112 Equipment
used in some other manufacturers’ cameras. dSLRs are true system
cameras, with a range of accessories useful to the microstock shooter
(Figure 6.7).Crop factor
Many current dSLR sensors are smaller than a frame of 35-mm
fi lm. Compare the blue and green boxes in Figure 6.3 with the full
35-mm frame to see the difference. Cameras with 1.6 or 1.5 crop
factor sensors can use normal lenses designed for full-frame cameras,
but they can also use lenses specially designed for the smaller
sensor sizes.
Canon, Nikon, and Sigma all make lenses for their crop factor
dSLRs. They have a smaller image circle designed to cover the
smaller sensors. Independent lens maker Sigma also makes lenses
to fi t Nikon and Canon dSLRs. The advantages of specially designed
lenses are that they are smaller and lighter than their full-frame
counterparts.
Smaller sensors cost less to produce. Entry-level dSLRs now cost
just a few hundred dollars yet offer a degree of versatility that makes
them a much better choice for you, the prospective microstock pho-
tographer, than the bridge cameras mentioned earlier.FIGURE 6.7 A dSLR system. © Tom
Perkins/Fotolia