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Boot Camp camera guide: DSLRs

By Michael Saba, special to CNN

(CNN) -- The heavyweight (often quite literally) champ of high-quality photography and journalism, the digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera is the gold standard for career and pro-am photojournalists around the world.

With a little bit of practice and time spent familiarizing yourself with the myriad settings and technical terms, a DSLR will allow you to take stunning professional photos. Many newer entry-level DSLRs feature the ability to record full 1080p high-def, making it one of the ultimate tools in the journalist's arsenal.

Verdict: Expensive, and often requires practice or training, but is unparalleled in its ability to capture professional-grade images.

Can you tell whether a photo was taken by a phone or a fancy DSLR? Click here to take the quiz.

Take a look at the other Boot Camp camera guides here:

Part I: Cellphones

Part II: Point-and-shoots

Part III: Tablet PCs