Digital SLR Cameras How They Work And How To Choose One.

February 9, 2010

Digital SLR cameras are common now and deliver excellent quality and adaptability for affordable prices.

They store pictures electronically rather then using a film with chemicals. JPL developed the first digital camera in 1961. It was used to help astronauts to navigate. A solid-state version was first prototyped in 1975. Digital cameras are now more common worldwide than those using a film as they are cheaper, easier and quicker to use.

The acronym “SLR” means Single Lens Reflex. This means that the viewfinder shows you the image through the same lens that the photo will be taken with. Practically that means that what you see through the viewfinder is very close to what you get on the photo. SLR’s are very versatile and can be used with a wide variety of different lenses.

After world war two film single lens reflex cameras became popular. However today most of the digital cameras used are “point and shoot” (sometimes called “instant”). D-SLR’s have many advantages over those which use film. The one significant disadvantage is that the resolution is less than that for a 35mm film, but that matters not at all for most people.

The Nikon D1 was the first D-SLR released by a major company and was just under $6000. This is expensive compared to today’s models but affordable for professionals and really dedicated consumers. One huge selling point was that it used the F-mount lens system that previous Nikon cameras used, so many photographers could continue to use their collection of Nikon lenses.

Picking a D-SLR is more complex than with a film version because there are even more features and options to choose between. On the other hand the large range of choices is great for those who research the subject properly. There is a large amount of misinformation on the subject. It is advisable to ignore any information which attempts to tell you that one camera is “best”, as this is fundamentally flawed.

Digital SLR cameras are a wonderful and affordable resource for anyone with a significant interest in photography today.

Learn more about Digital SLR cameras. Stop by Thomas Goldman’s site where you can find out all about SLR digital cameras and what they can do for you.