A professional DSLR camera is a huge investment; the body alone can cost anywhere between $1,500 to $6,000. The steep price is just another reason why you should do a careful study of the the features offered by a DSLR. Ideally, a good DSLR camera will allow you to modify the settings manually. Every professional photographer wants to have complete control over the settings to get the photos exactly as he or she imagined them. Additionally, the shutter lag must be almost non existent and the camera must be compatible with multiple lenses. These are the broad criteria for choosing a high quality, performance oriented DSLR. However, they can vary according to professional specializations. For instance, the requirements of landscape photography are completely different from sports photography. At alaTest, we have put together a collection of the best DSLR categorized according to specialized fields.

1. Wildlife Photography

When it comes to professional wildlife photography, DSLR’s have to be quick and precise. Firstly, a DSLR must have a high megapixel count so that it can take gather maximum details even from a distance. Secondly, one does not really get the time to use the manual focus feature while taking photographs in jungles or wildlife reserves. Therefore, you must look for a DSLR with a decent auto manual mode. Besides this, a DSLR meant for wildlife photography must come with minimal shutter lag, good performance at high ISO and a sensor dust remover. Based on all these factors, these are the cameras which are known for their high quality performance in the realm of wildlife photography- the Canon EOS-1D Mark III, Nikon D300, Olympus E3 and Samsung GX 20.

2. Sports Photography

In the case of sports photography, it is all about capturing the moment. One needs a DSLR with auto focus which has the ability to focus on a single subject even while others might appear in the same frame. Simultaneously, it must be able to perform well in low light high ISO and it must have the ability to shoot at a high frame advance rate. In the recent few years, Nikon D700, Nikon D3 series and Canon 5D and 7D series have emerged as the best DSLR’s for sports photography.

3. Landscape Photography

A DSLR meant for landscape photography should allow the photographer to capture the beauty of the surroundings in its most natural state. Since the photographer has a lot of time at his disposal to adjust settings, a DSLR with a wide range of manual settings is preferred in landscape photography. Ideally, you must be able to balance the color and the light to match the surroundings. Apart from this, an ideal DSLR must have a lot of megapixels, a sensor dust removal system, an efficient viewfinder with live view and grid lines and features which take care of image stabilization. The Canon EOS 40D is one of the most popular DLSRs in the world of landscape photography. At the same time, Nikon D300, Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and Pentax K20D come highly recommended.

People often use the professional v/s amateur equation to simplify the choice between a DSLR and a compact camera. According to this distinction, the compact camera is ideal for the common man out there who is interested in clicking photographs on birthdays, anniversaries, holidays etc. However, for anyone who is passionate about photography and wants to experiment with the technical elements, a DSLR is the obvious choice. While most of this stands true, a lot of professional photographers are beginning to embrace compact cameras as the quality of their lenses has improved tremendously in the past few years.

Let’s take a closer look at each of them individually:

1. Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera or DSLR

While there is no denying the fact that compact cameras are now offering several features which were earlier exclusive to DSLRs, there is one crucial feature which swings the balance quite decisively in the favour of the latter- a DSLR allows you to change lens unlike a compact camera. This feature widens the possible range of flexibility as you can modify the focal length, speed, amount of light ec and this flexibility is a must-have for a professional photographer.

If you have ever tried taking photographs with a compact camera with low light, you would have noticed that the photos never come out well. This is one of those scenarios where only a DSLR can help you take exceptionally sharp photographs. Therefore, it can safely be said that if you want complete control over photograph settings, a DSLR is what you are looking for.

On the flip side though, a DSLR can cost twice or even thrice as much as a compact camera. Additionally, DSLRs are usually bulky and it can be difficult carrying them around. And finally, they can prove to be a little too complicated sometimes and might just intimidate the common man out there.

2. Compact Camera

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that compact cameras are perfect for a beginner- they are easy to use, they are light-weight and portable and the settings are usually automated. You can simply slip a compact camera in your backpack and use it on a holiday, or you can capture those precious family moments with amazing ease. A layman can have no complaints with the performance and efficiency of a modern day compact camera.

But, there are things you can’t do with a compact camera. For starters, they don’t allow you to change lenses thus restricting your choice in other sectors. To add to that, they come with smaller sensors which means that even if the megapixel count is as high as a DSLR, the image quality would still be inferior as compared to the latter as the nature of the pixels is different.

