Shopping Tips How to Choose DLSR Camera

At the time of writing this post there are a large range of DSLRs currently on the market (with a fresh batch of them set to be announced in the new year).

I’m a Canon user so my recommendations will reflect this below. Here are three that you might like to consider.

Canon EOS 400D (Digital Rebel XTi) – I had the opportunity to play with this camera last week for a day and while I was a little skeptical at first as it’s fairly much an entry level DSLR I came away from testing it quite impressed. It has a 10.1 megapixel sensor, 2.5 inch LCD and all the features you’ll need to switch into manual (and semi manual) modes.

It is a camera with a lighter feel than the 30D (below) which will leave some feeling as though it might be a little light on – however this adds to it’s portability.

This is a good camera if you’re a little nervous about stepping out of point and shoot land and want something that is easy to use. Compare prices on the Canon EOS 400D from around the web.

Canon EOS 30D – if there’s one DSLR that I’ve recommended more than any other it is the 30D. I’ve owned it’s predecessor for a few years now (the 20D) and have loved it but the 30D has a few nice extra features that make it worth the upgrade.

The 30D is has an 8.2 megapixel sensor and nice large 2.5 inch LCD as well as an array of other features that give you plenty of opportunity to explore your photographic ability (as well as a good Auto mode for when you hand it over to a digital camera novice). This is a more serious camera than the 400D (it’s more solid in your hands too) but it is very user friendly also.

It is positioned nicely between the entry level and Professional models going around and produces wonderful images. Compare prices on the Canon EOS 30D from around the web.

Canon EOS 5D - this camera will be out of reach of most of us (although I’m saving up) but I wanted to include it as it’s the best camera I’ve had the privilege of testing so far (in fact I’ve had it for the last 3 weeks and I just don’t want to send it back).

The 5D is not at the very top of the Canon DSLR range but it is not cheap and is aimed at the higher end amateur digital photographer who knows what they are doing. It doesn’t have a built in flash and there are no semi-auto modes on the dial (at this level you wouldn’t need them). It has a 12.8MP full frame sensor, 2.5 inch LCD, weighty magnesium body and a list of features longer than my arm.

This camera has great reviews from around the web and is high on my own personal wish list. Compare prices on the Canon EOS 5D from around the web.

Of course there are more options than just Canon DSLRs.

While I’ve not extensively tested them I have friends with the Nikon D200 and the Nikon D70s who are more than satisfied with their cameras also. Nikon’s DSLRs get highly recommended in reviews around the web and you’ll not go wrong in going with them either.

Why Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8?

The 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro HSM II is one of Sigma’s latest lenses, which was first announced in December 2007 for Canon, Nikon and Sigma, with a slew of follow-on releases adding compatibility for the remaining SLR mounts (i.e. Four Thirds, Sony and Pentax; however none of these versions are yet shipping). It’s a successor to the 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro HSM of February 2006, with a refined optical layout offering improved optical performance, and becomes the fourth iteration of the same basic EX design first unveiled in 1999 (which was itself preceded by a well-respected 70-210mm F2.8 for 35mm). The HyperSonic Motor (HSM) focusing system promises fast, silent and accurate autofocus for users of all brands of DSLR, although Pentax users should be aware that this lens is effectively of ‘KAF-3′ mount specification, and therefore won’t focus on bodies which don’t support SDM lenses. Aside from that specific incompatibility, this is a design which will work on almost every DSLR ever made, and is therefore of unusually broad buyer appeal.

Sigma are fond of using a plethora of letters in their lens names (presumably on the principle that when faced with a choice, potential buyers will purchase the one with the most initials) and the 70-200mm declares its credentials accordingly. ‘EX’ stands for ‘Excellence’ and designates Sigma’s premium lens line, with superior build and optical quality, while ‘DG’ means that the lens coatings are optimized for use on digital SLRs, and the image circle covers the full-frame 35mm format. Finally ‘Macro’ is a pointer towards the closer-than-usual minimum focusing distance of just 1m, which compares favorably to the 1.5m more typical of lenses of this class, although it has recently been trumped by the 0.95m of Tamron’s SP AF 70-200mm F2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro.

