• my tips for buying a digital camera

• 8 megapixel SLRs

• some lens comparisons

• Olympus E-300 vs Canon 350D XT

• SLRs compared

• high end digital SLRs

• my photo calculator including DOF calculator and studio lighting calculator

Entry level digital SLRs compared:

I have attempted to compare the main discriminating differences between the main SLRs under $A2000.

All these cameras have 7.5-10 megapixels and it really does not matter exactly how many pixels within this range as you need to double the number of pixels for it to be demonstrably better. They all are able to do ~3fps in burst mode.

• the megapixel myth - for prints up to 16"x24" most people cannot tell if it was from 7, 10, or 16mpixel image, the main advantage of more megapixels is that you can crop more or create better wall posters - but who does them?

  • see http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/technology/08pogue.html?ref=technology

The current best all round entry level SLR is the Olympus E510 with Live preview and CCD-shift image stabiliser and almost half the weight of the impressive Pentax K10D (460g vs 717g). The Pentax K10D, easily beats the Canon on practically every parameter except perhaps low noise at high ISO, dynamic range (1/3rd stop less) and maybe TTL flash but I have not seen these compared in practice. Like the Canon, I would not rely on its in-camera jpg processing or AWB as images are much better if you shoot in RAW mode and process them yourself, and do custom WB.

For those without the financial resources to pay for optical IS lenses, then the bodies with CCD-shift IS make good sense. Not much point buying a camera for its range of lenses if you will never buy them because they are too expensive.

Personally I would not buy an SLR without good sensor dust protection (sorry Nikon, Canon, Sony) even though it has a good range of lenses and great fill-in TTL flash. 

• Olympus, newer Canon, Sony and Pentax cameras have inbuilt ultrasonic dust removal from sensor but seems only the Olympus is effective - see:
  • http://pixinfo.com:80/en/articles/ccd-dust-removal/ 

If you want fun playing with legacy manual focus lenses or you can't afford the expensive AF with IS lenses, then the only cameras to go for are the Olympus E510 or E330 but these cameras are not as good for high ISO, action or HDR work, although the E510 allows IS to work on all legacy lenses!