One can go into the core technicalities like viewfinder mechanism, shutter lag etc. and the debate will never end. But the choice depends on what you are looking for. When you begin to feel that a compact camera is limiting you from trying new things with photography, it’s time to save up some money and get yourself a DSLR.

Within the broad spectrum of DSLR’s available in the market these days, there is a segment designed especially for beginners who have only recently forayed into the world of photography. A top level DSLR camera can puzzle and confuse any beginner with the many settings and control options. However, an entry level DSLR combines efficiency with ease of use in an attempt to simplify things.

Having said that, what should be a beginner’s expectations from a DSLR? How different are the criteria to be considered from a top level DSLR? Well, for starters beginners must look for that ideal balance between basic and advanced features. Look for a DSLR which allows you to experiment a little while still providing the basic photographic features. Additionally, a DSLR which comes with automated features is always a good purchase for someone who is still learning the tricks of the trade.

Considering these features, we have complied for you a list of the best DSLR cameras for beginners:

1. Canon Rebel T3i – The great part about this DSLR camera is that it incorporates certain features found typically in a professional DSLR, but yet it manages to keep things relatively simple. This Canon DSLR comes with the Live View mode using which you can actually see how changing some settings can modify a photo even as you are clicking it. This means that it is way easier for you to decide on the best settings for a particular photo.

Additionally, the camera has three zones- the Basic, the Creative and the Image Zone. The settings for all of these three are pre-regulated and they ensure that you get the best of photographs. After a while, when you are equipped with the necessary knowledge and experience, you can easily shift from the automatic to the manual mode of settings. Besides the convenience factor, this DSLR also comes with a state-of-art 18 megapixel CMOS which is basically a sensor which accentuates the level of detail of a photograph. To sum it up, the Canon Rebel T3i has everything you can ask for in an entry level DSLR- it is easy to use, it has features which are designed to uncomplicated things but at the same time, no compromises are made on the quality front.

2. Nikon D5100 – This DSLR also comes with several pre-programmed shooting modes like landscape, portrait, close-up etc. The settings have been regulated in a manner that enhances the final quality of your photographs. Apart from these basic modes, there are others like selective color, miniature effect and night vision.

Along with ease of use, this DSLR also promises professional features like a 16.2 megapixel CMOS and a wide ISO range. These terms can be a little confusing for beginners, so here is what they essentially mean (CMOS has already been explained earlier). The ISO range is normally used to measure film speed. In the case of a DSLR, it refers to the speed of shutter at which it can capture fast moving objects while maintain the sharpness and focus. All said done, the Nikon D5100 delivers on the two most crucial criteria- it is technically sound and it allows a beginner to be creative and experimental.

3. Sony SLT-A55 – Sony has always been known for its cutting edge technological innovations and quite rightly so. This DSLR is the first of its kind to introduce the Translucent Mirror Technology which works in combination with the Live View mode resulting in what Sony describes as the “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” phenomenon.

The Phase Detection Auto Focus along with the Dynamic Range Optimizer leave very little for you to do manually. These automatic settings work brilliantly in tandem to produce stunning photographs. Add to this an impressive ISO range and a variety of shooting modes and you have a perfectly balanced DSLR camera for beginners.

The α77 and α65

The big selling point of the α77 and α65 is Sony’s brand new Translucent Mirror Technology. Traditionally, SLR cameras (the film kind) used a mirror placed in front of the shutter to allow you to see through the lens when looking through the viewfinder. It let the autofocus circuitry peek through the lens as well. The problem is that when you take a photo, the mirror flips up out of the way of the shutter. This wasn’t much of an issue with film, but digital cameras can take photos much faster, and can even shoot video.

While companies like Canon and Nikon have simply taken the familiar route they’ve used for ages in their film cameras and applied it to their digital cameras, Sony has introduced a revolutionary new idea, a mirror that simultaneously lets light pass through it to the shutter while also reflecting light to the autofocus sensors. This allows for true continuous autofocus, regardless of frames per second. Canon and Nikon use a predictive autofocus method that, put simply, doesn’t even compare, especially in high speed shots.

