professional (DPP) RAW conversion software at no charge. DPP is actually a very good RAW converter with good control over most shooting parameters along with image rotation, image cropping, vignetting correction, chromatic aberration correction and distortion correction (when a compatible Canon lens is used).
The XS kit comes with the Canon EF-S 18-55/3.5-5.6 IS lens. Not a bad lens and the image stabilization is excellent. One of the strengths of the Canon system is the wide selection of lenses from both Canon and 3rd party lens makers.
Nikon D3000
Nikon D3000
Nikon’s offering in this range is the Nikon D3000, 18-55mm VR kit, (compare prices) (review). The D3000 was introduced in July 2009. Like the Canon Rebel XS it has a 10 MP sensor (10.2 MP to be exact). Image quality is good, especially at lower ISO settings and the 11 point AF system works very well. Possible strikes against the D3000 are the lack of any Live View modes and the lack of video capability. Whether a newcomer to DSLRs needs either of these features is a matter of debate. I rarely use either Live View or video myself, but I suspect that users upgrading from a P&S digicam may miss the ability to view and compose images on the LCD screen rather than looking through the optical viewfinder.
The D3000 also lacks depth of field preview and exposure bracketing. While these aren’t essential features for the newcomer, they can be useful.
Nikon supplies their 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom with the D3000. Like the Canon’s lens the Nikon has image stabilization built into the lens.
Olympus E-620
Bob Atkins
The Olympus Evolt E-620 w/14-42mm lens, (compare prices) is something of an “odd man out” in this group since it uses a slightly smaller “Four-Thirds” sensor, while the other DSLRs use the slightly larger “APS-C” sensor. However, despite using a sensor that is physically smaller than that of the other cameras, at 12 MP the pixel count is higher than that of the Canon XS and the Nikon D3000 (10 MP). The E-620 is still available new and there are also some refurbished systems around.
Unlike the Canon and Nikon camera systems which use image stabilized lenses, Olympus put their image stabilization system in the camera body. There are pluses and minuses to this approach. The biggest plus is that you get image stabilization with any lens you mount on the camera body. In principle, non-stabilized lenses should be a little less expensive because they don’t require the added complexity of the motion sensing gyros and motors to move the lens elements around. On the minus side the body stabilized systems may not be quite as effective as the lens based systems.
The AF system of the E-620 is quite advanced with 7 AF zones of which 5 are cross type sensors. Cross type sensors respond to both vertical and horizontal lines in the subject and so may be able to lock focus on targets that simple linear sensors have trouble with.
The E-620 has a 2% spot meter, exposure bracketing (but only over a +/- 1 stop range) and a +/- 5 stop exposure compensation range.
The E-620 has live view, but like most of the other cameras in this group, lacks video capability. A nice feature is that the 2.7" LCD can be swung out from the camera (“Tilt and swivel”) This enables easy low angle and overhead shooting when used in conjunction with the Live View mode.
The Olympus E-620 is supplied with the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Lens. Since the smaller sensor results in a larger “lens multiplier” factor, the coverage of this lens on the Four-Thirds sensor is very similar to the coverage of the 18-55mm lenses on the cameras with APS-C sensors.
Seems like the new Nikon I just bought, the D3100 has been making the most entry-level news in the DSLR business, and your article noticeably neglects the D3100. What happened?
Hi,
this is a fair and reliable article. No futile information, just the important stuff. Begginers, read it carefully!
However the phrase "current Nikon DSLRs can use many of Nikon's older manual focus lenses" is somehow misleading: a cheap Nikon DSLR does not even recognize when such lens is installed...there is no focus confirmation or metering. You're saying the same for Pentax, where you have focus confirmation and metering (plus image stabilizations in body). I think this difference worth the mention.
Best regards,
Valentin
The Nikon D3100, while a great option as an entry-level camera, is out of the price range of the qualifications Bob set for the article ($550 or less).
, March 16, 2011; 06:29 P.M. 
