What is the difference between a DSLR and a digital camera? Differences at a glance

After reading various material on the Internet, most people immediately rush to acquire reflex camera , naively assuming that you can get the highest quality photos with it. In fact, DSLRs are more of a worldview than a technique. And if you do not know how to handle this technique, then in 99% of cases you will get pictures no better than ordinary soap dishes. Naturally, this state of affairs is very frustrating for novice photographers. The purpose of a reflex camera is that, unlike soap dishes, it is, first of all, a lot of manual work, which almost completely excludes the automatic mode, although this is present in SLR cameras.

First of all, SLR cameras are used in order to obtain high quality images in the end. It is for this reason that all the constituent elements of "DSLRs" are created precisely in order to achieve this goal.

First, let's start with the matrix. In "DSLRs" of entry and middle level, it differs in size and is larger than those used in previous types of cameras. Concerning professional SLR cameras, then its size there is even larger and is equal to the size of a frame of a standard 35-mm film. In addition, there are cameras whose matrix differs from good DSLRs and has an even larger size, but such devices will clearly not be affordable for ordinary amateur photographers and even for some professionals. Thanks to the large sensor size, SLR cameras have high equivalent ISO sensitivities (up to 100,000 on the most recent models), as well as great control over DOF - depth of field.

Secondly, SLR cameras have interchangeable optics, with which you can quite easily control the focal length range. This moment is one of the main advantages of SLR cameras. Thus, the quality of photographs will be significantly better than what distinguishes them from cameras.

If you want to achieve high quality images, you will have to work hard and invest a lot of money, but believe me, it's worth it. Having become the proud owner of a DSLR, you may soon notice that your DSLR is not so good (of course, not without exceptions). The standard optics of ultrazoom often turns out to be of better quality than that of SLR cameras. But, this kind of problem can be easily solved, for this you need to purchase good optics. But if you prefer to work exclusively in one genre, then one lens for the camera is quite enough. But if your fantasies and interests are much broader, then the amount of costs should increase. You have the opportunity to save money, for this you need to choose lenses from third-party manufacturers, for example, Tokina, Sigma, Tamron, or by buying a used lens, or resorting to the services of Soviet-era devices, connecting them through all kinds of adapters, although this is not always comfortable. But if you go up, if you get a good quality lens, if you understand it and know how to use it, then the quality of photos will be much higher.

There are two types of power supply for SLR cameras. The first is from a lithium-ion battery, which can be exchanged for a finger-type battery if you purchase a special battery pack and attach it to the bottom of the camera, but this will be quite expensive. The second is powered by AA batteries. In some models, this type of power supply is provided initially.

All DSLRs can be roughly divided into 3 groups:

- amateur;

- semi-professional SLR cameras;

- professional.

But sometimes it is impossible to say for sure which of them this or that model belongs to and what the DSLRs are. In addition, often each new model has the same technical characteristics as the previous higher level. The division into groups is carried out taking into account such parameters as the size of the sensor, resolution, the resource of the shutter, which has its own service life and its repair is very expensive, as well as the mechanical characteristics of the case and the speed of continuous shooting.

Mirrors of different brands belonging to the same group practically do not differ from each other, but at the same time they have their own zest. The manufacturer plays an important role in choosing a SLR camera, since camera accessories, such as lenses and flash units, are not interchangeable from different manufacturers. Simply put, if you decide sometime to change the brand of the device, you will have to reassemble the entire set. However, one cannot subdivide brands into good and bad, because each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, therefore the most objective and only criterion for choosing a reflex camera is the availability, cost of accessories and the availability of service centers from the manufacturer.

V recent times SLR cameras now have the ability to shoot video, which has added a number of advantages to them. However, it is not available in all models.

And some statistics:

Title " Best Professional Camera 2010»According to the Association EISA has taken over a Nikon D3x SLR camera

Title " Best Advanced Camera 2010»According to the EISA Association took the Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Title " Best SLR Camera 2010"For beginners and experienced users" according to the EISA Association took over the Canon EOS 500D SLR

Every year more and more people dream of buying a DSLR and every second person imagines himself a photographer. And this, of course, is great, but most of them do not even know by what criteria a camera is selected and how it works. For those who are just going to buy a DSLR camera, the following information will be useful.

So what is a DSLR camera? Let's not reinvent the wheel and look for the answer on the World Wide Web. According to Wikipedia, reflex camera- a camera, the design of which is based on one of the varieties of a mirror viewfinder, the optical scheme of which includes a mirror, which allows sighting directly through the shooting or auxiliary lens.

DSLR camera or "soap dish"?

It's no secret that even amateur SLR camera t costs several times more than a good "soap dish", which will quite cope with simple tasks. That is why you must be firmly convinced that you really need such a camera and that you are ready to spend a lot of time and effort studying it.