Of course as one of Sigma’s flagship lenses, the 70-200mm F2.8 boasts a suitably complex optical design, featuring 18 elements in 15 groups, two of which are Extraordinary Low Dispersion (ELD) glass and two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass for correction of chromatic aberrations. Other attractions include internal focusing and zooming mechanisms, and a quick-release tripod mount collar which can be removed from the lens in seconds. On paper at least, this is a lens which might interest a huge number of photographers across a range of abilities; so is it worthy of that interest?

Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX design history

• 70-200mm F2.8 EX APO – Original version, minimum focus distance 1.8m (1999)
• 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG – Adds ‘digitally optimized’ lens coatings to reduce flare (2005)
• 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro (HSM) – Minimum focus distance reduced to 1m (2006)
• 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro HSM II – Improved optical performance (2007)

Headline features

• 70-200mm focal length range; fast F2.8 constant maximum aperture
• HSM (ultrasonic type) autofocus with full-time manual override
• To be available in Canon, Nikon, Four Thirds, Pentax, Sigma and Sony/Minolta mounts

It is possible to use both Sigma tele converters transforming the lens either in a 98-280mm f/4 (w/1.4x EX) or 140-400mm f/5.6 (w/2x EX) combination.

It is worth to mentioned that I tested the non-DG variant earlier this year but this sample suffered from a rather extreme centering issues. Even worse Sigma was unable to repair the problem.

So the choice is yours. If you are looking for a lens in the 70-200 or 75-300 range, save your money up for a fast 2.8 version with stabilization, you will not be sorry. Those less expensive f3.2-5.6 or lower lenses are just not as practical as a good 2.8 lens. If you can afford the Canon and don’t mind the black and white stripes, by all means get it, otherwise, get this one, you will be very pleased that you did.

Buying Tokina 100mm F 2.8 Nikon

Tokino 100mm F 2.8 Nikon.

Let me start by saying that I am not a professional photographer. I’m just a guy that enjoys taking pictures. With that said, I recently became interested in macro photography and this lens is amazing. I’ve looked at the Nikon 105mm and the 60mm macros lens. The 60mm focal length was to short but the 105 was perfect. At double the price of the Tokina the 105mm just isn’t practical. The build quality of this lens is rock solid. I also own a Tokina 11 ~16mm WA lens. So I wasn’t surprise as to the construction and lens IQ of this lens. The sharpness of this lens also makes it good for portraits. So if you are looking for a reasonably price alternative to the Nikon choice, try this lens. You won’t be disappointed.

This Tokina 100mm f/2.8 Macro is a fantastic lens.

It’s optical performance is as good or better than the best from Nikon and Canon, and this Tokina’s ergonomics, due to its unique focus clutch, is also better than any of Nikon’s or Canon’s 100mm or 105mm macro lenses.

“This lens is very sharp and fast, and it’s the most affordable 100mm range macro lens in the market. For this price i paid, it’s doing a superb job”

This is an FX lens, and works especially well with on FX, 35mm and DX Nikons like the D7000, D700, D3X, D300s and F6. It works fantastically on manual-focus cameras like the F2AS, F3, FE and FA, since it has real manual-focus and aperture rings that work exactly as they should.

The Nikon version 100mm f/2.8 AF works great with almost every film and digital Nikon camera made since 1977. You’ll need to figure out a way to add a meter coupling prong for use with Nikons made from 1959-1976, if you want meter coupling.

The only incompatibility is that it will not autofocus with the cheapest D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100 or D5000, but if you focus manually, everything else works great. These cameras have in-finder focus confirmation dots to help you.

See Nikon Lens Compatibility for details on your camera. Read down the “AF, AF-D (screw)” column for this lens.

Warning: as a non-Nikon lens, there is never any guarantee that this Tokina lens will always work perfectly with every possible camera. I’ve only used it on the D3 and D7000. There is always the potential for it not to work on some models of camera, today or newer models in the future. This is the one chance you take with non-Nikon lenses.