Canon EOS 30D
Best Camera for Professional Photos?

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Finding a camera is easy, but when you need to create the best photos at absolutely professional quality, the time has come to find the best professional camera on the market. For me, three cameras take centre stage when comparing three top-of-the-line professional cameras – the Sony ALPHA 100, the Nikon D80,and the Canon EOS 30D. What qualifies a camera as a professional camera? Take a look at these three examples and you decide.

The Sony ALPHA 100 comes with 2 additional lenses, a 4GB memory card, Tripod, battery charger, power cord, shoulder strap, and a Lowepro designer carrying bag. The battery is a Sony NP-FM55H compatible fit, and the camera comes in with a dimension of 133mm by 94.7mm by 71.3mm and weighs in at 545g. The Sony ALPHA 100 can use Compact Flash I and II, Memory Stick Duo, and Memory Stick PRO duo compatible memory devices.

With a max image resolution of 3880 by 2600 and an effective resolution (mega pixels) size of 10.2, this bad boy is ready for some serious action. The CCD size is 23.6” by 15.8”, and the ISO speed range is from 100 to 1600. The built-in TTL flash and flash controlled makes it easy to adjust according to the weather, lighting, and time of day. For easy download of your images, the Sony ALPHA 100 offers USB2.0 connectivity with software. The Sony ALPHA is priced at around £803.

Another popular professional camera is the Nikon D80 + 18mm to 135mm lens. Professionals around the world agree Nikon is a camera brand respected for excellence and craftsmanship, and with these features, we can understand why. The Nikon D80 supports Nikon EN-EL3 E compatible batteries, and offers support for threaded tripod use. The dimensions make for a lightweight, professional camera at 132mm by 103mm by 77mm and weighing 585g without the added battery.

Of course, what the camera can offer in terms of imagery is perhaps one of the most important aspects of finding a good camera. With a max resolution of 3872 by 2592, and an effective resolution of 10.2 mega pixels, the Nikon D80 promises crystal clear images at your fingertips. The focal length conversion factor is a healthy 1.5x, and has a max consecutive shot capability of up to 100 jpeg images. The ISO speed range is from 100 to 1600, and the built-in TTL flash makes for convenient changing of flash needs. The Nikon D80 has a price of around £737 making an affordable, superb option for those in the market for a new professional camera.

Finally, another camera many professionals appreciate is the Canon EOS 30D + EF-S 18 to 55mm lens F-stop 3.5-5.6. The Canon offers battery compatibilities with the BP511A battery pack, and with a microdrive, users are sure to get a lot of use between changes and charges. This Canon is tripod thread capable, and offers a max consecutive shot of 23. The memory compatibility is limited matching only CompactFlash, but the video out is expanded with PAL and NTSC outlets.

The Canon EOS 30D offers 3504 by 2336 max resolution, and an effective max resolution of 8.2 mega pixels. While this is definitely going to give some crystal clear images, white noise has been a reported issue at higher resolutions. The CCD is 22.5 by 15mm and includes a CMOS. With a price tag of £750, the Canon will appeal to those new professionals looking for a good professional camera.

All three cameras offer benefits and features great for the professional, but each camera is also meant for varying degrees of professional photographers. Sony, Nikon, and Canon all have a positive reputation in the technological world, but until recently, the Nikon and Canon were camera leaders. However, Sony must not be disregarded simply because it is the new kid on the block. Sony has a reputation in electronics that is second to none.

When choosing which camera is the best, careful consideration must be given to resolution, consecutive shot capabilities, and battery and memory compatibility. Standard memory cards, battery packs, and flashes are used by all three models. Additionally, all three models have a proprietary lens.  Which camera should you choose? The answer is as simple as deciding which company you trust more for reputation and service. For me, I choose the Canon EOS 30D because Canon offers great quality at an affordable rate.