For the most part, digital imaging is pretty much a hot item today and people have long since traded their film-based auto-focus cameras with digital ones. After all, it's more convenient and cost-efficient to get all your still shots recorded in one device rather than having to change films when your old one runs out. The birth of the digital SLR camera has provided a new opportunity for many people to try photography as a hobby in spit of their busy schedules. According to recent reports, sales for digital-based cameras have increased over the years as more people have started growing more interested in pursuing digital photography as a worthwhile hobby. Professional photography, however, is a different matter altogether. With professional photography, the choice of SLR camera is important in bringing out the desired effect that you want in your still shots. This is not just a matter of capturing moments but making the photographs tell the story and eliciting a response from its spectator. Selecting the right digital SLR camera can be quite a challenge what with the wide variety of options available in the market. For upcoming photographers, cost is one of the many things that they need to consider. Prices of cameras vary so before you decide to shop around for one, you will want to decide on how much you’re willing to spend. But price is not the only determinant of a cost-efficient gadget. It goes without saying that you should also look into the quality of the product and its overall performance. Remember that you will be investing on a gadget that you will probably use for quite some time so it pays to be extra careful when choosing an affordable digital SLR camera.