Canon DSLR Range Basic Overview

Canon DSLR cameras come in 3 different target groups, which results in 3 different price brackets.  Ill attempt to summarize as simply as possible what these groups are and hopefully clear up any confusions you may have with the Model numbering.

Consumer Group

These are targeted at the average consumer who wants a little more out of their photography then the average point and shoot camera can offer.  This group offers a great stepping stone for casual snappers to merge into a more creative area without outlaying too much cash.

This group is simply put, the lower end of the scale with the cheapest DSLRs in the range.
These cameras are cropped sensor cameras (1.6x) which basically means your focal range is amplified by 1.6, so if you buy a 50mm lens, your actually shooting at 80mm when its on the camera.

This is both a good thing and a bad thing,  good meaning you get extra zoom out of your camera without loss of quality,  but bad for when you need to shoot wide angle.

These cameras usually come in kits, with bundled lenses, how ever these lenses are usually low quality, and cheaper builds.

Where possible, its always advised to swap the bundled kit lenses with a single higher quality lens,  like the 17-85mm F\4-5.6 IS USM.  Image quality will be much better on these lenses.

While at the cheaper end of the market, these cameras are still DSLR camera, and therefore you can upgrade the lens when needed.
Keep in mind, in regards to taking a good crisp photo, it’s a good 80% dependant on the lens you use and not the camera.  Its far more beneficial to spend $1000 on lens for an $800 camera than it is to put a $200 lens on a $2000 camera.

Typically these consumer range cameras have the same sensors as the higher models, but are lower spec’d in terms of buffer, processor, build quality etc.  They usually feel like cheap plastic, are slower to navigate,  aren’t weather sealed,  have smaller more difficult to handle bodies and are aren’t geared towards any professional use.

Cameras: 350D / 400D / 450D / 500D etc
Price Range: $800 – $1300  (AUD)

Prosumer Group

This group of cameras is aimed at the semi professional to enthusiast level photographer.  The cameras are geared towards people that can be a fairly serious photographer one day, and a happy snapper the next.

They have much faster processors and larger buffers being able to rapid fire 7 photos off in a second and hold it in buffer before writing to the memory card.  The layouts of these cameras are geared for fast photography, allowing you to make all your adjustments quickly without moving your eye away from the view finder.

The build quality of these cameras is high, metal weather sealed casings, and larger stronger grips make you feel like your holding a real camera, and not a plastic toy.

These are also cropped sensor cameras ,  and can use the EF-S mount lenses for 1.6x crop sensors.

Prosumer group cameras are perfect for serious photographers, or photography enthusiasts that are not beginners and need more power and flexibility from their camera.
Typically, people in this bracket might buy professional series lenses (Canon L Series) instead of buying a professional model camera.  Technically this isn’t a difference in detail between these and the professional models aside from megapixels,  its more about power and flexibility.

Cameras: 30D / 40D / 50D / 7D
Price Range: $1700 – $2300 (AUD)

Professional Group

This group of cameras is, as the name suggests for professionals.  They share many of the exact same traits as the prosumer cameras, although with the addition of a Full Frame sensor.  This means when you attach 50mm lens,  your shooting at 50mm.

The professional group cameras have larger megapixel ratings (22 megapixels currently) and larger buffers.

The difference in sensor types should not be under estimated though, as the full frame sensor is quite a bit different, and while the average person may just see it as a 1.6x crop difference, there is more to it , although that is out of scope for this post.   If your in the market for a full frame camera, id suggest doing your home work first before outlaying.

Professional group cameras, do not come with inbuilt flashes either. This is pretty much due to the fact that no professional photographer is ever going to really use the inaccurate, color destroying blast of flash that comes from a pop up flash, instead they will always opt for a mounted canon flash like the 430EX II.

Cameras: 5D / 5DMark II / 1D
Price Range: $3600 – $4600