There is an opinion that mastering a SLR camera is an incomprehensible task, and only a professional photographer can work with it. In fact, this is not at all the case, since taking pictures on a SLR camera is no more difficult than on a regular "soap box". There is even a special auto mode for this, which will almost completely do the job for you. Another thing is that to create a high-quality picture, you have to sweat, choosing the correct settings in automatic mode. But here, too, everything is much simpler, since the navigation through the menu on the DSLR is much more thoughtful.

Lens

What does the quality of the images depend on? First of all, from the lens. And given the fact that most DSLRs come with a simple and cheap "whale" lens, the quality of the images may initially be the most mediocre. Usually, beginners do not take the risk of taking cameras without a lens, because a good lens costs as much as the camera itself, and sometimes more. But they still have advantages. For example, working with a "whale" lens, you will be able to determine exactly what you expect from a photograph. Given that different lenses are designed for different purposes, this will help you choose a more expensive lens.

The main disadvantages of a simple "kit" lens:

• the inability to take high-quality pictures at night;
• high amount of noise (ISO);
• short-lived design.

Matrix

After the lens is the size of the matrix. Any photographer, regardless of the level of professionalism, will tell you that a lot depends on the size of the matrix, in particular, the quality of the picture. If the sensor size is 36 x 24 mm, then the image quality will be maximum.

DSLR cameras are available with full-size matrices and with a crop factor (reduced size matrices).

Megapixels

It is a mistake to assume that the more megapixels, the better the image quality. The number of horsepower, the number of processor cores, megapixels are all a marketing ploy of manufacturers, designed for non-professional consumers. The fact that the number of megapixels is far from the most important indicator that you should pay attention to when buying a camera has been written a lot and most novice photographers know this. They know and still at the time of purchase this "hypnotic" indicator plays almost the most important role in choosing a model for a SLR camera.

Let's recall briefly - the number of megapixels affects only the size of the resulting image, but usually no one takes pictures at the maximum resolution, because such images take up much more space on the memory card. For example, 3.9 megapixels is the same as 2272 x 1704 pixels. This size is fine for large format printing, but why would people buy 20MP cameras if their capabilities are not being fully utilized?

SLR Camera Manufacturers

SLR cameras are produced by many large and not so manufacturers: Olympus, Fujifilm, Kodak, Panasonic, Samsung and others. Many of them like to "pamper" customers with pop-up tips, a huge number of various auto modes, game functions, etc. And Samsung has gone even further with Android cameras with touchscreen and all OS features.

You should pay attention to SLR cameras from Sony, Pentax. In the market of photographic equipment, cameras of these manufacturers occupy the second step of the pedestal, behind the leaders ...

But if you want a real camera, and not a "toy", then the choice is better to stop at Canon and Nikon. In many specialized stores, you won't even see cameras from other manufacturers. There is nothing superfluous in Canon, Nikon SLR cameras, so the price remains at the proper level, and they have no equal in terms of build quality, construction, pictures.

Price

The price of amateur SLR cameras with a kit lens starts at $ 350. A mid-range camera will cost $ 700-1500. Semi-professional cameras, often with all the functions of professional ones, cost in the range of $ 1500-5000, and professional ones - $ 5000-15000.

Do not be upset if the budget is limited, since a good amateur camera is not much inferior to a professional one in terms of image quality. Professional allows you to create photos not only faster, better and can be applied in extreme conditions. Professional SLR cameras are more expensive and require certain knowledge, skills and abilities from photographers when taking pictures.

In the future, you may need additional gadgets for your camera: flashes, micro photography devices, creative lenses, hoods, tripods, lens filters, etc. All this will inevitably lead to additional costs.

Verdict

Which model and which company to buy a DSLR camera?

Each photographer has to make his own choice. Every photographer must find their own producer.

In any case, any DSLR camera with any lens is suitable for beginners. Even if you don’t regret the money right now and buy a professional camera, it doesn’t mean that each of your pictures will become a masterpiece. It is much more important to learn how to take pictures correctly, and this will not come immediately.

Hello dear readers of my site! Today I will tell you how DSLRs differ from compacts. Let's consider their advantages and disadvantages.

First, let's take a look at and see the scientific definition of a DSLR. I recommend bookmarking the dictionary, as it will save you a lot of time in the future.

To identify the characteristic distinguishing feature between a SLR camera and a compact, popularly also called a soap box, we will consider, how does a DSLR work.

How does a SLR camera work?

After passing through the lens system in the lens, falls on the mirror, hence the name "Reflex camera", which at the initial moment (position 1) closes the matrix with the shutter.

