Photography is an amazing, fulfilling hobby that captures moments and creates memories.  How you take a photo and the abilities you will have to capture what you want and how you see it is to a point limited by your hardware.  Here we’ll take a look at choosing a digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR for short) and why you’d want to use one instead of a point and shoot digital.

Point and shoot digitals are great to have because they are small, fit in your pocket or purse and can go anywhere you do, they are also inexpensive.  By comparison though, the quality of the sensor, the electronic device inside the camera that captures the photographs, is far inferior to that of a DSLR.

Furthermore, the functions and controls available for any given situation are usually dumbed down to a few preset modes, but life has more then just a few presets!  Lastly, point and shoots have a very limited zoom range, they simply can’t get in really close to anything.

Most of the time, DSLR cameras are much more versatile, but slightly larger and usually a bit more expensive.  This trade-off will usually result in better photos and the ability to have a more versatile tool in your arsenal.  Comprised of two main parts, the camera body and the lens, a DSLR will give you far great options, control and ultimately, better photographs.

Starting first with the body, little has changed from the days of film, except the back now has a huge LCD screen to review photos, access the menu system and evaluate changes.  The major advantage in DSLRs over point and shoots is the actual size of the sensor; it’s much larger, allowing for better, sharper and lower noise in photographs.  Additionally, you’ll have some preset modes but far greater manual controls, allowing for more creative shooting without the constraints of a pre-set.

DSLR camera sensors also handle higher ISO settings, which is the sensitivity to light.  By increasing the ISO, thus raising the sensitivity, you can take photos in much lower light than point and shoots.  Perhaps one of the most significant advantages gained by upgrading to a DSLR is the total lack of shutter lag.  Shutter lag is common in all point and shoot cameras and it is the fraction of time that occurs between pressing the shutter button and the time the photo is taken.  On DSLRs, this simply is not a problem.

The second piece to using a DSLR is the lens.  Unlike a point and shoot camera that has a lens combined with it, DSLR cameras have an interchangeable lens system.  The ability to change lenses leaves the door wide open for options and shooting styles.

The number of lenses available for any given camera on the market today is amazing, and include general purpose lenses that give about the same working distance as a point and shoot, through more specialized lenses like:

• Telephoto
• Macro
• Wide angle
• Fisheye

Because the lenses are interchangeable, you can easily adapt to whatever you want to shoot and not be constrained by what is on the point and shoot.  It also means you can add lenses to your kit when you have the need, or even rent them for specific events.

The nitty gritty of a DSLR camera really shines through when you’re actually shooting.  Looking through the lens of a camera is far different, and I’d argue better experience then using a point and shoot.  The quality of photographs produced from a DSLR in the hands of someone with even basic knowledge will be superior to most point and shoots because the sensor size, internal metering and overall build of the camera are that much better.

Additional options like hotshoe mounted flashes grips for vertical shooting and ability to control the focus screens are also available to customize the needs for your specific shooting. Point and shoot cameras have a great purpose, but when you’re ready to take your photography to the next level, choosing a DSLR is the best choice.

Have questions? Leave a comment below and we’ll see about getting them answered for you.