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Types of Digital Camera
Digital cameras fall into 6 basic categories.
Camera Phones
If this is your only means of taking pictures, please do not read any further. At the time of writing, the best camera phones can't match the quality of the most basic point-and-shoot models and offer little in the way of creative control. Maybe one day they will be able to produce useable pictures, but at the moment they offer nothing to the art of photography. |
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Point and Shoot
A basic camera that has little or no manual control. The most basic might not have a zoom lens and could even use a fixed focus lens (ie. no autofocus capability). The slightly better ones may have scene modes to give the user some limited amount of control over the image.
Although much of this web site will not apply to point-and-shoot users, the sections on composition may be of interest. |
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Compact
A compact camera has more creative control than a point-and-shoot. This is a good first camera for someone wanting to make a start in photography, or for someone who doesn't want to carry a bulky DSLR. Some companies are currently producing quite sophisticated compact cameras with remarkable image quality. |
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Prosumer / Superzoom / Bridge
These usually look similar to a DSLR and often have many of the features of one. However in a few key ways, they are more similar to a compact (the lens can't be changed, they usually have a much smaller image sensor, and the viewfinder is a tiny LCD screen rather than a true optical viewfinder). In terms of image quality, they are also closer to a high-end compact than a DSLR, sometimes suffering from high noise levels in low light. |
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Digital Single Lens Reflex
As you can see from the price range, this covers the widest range of cameras, and is aimed at enthusiastic beginners to the most serious professionals. When you buy a DSLR, you are buying into a complete camera system. As your requirements grow, you can upgrade to better lenses, external flashguns, battery grips, etc.
When buying a DSLR it is important to consider what you require in a camera and which company might offer the best 'system' for you. |
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Medium Format / Specialist
We only mention these cameras for completeness and envy. These are often very expensive pieces of kit (costing tens of thousands of dollars/pounds/euros).
A medium format camera is one that uses an image sensor that is larger than the size of a 35mm negative, the most famous maker being Hasselblad who have been producing medium format film cameras since 1948. They currently produce a range of digital cameras using either 22, 31 or 39 megapixel sensors, and the image quality is stunning.
Another type of camera that started life in 1916 (film, of course) is the rangefinder, the most well known manufacturers being Leica and Nikon. The first digital rangefinder (by Epson) appeared in 2004 but fans of the classic Leica rangefinder had to wait until 2006 for the release of the Leica M8.
They make use of a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to judge the focusing distance usually by showing two images that, when coincident, give the proper focus distance.
They may sound primitive these days, but as there is no moving mirror like in a DSLR, they are usually smaller and quieter, yet still benefit from interchangeable lenses. The downside is price - it may well be a very high quality camera with a low noise image sensor, but at £3000, it is out of reach of all but the most devoted. |
above: a Hassleblad H3D
39 Megapixel camera
above: a Leica M8
digital rangefinder |
What does a DSLR offer over a high-end compact or prosumer camera?
If you look down the feature list of many high-end compact cameras and prosumer cameras you may wonder why you would want to carry around a large DSLR. They can match them on megapixels and features - in fact compacts can offer many features simply not possible on a DSLR.
With some prosumer cameras even looking like a DSLR, it's easy to confuse them. So what does a DSLR offer for the extra money and weight?
- Buying into a complete camera system: expandability
- Much faster autofocus
- Faster continuous shooting modes
- Larger sensor means much better image quality in low light conditions (ie. the ISO 800 and 1600 settings are actually useable)
- A true optical viewfinder
- Higher quality optics (even on the standard kit lens)
- Usually more rugged and better sealed from the elements
- Greater creative control over depth-of-field due to larger sensors.
Does the superzoom offer anything over the DSLR?
- Considerably cheaper
- A long zoom range without the need to change lenses
- Live-view (the ability to compose your picture on the LCD screen). This is starting to appear on some DSLRs and it's only a matter of time until it's standard on all new models
- Macro mode - a DSLR's closest focusing distance is lens dependent and with the standard kit lens is usually about 30cm. Superzooms can often focus as close as 1cm
- Movie mode / sound recording (also starting to appear on DSLRs)
- Complex computer algorithms such as face recognition, panoramic stitch assist, etc.
- Naturally larger depth-of-field due to the smaller sensor.
A general comment about DSLRs versus any compact is that under ideal lighting conditions when you’ve got time to compose the shot, the image from a DSLR and a compact will be pretty much identical (eg. taking a picture of a lighthouse in bright sun). Where a DSLR comes into its own is when the conditions start to vary and you need the speed and creative control a DSLR offers. Try capturing a bird in flight on a compact: it becomes more of a hit and miss affair.
Basically, a DSLR's priority is to capture the best image possible, with speed and image quality the utmost importance. A superzoom offers nearly all the features of a DSLR and even some additional ones however it has the speed and image quality of a compact (albeit a very good one).
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Photographs
This is a site about photography so I'm sure you are expecting to see plenty of pictures.
For now, why not take a peek at the flickr galleries belonging to the two authors of this site.
Colin's Flickr Page
Phil's Flickr Page
"I gaze at the sunset with the woman I love and think f/8 at 1/250 - you know when you are ready." - Canon advert
for EOS 40D
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