As would be expected with any high-end SLR, these two cameras set the bar in cutting edge features and performance. One notable feature is the Tru-Finder, essentially a digital viewfinder with an OLED display inside. It allows you to see information on top of the image, just as you would on the LCD display. It also works great in low light situations, an area where traditional viewfinders struggle. In all, both the α77 and α65 compare very well to Canon and Nikon’s competing models (the 60D, 7D, D5100, and D7000), even outclassing them in some key points, like image sensor size, light sensitivity, and focus points.

The NEX-5n and NEX-7

The NEX series is another product of Sony’s innovative nature. Traditional SLR designs were built around the limitations that came with film cameras. The NEX series does away with the SLR bulk but keeps almost all of the SLR internal components, like interchangeable lenses, manual controls, and large image sensors. In fact, the NEX-7 actually has the same 24MP image sensor found in the α77.

Compared to the NEX-7, the NEX-5n does dial things back a bit, featuring only a 16MP image sensor (though it’s still full-sized) and lacking a viewfinder and hot shoe. The NEX-5n’s only true competitor is Nikon’s brand new J1. The J1 does offer a few more gimmicky features, but sacrifices a lot in image quality. Even our current leader, the Rebel T3i, is bested in many cases by the NEX-5n.

The biggest limitation of the NEX line is the fact that they all use the E-mount lens, of which, there are only a handful to choose from; however, this all changes when you throw in the Alpha mount adapter. The LA-EA2 adapter even includes the translucent mirror technology, allowing for continuous autofocus. That adapter would effectively turn the NEX-7 into an α77 (minus a bit of image stabilization and a few frames per second in burst mode) at a quarter of the size and half the weight.

I have to say, if I were in the market for a new high-end digital SLR camera this season, it would be the NEX-7, hands down.

Panasonic TXP GT30 Series HDTVs

As one of our top rated HDTVs, it comes as no surprise that the TXP GT30 is also one of our top viewed products. Optimized for 3D playback, this plasma TV features a 600Hz refresh rate. This extremely high refresh rate also lends itself well to watching high action sports and console gaming. Its deep blacks and high color accuracy also make it an excellent choice for 2D Blu-Ray as well.

Sony KDL EX720 Series HDTVs

Another HDTV (you can see what might be a popular gift category this year), the EX720 offers a wide array of features. As expected with Sony TVs, the EX720’s image processing capabilities are unmatched, creating a brilliant viewing experience right out of the box. You can also enjoy its integrated internet apps, such as Netflix and Pandora. It even includes on-the-fly 2D to 3D conversion, so you can watch anything in 3D. On top of it all, the screen is nearly razor thin, and thanks to its LED design, is extremely power efficient.

Digital Cameras

Among our top 10 most viewed products, there were 4 digital cameras. The most viewed was the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX9V, which is really one of the best compact cameras on the market, though less seasoned photographers may prefer the WX10. Canon’s EOS Rebel T3i also made the list, followed by Nikon’s D3100, both of which are excellent entry-level digital SLRs. Following those, was the Nikon D7000, a digital SLR suitable for professional work; however, if a DSLR is on your shopping list, you may want to hold off for Sony’s upcoming NEX and α-series cameras, as they will be extremely competitive this year.

Smartphones

Smartphones made up nearly a third of our top 10 list, and they are sure to be a popular item this holiday season. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Active pulled in the most views, and while it’s not the most amazing phone on the market, it does have the rare combination of being both rugged and powerful (great for a reckless teenager). Just behind the Active was the Xperia Arc, a sleek and capable smartphone hailed for its surprising photo quality. Following that was the Samsung Galaxy S, the popular predecessor to our currently top-ranked phone, the Galaxy S II.

Of course it’s still a bit early to be doing your holiday shopping, but hopefully we’ve given you some great gift ideas (either for yourself or for friends and family). With Black Friday fast approaching, it’s not surprising to be seeing these larger (pricier) items on the most watched list. Many of these products, while still praise worthy, are soon to be replaced by next year’s updated versions, meaning massive price reductions as the holidays near.

Be sure to keep an eye on our blog. Through the whole month of November, we’ll be naming hot new products, posting buyer’s guides, and helping you prepare for the holiday shopping season. Let us know in the comments if you have any requests.