D-SLR vs. Digital

[HumbleMan]

My wife and I are cosnidering purchasing a new digital camera, and we are lost as to what is the difference between a D-SLR camera and a regular digital camera, other than the price. Can someone explain the differences?

Thanks,

 

[GryffinSong]

SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. Forgetting all the technical mumbo jumbo for now, it basically is a camera body which can be used with many different lenses. Professionals generally shoot with an SLR (film) or D-SLR (digital SLR) if they want to use a 35mm format. Actually, the digital SLR is a slightly different proportion than 35 mm film, but it's similar.

If you want the choice of using a wider variety of lenses, or think you might become a serious amateur or professional, an SLR is a good choice. On the other hand, for many person's uses, a regular digital camera is quite adequate, and is generally smaller, lighter, and often easier to use.

If you're not sure, try them both, ask tons of questions, and see which you prefer.

I shoot with a Nikon D70, which is a digital SLR. I have about six lenses for it. Two zooms (70-300 and 25ish-75?). I have two high speed macro lenses (80mm and 60mm). I have two wide angle lenses (high speed 20, and a high speed zoom). I love the versatility of an SLR, and I wouldn't go back to film now that I've discovered the joys of digital editing.

 

[gwithoutr]

I had a similar perplexing decision to make when I purchased my camera...in the end I purchased a Panasonic DM-Z50 - the latest from panasonic...I have a zoom range of between 35mm-400mm and 10 million pixels. with a powerful engine and anti shake/blur and so many manual features - I love it!!
Its a high end digital - but is said to rival SLR's to around the $3,500 range...cost me $750!

 

[rdale]

gwithoutr, is this what you have?:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Review, September 2006 by Simon Joinson
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz50/

Panasonic DMC-FZ50 10.1MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-FZ50-Digital-Optical-Stabilized/dp/B000GHVZQ0

looks sweet!

 

[Samuel_Rigby]

My wife and I are cosnidering purchasing a new digital camera, and we are lost as to what is the difference between a D-SLR camera and a regular digital camera, other than the price. Can someone explain the differences?

Thanks,

Someone already mentioned the lense options available for a D-SLR camera. The reason I went with one is because of the speed. My Canon 30D shoots 5 frames per second. I use my camera shooting sports and the 5 fps really helps.

One thing you should be aware of with a D-SLR is the initial image quality. When you first take a picture with a D-SLR it will not look as good as with a Point and Shoot. The reason is because of the image processing. In a P&S, image processing is done in the camera and results in better pictures straight from the camera. Pictures from a D-SLR are meant to have post-processing work done on them on a computer in order to make them vivid and sharp. The end result can actually be better than a P&S, but it does take time and there is a learning curve. The pros with a P&S are price, size, and better image quality straight from the camera. The pros with a D-SLR are lense options, speed, and better post-processing image quality.

Hope that helps!

 

[HumbleMan]

Thanks for all your responses.

I don't want to put out too much money right now, but we need a good camera as our kids are into sports. I'm not going to be doing any pro shooting or entering contests, mainly taking pictures of the kids to post on our website or send in email. About the only feature I'm really looking for in a digital is the quick shoot speed. I don't care if it's in the 6-8mp range.

 

[Samuel_Rigby]

Thanks for all your responses.

I don't want to put out too much money right now, but we need a good camera as our kids are into sports. I'm not going to be doing any pro shooting or entering contests, mainly taking pictures of the kids to post on our website or send in email. About the only feature I'm really looking for in a digital is the quick shoot speed. I don't care if it's in the 6-8mp range.

I would look at a Canon Rebel XT. It is a D-SLR which is reasonably priced, shoots 5 frames per second, and is a bit more compact than other DSLR's. It is 8 mp.

 

[HumbleMan]

I've looked at the Canons, and they are really nice, but that's still a little more than I want to put out right now. I'm probably just going to have to go with a digital and hope for a decent shoot speed.

 

[Samuel_Rigby]

I've looked at the Canons, and they are really nice, but that's still a little more than I want to put out right now. I'm probably just going to have to go with a digital and hope for a decent shoot speed.

Sounds good! Let us know how it works out!

 

[chaz345]

One thing that many people fail to consider is that there is a lot more that goes into final image quality than just the number of megapixels. Sensor size is a huge one. And since DSLRs have larger sensors than other digital cameras, often times a DSLR with fewer megapixels has vastly superior image quality than a compact digital camera with the same megapixels or often even if it has more.

Lens quality is another huge factor. And while the lens that is included with entry level DSLR's is usually nothing spectacular, they are often greatly superior to the built in ones on many compact digital cameras. There are exceptions and some compact digitals have truly excellent lenses, but these only come on the more expensive cameras, the ones that are pretty close in price to a DSLR.

 

[gwithoutr]

Not all digitals are compacts

 

[cristianna]

I would recommend going to dpreview.com and doing a side by side comparison of the cameras you are interested in.

If you have any questions let us know, but there are some really nice compact digitals out there in a reasonable price range that offer a fair amount of frames per second.

 

[chaz345]

Not all digitals are compacts

Was just trying to save words in differentiating between SLR and non SLR digitals.

To further confuse things, not all digital SLR's have changeable lenses.

 

[DanC922]

I would look at a Canon Rebel XT. It is a D-SLR which is reasonably priced, shoots 5 frames per second, and is a bit more compact than other DSLR's. It is 8 mp.

Only 3 frames per second actually. That's still plenty though! I love mine, and the fact that I got a steal of a price on EBay for it is great too.