Further, the rays, passing through the focusing frosted glass, enter an optical system called pentaprism, in which the image is flipped 90 degrees so that it does not get inverted at the exit through the eyepiece.

The next step is to press the shutter button. As soon as we have done this, the mirror in the camera body rises to position 2, the shutter moves back and the image is freely projected onto the camera matrix.

The final stage, for which the camera electronics is responsible, is the reading, processing and display of information received from the matrix of the SLR. This is where the principle of operation of a DSLR camera ends.

As for digital compacts, there are no mirrors there. The light is immediately projected onto the matrix and, after pressing the shutter button, the photo appears on the screen. The design is simple, but such cameras have much worse technical characteristics than SLR cameras.

So what's the most important thingthe difference between SLR cameras?

The digital camera has on board a reflex optical viewfinder, which is not subject to the parallax phenomenon, since the light enters through the lens.

Note: if the manufacturer nevertheless built a viewfinder in a compact, then the light in it, as a rule, comes through an additional window offset relative to the optical axis.

Consider DSLR advantages:

1. The presence of a reflex optical viewfinder, as a result, the absence of the parallax phenomenon, more accurate aiming at the object and its focusing.
2. much more than in digital compacts, so the amount of noise and defects in the image is less, the colors in the photo look more natural and richer, the range of depth of field is wider, and the detail of objects is much higher.
3. Phase-type AF sensors, not contrasting like a point-and-shoot camera. As a result, we have nimble autofocus, high rate of fire.

To Other differences between DSLRs and digital compacts include the following advantages:

• Possibility of connecting an external flash unit.
• for different shooting scenes.
• A huge number of accessories from different manufacturers: filters, covers, remote release buttons, tripods, diffusers, and other "goodies".

The main cons of a DSLRspeak for themselves:

• Price. For the cost of a budget DSLR, you can buy a couple of decent digital compacts.
• Weight and dimensions. Weight - 510 grams (according to the passport) and this is without a lens, the weight of compacts is at least 3 times less.

What is better than a DSLR or a soap dish?

The answer is neither. The devices are designed for different purposes. Soap trays, due to their low weight and size, easily fit into a pocket, while an SLR camera will have to be carried around your neck or put in a backpack. These two techniques have different philosophies. The compacts are designed for point-and-shoot or I've been here photography, and the DSLR is a lifelong hobby.

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Live communication in the comments:

I think this is a mistake: "wider range of depth of field".

A DSLR has a narrower depth of field.

Thanks for the comment. No, I don't see it as a mistake. If we are talking about the POSSIBILITY to control the depth of field, then the range on the SLR camera is wider, and if we are talking about the MAXIMUM depth of field, then the compact (if you compared a DSLR with it) will have more.

With this age of IT technologies and the transition from film photography to digital, I hardly forgot how to photograph. At one time I shot with Zenit-ET and Zenit-TTL mirrors, had a pretty good film photo archive, and slide deposits. Then, from 2007. Having switched to a compact digital camera, I slowly began to lose the skills of photographing through a mirror.

Now I'm glad that I returned to the DSLR again, now to the imported Nikon 😉

Although I am not parting with my Canon IXUS 1100 HS soap box. In particular, due to the good quality of the videos being shot. The camera shoots more than 55 minutes on a 16 GB card, plus excellent color quality

Cool article. I've also recently switched to a DSLR. I used to shoot on a soap dish and didn’t take a steam bath, but then I realized that I wanted more. Now I don't want to take a soap dish in my hands. Although there are also enough difficulties with a DSLR - it's hard to carry, the lenses need to be changed. But the quality of the photos justifies everything.

Alexey, what did you choose as the first DSLR?

I am a fan of taking photos, but not a professional, I did not understand the intricacies ... thank you for the article, I expanded my horizons

Thank you, Alexey, with great pleasure!

What is the most expensive and professional DSLR that has a bigger matrix than the Sony RX1? And the lenses are interchangeable ?!

Sergey, here's a snap Nikon D810 Body

A very mediocre article.

Why are there 2 rectangles in the path of light after the lens? Maybe it's aperture and shutter / curtain?

They have a huge inscription "frosted glass" with a small arrow pointing at the really frosted glass - confusing.

The principle of operation of a DSLR camera ends earlier - immediately after the mirror is pulled back and the shutter is activated.

Again, what does the shutter mean? It would be nice to clarify that the shutter is retracted by milliseconds, and the mirror can return to its original position much later.

The rest of the process does not differ from the process in a non-mirrored apparatus.

The advantages of a DSLR are exaggerated in the article:

The size of the matrix is ​​not an advantage of a DSLR, but an advantage of a large device. If the soap dish is increased in size, then you can make the same matrix as in a DSLR.

You can reduce the matrix, but leave the mirror and the rest - the device will still remain mirrored.

