Digital SLR camera & functions

What Is a Digital SLR Camera?

If you have wondered "what a digital SLR is?", here’s an overview!

Many consumers are much more familiar with compact digital cameras, since these models have flooded
the marketplace.
Like cell phones, it's hard to walk down the street these days without seeing someone snapping a photo.
Digital SLR cameras are less common, and up until 2005, they were really only used by professionals.
The good news is that the price of digital SLRs keeps falling and many are priced competitively with high-
end compact cameras. This means that many new consumers are hearing about these cameras and aren't
quite sure what they can do. So what is a digital SLR? Let's find out.

SLR Defined
SLR is an acronym: it stands for Single Lens Reflex.
Now you know what SLR stands for but that doesn't really help answer the question, does it? Let's define
further:

• With an SLR camera, you see exactly what the lens sees
• You can change the lens on a digital SLR
• Digital SLRs have large image sensors that produce high-quality photos
• An SLR has a near-zero lag time, and is ideal for action photography
• An SLR offers greater creativity and control to the user

Bottom line? Digital SLR cameras are versatile.

You can take photos of everything from sleeping kittens to race cars and you'll never be limited by your
camera.
With an SLR in your hands you can rest assured that you'll only miss great photo opportunities because
you weren't prepared, not because your camera was too slow.

The Anatomy of a Digital SLR

To properly answer "what is a digital SLR?" you have to understand a bit about the mechanics of an SLR
camera.
In order to avoid getting overly technical I've simplified this diagram and am highlighting the key
elements.
If you really want to dredge into the specifics, you can do that at Wikipedia.

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Digital SLR camera & functions

1. Light passes through the lens and strikes a mirror (green)

2. The mirror reflects the light up to a focusing screen
3. Light passes through the focusing screen and enters a block of glass called a pentaprism (orange)
4. The pentaprism reflects the image so that you can see it in the viewfinder
5. When you take a photo, the mirror flips up and a shutter (blue) opens that exposes the digital
sensor (red) to light

This is a great example of what-you-see-is-what-you-get. By using the viewfinder you can precisely
compose your image and adjust the focus.
Is it the image that you see in the viewfinder 100% accurate? In most cases it isn't.
If you read digital SLR camera reviews, you may hear a lot about viewfinder "coverage" and "brightness".
Many digital SLR viewfinders only show you 95% of the image that will be captured by the sensor - this is
what "coverage" refers to. Unless you are extremely precise when it comes to your photographs you won't
notice the 5% difference.
Digital SLR viewfinders also vary in brightness, which is another way of saying how clear the image
appears. "Bright" viewfinders make it easier to use manual focus, since you can clearly see the details of
your subject.

A Lens For Every Occasion

In addition to the pentaprism viewfinder, one of the key features of any digital SLR camera is the ability to
change lenses.
Most people think that the camera alone is responsible for capturing an image, but this isn't the case.
The lens that's attached to it can play a huge role in the color, contrast and clarity of every single photo
that you take.
Owners of digital SLR cameras can buy lenses that match their photography style, since a landscape
photographer would not use the same lens as a wildlife photographer.
The ability to swap lenses at any time adds to the versatility of a digital SLR camera, and means that even
if your photography needs change in a couple years, you won't have to buy a new camera, you'll just need
a different lens.

What's Next
Hopefully you're starting to feel more comfortable about this whole digital SLR camera thing.
If close friends pop the question "what is a digital SLR?" you'll be able to respond in an educated fashion
(just throw out the term "pentaprism" and watch their eyes go wide).
Let's take it a step further.
I am a digital SLR enthusiast - this web site probably gives that away. I think that there are many
advantages of digital SLR cameras.
But I also know that there are many features of compact digital cameras that aren't available on digital
SLRs.
The two articles that follow present this both sides of the coin so that you can make an informed camera-
buying decision.

The Advantage of Digital SLR Cameras

I'll begin this page with the key advantage of digital SLR cameras: they're fast.
Maybe this is a familiar situation for you: you're attending a big event and want to capture a photo of the
definitive moment.
You're all set up to get the shot, but your compact digital camera just won't focus.
Finally it focuses and you press the button.
But there's a delay in between the time you press the button and when the camera takes the photo - the
moment is over. You've missed it.
If this scenario is as frustrating for you as it was for me, you'll see why speed is a significant advantage of
digital SLR cameras.

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Digital SLR camera & functions

Built For Speed

So why are some compact cameras so slow and digital SLRs so fast? It's electronics vs. mechanics.
On the page of this site where I answer "What is a digital SLR", there's a diagram of the insides of a digital
SLR camera.
You may have noticed that there is a device called a shutter that sits in front of the digital SLR sensor.
When you take a photo, the shutter (made up of two curtains) opens and closes.
This is different from a compact camera, where there is no shutter mechanism. In compact cameras, the
sensor is electronically activated every time you take a photo.
The advantage of the mechanical solution is that it is instantaneous: you press the shutter button and
the shutter snaps open.
There's never a delay when you want to capture that photo of a lifetime.
If this was the only advantage of digital SLR cameras, it might be enough for anyone who's frustrated with
a sluggish compact camera.
For anyone who's still skeptical, here are a few others.

