Digital SLR or Compact Camera?

Making the choice between owning a professional style digital SLR camera or a compact digital camera depends entirely on what the device will be used for and the experience of the photographer. Generaly, DSLR cameras offer superior quality, while compact digital cameras are wrapped in a more user-friendly package.

Digital SLR Cameras
Due to their quicker auto-focusing, interchanging super zoom lenses and continuous shooting capabilities, DSLR cameras are a better choice for action photography, such as children, sports and wildlife. The supplied kit lens can be upgraded if faster shooting or multiple angles are required.

Since DSLR cameras are outfitted with larger light sensors than other types of cameras, they are able to provide higher-quality images, especially when snapping photos in poor lighting conditions or with a fast shutter speed. Most also offer the option to add external lighting sources.

However, DSLR cameras are bulky and require meticulous cleaning of the various sensors and lenses. Additionally, very few support built-in video recorders and onscreen compositions due to the way the camera is designed using internal mirrors. This means that most DSLR cameras require users to bring the camera’s optical viewfinder to their eye to compose the shot, much like traditional cameras. The few models that do offer this option must make compromises on how the AF system operates. While this may be a hassle to learn at first, a DSLR viewfinder can actually provide a better focusing environment.

Compact Digital Cameras
These lightweight, portable cameras can offer powerful optical zoom capabilities for wide angle and telephoto images at a fraction of the DSLR cost. Compact digital cameras are also typically equipped with image stabilization features and video recording capabilities, with some high-end models offering 1080 HD. This makes them perfect for taking along on vacations, everyday family use and novice photographers.

One of the best traits of a compact camera is its onscreen, in-color composition capabilities that allow the photographer to easily frame the image in a shot. The closed body construction of the camera also means that dust particles rarely interfere with picture quality.

While point and shoot cameras are very useful, they do offer less flexibility when it comes to manually controlling the settings. However, many compact cameras do include modes that allow users to customize shutter speed and the lens aperture. These cameras are typically limited in their lighting sensitivities, but most offer indoor and outdoor options, at a minimum, while some models can support flash hotshoes.