Canon is the multinational Japan-based company that deals in the manufacturing of optical and imaging products like digital cameras, handycams, steppers, computer printers, photocopiers and many more. The company has established a strong grip over the market with its extensive and exclusive range of digital cameras, and is enjoying a good fraction of the total market share.

If you are serious about camera picture quality and performance then DSLR or SLR cameras are the best options for you to opt for. There are various features and technically sophisticated functions that collectively result in excellent images, and good lenses are among the vital ones. It is the imaging optics that play an important role from focusing, exposing and capturing an object. Canon camera lenses are well-renowned for their quality and value that attracts enthusiastic photographers. A variety of Canon camera lenses are compatible with other brand cameras as well.

The quality and price of Canon lenses are the two key factors that make them leaders in the market. From the wide range of Canon lenses available, the 'Canon EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS' is a full frame lens which is good for telephoto work. It is especially designed for Canon EOS DSLRs cameras having a APS-C format sensor. The AF of the Canon EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is very quick compare to the conventional DC motor or USM. It proves to be an ideal Image Stabilized lens for professional photographers who are looking for wide-angle zoom lens with telephoto compatibility.

- Devika Rajpali

A digital camera produces excellent photographs. For many years however, professional photographers have discussed the drawbacks to the digital camera from the perspective of image quality, which does not always match that available through a traditional 35mm film camera. The convenience afforded by going digital, however, far outweighs the minor loss in perceptible quality for most consumers.

For millions of potential camera shoppers, choosing the smallest, lightest camera is most important, while others may wish to hold down costs or only share photos online where image quality is limited anyway. For these and other shoppers, finding and paying for a more costly camera may be unnecessary. But for those who strive to capture images that record the most accurate and colour correct images, there are choices they can make during the shopping process that can help to assure they end up with equipment that will be capable of producing outstanding images.

The primary decision is not about megapixels - or at least, not entirely. A digital camera with 10 megapixels does not necessarily produce a better image than a camera with only 6 megapixels. Megapixels are important and a camera must have enough of them to provide adequate image information for the size of print being produced, so that there is less noise and better clarity in the resulting image. Unless a consumer plans on producing very large images, 5 megapixels is generally sufficient and 3 - 4 may be enough if prints will be 5 x 7 or smaller.

The sensor which captures the light entering the camera lens is even more critical however. The sensor stores and displays data, converting the light into electrons. The sensor can be either CCD (charge-coupled device) or CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor). CCD is the more mature technology and produces images with less noise. They also tend to be more expensive and consume more power but for those seeking the highest quality images, a CCD is the better choice at this time.

An important aspect of the CCD is the actual size of the sensor. Larger sensors provide higher resolution and less noise. Understanding how the size of the CCD sensor influences the quality of images and knowing what size sensor is adequate requires a bit more study. There are several articles available on line which could prove valuable for those wishing to learn more about this topic.

A final consideration regarding the sensor in a digital camera is the availability of 1 CCD and 3 CCD models. As one might suspect, more is often better. A camera with 1 CCD picks up image and colour information through a single sensor. A model with 3 CCD has a sensor that picks up each of the different colors (Red, Green, and Blue) resulting in superior colour reproduction.

Certainly the selection of a CCD sensor over a CMOS sensor, a larger sensor, or more sensors is not required in order to own a high quality digital camera capable of producing very good images. However, these features certainly do significantly enhance image quality and are the focus of attention for those seeking to produce the sharpest and most vivid images.

- John Smith