Digital slrs

Digital slrs

Digital slrs

Introduction, history of digital slrs

In the past digital slrs did’t existed. In 1969 Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith invented the digital (CCD) sensor. They awarded Nobel prize in 2009. In 1991 Nikon released the D1 camera. In 2001 Canon released the 1D camera. It was a 4.1 Megapixel camera at that time. In 2003 Canon released the 300D a model for a consumer market.

Why digital slrs ?

Over the traditional film camera, digital camera offers lots of advantages:
1. No cost of film
2. Images immediately can be checked, good or not, remake it with different parameteres if they not acceptable.
2. Digital images can be corrected and reused in many ways.
3. Better in low light situations.
4. Higher speed.

What is an slr camera ?

The thing is not complicated, there is a mirror and a viewfinder, the mirror led the light to the viewfinder this way we see out of the lens. If we make a picture the mirror flips up, and the light is captured on the sensor at the internal side of the LCD monitor. Normally with an Slr camera we cannot make pictures like with compact cameras using the Lcd. Today’s newer slr cameras has a solution though called Live view mode which does exactly that, to use the camera like a compact camera. Older cameras does not have this feature. If it is important for you check before buy does the camera has live view or not. If the camera makes video it has a live view.

Why is it better the digital slrs than the compact cameras?

1. Through the viewfinder we see a real picture, perhaps little darker than with our eyes. It is much useful in bright light or in dark situations when most Lcd’s are useless. The viewfinder and the mirror makes the camera little bigger than compact cameras.
2. Usually this cameras has much bigger sensors, than compact cameras.

Drawbacks of digital slrs

Although digital slrs are capable of making much better pictures, than compact cameras, but not so automatically. Almost every slr has an auto mode, but this cameras not sharpen, enhance contrast, adjust, treat pictures like compact cameras do. Some knowledge is needed even to use the camera. Other drawback is the cost included.

Types and differences

Sensor size can be Full frame(36*24mm) and Aps-C or Dx(22.5*15mm). The Full frame cameras has the best possible picture quality because of their bigger photosites, but this cameras are usually very expesive. Aps-C cameras has much more pixels at the same sensor area this way they have better resolution to make pictures of distant object such as birds or wildlife.

Types by grade

There are basically three grades:
1. Pro cameras – most expensive, feature packed, pro build heavy cameras
2. Prosumer cameras – not so expensive, but feature packed models, very good value usually
3. Entry level cameras – little downgraded in terms of functions, but not so much in terms of picture quality.
The difference in picture quality is not huge. In good light all slr cameras are capable to make excellent pictures. The picture quality more depends on lenses though. On the other hand you can’t have everything for nothing.

Main manufacturers

The two main manufacturers of Digital slrs are Canon and Nikon. In market share Canon sells little more equipment than Nikon. Sony, Sigma, Pentax, Fuji, also manufactures slr cameras.

Newest functions

Touch screen, HD video, flip-out screen, live view are the newest functions.
The video of the slr’s are of high quality, because of their excellent huge sensors, but the autofocus not works as a camcoders, perhaps some years and works flawlessly.

Today’s best digital slrs (Jan 2014)

Full frame: Nikon d800, d610, Canon 5d Mk III, Canon 6d
Aps-C: Nikon d7100, d7000, Canon 70d,7d
Cheaper: Nikon d5200,d5100
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