by Ryan P

Created on: May 27, 2008

If you are in the market for a new digital SLR camera, chances are you have heard all about two media giant brands: Canon and Nikon. Although these brands are both great, as displayed by their popularity, there are other brands to consider. Sony, Olympus, and Pentax are three more great manufacturers of DSLR cameras. I would assume anyone asking this question is looking for an entry level camera, so I'll focus more on the details of the entry level cameras.

We start our comparison with the ever popular Canon lineup. The Canon Digital Rebel line has become exceedingly popular with new photographers. Although very capable and decent cameras, I have found a one major thing I dislike about the camera. The body material is plastic. I don't put my cameras through enough dangerous situations for this to be a real problem, but the Digital Rebel feels weak. I like a camera to feel substantial when I pick it up. The Digit Rebel (in all its variants) just doesn't feel that great.

With that aside, these cameras are user friendly. Photographs can be printed at decently large size with professional (maybe near professional) quality. I am sure most consumers would be happy with these cameras.

The next production giant would be Nikon. Nikon, like canon, offers a great line of entry level DSLR cameras. They have the D40/D60/D80 lines. These cameras are pretty nice. I really don't like how the basic D40 doesn't have an autofocus motor built into the camera body. Additional lenses can be purchased with motors built in, but they are as expensive as you can imagine. That being said, Nikkor lenses for Nikon cameras are excellent.

My personal favorite DSLR brand is Pentax. Pentax offers something I really love: image shake reduction built into the camera bodies. Although it isn't as good as the shake reduction in the very high priced lenses, it is still sufficient for most shooting. It also applies to any lens you may use. This is extremely helpful.

Another big bonus to Pentax lies in the compatibility with every SLR lens ever made. That is not a misprint; Pentax cameras are compatible with every lens. If you see an old Pentax film lens for sale cheap, it will work with your DSLR. Pentax lenses tend to be cheaper (in general) than Nikon and Canon lenses. I find this to be an excellent incentive for buying Pentax cameras.

One more huge advantage to Pentax cameras is the battery choice. Every Nikon and Canon camera uses proprietary lithium ion batteries. These batteries are expensive to replace. You are also unlikely to find replacements readily available in anything but camera stores and battery stores. That being said, Pentax cameras use AA batteries. Rechargeable AA batteries last almost as long as the proprietary batteries, and cost a small fraction of the price. It is easy to keep a few sets of rechargeable AA's around, and any AA's will work if your batteries are dead (they are also easily found in all but the most remote of locations).

Although I don't have experience with other brands of cameras, keep in mind they are out there. It is important to base a decision on personal preferences and peer reviews than overpriced advertisements when it comes to you and your camera. Don't be afraid to go to a camera store and physically hold these cameras. Make sure to ask friends and the store associates about their recommendations. There is more to the world than what is provided by Canon and Nikon on your television screen.

Learn more about this author, Ryan P.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.