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Digital SLR cameras

by Isabel Cutler

Digital single lens reflex cameras offer many of the same options as compact digital cameras: control of aperture, shutter speed, scene modes and changeable ISO.

While compact digital cameras have gotten better through the years, there are things about them that can be frustrating for a serious photographer. Two primary issues are difficulty of focusing in low light and the need to wait to take the next picture because of focus lag.

Why I bought a DSLR

Before buying a DSLR, I often missed wonderful photo opportunities when using a compact digital camera. With a compact, I couldn't consistently click at the peak moment. I had to wait while a picture was being saved to the memory card or the flash was busy recycling.

Speaking of flash, some of my compact digital cameras do not have hot shoes for external flashes that could be bounced off the ceiling, dooming me to inevitable red-eye problems.

DSRLs excel in low light

Another problem I had with compact digital cameras was getting good pictures in low light.

Unlike DSLRs, most compacts have limited light sensitivity. Pictures taken at ISO numbers higher than 100 can show excessive visual noise, colored speckles that would be the equivalent of “grain” on film. Besides, my pets aren’t thrilled with flash, so I prefer to photograph them with available light. My DSLRs have much better image quality at higher ISO.

Other benefits of DSLRs

I yearned for a camera that would have subjects in good focus, but beautifully blur the background. This effect can be difficult to achieve with a compact digital camera because it has a deep area of focus (depth of field).

I also yearned for a camera with which I could use different lenses to capture a wide range of subjects, for example, a wide angle lens for mountain vistas, a telephoto to shoot dog agility, and a macro to capture insect life and flowers in my garden.

A digital single lens reflex camera meets those needs, plus offers additional benefits:

DSLRs have very fast shot-to-shot time that enables you to capture sports and other fast motion activities much more easily than with a compact digital camera.
If you photograph wildlife that is far away from the camera and need super telephoto capability, your best images come from a DSLR.
If you like to photograph tiny things that you want to look large and have stunning detail, nothing beats a DSLR with a good macro lens.

Shortcomings of Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras

Digital single lens reflex cameras are larger and bulkier...and more expensive...than compacts. If you think you’ll find one with the perfect lens to take all the pictures you want to take, forget it! You will need more than one lens!

Some DSLRs lack a “Live View ," so you can’t use the LCD for composing a picture. You must hold the camera to your eye and compose and shoot using the viewfinder. On those cameras, the LCD is used primarily to review photos already taken.

Today's DSLRs are also audibly NOISY. The combination of the mirror slap* and shutter sound are enough to send a cat flying.

*A digital single reflex camera has a mirror that snaps up momentarily when taking a photo so light can hit the sensor. When the mirror moves out of the way, it makes a slapping sound.

Part 2: Before buying a DSLR