The ability to connect an external flash is also available for non-mirrors (for example, Canon G10).

It is not at all necessary that the range of depth of field is wider - it is determined by the capabilities of the lens, not the apparatus.

A huge number of accessories from different manufacturers: filters, covers, remote release buttons, tripods, diffusers, and other "goodies" are also no different.

In total, from my point of view, there is only one fundamental difference between a DSLR - a future photograph is immediately visible in the viewfinder and you can immediately see how focusing and aperture (the same depth of field) affect it - what will be seen clearly and what is blurry. Even autofocus is not a fundamental difference, because There was no autofocus in DSLRs 30 years ago.

Do not be offended by your opinion.

Oleg, hello.

Two squares + lens- tried to show the lens system. It can be seen unsuccessfully.

On account of the fact that the main difference is mirrors, I completely agree, hence the name is a DSLR. But at the expense of the range of depth of field, I bet ... It's very difficult to get a shallow depth of field on a small matrix (you can experiment on a mobile phone).

Everything else ... the size of the matrix, flash, buns I wrote according to average models, meaning ordinary soap dishes by digital compacts (I did not take into account modern mirrorless cameras and other expensive models).

P.S. On account of the fact that the article should be of better quality, I agree 100%. There are plans to rewrite a couple of dozen articles on the blog, add examples, etc., but this is not my main job and I have to devote time as much as possible.

Thanks for the criticism and the detailed answer.

Alexey, thank you very much for responding calmly to my criticism. Many people in your place would simply ban me. This highly characterizes your moral qualities.

As for the depth of field, it depends entirely on the aperture. Aperture index is the ratio of the area of ​​the image to the area of ​​the lens that is not covered by the aperture. The smaller the hole in the lens, the larger the aperture number. Older cameras even had a depth-of-field table combined with aperture value. In a mobile phone, therefore, it is theoretically impossible to experiment with depth of field, tk. there the diaphragm is always constant.

Thank you, gentlemen, your criticism is the source of our development!

Kozma Petrov

Oleg, about the depth of field. I have read disputes on this topic many times in various forums. Many people write that it is connected indirectly, tk. the small matrix is ​​less sensitive to light, and so on.

I took mat for myself. point of view, there is a focal length in the formula for depth of field, so I think it is more correct to use an equivalent focal length, which already depends on the size of the matrix.

Oleg writes:

This highly characterizes your moral qualities.

Not a fact ... If the criticism is constructive, normal, without insults, trolling, etc., then I'm glad, on the contrary, that means people have read the article. In general, this blog was created for the main goal - to understand the whole theory on your own, etc. Over time, the goals of course were adjusted.

I doubt that the sensitivity to light in a small matrix is ​​less, it is determined not by the dimensions of the matrix, but by the sensitivity of its individual elements - pixels. The film had no pixels, but the film's sensitivity was indicated on the package. In the theory of photography, I consider myself to be an average level, far from professional.

Here are some interesting articles on this topic.

fototips (point) ru / teoriya / grip /

www (dot) cambridgeincolour (dot) com / ru / tutorials / camera-lenses.htm

Oleg, I agree about the sensitivity of pixels. The same point of view was expressed in the article about Megapixels.

www (dot) 64bita (dot) ru / basicshot.html

Nice site. Thanks. I will read it later. There, by the way, the photo shows the lens on which the diaphragm scales and the corresponding depths of field are applied.

I saw And the site is really good!

I don’t know how anyone, but for myself I came to an unexpected conclusion and result:

A DSLR only has the advantage of having a viewfinder, but it is often found in conventional cameras as well. And the fact that additional accessories ... there are mirrorless cameras with such capabilities. From my own experience, I was convinced that ... the most important thing is not accessories, but skill and a head with straight arms. Now I have moved on to full digital equipment altogether. The camera is a "soap dish", the camcorder is hand-held as an amateur. So I will say one thing - and all this can be mounted on a tripod. Normal lighting is required for photo and video shooting. In the studio, it is enough so that I do not use the flash on the soap dish. On the street in sunny weather, even more so. So the advantages of this technique are in its mobility and ease of transportation, instead of a kilogram technique. And the results can be processed and edited on a computer so that no one can tell the difference. So what about the taste and the color. The main thing is not the artist's brush and canvas, but how he knows how to paint to paint pictures. And I realized the advantages of technology at the moment of mobility, when I took and put the camera in my pocket ...

And anyway ... Now I consider all this bulky equipment to be only visual show-offs. Like "you are a photographer or a video studio operator." More than once during the filming, I noticed how others look - like a beginner, an amateur shows off and stands out as a professional, and how other photographers with huge lenses smile indulgently ... But only I have already forgotten about it and I do not pay attention. On the contrary, sometimes it even becomes a pity for the same operator with his bulky camera. But the IT age does not stand still. We have to keep up with the times and admit that the size of the device is not already playing a decisive role ... I realized this in time.

