Photography Magazine

The digital camera revolution has changed the entire process of photography and has in fact made it easier for even amateurs to enjoy wildlife or nature photography to the fullest. One of the salient points is that a digital camera can take still photographs as well as record movement through its video capability.

There are different types of digital cameras available in the market and some are for amateurs while others are for purely professionals. Most of the digital cameras in the DSLR (Digital single lens reflex) range are for professionals. Some of the amateur digital cameras are available in compact body offering high resolution like 10MP (mega pixel), 6X digital Zoom and up to 14x optical zoom. Amateur digital cameras like the Canon S3IS or S5IS offers almost 12x (36-432mm equivalent) optical zoom, Optical Image Stabilizer, 6.0 Megapixel CCD, 30fps VGA movies with stereo sound and photo in movie feature, DIGIC II, iSAPS and Flexizone AF/AE for fast, precise results and 2.3 fps continuous shooting, High ISO Auto and ISO 800 for low light flexibility and Widescreen (16:9) recording. These features make it almost a PRO digital camera that has been marketed for amateurs who want to take pictures like professionals do.

The main difference between a professional digital camera and an amateur one lies in the performance. Most of the professional cameras like the Nikon D40, the Canon EOS400D, Olympus E510 etc. The performance depends on the lens of the camera, which can be changed according to the requirement in a professional camera as opposed to an amateur camera. In a professional camera you can change the lens from a 18-55mm standard lens to a 35-350mm zoom lens for wildlife or sport photography. This is not possible in amateur cameras as they don’t support multiple lenses.

Other differentiating factors include the various technical aspects of the professional or amateur cameras. Professional cameras have a high burst rate, vertical grip, and even a direct plug for attaching studio lights and all this can be used without an adapter. The amateur camera is not as detailed and is mostly for photography that is restricted within a boundary like the streets, close-ups, portraits, family photos etc. Due to the high technical ability of the professional camera, they are available with a high-end price tag as opposed to an amateur camera, which you can buy for as less as $150.

Most professional high-end cameras range from 8 MP to 16 mega pixels. For example, the Canon EOS 400D has a 10.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC II processor that renders colors to images with a high precision, speed and accuracy thus making the photograph look almost life-like. This component is missing in amateur digital cameras.

Amateur digital cameras are known as multipurpose cameras, which you can slide into your pocket and carry anywhere you want and click pictures almost anytime. The difference is that you might not get the same amount of clarity and quality as in professional cameras. Even at a higher ISO, your amateur digital camera will click an image with grains. This is not the case with a pro digital camera like the Nikon D40X.

There is one last differential element between the amateur digital camera and the professional digital SLR and this is the capability of metering. Metering is an option that you will find only in PRO cameras and this enables a photographer to choose the color, the intensity of light, shadows, darkness etc while taking an image of the subject. The truth is that if you are planning to become a professional photographer then start with an amateur digital camera or a analog SLR and then learn the ropes slowly before diving into the PRO or the big league.

If you are taking photos using Pentax photo equipment then you surely mentioned an important event: the market entrance of the DSLR camera Pentax K10D. The new camera has a new image processing unit, a quality screen, built-in camera stabilization system. The last thing is especially important for those people that have Pentax lenses including the middle format ones. They can be used with the new camera through the original adapter and stabilization system will work in that case properly.

One more advantage of the Pentax K10D – a very serious dust and moisture protection of the camera. And it is a good surprise that this option that is rather expensive in the concurrent cameras didn’t make K10D much more expensive. What is also interesting is an option of turning camera into the mode of RAW format photo. It is performed by simply pushing a button that is very conveniently situated on the camera body. The new camera seems to be able to give back to the producer its previous high reputation on the photo equipment market. The proof for it is the high prizes, that Pentax K10D received. In the nomination “Best SLR of 2007” Pentax K10D got “Oscar” in the photo market of the European press-association version TIPA (Technical Image Press Association). The camera also attracted the publishing house of the American Photo Magazine that called Pentax K10D a best digital SLR camera for experienced amateurs. The experts and employees of the magazine approved the camera to be “Camera of the year” and gave their preference to it against to Nikon D80 and Olympus EVOLT E-510. But not only in Europe and US the K10D had a great success. In its native country, in Japan, it received a Camera Grand Prix prize. This very honorable prize was given to Pentax K10D by 10 best photo journalists of Japan under aegis of the professional magazines club of the country.