Advantages of Digital SLR Cameras

If you are looking to take your pictures to a new level, you might be wondering: “What are the advantages of digital SLR cameras?”

There are many advantages of owning a digital SLR camera.

Up until about five years ago, professional photographers were the primary consumers of digital SLR cameras. However, the evolution of digital photography has made SLR cameras more affordable and accessible to amateur shutterbugs. These days, the market is flooded with digital SLR cameras and an increasing amount of hobby photographers have been snapping them up.

SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. In contrast to compact digital cameras, SLRs allow you to see exactly what the lens sees. What’s more, unlike compact digital cameras, you can change the lens on a digital SLR. Lastly, and perhaps, more importantly, is the fact that digital SLRs have large image sensors, which allow you to take high quality photos.

There are dozens of advantages to owning a digital SLR camera, but the following are the most noteworthy:

The main reason many amateur photographers upgrade from their handy compact digital cameras to sophisticated digital SLR versions is because they are tired of dealing with the dreaded lag time. That frustrating period of time between the moment you press the shutter button and the instant the camera actually takes a picture is enough to drive some photographers over the edge. This annoying delay is often the cause of spoiled shots.

A digital SLR has a near-zero lag time. This is ideal for action photography. Test out a digital SLR camera and you’ll notice that in any given situation it will focus on a subject faster than a compact digital camera. This speed advantage is even more obvious in low light conditions and when you are trying to capture a sequence of shots of a moving subject. A compact digital camera stops to re-focus as the subject moves. Conversely, a digital SLR has built-in mechanisms that allow you to record multiple frames per second, thereby insuring that you don’t miss a moment of the action.

Most amateur photographers equate large megapixels with high quality photos. Unfortunately, this is a misnomer. Ironically, many compact digital cameras have more megapixels than digital SLRs and picture quality is still compromised. The reason is that image sensors on compact digital cameras are too small to accommodate large quantities of pixels. When millions of megapixels are crammed on tiny sensors, it results in digital “noise,” which takes the form of tiny specks on your photos. Digital SLR cameras have larger sensors to accommodate huge numbers of megapixels without sacrificing image quality.

Another advantage of SLRs is their ability to shoot in RAW mode. Shooting in RAW mode allows the camera to captures more detail, and gives you more flexibility when it comes to editing photos later on.

A clear advantage of digital SLR cameras is their ability to capture outstanding images in low light conditions. SLR cameras feature digital sensors that are more sensitive to light than compact versions. While some compact digital cameras let you change the ISO of the camera to increase the camera’s sensitivity to light, in doing so you also add “noise” to the photo. Digital SLR cameras produce very little “noise” even at a high ISO.

If you like to be in control of your camera, then a digital SLR will better fit your needs. Compact cameras typically offer an “automatic” mode, which makes the decisions for you. With a digital SLR, you have complete control over every photo you take. If this makes you nervous, you should know that every digital SLR camera does come equipped with automatic settings, as well as intermediate features that offer increasing levels of control over your images.

Digital SLR cameras are undeniably versatile. You can take photos of everything from sleeping children to speeding cars and never be limited by your camera. In addition to being able to handle a wide range of situations, digital SLR cameras can accommodate hundreds of different lenses and flash options. This means you can add the zoom lens of your choice and control the depth field simultaneously. This is impossible to achieve with compact cameras which feature fixed lenses.

In regards to flash flexibility, the small built-in flash attached to compact cameras is no match for the powerful flashguns available for digital SLRs. In addition to being interchangeable, flashes used by digital SLRs are able to bounce off of ceilings and walls. This diffuses the flash and eliminates red eye.

The choice to upgrade to a digital SLR is yours. Clearly, there are many advantages of digital SLR cameras. However, it’s a good idea to experiment with a SLR before investing in one. Many camera shops allow customers to test out floor samples. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn the ins and outs of a particular camera. Doing so will give you peace of mind and ensure that your upgrade is not based solely on your frustration with your sluggish compact camera.

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