After many requests, we’ve created a DSLR Camera Comparison on what is important when choosing a new DSLR Camera. Enjoy and check out our other free photography courses found to the right.

DSLR Camera Comparison

Compare which DSLR Camera to Buy

What’s in the name?
All of these cameras are made by solid manufacturers that have been in the camera business for a very long time. Although Canon has reached out most successfully to the masses, Nikon and Olympus both make an entry level DSLR well worth your attention.

Lenses
We’ve listed all of the products with the lens packages they come with as most entry level consumers will find the lens package to be a better deal than buying the camera body alone. The Olympus package offers especial value as two lenses are included in the package. The lenses are fairly slow as you’d expect from entry level cameras. By slow I mean they don’t do an especially good job of letting light into the camera and so you have to use a slower shutter speed than you would with better lenses.

The lenses for Nikon and Canon are 18-55mm. The Olympus package offers a 14-42mm and a 40-150mm lens. All these lenses are zoom lenses because they can change from one focal length to another, they are not fixed lenses. The focal length that gets you closest to the action is more “telephoto” while the focal length that is furthest away or even more zoomed out than “normal” is called “wide angle”. These lenses start off fairly normal and then let you zoom in or move to a telephoto setting that is 3X closer or 10X closer when using Olympus’ extra lens.

Sensor Cleaning Systems
Getting dust on your CCD Sensor can ruin your day and your photos until you can get the dust cleaned. The manufacturers of these fine cameras are coming up with solutions to keep dust off your photos. All of these cameras have this feature, although Canon has had some issues with it in the past. Be sure that the camera you choose has a feature that is effective.

Mega Pixels
Extra Mega pixels are nice to have, especially if you you plan on printing your photos in large format. Do not, however, not put too much weight on the Mega Pixels as they continue to grow each year while the typical size that you print or leave on your computer does not.
The mega Pixels on these cameras range from 10.2 to 12.3 MP or equivalent high quality prints of 11X14 to 16X20. If you’ve taken some of our courses you know that size isn’t all that matters in your photos. It’s really about taking the right shot at the right time and some of the bells and whistles on these cameras are designed to help you out.

Bells and Whistles
All of these cameras include some of the features included in their point an shoot counterparts. The LCD’s are large and Olympus even allows you to use the LCD as a viewfinder which results in only a slight delay in performance (speed). Nikon has developed a flash that fires based on information collected by various sensors. It’s much more sophisticated than past cameras and lessens the problems that flash photography can cause. Image Stabilization or Vibration Reduction are also to features that will allow your photos to be clearer by reducing camera shake. This a technology in the lens so if you get an after market lens be sure that it also has this technology.

Buy a DSLR Camera

For more information specific to these cameras including current pricing and consumer reviews click the links below or see our the Best Selling DSLR Cameras.

Nikon D60 10.2MP one lens 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 -$542.47

Olympus E-620 12.3 MP two Lenses 14-42mm and 40-150mm -$799.99

Canon XSI 12.2 MP one Lens 18-55mm IS -$700.85

We welcome comments and requests for more information regarding this topic.