Expensive digital cameras do hold their own in the results stakes, as Angus Kidman reports

Published in AustralianIT, May 6 2003

IF price is no object, you can spend tens of thousands of dollars purchasing your dream digital camera and accessories. While many companies top out their range with cameras priced around $4000, the most expensive come in at more than double that.

Kodak's DCS Pro 14N model, for instance, will cause some serious credit card pain at about $9000 (before you consider the accessories).

If you choose to spend that kind of money, the absence of film may be the only thing that distinguishes your system from a similarly priced conventional camera.

Most sport a choice of high-quality optical lenses, a range of flash options and light metering equipment, and full manual exposure control.

Memory is normally in the form of flash cards. At this price, you should expect a range of options, rather than support for a single format. Some models burn images directly to CD-R.

For high-speed transfer, FireWire connectors are often used, as well as the more standard USB and serial options. An AC adaptor (often optional on cheaper models) is standard at this price point.

Interestingly, many high-end cameras don't come with the LCD monitors found on budget and mid-range cameras. The implication seems to be that professional quality photographers prefer to look through a viewfinder.

Similarly, many of the extras added to top-end models are derived from traditional high-end cameras, rather than being purely digital add-ons.

For instance, the bodies are often identical to standard high-end film cameras.

Even the slightly cheaper models (and cheaper is a relative term here) boast resolutions of 4-6 megapixels, with top-of-the-line models going as high as 14 megapixels (sufficient to shoot advertising billboards).

Image output options also should be more extensive. While most discount cameras use the JPG format (which incorporates compression), high-end cameras should support output to TIFF files, with no loss of image quality.

Clearly, if you're going to outlay this much dosh on a camera, it pays to shop around. As well as comparing features, look for added extras from suppliers.

Camera stores often offer bonuses for purchasers, ranging from training courses to discounts on accessories.