This is the last post about “Which Type of Digital Camera”. In the first post, I described Compact or Point-and-Shoot Digital Cameras (beginner) and in the second post, Bridge or High-end Digital Cameras (advanced). In this post I will discuss Digital SLR Cameras (professional).
3. Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras (Digital SLR or DSLR)
A digital single-lens reflex camera (digital SLR or DSLR) is a digital camera that uses an automatic mirror system and pentaprism to transfer light from the lens through the viewfinder.
A DSLR camera operates is as follows: for viewing purposes, the mirror reflects the light coming through the lens upwards at an approx. 90 degree angle. It is then reflected by the pentaprism to the eye of the photographer. During exposure (when the picture is taken), the mirror swings up, and the shutter opens, allowing light to hit the image sensor.
Digital SLR cameras are used by professional photographers and photo enthusiasts. DSLRs have excellent optics, produce high resolution pictures and have interchangeable lenses and sophisticated accessories. They perform better in low light conditions than most compact and bridge cameras which have smaller image sensors.
Image sensor
Image sensors in digital SLR cameras are much larger and have a different construction than in compact and bridge cameras. A larger image sensor generally produces a better picture quality than a smaller sensor, because the individual pixels on the SLR image sensor can be larger. Larger pixels produce pictures with less noise, so SLR cameras show better results in low-light conditions than compact and bridge cameras.
Full-frame cameras are digital SLR cameras whose image sensor is the same size as a conventional 35mm film. Full-frame cameras can use lenses made for 35mm film cameras and the final result will be the same field-of-view.
More control
Digital SLR cameras give you high manual control, and in combination with the option to change lenses, it gives you a high degree of flexibility. Entry-level digital SLR cameras usually have automatic modes (comparable to compact cameras) to make them easier to use for starters.
The high degree of quality control and the range of first-class optic lenses also have a downside: cost. A digital SLR camera tends to cost a good deal, and a professional level digital SLR camera can be 10 to 20 times the cost of a compact camera… before adding the cost of different lenses, which can be jaw-dropping.
Canon EOS 40D / Digital SLR camera
Nikon D700 / Digital SLR camera
Tags: DSLR, Image sensor, SLR camera
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