i know the SLR camera's are higher end... but what is the main difference between an SLR and a regular camera... actually, what does SLR stand for to begin with?
btw, the camera my friends have told me to get (as a transition between point and shoot and a more professional camera) was the Nikon 6.1-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera (Model: D40)
here's the link: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?... there are a few reasons why i'm trying to decide whether to get the SLR camera. first off, i take pics of my friends soccer games... while i've been using my camera, it's very old and it's only a 3x optical zoom... i've also been asked by a friend to be a set photographer (and sound guy) on a friends indi film. add to that the fact that i've been wanting to know more about photography anyway... and therein lies the choice of whether to get an SLR or not... SLR means Single Lens Reflex. These contain a mirror, which lets one see through the main lens exactly what the lens sees. When the picture is being taken, the mirror flips up out of the way so that the light from the lens can reach the film or image sensor. Single Lens Reflex meaning the image you see in the view finder is coming from the cameras lens not a separate opening The single-lens reflex (SLR) is a type of camera that uses an automatic mirror system placed between the lens and the film plane to focus and project the image seen through the lens, through a matte focusing screen which then diffuses the light, allowing it entrance into the roof pentaprism where the light is reflected and then directed to the photographer's eye. Most SLRs use a roof pentaprism or penta-mirror to channel the light to the eyepiece, but there are other finder viewing capabilities, such as the waist-level finder, the interchangeable sports finders used on the Canon F1, F1n and new F1; the Nikon F, F2, F3, F4 and F5; the Pentax LX; and the porro prism system used in the Olympus Pen F, the Pen FT, the Pen FV half-frame 35mm SLR cameras, and the digital E-300 and E-330 cameras. A photographer can also purchase a right-angle finder which slips onto the eyepiece of most SLR's and D-SLR's and allows viewing sans a waist-level finder. SLR means single lens reflex. The Nikon D40 is digital so DSLR. I'd say a major difference is that you can't change lens' on a point and shoot. Also, in a SLR the image you see through the viewfinder is a true image. Therefore you can manipulate through focus and zoom etc to get the best picture. There's what it literally means and what it means in practice. The first two posters gave you the literal meaning. In the days of film cameras, that definition was relevent. With digital cameras, you have an LCD screen showing you a preview of what the picture will look like, so that definition of SLR is irrelevent. Instead, a digital SLR is a camera with a detachable lense so you can put on different lenses. That way you can buy a wide angle lense, a zoom lense, a macro lense, or some other weird lense. The opposite is a regular digital camera that has the lense as a permenant part of the camera. That's very convenient, but you can't upgrade the lense at all. More importantly, SLRs tend to be very high end, so they have lots of manual features that cheaper cameras do automatically, or not at all. Since you're obviously a newbie (no offense) I don't know if you really need an SLR. If you've got the money, go for it. Perhaps you should take a photography class at your local high school or community college before jumping right into an SLR. You may find its more camera than you need or will ever use. go to cnet.com to read about SLR's An SLR is a Single Lens Reflex. That's a camera that lets you actually see what it's looking at through the lens, rather than viewing through another window in the camera body.
Current models are referred to as a DSLR, a Digital Single-Lens Reflex.
You might consider a used DSLR, if you have a creative interest in photography. A DSLR camera is one that will grow with your abilities. Ask yourself do I want to have complete control of every shot. Do I want to set different shots at different shutter speeds, and different apertures. Change lenses depending on the situation.
Nowadays there are high quality point and shoot cameras that let you have SOME control, to cameras that are fully automatic. One answerer mentioned that maybe you should take a class. If you do you'll then know how deep into photography you want to get involved with. Then and only then would I buy a digital slr. SLR means single lens reflex. if you want to buy a new nikon D40 cheaper(more than USD50) than bestbuy then check my profile and go to the discount store. SLR stands for single lens reflex. maybe u can go to wikipedia for a professional explanation. DSLR stands for "Digital Single Lens Reflex"
10 Reasons to buy the DSLR:
1. Simply correct. While some upper market consumer cameras offer the ability to be creative, many do not. Want to do stuff like AEB? Forget it. This is not a hard rule, some non DSLRs do offer features such as this, but it's a rarity, not the norm. With a DSLR, it's the norm, not a rarity. Major advantage to the DSLR here.
2. Absolutely. Sensor size impacts on certain areas - the primary ones being noise and resolution. Smaller sensors, means smaller pixels, and this is BAD for digital photography. Diffraction plays a large part in poor image resolution, for more basic information read here:
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutoria...
3. See point 2. This is why digital compacts and pro-sumer cameras are usually noisier than their DSLR counterparts. Of course, many digital compacts and pro-sumer cameras are also using CCD sensors, rather than CMOS, which is traditionally far smoother, and has a lower noise floor, and better amplication [of the signal] performance. You'll also find that the digital processing chip sets on cameras vary wildly, with the better quality ones appearing in DSLRs.
4. As a general rule, DSLRs (like their SLR cousins) will offer more accessories, and more potential functionality by the usage of add-ons. Want to change a focusing screen on a pro-sumer/digital compact camera? Forget it. Want to add a purpose made macro lens? Forget it. I must note that many digital compacts and pro-sumer cameras can accept macro filters, such as Raynox, and they are superb, with brilliant results. Of course, the major part of accessories is lenses, and this, as another poster pointed out is the killer reason to go with DSLRs/SLRs.
