Digital SLRs: Options for Fireworks
If you want more control than what you can get from a point-and-shoot camera--including the ability to change lenses--any digital SLR is more than up to the task of photographing fireworks. The new, 12.2-megapixel Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi, a relatively inexpensive SLR, offers plenty of value for your dollar. In addition to offering great image quality, this model boasts the full range of manual controls you'll need to capture fireworks shots.
The more-expensive, 10-megapixel Canon EOS 40D boasts amazing image quality (it received a score of Superior in the PC World Test Center's image-quality tests), but it lacks a scene mode to simplify setting up a fireworks shot. This model would be a great choice if you also want to photograph sports: It can shoot at up to 6.5 frames per second and up to 75 large/fine JPEGs or 17 RAW images in a row.
Another favorite is the 10-megapixel Olympus Evolt-E510. Not only does this camera include a complete range of traditional SLR exposure controls, but one of its 19 scene modes is a fireworks setting.
Finally, one more digital SLR that's a strong choice: The new 12.2-megapixel Sony Alpha DSLR-A300K comes with a nice advantage for fireworks shots, namely its tilting, articulating real-time Live View display. This feature could be handy if you need to position your camera at an awkward angle to achieve your desired image composition.
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