What Is a DSLR Camera?
Digital cameras are everywhere. We carry them in our pockets and purses. They are built into our cell phones, which I love for snapshots and quick memories. You can buy a decent compact digital camera for under a hundred dollars, but for professional quality pictures, a DSLR camera is a must.
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DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex. It is the evolution of the traditional film SLR camera into the digital age. For a long time film SLR cameras provided significantly better images than DSLR cameras, but DSLR image quality reached the point that any advantage film SLR has is outweighed by the convenience of having a camera that provides digital images a few years ago. Today most professional photographers, myself included, use DSLR cameras. I still have my SLR, but it isn’t used often simply because of the convenience and workflow ease. My SLR is a Minolta, I remember the Christmas that my parents bought it for me, I was soooo happy!
MINOLTA Maxxum 5000i 35mm SLR Film Camera with Minolta Maxxum 35-80mm AF Zoom Lens Student PhotographyMinolta #SR-T200 Vintage SLR 35mm Camera
Minolta XG-M SLR Manual Focus Camera Kit With a 50mm f/2.0 Lens
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Lenses
The lens on a compact digital camera is permanently attached to the camera. It may be fixed focus or autofocus, but it cannot be removed. DSLR camera lenses are removable. If the lens on the camera is not right for the situation, you simply remove it and install the appropriate lens. By changing the lens, you can shoot macro (extreme close-up), telephoto (extreme distance), portrait, or various special effect photos. This is where you will want to invest your money for better photography.
Tamron Auto Focus 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens with Built In Motor for Nikon Digital SLR (Model A17NII)Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens USA Warranty for Canon Digital SLR Camera With 2X Telephoto Lens + HD Wide Angle Lens + 3 PC Filter Lens Kit Deluxe Accessory Bundle And Much More
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Resolution and Image
DSLR cameras send the image seen through the lens to the viewfinder using a mirror so what is in the viewfinder is what is in the picture. The mirror swings out of the way when snapping the picture. A digital sensor captures the picture and converts it to a digital file – usually in JPEG or RAW format.
One of the main selling points on high-end compact cameras is the resolution. On digital cameras, the resolution is measured in megapixels. The usual assumption is that higher megapixels equal higher image quality. That is an important factor, but it is not the only one. The size of the image sensor is also important. The sensor in a compact camera is usually smaller than the sensor in a DSLR. Because of the larger sensor, a DSLR camera with lower resolution often takes better pictures than a higher resolution compact camera.
DSLR cameras provide greater control over image capture than compact digital cameras. Many compact cameras have basic settings for ISO, exposure, white balance, etc. DSLR cameras provide finer control over those settings and offer control for much more.
Video
The one thing that DSLR cameras can do that film SLR cannot is video. Early DSLR cameras had video capability, but the quality was often much lower than video created by digital camcorders and in non-standard formats. That has changed. Many modern DSLR cameras shoot video in either 720p or 1080p, standard HD video resolutions. I do have high video quality on my camera but honestly, I haven’t used it. My husband wants to use it, but I have a hands off rule for my cameras.
DSLR vs. Compact Camera
An entry level DSLR kit with one lens costs about the same as a high-end compact camera. A DSLR camera will usually have a larger sensor, greater control over image capture and ability to change lenses to fit the situation. Whether you are looking at a career in photography or ready to advance past the compact digital camera, a DSLR camera is the logical choice.
Nikon D3300 DX-format DSLR Kit w/ 18-55mm DX VR II & 55-200mm DX VR II Zoom Lenses and Case (Black)Nikon D5300 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX II Lens (Black) with 55-200mm VR II Lens + 32GB Card + Battery & Charger + Case + Flash + Tripod + Kit
Nikon D7200 Wi-Fi Digital SLR Camera & 18-140mm VR DX & 55-300mm VR Lens with 64GB Card + Case + Flash + Battery + Tripod + Filters + Kit
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I’ll share this post with hubby. He is the real camera fundi around here…as for me, I appreciate how you used simplicity to explain the DSLR camera. I’m always concerned that since the dawn of camera phones, our family has no memories locked away in photo albums.
I had a Minolta SRT 101 years ago – it was a fantastic camera. I still enjoy viewing the slides I took with it.