Choosing a Digital Camera - DSLs, Compacts or Bridge Cameras?
- By Autumn Lockwood
- Published 04/23/2010
- Articles
- Unrated
Autumn Lockwood
Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. If you're looking for a special gift for a birthday, wedding, anniversary or any other memorable day to celebrate, check out our selection of frames. Go online or call 800-780-0699.
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Choosing a digital camera will be a lot easier when you look at each of the three types of digital cameras: the digital SLR, compact (automatic) cameras and Bridge cameras.
This article discusses the main advantages and disadvantages of each type so that you can narrow down the best type of camera for you.
Digital Single Lens Reflexes (DSLRs)
Digital SLRs, also called "DSLRs" are expensive, and until recently were used almost only by professional photographers. Prices have come down for entry level DSLRs like the Canon Rebel. However, when you buy an DSLR, you also have to buy lenses. Some do, however, come with a basic starter lens or kit lens. If you want to take some pictures of something far away, you can't just push a button to zoom but will need to get a telephoto lens. These come in all sorts of sizes to fit the photographer's needs. Many photographers also buy quality used equipment to keep costs down.
On the plus side, you can find telephoto lenses that will let you take a close up of a bird way at the top of a tree or a football player in the end zone when you're in the bleachers at the 50-yard line. And they are lightning fast! So you'll never have the problem of missing an action shot because your camera took too long to record the picture.
DSLRs also work with accessories like external flashes and filters to give you more options when shooting. They are also great for taking action shots in low light situations where a flash won't reach or isn't allowed.
Because of their large sensors, you can increase ISO to get pictures in low light while still having a high shutter speed to capture action. Other camera's smaller sensors mean that when you increase ISO sufficiently to get these shots, you end up with digital noise, a colorful, unsightly graininess. This can sometimes be removed with software but the DSLR allows you to avoid the whole mess.
These days, the main disadvantage of a DSLR is the higher price tag when you compare it to other types of cameras.
If you are serious about photography and want to advance your skills, then a DSLR is the camera for you. Most people just start out with the camera body and a kit lens and then add more specialized lenses as they go.
Point & Shoot Digital Cameras (also called compact or automatic cameras)
Digital compacts or points and shoots are the most popular cameras in the Western world and for good reason. A compact is so easy to pack around and can take such good quality shots that many a pro with an expensive DSLR and a bag of big lenses has a small compact tucked in a pocket. (Pocket size compact digital cameras are often called subcompacts).
As mentioned above, one of the biggest benefits to compacts is their small and easy to carry size. Unlike DSLRs which usually require a small bag of camera gear (if you have a couple of lenses) these cameras can go virtually anywhere.
Although you can just point and shoot these cameras, many have lots of different modes to choose from and even offer some manual controls like Aperture Priority and Shutter Speed Priority. If it has optical zoom, you can also get some great telephoto shots too!
Bridge Cameras
These digital cameras bridge a gap between compact cameras and DSLRs. Bridge cameras are also called prosumer cameras because they are often used by both professionals and consumers.
Bridge cameras almost always have higher price tags than compact cameras but are less than most DSLRs (as you don't have to buy extra lenses with bridge cameras).
Bridge cameras usually have larger sensors and more megapixels than most compact digital cameras. Because of the larger sensor, you can increase ISO more than on a compact but not nearly as high as with an DSLR. If you don't need to get action shots in places without good lighting, this may never be an issue.
Many bridge cameras have hot shoes to work with external flash, meaning you can get better indoors pictures. Bridge cameras also have movie mode and allow you to compose shots on the LCD. Many also have super zooms. This means they have optical zoom ranges of 10x to 20x. Plus bridge cameras have almost or as many manual controls as DSLRs.
Once you decide if you want a DSLR, bridge or compact, choosing a digital camera from an online or local venue, will be much less confusing. So no matter what type of digital camera you get, take time to learn how to use your camera and you'll be sure to start taking some great pictures.
This article discusses the main advantages and disadvantages of each type so that you can narrow down the best type of camera for you.
Digital Single Lens Reflexes (DSLRs)
Digital SLRs, also called "DSLRs" are expensive, and until recently were used almost only by professional photographers. Prices have come down for entry level DSLRs like the Canon Rebel. However, when you buy an DSLR, you also have to buy lenses. Some do, however, come with a basic starter lens or kit lens. If you want to take some pictures of something far away, you can't just push a button to zoom but will need to get a telephoto lens. These come in all sorts of sizes to fit the photographer's needs. Many photographers also buy quality used equipment to keep costs down.
On the plus side, you can find telephoto lenses that will let you take a close up of a bird way at the top of a tree or a football player in the end zone when you're in the bleachers at the 50-yard line. And they are lightning fast! So you'll never have the problem of missing an action shot because your camera took too long to record the picture.
DSLRs also work with accessories like external flashes and filters to give you more options when shooting. They are also great for taking action shots in low light situations where a flash won't reach or isn't allowed.
Because of their large sensors, you can increase ISO to get pictures in low light while still having a high shutter speed to capture action. Other camera's smaller sensors mean that when you increase ISO sufficiently to get these shots, you end up with digital noise, a colorful, unsightly graininess. This can sometimes be removed with software but the DSLR allows you to avoid the whole mess.
These days, the main disadvantage of a DSLR is the higher price tag when you compare it to other types of cameras.
If you are serious about photography and want to advance your skills, then a DSLR is the camera for you. Most people just start out with the camera body and a kit lens and then add more specialized lenses as they go.
Point & Shoot Digital Cameras (also called compact or automatic cameras)
Digital compacts or points and shoots are the most popular cameras in the Western world and for good reason. A compact is so easy to pack around and can take such good quality shots that many a pro with an expensive DSLR and a bag of big lenses has a small compact tucked in a pocket. (Pocket size compact digital cameras are often called subcompacts).
As mentioned above, one of the biggest benefits to compacts is their small and easy to carry size. Unlike DSLRs which usually require a small bag of camera gear (if you have a couple of lenses) these cameras can go virtually anywhere.
Although you can just point and shoot these cameras, many have lots of different modes to choose from and even offer some manual controls like Aperture Priority and Shutter Speed Priority. If it has optical zoom, you can also get some great telephoto shots too!
Bridge Cameras
These digital cameras bridge a gap between compact cameras and DSLRs. Bridge cameras are also called prosumer cameras because they are often used by both professionals and consumers.
Bridge cameras almost always have higher price tags than compact cameras but are less than most DSLRs (as you don't have to buy extra lenses with bridge cameras).
Bridge cameras usually have larger sensors and more megapixels than most compact digital cameras. Because of the larger sensor, you can increase ISO more than on a compact but not nearly as high as with an DSLR. If you don't need to get action shots in places without good lighting, this may never be an issue.
Many bridge cameras have hot shoes to work with external flash, meaning you can get better indoors pictures. Bridge cameras also have movie mode and allow you to compose shots on the LCD. Many also have super zooms. This means they have optical zoom ranges of 10x to 20x. Plus bridge cameras have almost or as many manual controls as DSLRs.
Once you decide if you want a DSLR, bridge or compact, choosing a digital camera from an online or local venue, will be much less confusing. So no matter what type of digital camera you get, take time to learn how to use your camera and you'll be sure to start taking some great pictures.