Digital SLR camera hire

Our digital SLR Camera range includes the very best and latest models available from Nikon, Canon and old favourites from Fuji.  We continually add to the range as models are released.

Why hire? Our customers have many reasons for doing so - trying new kit, hiring back up equipment for a particular job or simply needing that 'only use once is a blue moon' bit of equipment. Camera hire can be an exceptionally cost effective solution to these and many other situations.

It can be a bit daunting looking through the various models, trying to work exactly what's what. Please don't be afraid to ask - we're only at the end of the phone and we are always happy to go over your exact needs with you.

What is a digital SLR?

SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. What does that mean?  Simply that the camera uses a moving mirror system to allow you to see on the viewfinder exactly what the sensor sees through the lens.

So what are the advantages?

Speed
Digital SLRs are fast!  If you have ever used a compact camera and cursed the moment it just missed because of the delay in taking the photo, SLR's are for you.  SLR cameras use a mechanical shutter.  This means it is instantenous.

Lens for every event
DSLRs allow the user to choose from a variety of interchangeable lenses. You might want a telephoto lens for shooting a football match, a wide lens for taking landscapes or interior shots. Perhaps you want to take close ups of flowers with a macro lens - the great thing about SLRs is matching the perfect lens for each occasion.

High quality in low light
Flash is all very well but all it is a solution to a problem. Whilst compact cameras find it very hard to work in low light, digital SLR cameras can. This is due to something called ISO. This is a digital interpretation of what was the film speed on old cameras. By knocking up to a high ISO level, the digital sensor becomes more sensitive to light. Usually, as you increase the ISO, you start to add a grainy texture to the photo (what people refer to as 'noise'). Whilst this was an issue on earlier digital SLR cameras, more recently the performance of these cameras in low light-high ISO situations is staggering.

Complete control
Whether you want to put everything on automatic or manual is completely up to you. The point is that you CAN put everything on manual and take control of the camera. The great thing is that this can be a gradual thing as you learn more and more about the functions themselves and the options you have.

Sensor size and image quality

It is incredibly easy to assume that best camera in the world is surely the one with the greatest number of megapixels but there is slightly more to it than that.

Sensor size
There are three main sensor sizes available - Full Frame, APS-C and APS-H.

The largest sensors - Full Frame- are the same size as 35mm film. These sensors are usually found on the more expensive DSLRs (Canon EOS 5D Mk II, Nikon D700 and Nikon D3).

APS-C sensors are the most popular size. They are slightly smaller than the APS-C film format after which they are named at 2/3rds the height and width of a full frame sensor (22mm * 15mm). Whilst these sensors will generally have less pixels than the bigger sensors, their small size means a longer focal length (1.5-1.7x more when using a specific lens when compared to a full frame sensor - ideal of sports).

APS-H sensors are quite rare but provide the best compromise. The sensors are 28.7mm * 19mm so half way between APS-C and Full Frame sensors in size. Cameras that use these sensors include the Canon EOS-1D MkIII and the Canon EOS-1D MkIV - both professional sports cameras.

Image Quality
Clearly there is a connection between sensor size and image quality; in general, a larger sensor provides lower noise, higher sensitivity and increased latitude and dynamic range. However, it is fair to say that the small sensor cameras (such as the Canon 7D and Nikon D300) employ the latest generation of sensors that are so significantly better at performing in darker and trickier conditions, that they make such assumptions somewhat academic.

The thing to remember is that even the lower end SLRs now have sufficient megapixels to capture excellent images.  Only for truly large output quality, would you require anything above 15 megapixels.

Canon or Nikon?

The million dollar question!!

Both manufacturers produce excellent models and lenses and mostly it boils down to personal preference. Nikon's button and menu setups remain different to Canon's - some prefer the former and some prefer the latter. At present if you are considering video, Canon is probably the way to go but whether that will remain the case for long, it's difficult to say.

Do give us a call and let us know what you wish to do with the equipment and we will try our very best to match the equipment to your needs.

Using an DSLR

At first appearance, DSLR's can appear somewhat daunting in the number of buttons and functions available. These are (and indeed always shall be) there for the more serious photographer to take overall control of the camera. However automation of a great number of these controls can provide you with a great deal of assistance when taking a photo.

With these introductions in automation, the SLR camera now has great appeal to any photographer regardless of experience who is attracted by the better quality, interchangeable lenses and most importantly the more professional features that they can gradually learn and benefit from.