Christmas is coming… the geese are getting fat… please put a new camera under my winter doormat. Okay, those aren’t the song’s exact words, but it is likely a growing sentiment among amateur photographers who are hoping Santa will bring them a new camera this holiday season.
Paging through my camera catalogs I’ve noticed a growing trend in digital SLR cameras. It appears because of their wider availability, lower price tags, and ease of use, SLR cameras are edging out smaller point-and-shoots. Recent studies show that the SLR market has grown about 35 percent over last year. What’s more, camera manufacturers say they expect U.S. shipments of digital SLR cameras will grow to 2.2 million units this year, and by 2011 they expect that number to nearly double, to 4 million in the United States alone.
Personally, I think it’s the price that’s driving the trend. What photographer wouldn’t jump at the chance to upgrade from a standard point-and-shoot to a digital SLR? What’s more, these days it is not hard to find a decent priced digital SLR camera. A few years ago you couldn’t find one for under $1000. But page through a photography catalog today and you’ll see popular models such as the Nikon D40x and Canon Digital Rebel Xti listed at under $800.
If you are looking to upgrade from a base model digital SLR you also more options-—just in time for the holidays. Nikon and Canon just unveiled new cameras they hope will be come popular Christmas gifts. Nikon’s new addition is a $1799 D300 (body only); Canon’s is a $1299 EOS 40D (body only). Manufacturers say the Canon 40D will ship by the end of October, while the Nikon D300 will hit shelves in November.
Both models bring professional-level features to everyday photographers. Basically the companies are trying to make it easy for you to upgrade from a point-and-shoot to an SLR by adding scene modes, auto settings, and live view features. Not a bad strategy. After all, no one stays a beginner forever. Moreover, with the advent of digital photography people regard cameras differently than they did a decade ago. In this day and age buying a camera is like buying a computer–you have to upgrade every few years to stay on top of advancing technology.
Are you looking to upgrade this year?
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