Thanks for the informative article. Very simply talked about the difficult)

Well, you've written an article!

The quality of ANY picture depends on 3 parameters: SHARPNESS, SHUTTER SPEED and IRIS.

For precise focusing, SLR cameras have appeared. This was a tremendous progress! The photographer at the MOMENT OF THE SHOT could fine-tune the sharpness.

SLR cameras only make sense for FILM cameras !!!

In the age of digital cameras, the viewfinder is an LCD monitor: everything that turns out in a photo you can immediately see on it. A digital SLR is a scam for those who do not understand anything, but are willing to pay a lot to make it cool ...

In digital photography, the decisive word is behind the lens and electronics (primarily the capacity of the CCD matrix).

Let's start with the terminology. Any modern camera is called digital, because the resulting image is processed by a digital processor and stored in the internal memory of the camera or on a memory card. Old cameras printed the resulting image on photographic film, and therefore are called film.

A digital camera in everyday life is called a compact, or, in the popular way, "soap dish". Recently, a new type of camera has entered the market - a mirrorless camera, which will also be discussed in this article.

SLR cameras are the oldest photographic devices in use today. This device owes its name to the mirror mechanism, which provides image capture, adjustment and saving to a medium. Any SLR camera consists of two parts:

• housing.

Lens device

A camera lens consists of a plurality of parallel lenses and an aperture. In the process of work, the photographer has the ability to adjust the distance between the lenses, thereby bringing objects closer or further away. Iris control allows you to adjust the flow of light through the lens, thereby changing the brightness and contrast of the image.

Professional SLR cameras have a removable lens. This is done so that the photographer can use several lenses for different purposes. So, there are telescopic lenses that allow you to shoot objects from afar. Such a device is ideal for observing wild animals or people who do not need to know that they are being photographed. And then there are wide-angle lenses created for shooting landscapes and panoramas. Technically, lenses differ in the set of lenses and the structure of the diaphragm. Some lenses have a built-in autofocus motor which is used with bodies without this feature.

The lenses are attached to the body using a bayonet mount - a special mount that is unique for each manufacturer. Therefore, it will not work to install the lens of one well-known brand on the body of another reputable manufacturer of photographic equipment. But there are also little-known manufacturers of photographic equipment who do not hesitate to create lenses for the mounts of their promoted competitors.

DSLR body structure

The camera body contains a matrix, a mirror mechanism, a viewfinder and most of the buttons with a device control lever.

When light refracted by the lenses of the lens enters the camera body, it meets the translucent mirror - the first element of the camera's mirror mechanism. Part of the light bounces off the translucent mirror and hits the upper system of mirrors, which adequately flips the image and bounces it off onto the viewfinder, through which the photographer observes the subject. Another part of the light hits another mirror and bounces off the autofocus sensor. This device allows the camera to focus on the subject almost instantly. The photographer also has the ability to control the focus sensor. In particular, this is necessary for the implementation of the classic techniques of photographic art - focusing on one object and blurring the rest.

When the photographer has determined his exposure and presses the release of the photographic mechanism, the translucent mirror rises, and the light from the lens and focusing sensor directly enters the matrix, which processes the image into electronic pulses and stores it on the medium.

Expensive DSLRs are equipped with an additional viewfinder display that displays the exposure directly as it is, so that the photographer can compare the real picture with what the matrix is ​​capable of processing.

Functional features of SLR cameras

Due to its spacious body, SLR cameras have the largest sensor, and the quality of future photos depends on its size. Detachable lenses allow the photographer to customize the image as they wish, apply effects and realize any creative idea. DSLRs quickly focus, which is ideal for cascading and motion shots.

But DSLRs also have their downsides:

1. The cost of a DSLR starts at 15,000 rubles, and this is for an amateur model. A good professional SLR camera will cost from 30,000 rubles.
2. You need to know how to use a DSLR camera. If you just point and pull the trigger, you won't get good photos.
3. The DSLR is not ready to shoot as soon as it is taken out of the bag. It requires adjustment and maintenance, so if the photographer does not wear the camera around his neck all the time, it will not be possible to capture the suddenly seen object.
4. SLR cameras are weighty and voluminous. It is difficult to fit it into a suitcase or briefcase full of clothes.

The device and features of compact cameras

Compact cameras lack a mirror mechanism and an optical focus sensor. Such a device is one-piece, its lens is an inseparable part of the device. Passing through such a lens, light enters the matrix and the image is processed. Most important image adjustments are made automatically by the CD. The photographer can only influence the digital zoom, that is, choose the shooting distance, as well as apply amateur software effects such as sepia and negative. Digital zoom exists only virtually, so quality is noticeably lost with zooming in. When you press the shutter, the lens shutter opens and light enters the sensor. In this case, automatic electronic focusing occurs, which takes a long time. To avoid blurring the image, hold the lens on the subject until it is fully focused.

