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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> DSLR or Point and shoot
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Showing posts 1 - 11 of 11, (reverse)
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 02/22/2006 11:00:25 PM · #1
Ok, I'm very, very beginner, so bear with me people.

What's the difference betweem a DSLR and a Point & Shoot? What do those terms mean exactly?

Also, my current camera was brutally slain in a tragic feline incident. I'm tempted to try to get the salesperson to let me have equal store credit and get a different camera for the same price. (It came with the printer that I find pretty much useless, so would prefer a better camera and no printer.)

I think I have around $400-500 canadian to spend, what do you suggest?
 02/22/2006 11:18:10 PM · #2
Originally posted by moniepenny:
Ok, I'm very, very beginner, so bear with me people.


One is usually bulky and heavy, while the other is usually tiny and light weight. One is more expensive and gets you crazy about lens, while the other usually dont let you add anything else other than what you already have. hehehe...
 02/22/2006 11:18:41 PM · #3
Hey penny,

Im still quite the beginner too, and havent played with a DSLR yet, but I sure am looking forward to getting one. Main difference is just the quality of the images, and the options you have for adjusting. Have you ever worked with a 35 mm slr?
 02/23/2006 03:41:45 AM · #4
Digital SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex.
Basically the difference between dslr's and "point and shoot" or digicams as they are all known are that dslr's have a viewfinder. It is actually a little glass that you look through to see the image that the lens sees. On dslr's you can change lenses for different type of phtography. There is no live preview on the LCD. You can see the image after the shot has been taken. They tend to be extremely responsive with near instant on, very short delay between shots.

A digicams do not have interchageable lenses. You view the image through a LCD monitor or an EVF (electronic view finder). They tend to be cheaper and have smaller sensors so that if you make large prints, they do not make as good of prints as dslr's. They are slow to respond, generally and cheaper. I don't know if any dslr's are under 500 Canadian dollars, so this maybe a moot point if that is your budget.
Good luck
 02/23/2006 03:57:23 AM · #5
Originally posted by yido:
Digital SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex.
Basically the difference between dslr's and "point and shoot" or digicams as they are all known are that dslr's have a viewfinder. It is actually a little glass that you look through to see the image that the lens sees. On dslr's you can change lenses for different type of phtography. There is no live preview on the LCD. You can see the image after the shot has been taken. They tend to be extremely responsive with near instant on, very short delay between shots.

A digicams do not have interchageable lenses. You view the image through a LCD monitor or an EVF (electronic view finder). They tend to be cheaper and have smaller sensors so that if you make large prints, they do not make as good of prints as dslr's. They are slow to respond, generally and cheaper. I don't know if any dslr's are under 500 Canadian dollars, so this maybe a moot point if that is your budget.
Good luck


To clarify some things:

1. Optical viewfinders can be found on many point and shoot cameras. However, they do not show you the view through the lens, and generally have very poor magnification, so you are always guessing for your framing.

2. Advances in technology mean that some point and shoot cameras may very well have interchangeable lenses soon. (In fact, a few rangefinder cameras have this ability that aren't dSLRs)

3. Again, changes in technology mean that some dSLRs will have a live preview function on the LCD, making it a little more difficult to distinguish.

Basically, the *ONLY* thing that differentiates an SLR camera from a Point and Shoot is the mechanics. an SLR has a system where the light is transfered to the viewfinder through a prism or series of mirrors until you press the shutter, whereby lifting the mirror between the sensor and lens up, and capturing the image. Point and Shoots do not have this mirror/prism assembly.
 02/23/2006 04:11:31 AM · #6
Originally posted by Artyste:
an SLR has a system where the light is transfered to the viewfinder through a prism or series of mirrors until you press the shutter, whereby lifting the mirror between the sensor and lens up, and capturing the image. Point and Shoots do not have this mirror/prism assembly.


Is this the better way to have the light touch the sensor?
 02/23/2006 04:16:40 AM · #7
Originally posted by crayon:
Originally posted by Artyste:
an SLR has a system where the light is transfered to the viewfinder through a prism or series of mirrors until you press the shutter, whereby lifting the mirror between the sensor and lens up, and capturing the image. Point and Shoots do not have this mirror/prism assembly.


Is this the better way to have the light touch the sensor?


Well, it's the only way. Point and shoots simply just open the shutter as there's no mirror. SLRs lift the mirror *and* open the shutter.
02/23/2006 04:34:06 AM · #8
reading now on the net on why the Sony R1 does not allow video recording eventho it is not a dSLR...

Update: the Sony R1 does not have a pentaprism or a flip-up mirror so why dont it record videos?

Message edited by author 2006-02-23 04:42:22.
 02/23/2006 05:43:45 AM · #9
Originally posted by crayon:
reading now on the net on why the Sony R1 does not allow video recording eventho it is not a dSLR...

Update: the Sony R1 does not have a pentaprism or a flip-up mirror so why dont it record videos?


near dslr principle. they aim at specific buyers, whaddaya think ?
for example: i would hate to see a real live preview on a dslr and accompanied move recording ... where is the soul of slr then ? where are we then ... i'm crying :-)

peace
 02/23/2006 03:45:32 PM · #10
Originally posted by crayon:
reading now on the net on why the Sony R1 does not allow video recording eventho it is not a dSLR...

Update: the Sony R1 does not have a pentaprism or a flip-up mirror so why dont it record videos?


Oops.. never mind. I read your sentence wrong.

Like the person said before you, they're probably driving at a certain market that equates video recording with "lower-end" performance.

Also, I'm not sure that the full-size sensor would be able to handle the heat of having to run for the length that video recording would require.

Message edited by author 2006-02-23 15:47:01.
 02/23/2006 09:05:56 PM · #11
moniepenny,

I have used both P&S and Dslr cameras. For a beginner with a limited budget I would suggest a "ProSumer" point and shoot. This would give you most of the manual controls so that you can learn more about photography in a smaller package. Nikon and Canon both offer a great camera in this field. (Others do too, but I don't have any experience with them). One of the other reasons I suggest P&S is that you won't have do deal with choosing different lenses and changing them.

The only thing to keep in mind is how you want to use your images. Typically, P&S camera's aren't as quick as Dslr and don't do as well in low light. If that is important to you, think about the entry level Dslrs like the Nikon D50 or Canon 300D. There are a few others at this level as well.

Try DPreviewfor comparisons and reviews.
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