Learn the basics of digital photography so you can take better pictures by understanding the differences between a compact digital camera and a digital SLR.
The basics of digital photography are pretty much the same whether you're using a digital compact or DSLR (also referred to simply as an SLR),
but there are a few important differences.
Digital Compacts
One of the biggest benefits of digital compacts is the low cost. Another thing to consider when buying a DSLR is that you will need to purchase at least one lens for your camera especially if you want to take distant photographs. Digital compacts always come with a built in lens and sometimes even come with a zoom.
If you do have an optical zoom on your digital compact then you'll also be able to take some good quality telephoto pictures. An optical zoom is always far better than a digital zoom because a digital zoom works like cropping – it takes away pixels. The more you zoom with digital zoom, the lower the quality of your photograph. Unlike regular zooms, an optical zoom maintains the quality of your picture.
Some compacts will take such high quality images that many a pro will use one when they don't want to carry all of their DSLR gear. The quality of the photograph is largely dependent upon the photographer's skill.
While digital compacts don't have as many mega pixels as DSLRs, with only 5 mega pixels, you can produce an 8x10 print of the type of quality you'd be proud to frame and hang on your wall.
And lastly, learning how to use a digital compact is a lot easier than learning how to use a DSLR with all of its functions.
Digital Single Lens Reflexes (DSLRs)
A digital single lens reflex is the digital version of the SLR. You can call a DSLR a single lens reflex camera but you can't call an SLR a digital camera. With the debut of the Canon Rebel and other more moderately priced DSLRs (relatively speaking) a few years ago, more photography enthusiasts are discovering the advantages of a DSLR.
The big advantage of the DSLR is its creativity and versatility.
For example, by using a long telephoto lens you can take a close up of an eagle on the top of a tree and you'll never be able to tell from the picture that he was so far away. With a DSLR, you can find a lens or filter to suit almost any photographic need.
Another benefit of DSLRs is their ability to take sharp pictures of sports or action photos in low light situations where a flash won't work. The larger sensor on a DSLR allows you to adjust the ISO and get a good picture, whereas with a compact it usually creates an image with a lot of grain called digital noise. If you are taking still photos, it's not a problem. The problem with Sports mode in a low light setting is that the shutter must close so fast that in spite of a larger aperture setting, there's just not enough light hitting the image sensor. The only way this can be overcome is with a flash or a higher ISO setting.
However, there are software programs that once learned can often can work wonders in eliminating digital noise created with compacts in these settings.
Another DSLR advantage is that you can use an external flash which can make a huge difference.
DSLRs have more mega pixels than the best of the digital compacts, meaning you can take and print in high quality really big pictures, like posters and large prints for framing. Finally, digital cameras are slower to take the picture, but DSLRs are far faster than compacts.
Remember, digital photography basics start with choosing a camera, but the quality of the photographs largely depend on the skill of the photographer. So no matter what type of camera you have or will be buying, it pays to practice.
