Although there is usually not much in terms of picture quality between consumer digital cameras, more professional cameras like the Canon Rebel digital camera offer extra features and more control needed to customize photos beyond the usual point and shoot.

Here are some of the main features of the Canon Rebel digital camera:

• 12.2 megapixel
• 4272 x 2848 maximum resolution
• SD/SDHC storage
• JPEG or RAW pictures modes
• Manual, one-shot AF, Al Focus AF and Al Servo AF focus modes
• 3.0 inch viewscreen

The slightly higher specced features on the Canon Rebel digital camera include a 12.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor for pictures with more than twice the resolution of run of the mill point and shoot digital cameras.

The Canon Rebel digital camera offers manual focus as well as three auto-focus modes to choose from. This variety allows custom settings for when you want to take the best picture possible or adjust the settings as well as the convenience of auto-focus when you just need to take some family shots.

The Canon Rebel digital camera’s set of automatic features can compensate for poor lighting and enhance pictures to make them look better. There are also standard settings for different light conditions.

Although this is not a cheap digital camera, the Canon Rebel digital camera does offer pretty much all the features necessary for a professional digital camera. Overall a good balance between getting professional features and tried and tested point and shoot.

Big Bucks

The prices for digital SLR cameras are nothing to be taken lightly. These cameras are designed for professional use and will set you back around $500 for a entry level model like the Nikon D40 Digital SLR camera, and up to $5000 at the top end for something like the Nikon D2X Digital SLR camera. Remember that these cameras often come without lenses, and those can set you back just as much, if not more than the body of the camera.

The difference with digital SLR cameras is not only that they have a high megapixel rating, which is the usual gauge for digital camera quality. The differences also come in when you look at the quality of the sensor that translates the image into a digital image. Better colors and contrast come from equipment that has been tested to perform at much higher quality than regular cameras, and that is a big part of what you are paying for. The good news is that although these have come at a great price premium in the past, their growing popularity has meant that better and better quality cameras are being offered at much more reasonable prices for the masses.

A digital SLR camera is not for everyone, there are some obvious drawbacks. Their size makes them less portable, not suitable for carrying in your pocket and taking quick pics every now and again. If all you do with your photos is take family photos, or even action shots of you and your friends at play, may still not need this level of camera, and may actually prove more of a hassle than it’s worth. With that said, for the beginning photographer who would like to become professional, or just for a hobbyist, the options provided will more than pay for themselves.

Before taking the plunge, make sure you are getting a camera that will suit your needs, unlike normal digital cameras that do most things pretty well, digital SLR cameras often have things that they do particularly well. Online, people with expensive cameras will often be keen to share their experiences with their camera, giving you plenty of opportunity to research them. You can always find more in depth reports if you dig a bit.