Features to Consider

Whether you select autofocus or manual focus, SLR cameras offer many common features. You'll find some useful, others less so.

Depth of Field Preview: One useful feature is depth-of-field (DOF) preview. When you look through the viewfinder, your lens is wide open. When you take your shot, the aperture "stops down," slightly changing the focus.

A DOF preview button narrows the aperture to what it will be when you take the photo. It lets you see what's in focus — your subject — and what's not. You can then adjust the aperture and shutter speed to sharpen or soften the focus of the background.

- Click for DOF Sample - 

Flash: Many AF SLRs have a small pop-up flash, housed just above the viewfinder. It's mainly for fill-in purposes, and no substitute for a flash on an external hot-shoe.

Metering System: Modern SLRs use light meters that measure the amount of light coming through the lens. Many "through the lens" (TTL) systems not only set the aperture, but also control the output level from a dedicated flash (accessory or built-in). Many SLRs have multiple metering modes — center-weighted, matrix metering, spot metering, and so on — that vary the amount of light reaching your film. Matrix metering, which measures RGB (red-green-blue) color values of a scene, seems more accurate, and is offered on pricier SLRs.

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