with 18-55mm lens and how the Sony A99 24.3MP full-frame A-mount dSLT with electronic viewfinder differs from it just by reading the names.
There’s obviously a lot going on with those two names. I’ve overloaded them with extra details to show you how much information can be embedded within camera names and listings. The rest of this section will help you identify the make and model, sensor size, pixel count, lens mount, mirror and viewfinder, and kit lens details of each camera.
Make and model
Let’s start with the basic name of the camera. Each camera manufacturer has a method to its naming madness.
❯❯ Nikon starts its dSLRs with the letter D (think digital), followed by a number. In general, the smaller the number, the more advanced and expensive the camera. For example, the D5 is currently Nikon’s premier professional camera. The D3300, on the other hand, is an entry-level consumer camera.
❯❯ Canon uses the acronym EOS (electro-optical system) and then a specific model number to identify its digital SLRs. For example, the Canon EOS 80D is a mid-range model. Canon uses the term Rebel to identify its consumer dSLRs. The Rebels sport one of two model numbers, depending on the market they are sold in. For example, the EOS Rebel T6i is also known as the 750D. You may see it written as the EOS Rebel T6i/750D.
❯❯ Sony dSLRs and SLTs are identified by the letter A, followed by a two- or three-digit model number, such as the A99 or older A300. When you pronounce the name, you can say A as you would any other A, or you can say Alpha. New Sony models are all SLTs, which have translucent mirrors that do not need to move out of the way when you take a picture. The A77 II is a dSLT, although you may see it listed as an Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera (ILDC).
Sony calls its digital Single Lens Translucent cameras SLTs. They are, in essence, dSLRs with the moving reflex mirror replaced by a translucent mirror that doesn’t move. The more general acronym is dSLT. For more information on how dSLTs differ from dSLRs, jump ahead to the upcoming section, “Mirror and viewfinder type.”
❯❯ Pentax dSLRs use the letter K followed by an identifying number, such as the K-70 and K-3 II.
❯❯ Olympus has phased out its digital SLRs in favor of the popular OM-D mirrorless “Micro Four Thirds” line (named Micro because they do not have the same mirror and optical viewfinder as standard Four Thirds system cameras). OM-D (I keep wanting to write “OM-G!”) cameras have interchangeable lenses and most of the same features as dSLRs. Although I don’t cover mirrorless cameras in depth in this book, they look, feel, and act like dSLRs in most ways. The main differences that you will notice are that they are smaller and thinner than most dSLRs. Like dSLTs, whose mirrors don’t move, cameras like the OM-D E-M10 do not “clunk” when you take a photo. There is no mirror to move. Older Olympus dSLRs are designated by the letter E followed by a number, such as the E-5.
Sensor size
Digital SLR sensors vary in size. Aside from the differences in cost and the technical merits of using a smaller or larger sensor, sensor size has a profound impact on how photos look. In effect, smaller image sensors make it look like you’ve zoomed in compared to a camera with a larger sensor. The amount is expressed as a multiplier, and is called crop factor. I have more information on crop factor in the section “Delving into Camera Specifications,” later in the chapter.
Here are the most popular sensor sizes and their crop factors:
❯❯ Full-frame: dSLRs whose image sensors are the same size as a 35mm frame of film are called full-frame dSLRs. This is the gold standard of professional dSLR quality. The aspect ratio of these sensors, and hence the photos you take with them, is the same as 35mm film: 3:2. Full-frame cameras have a crop factor of 1.0x. Nikon full-frame cameras are labeled FX.
❯❯ Cropped-frame: dSLRs whose sensors are smaller than a 35mm frame of film are called cropped-frame, cropped, or cropped-body dSLRs. There are several types of cropped-frame sensors:
• APS-C: This is the standard sensor size for most consumer and mid-range digital SLRs. It's smaller than a 35mm frame of film, but far larger than a compact digital camera sensor. APS-C sensors have a crop factor that ranges from 1.5x (most APS-C cameras) to 1.6x (Canon). Nikon labels its APS-C cameras DX.
• Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds: These sensors are much smaller than APS-C sensors and have a 4:3 aspect ratio. Four Thirds/Micro Four Thirds sensors have a crop factor from 1.8x to 2.0x.
• APS-H: This category is not very prevalent today. It’s a “tweener” size. APS-H sensors are smaller than full-frame but larger than APS-C sensors. They have a crop factor of approximately 1.3x.
Figure 1-2 shows an APS-C cropped-frame Nikon dSLR sitting next to a full-frame Pentax camera. Both mirrors are raised, enabling you to see the relative size of the image sensors inside them. The difference in price? About $1,700, including the lenses.
FIGURE 1-2: Comparing APS-C to full-frame.
Pixel count
You will often see a camera’s pixel count – how many pixels make up each photo – listed as part of the name. Digital camera pixel counts are expressed as megapixels (MP), or millions of pixels. Today, even new consumer-level dSLRs have 18MP or more. More advanced cameras have pixel counts ranging from 24MP to 36MP, topping out at an astounding 50MP, which rivals some medium-format cameras (the ones that cost $15,000 to $45,000).
The total number of megapixels affects your photos’ pixel dimensions and file size, as shown in Figure 1-3. The photo’s type, size, and dimension are just below the Image Quality line in this figure.
FIGURE 1-3: This camera captures photos up to 24 megapixels in size.
Lens mount
Lenses