More expensive compacts have advanced lenses that look like DSLR lenses. Such lenses, in addition to digital, are equipped with optical zoom, which can zoom in at a short distance without loss of quality.

Due to their simplicity and lack of manual tuning, compacts are never professional and have always remained the lot of an amateur.

Functional features of compacts

The compacts are very light and small. They fit easily into a shirt or pants pocket. The compact is always ready to go - you just need to get it out and pull the trigger. A quality compact camera provides satisfactory quality home photography up to A4 format. The compacts are multifunctional. In addition to photography, they can shoot video, and some can be used as a music player.

Thanks to a simpler mechanism, a compact camera is much cheaper than its mirror-like counterpart. There are models on the market that cost from 4000 rubles.

But compacts, like DSLRs, are not without flaws:

1. The compact owes its small size to a small matrix, which affects the image quality.
2. The lack of a mirror mechanism affects the long exposure time. Often a photographer's hand twitches and the picture gets blurry.
3. In automatic mode, the compact does not always shoot the way the photographer sees it.

Features of mirrorless cameras

Mirrorless, or non-mirrored, is a professional component camera that consists of a body and a regular lens, but does not have a mirror mechanism. As in a compact, the light through the lens immediately hits the matrix, and the photographer sees only the processed image through the display. Lenses of non-mirrored cameras are in no way inferior to their SLR counterparts, but the focusing speed in them is noticeably lower than in SLR devices. However, this is enough to create high quality professional staff.

The price of non-mirrored models is slightly lower than mirrors. But the main advantage of non-mirror cameras is their light weight. Although the constant improvement of the automatic focusing mechanism and the increase in the functionality of the camera leads to an increase in their weight. At the same time, mirror models are learning to make things easier and easier. Therefore, it cannot be said that mirrorless cameras are replacing SLRs.

So it’s impossible to say which camera is better. This is more likely a matter of habit than of real technical superiority. The most important thing is to buy a camera that will be comfortable, fit well in the hand and understandable to its owner. And the rest can be learned.

So what does a DSLR mean? How does it work?

This is a camera in which the viewfinder lens and the lens for capturing the image are the same. In addition, such a camera uses a digital matrix, which is designed to record an image.

If the camera is not a DSLR, then the viewfinder receives an image from a separate small lens, which is most often located above the main one. In a conventional camera, that is, a "soap dish", the image is displayed on the screen and goes directly to the matrix.

With a conventional SLR digital camera, light passes through the lens. Then the light reaches the diaphragm. The aperture adjusts the amount of light. Then the light reaches the mirror, is reflected and passes through the prism. This is necessary to redirect it to the viewfinder. Additional information about the frame and exposure is added using the information screen.

What happens when the photo is taken?

The mirror of the camera device rises and the camera shutter opens. At this moment, the light falls directly on the camera matrix. Taking photographs, that is, exposing the frame. The shutter closes and the mirror is lowered. The camera is ready to shoot again. This process we have described is very fast! Time is calculated in just fractions of a second!

So, we figured out how a DSLR digital camera works. But how to choose your own among the huge variety of different models?

How to choose a DSLR digital camera?

The question: which DSLR digital camera to choose, worries many.

The first thing to look for is full frame or crop? That is: which of the formats should you choose? There is a full-frame sensor and a stripped-down, that is, "cropped" version.

If you are not a professional photographer, then a model with a reduced sensor is the best choice for you. Why? Because such a choice is a model that has a lower price. Important! It is almost impossible to get excellent quality photos on a full-format sensor if you use an inexpensive lens. The slightest flaws will be noticeable. On the crop, they will be practically invisible.

The second point that you need to pay attention to when buying a camera is the manufacturer. Solving the problem - which digital SLR camera to choose - often begins with exactly which manufacturer to give preference to. And there is a reason!

So, manufacturers.

Undoubtedly, among all the companies that produce cameras, the recognized leaders are:

• Canon;
• Nikon;
• Sony, thanks in large part to the purchase of Konica-Minolta.

• Pentax;
• Olympus;
• Samsung.

Canon and Nikon are generally considered to be the best manufacturers. It should be borne in mind that the cost of photographic accessories from Canon is the highest. At the same time, the ease of use is somewhat inferior to Sony and Nikon cameras.

Sony cameras have a very big advantage - a stabilization system built into the "carcass". Thanks to this, the company was able to significantly reduce the cost of the optics for these cameras.

