A dictionary and comparison of Digital SLR camera terms.

AF - Auto Focus. It is a system that will automatically focus the camera lens. The more points the better.

ISO - The specific light sensitivity or speed of a DSLR camera is rated by ISO numbers such as 100, 400, etc. The higher the ISO number, the more sensitive the model is to light. The higher speeds typically induce more electronic “noise” so the image tends to get grainier. When you have a comparison Digital SLR cameras, you want a model with a wider range are better as they give you the most flexibility.

Focus Lock - Involves pre focusing the Digital SLR camera and then moving it before capturing the image. It is accomplished by pushing the shutter button “half” down and then keeping the button held down at that position, all while moving the DSLR camera to another position.

Image Stabilization - This is an optical system that removes or reduces the DSLR camera movement in zoom lenses. An internal lens is used and it is moved around to offset the movement of the camera. When you compare DSLR cameras, this is an important feature to have.

LCD - is the cameras Liquid Crystal Display. There are two types to compare: One being a high resolution color display like a tiny TV set. The second being a black and white information display that uses black  letters and numbers on a green/gray background. The color is better.

Noise - Noise is pixels that appear as random groups of red, green or blue pixel in your digital image. It usually occurs when you take a picture that is a long exposure (longer than 1/2-second) or it can occur when you use the higher ISO settings from 400 or above.

Megapixels - Megapixels are a common way to compare DLSR cameras. Multiply the vertical by the horizontal to get the total pixel count: So when you compare the best DSLR camera models, the higher the total number of pixels the camera has, the greater and high quality the cameras picture is. Image's detail and clarity.

White Balance - The adjusting of the relative brightness of the green, red, and blue components so that the brightest object in the camera picture image appears white. It is an automatic feature in Digital SLRs cameras.