5. Again, this is a no brainer. I'm sure more recent models from the pro-sumer and digital compact camps have a lower shutter lag, but they cannot match a DSLR in all honesty. Shutter lag on my 1D is quoted by Canon as being 55ms, which is the fastest DSLR on the market I might add.
6. Same as point 5. Even my four year old 1D has a faster startup time than most pro-sumers/digital compacts.
7. Absolutely. Whilst some of the pro-sumers aren't bad in build quality, most of them are plastic and not particularly strong. This is an honest assessment. Of course, the pro DSLRs models are even stronger and have weather sealing to boot.
8. Personally, I dislike using LCD screens. They make you lazy, they make you not think about composition etc. They're a mongrel to read in harsh lighting, and the resolution is often very poor. They also lack reasonable information.
9. This is very much a personal preference thing I find. As an example, I can't stand Nikon DSLR ergonomics!!! As a general rule, digital pro-sumer cameras and digital compacts offer poorer ergonomics, with options/settings being set by a myriad of menus, rather than logically laid out buttons. This does affect usability, and as Kurt has pointed out, you'll quite often miss the shot.
10. This is contentious. I can see what Kurt is saying, from a price point of view, entry level DSLRs like the 400D/D50s offer exceptional value for money, lots of features, and the vast majority of pro-sumer and digital compact cameras cannot compete in all honesty. You get more bang for your buck with the DSLR, with more flexibility, power etc.
Drawbacks to DSLRs? Size. I know the 400D is tiny, but most digital compacts are smaller and slimmer. Weight, same deal. These are trade-offs to improved build quality I feel. You can have one, or the other, but not both.
10 Reasons not to buy the DSLR:
1. They are big and bulky: Most of us who own a DSLR will end up buy buying an additional point and shoot digital camera because DSLRs are just too bulky to carry everywhere. Just very few people, like myself, will accept showing off at a restaurant table, or other occasions, carrying a big Canon EOS 30D and a set of lenses.
2. You are not going to use it: This point was already brought up in the tech lounge article but this point is so valid I just can鈥檛 skip it. Many people spend money to buy a DSLR and end up by just using the Pre-programmed modes, so if you don鈥檛 count to go deep enough into photography to forget1 those automatic modes, just stick to the point and shoot camera types.
3. Lens quality: Most branded compact digital camera you buy will ship with a high quality lens capable of delivering images of great quality. Most kit lens are a joke, and if you are not ready to invest BIG money in lenses, just don鈥檛 buy a DSLR.
4. Equipment care: DSLR will require much more care and cleaning than the compact digital camera. You鈥檒l will have to buy cleaning kits, clean those lenses and the sensor too anytime you start seeing dust spots on you images, and I know just too well that it happen too often.
5. No LCD live preview: Yes I know why, but most people will expect to be able to preview the picture they are about to take live on their LCD, that鈥檚 the whole idea behind going digital isn鈥檛 it? So you need to know that in a DSLR you will not be able to preview the picture on the LCD screen.
6. Lens versatility: When you buy that point and shoot you will have just one versatile piece of equipment specially build to fit most of your photography situations. When you buy a DSLR you will have to buy a lens for each and every kind of shooting. Landscape/portrait/wildlife/indoor, you name it. I know it is a feature, but it is on costly feature, so again if you are not ready to pay money more than just the price of the camera DSLR are not for you. Good lenses costs a lot more than entry and midrange DSLRs
7. Bandwagon: Don鈥檛 just buy a DSLR because everyone else is doing so, think about why you want a camera to start with, if what you need is a camera to carry everywhere and keep those memories captured forever, then you probably don鈥檛 need a DSLR, but if you genuinely love photography and ready to spend time and money learning it, then DSLR is a surely a good choice.
8. It is NOT the camera but the photographer: If you think that a DSLR will make you a better photographer, think again. It is note the camera that takes the pictures, but the person behind the lens, check the internet and you will find a lot of breathtaking pictures taken with point and shoot digital cameras. Of course a DSLR will give you more opportunities and more tools to work with, but it won鈥檛 make you a better photographer.
9. Life span: Once you get your DSLR you will most probably want to upgrade to the new model ever other model release. You can still find a lot of people shooting with they Canon G5 even after the G6 and G7 are released, but you will notice that most DSLR owners will rush to upgrade their camera finding any and every excuse possible to justify its cost.
10. You will still be able to buy it later: Like everything else if you are just starting in photography it is only the logical path to start small and then, when you feel you reached the limits of your equipment, you can always buy a more pro one and you will always find someone in your family happy to get that compact digital camera you want to get rid off.
As a conclusion, if you have a good photography background2 then you probably don鈥檛 need any article to tell you why to buy or not to buy a DSLR and that鈥檚 because you know what you want and expect. However if you are just about to buy your first camera and you are not sure how serious you will be in this new hobby of yours, or you want it just to keep some souvenirs then think twice before paying that bill.
I wanted to give you both the pro's and con's and let you make up your own mind if a DSLR is for you or not....good luck! |