Now let's consider the next, very important point: magnification, that is - Zoom.

It should be noted that a feature that almost all digital cameras have is the ability to zoom. What is it? Magnification is the change in focal length.

Audio and Video editors are convinced of the persistence of the myth: "the more zoom, the better."

This is an erroneous statement! Zoom is a derivative that shows the ratio of the maximum and minimum focal lengths. What depends on the focal length? To put it simply, this is all that will enter the frame when photographing. This function allows the photographer to easily crop the image. It turns out that the photographer, even at the shooting stage, can remove everything unnecessary from the frame.

You are going to film gatherings with friends. If your minimum focal length is too long, then your faithful friends simply will not enter the frame.

Zoom is:

• optic;
• digital.

The first is the best and highest quality. This is magnification by means of optics. In this case, the increase is achieved by changing the focal length of the lens.

Digital Zoom: With this method of magnification, the finished image is simply stretched using software tools. This is a bad choice. An example is the following: you found a beautiful picture on the net and decided to decorate your desktop with it. The picture is small and when stretched, it turned out to be fuzzy.

We draw a conclusion: when choosing Zoom, attention is only paid to the optical one.

And now about megapixels and real sensitivity. In fact, for a large number of photographers, this characteristic is very important. But this is not entirely correct, because when choosing a camera, you should first of all look not at megapixels, but directly at the quality of photographs at high values ​​of the sensor's sensitivity.

Body or Kit?

Everyone knows that high-quality optics are more expensive than the camera itself. And I must say that the development of electronic technologies does not affect the cost of optics. This is why most professional photographers keep their lenses when changing cameras. Manufacturers take this into account, and their old optics are suitable for new models of cameras.

An important point! All photographers have different tasks! A choice should be made based on this factor. Different lenses may be needed: short throw, telephoto, portrait, and so on. Therefore, manufacturing firms provide an opportunity to purchase a camera separately, separately - a lens.

This is called Body. That is, it means a complete set.

And if the buyer is not a professional and does not understand at all what he needs?

For such "dummies" there is a choice: manufacturers offer a set of "camera + lens". What does such a set represent? This is: a "universal" lens. This lens is the optimal solution for beginners. The cost of such a lens is relatively low, since mass production has been established.

So, the conclusion: digital SLR cameras for dummies, this is a set of "camera + lens". Often, such a kit includes two lenses: a short throw and a telephoto lens. The purpose of these lenses is close and long distance shooting.

But if the photographer from the very beginning does not expect to buy interchangeable lenses, then the best option would be a kit with them. An excellent choice is two lenses, because the price of such a set will be much less than buying separately.

When choosing a camera, you should pay attention to the classes.

So there are entry-level cameras, hobby cameras, and semi-pro cameras. The first are the most technologically disadvantaged. Manufacturers compensate for these characteristics with automatic modes with various prompts for dummies. Attention: the cost of such cameras is comparable to advanced "soap dishes".

Amateur cameras are undoubtedly the best option if the very first camera is purchased and the person is not yet familiar with all the possibilities of digital photography. The plus of this choice: relatively low price and compact size. This is the choice for travel enthusiasts.

Semi-pro cameras are for those who are fairly familiar with photography. Plus: convenience. A large camera, as paradoxical as it sounds, is more convenient to shoot. Semi-professional cameras have improved ergonomics. They often have additional controls designed for quick access to certain settings.

What is the main selection criterion here? Undoubtedly, here one should proceed from the solvency. With the growth of the class of the model, both the characteristics of the cameras and their cost increase. Please note: the cost of the lens must be taken into account.

The first is the best and highest quality, magnification by means of optics. In this case, the increase is achieved by changing the focal length of the lens.

A Proposal from the Audio and Video Editors: Nikon D5200.

Nikon D5200 with 18-55mm lens can be confidently ranked first in the list of entry-level DSLRs. That is, such cameras that are designed for dummies. It is a great choice for shooting with a family and on vacation travel. Nikon D5200 has excellent photo and video quality in its class. The price-quality ratio takes place. The disadvantages include the lack of a focusing motor, which, of course, limits the choice of lenses. But, if you compare this model with the D5100 model, then this camera has an improved autofocus system. We recommend that you immediately purchase a 55-300mm telephoto lens in addition to the one that comes with the 18-55mm kit.

The Nikon D5200 camera is a CMOS sensor, 23.5x15.6 mm (DX format), 24.1 megapixels; maximum resolution 6000x4000; sensitivity of 100 x 6400 units ISO in steps of 1/3 EV (can be increased to the equivalent of 25 600 ISO); continuous shooting up to 3 or 5 frames per second; Full HD video recording; shutter speed from 1/4000 to 30 s; USB 2.0 interface; SDXC, SD / SDHC memory cards; Nikon D5200 18-55 VR Kit approximate price - $ 650. Quite a decent choice for the money!

