The Advantage of Digital SLR Cameras

Q: Should I Upgrade to a Digital SLR?

The huge advantage of digital SLR cameras versus point-and-shoot is quite simple - superior image quality. There are other reasons why you might want to upgrade to a DSLR besides wanting an increse in image quality but in this article I want to concentrate on why DSLR's will give you the type of shot that you may be have been longing for and think - mistakenly - you can achieve by simply buying a more expensive compact camera.

First of all, the image sensor in a digital SLR is larger than that of a point-and-shoot. This means larger pixel size is possible. When choosing between cameras with the same sized sensor but differing pixel counts, the one with larger pixels but fewer total pixels will perform better at high ISOs and low light performance.

There is a greater range of ISOs possible with a DSLR which translates into less 'noise' or 'grain' and therefore greater detail in your picture. It will also be possible to take shots using available light as you can up the ISO and thus avoid having to use flash as much.

Another advantage of digital SLR cameras to note here is that image image detail can be blurred by diffraction which is more of an issue with smaller pixels, so again the DSLR wins as its larger pixels will perform better, giving sharper images with higher contrast in the fine details.

Another huge advantage of digital SLR cameras is the reflex viewing systems. When using a point-and-shoot camera in bright sunlight it can be extremely difficult if not impossible to actually see the the image on the screen. This problem is eliminated with the viewfinder on a DSLR which is held right up against your eye. This has the added advantage of making it easier to hold the camera steadier than holding it at arms length. However, it is possible to buy point-and-shoot cameras with an optical viewfinder including the Canon PowerShot G12, the Canon PowerShot SD780, and the Nikon COOLPIX P7000.

But the really, really big advantage of digital SLR cameras is better optics. The lenses you can buy for a DSLR are of greater quality than those in a point-and-shoot camera. This is particularly true of high-end lenses and many photographers who buy good quality lenses will keep on using them for years or even decades, even though they may have upgraded the body of the camera more than once.

Not only are the optics better but it is possible to buy things like fisheye lenses, super telephoto and extra wide angle lenses for an SLR. A whole world of wonder opens up when you buy a new lens for your camera. It's almost as much fun as actually buying a new camera!

An SLR camera is a very different design to a point-and-shoot. Photographers who buy DSLRs are going to be relying less on automatic modes and more on the manual controls - they want to do the thinking for themselves and not have a program do it for them. I would argue that buying a DSLR makes you start to think more creatively, you want to explore new possibilities and new ideas because the designers made it that way, so that the manual controls are readily available when you are shooting. Of course, you're not forced to do so, but somehow it all starts to feel more natural after a while, and that leads to better photos.

In the finaly analysis, if you buy a DSLR than you will still have your old point-and-shoot which will fit in your pocket and be readily available at all times. An SLR camera is fairly chunky and heavy and certainly won't fit in your pocket! I own both. Sometimes I do not want the weight of a heavy camera clunking around my body plus a point-and-shoot can be less obtrusive - it doesn't scream 'photographer' before you have even got the viewfinder up to your eye.

But it really comes down to whether you want to take snaps of friends and family for either use on the web or making small prints or whether you want to take a step up and start to explore new possibilities and become really creative with your photography. To do that you need a camera which will give you really high quality photos and which allows you the freedom to grow as your ideas evolve. Only an SLR can do that.