A Lens For Every Occasion

I am an indecisive person.
I had an undeclared major in college for months, and spent almost a year after I graduated trying to
figure out what to do with my life.
This is why it's no surprise that a digital SLR is the perfect camera for me!
If I want to take landscape photos, I attach a wide-angle lens. If I want to photograph bugs and flowers, I
use a macro lens. When I take photos of my labrador, I use a telephoto lens and can snap shots even
when I'm halfway across a field.
One camera, tons of lenses.

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Digital SLR camera & functions

Sure, you say, but what about all those fancy compact cameras they have now with built-in mega-zooms?
I can get one lens that does it all.
Again, it comes down to speed.
Zoom lenses in compact cameras take time to zoom in and out since the zoom is driven by a motor. You
manually control the zoom of a digital SLR, and can zoom as fast or slow as you like.

High Quality in Low-Light

One clear advantage of digital SLR cameras is that they're able to capture photos even when there's not a
lot of ambient light.
So what? Every camera can take a photo when there's not a lot of light - just turn on the flash.
Here's the trick: digital SLR cameras can do it without the flash.

Digital SLRs are able to take photos when there's little available light because of a feature called ISO: it
makes the digital sensor more sensitive to light.
While several compact digital cameras will also let you change the ISO of the camera, there is one key
difference.
As you increase the ISO (and increase the camera's sensitivity to light) you also add grain or "noise" to
the image.
The advantage of digital SLR cameras when it comes to ISO is that even at high ISO settings they produce
very little noise. I can't say the same about compact cameras.
If you really enjoy taking photos when there's not a lot of light, the image quality of a digital SLR will
exceed a compact any day of the week.

You Have Control

This is my favorite advantage of digital SLR cameras.
I don't like a machine to be making decisions for me. While it's right most of the time, it isn't right ALL of
the time. The human brain will always be better at judging a scene then a camera set to automatic.
With a digital SLR, you have complete control over every photo you take, and don't have to rely on the
camera to make choices for you.
Even if you're not ready to make the jump to a fully manual camera, don't be frightened off.

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Digital SLR camera & functions

Every digital SLR camera lets you use an automatic setting, and provides you with intermediate steps that
offer increasing levels of control over your images.

The Difference Between SLR and Digital Compact Cameras

What Digital SLRs Can't Do
Here's a major difference between SLR and digital compact cameras: price.
Even though the price has been dropping on digital SLRs, they are still significantly more expensive than
their compact cousins.
Let me put it this way: an inexpensive digital SLR camera starts around $500 - and that's often without
a lens.
Tack on an additional $100 for a kit lens or $500 for a higher-quality zoom.
If you can't fathom spending $800 to $1,000 on a digital camera, then an SLR is definitely not right for
you. If price isn't a problem, there are still several other differences between SLR and compact digital
cameras that you need to be aware of.

No Movie Mode
Digital SLR cameras don't capture movies. They are dedicated to taking still photos and they excel at that.
If you're a budding videographer, then a camcorder or a compact digital camera with a movie mode is a
better bet.

Limited Live Preview

If you've seen any compact digital cameras, then you know that you can compose a photo just by looking
at the LCD monitor on the camera's back.
You'll notice that virtually everyone who uses a compact camera takes photos this way - they never look
through the viewfinder.
Time for a reality check.
A surprising difference between SLR and compact digital cameras is that SLRs don't have a live
preview mode.
The LCD is only good for reviewing shots that you've already taken - it won't show you the photo you're
about to take.
This means that you must compose all the photos you take with a digital SLR by looking through the
viewfinder.
This used to be true for all digital SLR cameras. Today, there are several live view digital SLR cameras
that you can choose from.

Manual Zoom
Most compact digital cameras have electronic zooms. Just push a button (or lever) and the camera's lens
zooms in and out.
With a digital SLR, you're going to need two hands - zooming is a manual process. You have to twist a
ring on the lens to get it to zoom in and out.

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Digital SLR camera & functions

Zoom Range
Since we're on the topic of zooms, let's talk about another difference between SLR and compact digital
cameras.
Recently several compact cameras have been introduced with "mega-zooms".
In the compact world, zoom range is described by a multiplier (i.e. 4x, 6x or 10x) while with digital SLR
lenses it's described in millimeters (i.e. 50mm, 100mm or 300mm).
Compact cameras with a 10x or 12x zoom cover an extremely wide range from wide angle to telephoto.
A similar lens for a digital SLR camera costs $400 or more and it usually doesn't have the same optical
quality as zooms that don't cover such a wide zoom range.
If you want a 12x zoom with a digital SLR, it's a better bet to get two lenses instead of just one.

Size and Weight

If your idea of the ultimate camera is something that fits in your pocket, then forget all about digital SLRs.
The most obvious difference between SLR and compact digital cameras (besides price) is sheer size.
Even a small-sized digital SLR camera is twice the size and bulk of a compact camera.
While there are many new digital SLR models that are more portable (and are easier to travel with) the
addition of a lens to your camera ensures that you'll never be able to stow it away in your pants.

So What Should You Buy?

Even though I've talked about the difference between SLR and digital compact cameras you still might be
on the fence.
Here are a few questions that might help you make up your mind:

• Do you want to take more professional-looking photos?

• Do you want to be able to change the lens attached to your camera?
• Do you want more control over the photos that you take?
• Do you take a lot of photos of pets and children who are in constant motion?
• Do you take a lot of photos indoors?

If you answered YES to every question, get a digital SLR. You will be happier in the long run.
If you answered NO or MAYBE, then take a good look at the digital compact cameras.

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