CrashRyan : The Photography of Dennis Cernosia

Model	Sensor Frame	Sensor Size (MP)	Pixels	ISO Range	HD Video	Price USD	Show Me More Info	Status	Check Prices On
Canon
5D Mark III	Full	22.3 MP	5760 x 3840	100 - 25600	1080p	$3,400	N	New
5D Mark II	Full	21.1 MP	5616 x 3744	100 - 25600	1080p	$2,199	N	Current	Amazon
7D	Cropped	18 MP	5184 x 3456	100 - 12800	1080p	$1,599	Y	Current	Amazon
60D	Cropped	18 MP	5184 x 3456	100 - 6400	1080p	$899	Y	Current	Amazon
Rebel T3i 18-55mm IS II Ki	Cropped	18 MP	5184 x 3456	100 - 6400	1080p	$799	Y	Current	Amazon
Rebel T3 18-55mm IS II Kit	Cropped	12.2 MP	4272 x 2848	100 - 6400	720p	$499	Y	Current	Amazon
40D	Cropped	10.1 MP	3888 x 2592	100 - 1600	No	$1.100	Y	Retired	Amazon
Nikon
D800	Full	36.3 MP	7360 x 4912	100 - 25600	1080p 30/25/24p	$2,999	N	New
D300s	Cropped	12.3 MP	4288 x 2848	200 - 6400	720p 24 fps	$1,699	Y	Current	Amazon
D90	Cropped	12.3 MP	4288 x 2848	200 - 3200	720p 24fps	$949	Y	Current	Amazon
D5100	Cropped	16.2 MP	4928 x 3264	100 - 6400	1080p	$649	Y	Current	Amazon
D3000	Cropped	10.2 MP	3872 x 2592	100 - 1600	No	$599	Y	Current	Amazon

To help a few friends understand the differences between FULL FRAME and CROPPED digital SLR's. Also, since I am a computer geek, I was experimenting with creating a web service that pulls product prices from Amazon.com (their specs aren't too detailed so I manually entered these).

Note : This is a new section and the listings are still growing, but I don't intend to list every camera or lens. Most of the people who come to my web site are professional "amateur" photographers such as myself. We have a budget and we don't need to carry every lens in Canon's or Nikon's arsenal ... all we need is the right equipment to use every day. This is a selective list. If you think I should include something, please let me know!

Full-frame vs cropped-frame cameras

You will find cropped-frame sensors in low-end cameras like the Canon 60D because they are cheaper to make. There is a draw back to these cheaper sensors : they have poorer image quality and the images themselves are narrower than true 35mm cameras, thus the images are "cropped".

Full-frame sensors (like on the Canon 5D) offer superior image quality, however they tend to be more expensive. It's hard to tell which is which, since both Nikon and Camera use different designations to classify them. Hope the info below helps:

Full Frame Designations :

Canon (36 mm x 24mm ... 35mm Full-frame)
Nikon (FX)

Cropped Frame Designations :

Canon (APS-C size)
Nikon (DX)

Understanding Full Frame / Cropped Frame

Video

Put your money into the lens!

(Tips For Buying A New Lens)

Plan ahead when buying a lens! For example, some Canon lenses are built specifically for the cropped APS-C bodies and will not work on a full frame camera like the 5D!

If you plan on moving up the ladder to a full-frame camera like the Canon 5D, be sure you check the format capabilities of each lens.
Also, don't choose a lens just because it has a huge zoom range and is cheap to buy. Most of these lenses will disappoint you!

I try to stay away from lenses with an f-length of 3.5 - 5.6 written on it. What this means is that it is terrible in low light, and gets worse the more you zoom! They're wonderful on bright sunny days but they're not very useful in shadey areas or indoors for a party.
What I look for : any lens with an f/2.8 in the entire zoom range such as the Canon 24-70mm. It may not have the zoom range of a 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 lens, but you'll be taking higher quality photos under different light conditions (bright sun, shade, action, darkness).

	Help for the newbies So, you're interested in buying your first DSLR, but where to start? First step : how much can you spend ? Jumping into the DSLR world is not cheap, especially the lenses. The lens is the most crucial part of your gear. The lens will dictate the lighting conditions you will be able to work in: sunny days, night shots, heavy shade and action. You can buy the most expensive camera on the planet, but if your lens is crap, so will your photos. Listed below are a few options to help you decide:
The $1,000 budget option This is really tough ... people ask what they can get for under $1000, and my response is always "not much". Yes, you can buy an entry level camera which comes with a low-end starter lens, but in the end, you will need to buy a good quality lens. Low-end starter DSLR's (Cropped Sensor Format): Canon Rebel T3i Nikon D3100 Lens: Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM ( $550 ) WARNING Be sure to check these combinations in person ... a friend of mine bought a cheapo camera and the higher-end lenses wouldn't work on it.
	The $1,500 budget option Aaah, what a difference $500 makes. In this price range you'll be able to move up the ladder and buy an excellent DSLR (still a cropped sensor) plus a pretty decent lens. Here are some good choices: Cameras (Cropped Sensor Format): Canon 60D ( $899 ) Nikon D90 ( $940 ) Lens: Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM ( $550 ) A solid lens but it does have a few drawbacks: The limited zoom range. If you want to capture something far off in the distance, forget about it, it will remain small. Otherwise, this is an excellent lens. Build/picture quality is not as solid as a Nikon or Canon I had the previous generation of this Sigma lens and it took excellent pictures. A very capable lens. Tamron SP 28-75mm F/2.8 ($499) If you're willing to sacrifice some image sharpness for some extra zoom, try thsi Tamron lens. Once again, the build/image quality is not as good as a Canon/Nikon, but it should get you started on the right path.
The $2,000 budget option Now we're talking! The camera selection is pretty much the same as the $1500 option, the only difference is the quality of lenses ... which as I mentioned previously, is the most important thing to taking stellar photos! Cameras (Cropped Sensor Format): Canon 60D ( $899 ) Nikon D90 ( $940 ) Lenses for Canon Users: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 lens ($899) Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 Mark I ($1200) Okay, this lens may put you over the budget but trust me, it's a fantastic (although heavy) lens. Lenses for Nikon users: The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 lens ($899)

Nikon or Canon

It doesn't matter ... seriously. Both companies create quality products, and you can't go wrong with either one. In some years Canon is ahead of the game and in others its Nikon.

Anyone who says there is something "special" about their Nikon or Canon is talking fluff, and is probably spending the day getting intimiate with Siri on their iPhone.

I was once a Nikon user, but switched to Canon when I went digital. Why did I switch brands even though I had invested so much in Nikkor lens? Well, at the time I felt Nikon was sitting on their asses and not updating their products quickly enough. When the Canon 10D was introduced I leaped back into the Canon world.

Ironically, now I feel Canon is the one sitting on their butts while Nikon is updating their line.

On Sigma

Sigma creates lenses for both Nikon and Canon. They are not the high quality products that Canon or Nikon put out, but they're definitely a worthy low-priced alternative.

Sigma Lens Finder Tool

DISCLAIMER

As I mentioned above, all this data is entered in manually by yours truly. Some typos may appear, so if you spot one, please send me and email and let me know! As always, double check the specs with the manufacturer's page before buying anything! Gear up!!