Digital SLR Camera versus a Compact Digital Camera

Digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras are fantabulous cameras that produce clearer, beguiler and more colourful images than most point and shoot digital cameras available. With prices falling rapidly, they are now more cheap then ever. With the cost gap between an entry model digital SLR camera and the most costly compact digital camera narrowing; the question is… do I spend the extra money and get a Digital SLR camera? or save a few hundred dollars and purchase the better digital compact camera.

Well, it actually depends on your budget; however if you do spend the extra money, here's what you get:

In addition to the cost falls in the Digital SLR models, the performance on these cameras has accumulated year on year with the latest Digital SLR cameras being faster and faster than ever before. They have improved to such an extent that power up or start-up time is near fast with virtually no lag time. “Lag time is the time between you pressing the shutter release button and the camera actually taking the shot”. This delay can vary quite a bit between several camera models and it is one of the biggest drawbacks compared to a compact digital camera. The latest digital SLR cameras have virtually no lag times and react in the same way as conventional film cameras, even as in burst mode. Compact digital cameras are catching up; however the difference is still significant. A lag time of ~0.5 seconds can result in you missing the heartbeat of the moment and thence that potential great picture.

Digital SLR camera as well has a larger device versus a smaller device in a compact digital camera. This equates to higher sensitivity and less noise and results in the camera taking clearer images in low light. (They as well have better optical device speed in low light as well). A measure of sensitivity in a digital camera is ISO and a typical ISO range for a Digital SLR camera varies from ISO 100 – 1600 with the latter being more sensitive. The ISO range for a compact digital camera varies from ISO 50 – 400. In summary, the higher the ISO rating, the greater the sensitivity and the better the exposure can be taken in low light.

The Digital SLR cameras have a more longer battery life due to the limited use of the LCD screen. Please note, that as the LCD screen is only used for viewing the image, the battery life of a digital SLR can allow up to 2000 shots per charge in several cameras compared to 500 for a nice point and shoot digital camera.

Digital SLR cameras as well allow you to interchange lens such as adding a zoom or macro lens once required.

On the negative side of a Digital SLR camera; they are commonly larger and heavier than compact digital cameras, the images cannot be previewed on the LCD screen prior taking the picture. If you actually require the images to be viewed on the LCD prior to taking the picture, there are third party manufacturers that produce LCD screens that attaches to the optical device and allow the scene to be view simply like a compact digital camera. The different disadvantage is the inability to take videos and finally, lenses are costly with the majority cost accounting more than the camera itself.

Although compact digital cameras cannot contend on features with a Digital SLR camera, they are great value, have the ability to take videos and are portable. If you have definite to purchase a Digital SLR camera I recommend you visit different websites which has Information on Digital Camera and compare the features. If you are still undecided, purchase both.

About The Author

Virginia Wong is an IT advisor and has a passion for digital photography. Her research into digital camera resulted in the development of her own digital camera website. http://infodigitalcamera.com. This article is free to use, distribute and copy as long as the link remains in place.

This article was denote on Oct 07, 2005