Do you admire those shots made by the pros with single-lens reflex cameras, especially those images captured with long telephoto or really ultra-wide-angle lenses? Maybe you are but you're more comfortable with the simple, uncomplicated operation of your point-and-shoot digicam? And don't those digital SLRs cost more than a new Toyota Camry?
Well, we've got good news. Today, camera manufacturers offer a selection of digital SLRs at surprisingly affordable prices, along with robust lineups of interchangeable lenses that can make that photo in your head become a reality.
What's more, the newest DSLRs are lighter, more compact, and easier to use than ever, and like 35mm SLRs, they let you view the subject directly through the lens, in any light, for the most accurate framing possible.
Is There a DSLR in Your Future?
Like all digital cameras, DSLRS don't require film or any kind of photochemical processing, and there's no waiting--you get to see the pictures right now! All the other basics are the same as a 35mm SLR: light passes through the lens and is reflected by a mirror onto the optical viewfinder, giving you a clear image of your subject.
Whatever the lens sees, you see, so you get a wide-angle view when you mount a wide-angle lens on the camera, a closer view with a telephoto, and a close-up view when you focus with a macro lens in place.
Many to Choose From
While digital point-and-shoot cameras continue to be extremely popular, digital SLRs are probably the fastest-growing camera category today, because they appeal to serious photo enthusiasts, budding enthusiasts, and the great mass of average snapshooters as well.
The world's leading camera manufacturers have responded to this growing demand, and we now have a rapidly burgeoning group of reasonably priced DSLRs available from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sigma, Pentax, Sony, Panasonic and Samsung. These cameras produce film-like images, offer 35mm camera-like handling, and seem to get less expensive with each new SLR offering!
What a DSLR Can Do for You
As with other digital cameras, many consumers shopping for a new DSLR get bogged down in the megapixel race, probably because it's a simple number that seems easy to understand. But there's a lot more to a digital SLR than megapixels, which set a limit on image resolution. Control and flexibility are the more important factors that DSLRs offer you, both of which add up to increased creative potential.
While many point and shoots offer control via various exposure modes for different kinds of situations (sports, night, portrait) digital SLRs offer these modes in depth and, most importantly, let you access them fast!
For instance, if you want to choose a sports mode, most entry-level digital SLRs have a dial on the top of the camera that lets you quickly set the sports mode without fumbling through menus on an LCD screen that may be difficult to see outdoors in bright daylight.
The same is true with autofocus control points: a digital SLR will not only have more points but will also let you control their placement for more accurate and consistent in-focus images.
Fun with Lenses
Digital SLRs handle like familiar 35mm cameras and are compatible with 35mm lenses you may already own, giving you the flexibility to capture the kind of pictures you want to make.
If you want to make close-ups, attach Canon's 60mm EF-S macro lens to an EOS Rebel XTi to get close enough for butterfly portraits.
Like sports? Slip a telephoto lens onto a Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 and let its built-in Anti-Shake technology help you get sharp photographs of your son sliding into second base.
There are even "digital lenses" designed specifically for the smaller sized imaging chips found in low- and modestly priced digital SLRs. These lenses, such as Tamron's 18-200mm zoom, are affordable and achieve the kind of range not possible with fixed lens point-and-shoot digicams, but they won't work with a 35mm film camera.
Flexibility + Control = Creativity
One of the coolest features found in many digital SLRs is the ability to capture images in black and white, allowing you to see the nuances of black and white at the point of capture rather than later on a computer screen. Some cameras, including Olympus's EVOLT E-510, offer built-in color filters specifically for black-and-white photography.
These digital filters produce an accurate translation of colors into shades of gray and operate on the principle that their own color is lighter but the complementary color will be darker in the final image.
Because the form factor and controls are similar to 35mm SLRs, the learning curve for digital SLRs will be shorter for you.
Indeed, the most important aspect of using a digital SLR is the fun factor. It will allow you to enjoy capturing images of the world or your own neighborhood in unexpected and creative ways.