What does Canon offer?

We would like to draw your attention to the Canon EOS 650D. This is the third generation of entry-level DSLRs with an 18-megapixel sensor, a bright 3-inch screen, and a 9-point auto focus system. It is possible to record videos with Full HD resolution. Now auto focus has become hybrid, and the rotary display is touchscreen. The camera is equipped with the latest DIGIC 5 processor, which enables continuous shooting at 5 fps and a built-in stereo microphone. The camera was announced back in 2012 and went on sale shortly thereafter.

In North America it is called the EOS Digital Rebel T4i, in Japan it is called the Canon EOS Kiss X6i. Retail price: $ 650 for the camera without lens, $ 720 for the Canon EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS II lens kit, and $ 950 for the EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM lens kit ... And now this camera is very popular and entered the top ten "DSLR" for non-professionals in 2013.

Well, and the third leader is Sony? What does she offer?

Editors' Choice Audio and Video is the Sony SLT-A58. Sony SLT-A58 is an amateur SLR camera based on a translucent mirror. The construction is equipped with a new Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor. Sony SLT-A58 is high resolution and excellent image quality.

One of the important indicators of the current trend is the tilting LCD screen. The interface, of course, is not as rich as in the floor of professional DSLR cameras, but still powerful enough. And ambitious photographers have access to all the basic functions. Among the design decisions is the presence of AF / MF levers on the side panel. This is great if you want to use lenses that are not compatible with the DSLR series. The camera is powered by a removable lithium-ion battery NP-FM500H, 1600 mAh (7.2 V). The camera has a standard flash opening. The flash has a standard power - guide number 10. If you are going to use the flash frequently, be patient, as charging between successive shots takes 3 to 5 seconds.

Sony SLT-A58 has an LCD screen, aspect ratio 4: 3, and a diagonal of 3 inches with a resolution of 460,000 pixels. Possibility of using OLED EVF viewfinder , which is a characteristic feature of the SLR SLR. The heart of the camera is an Exmor HD CMOS sensor, with a resolution of 20.1 megapixels. YOU will have access to a sensitivity range from ISO 100 - 16000, and an electronic shutter in the range of 30 - 1/4000 sec. Aperture F3.5 - 5.6. You can rely on 4x digital zoom. All these characteristics will give good image quality, which can be called above average.

Now let's talk about the choice for professionals. For this consumer group, there is a professional digital SLR camera.

What can a Canon manufacturing leader offer professional photographers? Canon offers two professional lines: 1D with APS-H sensor size and 1Ds with 36x24mm sensor size. If we consider in total, then in these lines there are eight models. This is less than in the lines of semi-professional "DSLRs", but the choice is quite decent. It is quite obvious that the cost of Canon DSLR cameras for professional use is high. But the excellent quality of the technique is worth it! The price-quality ratio is present here.

So, the professional SLR camera Canon EOS 1 D X is very popular. . Canon EOS 1 D X - this is combination of speed, high resolution and excellent image quality. These cameras are designed for reportage and studio photography. Canon EOS 1 D X is: matrix 18.1 MP (36 × 24 mm) / screen 3.2 "/ shooting speed 14 frames / s / video 1920 × 1080 /. The camera weighs 1585 g In the rating of cameras for professional use, this camera took second place.

What does Nikon offer? According to the rating of professional cameras, Nikon D4 took first place. It is the fastest and most powerful professional camera to date. Nikon D4 is: 16.2 MP (36 × 24 mm) matrix / 3.2 "screen / shooting speed 11 frames / s / video 1920 × 1080 /. The camera weighs 1340 g

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III is the best mid-range professional camera. This camera has a 22.3 MP (36 × 24 mm) matrix / 3.2 "screen / shooting speed 6 frames / s / video 1920 × 1080 / and weighs 950 g

Nikon D4 600 is worth highlighting among budget models. This camera has become the best budget full-frame DSLR camera. It has the advantages of exceptional image quality, lightweight body and relatively low cost. Nikon D4 600 is a 24.3 MP (35.9 x 24 mm) matrix / 3.2 "screen / 5.5 frames / s shooting speed / 1920 × 1080 video / and a rather small weight - 850 g

And among the budget cameras from Canon, it is worth noting the Canon EOS 6D, which is a full-frame budget SLR. Here, savings were achieved by cutting back on opportunities that are important only for a very narrow circle of super professionals. Canon EOS 6D is a 20.2 MP (36 x 24 mm) matrix / 3 "screen / 4.5 fps / video 1920 × 1080 / and light weight - 755 g

Choosing a DSLR digital camera is not easy. We hope we have been able to clarify this issue for you.

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