If your line of business requires you to produce professional-quality photos, you need a sophisticated digital camera that offers much more than just point-and-shoot capabilities. For serious photography, you can’t beat professional SLR digital cameras. SLR stands for single lens reflex, a system of prisms and mirrors that allows you to see exactly what the camera sees through the viewfinder. By contrast, the viewfinder on low-end digicams offers only an approximation of what the camera sees.

Professional SLR digital cameras offer superior image quality, enhanced performance, better design and greater flexibility than consumer models. In general, they deliver high resolution, offer a wide array of manual controls and allow you to use detachable lenses. Professional digital cameras don’t come cheap—they range from under $1,000 to upwards of $8,000—but the creative control they offer can be well worth the price. When compared to traditional film SLR cameras, SLR digital cameras offer a number of advantages, including instant “see-it-now” results and the elimination of film and processing costs. Any professional digital camera you’re considering should include:

1. Compatibility with a wide variety of lenses.
2. Compatibility with a wide range of accessories and studio equipment.
3. Support for a variety of formats, such as RAW and TIFF, in addition to the traditional JPEG.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose the right SLR digital camera for your needs

Finding the right professional SLR digital camera depends on what type of photography you do—studio, wedding, travel, action or some other kind.

I recommend: CNET offers the key features to look based on the kind of pictures you take. You can also comparison shop at Nextag.com or check out the offerings from major SLR digital camera brands, such as Nikon, Canon, Kodak, Sony, Olympus and FujiFilm. You can find a list of major brands at Business.com's digital cameras page.

SLR digital camera resolution

The resolution you need depends on where your photos will end up. If your images are headed for glossy magazines or prints that are 16 X 20 inches or larger, you’ll need a minimum of 6 megapixels. You may be able to get by with fewer megapixels if your images are destined only for the Web or newspapers. If superfine detail is a must for your work, check out SLR digital cameras with at least 10 megapixels.

I recommend: Search for SLR digital cameras by the number of megapixels at Digital Camera HQ. Megapixels are also listed at Imaging-Resource.com. Recommended models with 10-plus megapixels include the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II or Sony Alpha DSLR A100.

Lenses for your SLR digital camera

Professional SLR digital cameras give you the opportunity to work with a variety of detachable lenses, including wide-angle, portrait and telephoto lenses.

I recommend: Check out Business.com's lenses category for your SLR digital camera or from major manufacturers, such as Nikon, Canon, Olympus and Sony.

Renting professional SLR digital cameras

If you only need a professional digital camera on rare occasions, consider renting rather than plunking down thousands of dollars for a purchase. Rental companies can also supply you with all the necessary accessories to handle your shoot, freeing up your budget and your storage space.

I recommend: Go to DPI for professional SLR digital camera rentals.

Accessories for SLR digital cameras

Flash devices allow you to light up a dark scene. Extra batteries are a must if you shoot events. In a studio environment, an AC adapter avoids the need for extra batteries. Filters protect lenses and can create special effects.

I recommend: For helpful add-ons, check out Business.com's digital camera accessories page, or try Circuit City.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When swapping lenses from a film camera to your digital camera, note that telephoto lenses zoom farther and wide-angle lenses don’t capture as wide an area on a digital camera. This is because the image sensor of a digital camera is only 2/3 the size of a typical 35mm film camera. Manufacturers have recently launched “full-frame” professional SLR digital cameras, but they’re pricey at more than $8,000.
• •  If you take an SLR digital camera and a point-and-shoot model with the same resolution, say 5 megapixels, the image quality with the SLR is almost always superior to the point-and-shoot.
• •  Higher-end SLR digital cameras offer a certain ruggedness that is lacking in cheaper models. Made with more durable materials, they are also sealed to protect against moisture.