SLR is an acronym which stands for Single Lens Reflex.
What this means technically, is that the image you see through the viewfinder is (very nearly) the same image as will be stored (either on film, or on electronic memory with Digital SLR Cameras).
In practical terms, what this means is . . .
With an SLR camera, what you see through the viewfinder is what you get (although this is not 100% true).
You can use a very wide range of different lenses on a digital SLR.
An SLR works very rapidly, and so is ideal for action photography.
The basic point is that Digital SLR cameras are very versatile.
The film SLR camera became popular afer the second world war, with rapid release ot new models and technical developments.
Like the common use of cell phones (called “mobile phones” outside the US), it’s hard to walk down the street these days without seeing someone snapping a photo. However Digital SLR cameras are far less common than digital “instant” cameras, and up until 2005, SLR Digital Cameras were only really used by professionals.
Digital SLR cameras are in most ways by far the best option for todays professional and serious amateur photographers. They offer significantly more features than most of the more traditional film SLR camera with the added ability to see your photos instantly and edit the digital images quickly and effectively. The only major disadvantage for Digital SLR Cameras compared to 35mm film cameras, is that the resolution of the image is lower, which for most people doesn’t matter at all.
The Nikon D1, which was the first digital SLR offered by a major manufacturer, was unveiled in 1999, and at an initial cost of under $6,000, for 2.74 megapixels, was a realistic purchase for both professional photographers and some consumers. This camera also used the existing Nikon F-mount lens sytem, so experienced film photographers could use many of the same lenses they already owned for their Nikon film cameras.
However, choosing which digital SLR camera to buy can often be harder than choosing a film camera because you have to take into consideration many of the same things you would when buying a traditional camera, plus all the new digital options as well.
The great news is that most of today’s digital SLR (also called “D-SLR”) cameras have lots of useful features, good performance and enough resolution to produce prints of high-enough for most users.
If you already own a film SLR camera, there are many good reasons you might want to upgrade to a D-SLR . . .
One important point in practical use is that because there are no costs for film purchase and developing, it’s general for Digital SLR camera users to take a LOT more photos than if they were using film, which can increase the chances of getting that “perfect” shot.
Also, because it is so easy to download the photos to your computer, it is natural with a D-SLR to do image editing to some extent before you print your photos or send them to others, which can improve your photos considerably as well as opening up lots of creative possibilities.
There are also, of course, lots of great reasons for upgrading from an instant (“point-and-shoot” digital camera, up to a Digital SLR :-
Quality of images – D-SLR cameras are generally able to be used at a faster ISO and so faster shutter speeds and less grain. D-SLRs also have built in noise-reduction when generating JPG images, and other aspects of a Digital SLR are likely to be better too, which all helps in the image quality.
Adaptability – the ease of changing lenses (and other accessories) on a D-SLR’s dramatically increases the realms of of possibilities for photographers. Note that the quality of lenses can vary a lot, and makes a big difference to the quality of the photos you get.
SLR – the basic “SLR” concept itself means that what you see through the viewfinder (or on the screen) on a D-SLR, is very close to what you get when you take the photo.
Conditions and Control – the SLR digital camera has a wide variety of settings that can make it usable in a wide range of condtions, and also to control very precisely how the camera takes the photos.
The ability to change lenses is a huge benefit of D-SLR cameras. It is a common myth that it is the camera-body which most effects the quality of the image, but in fact it is the exact opposite . . . the lens makes MORE difference to the quality (color, sharpness, contrast, clarity etc.) of your finished images than the camera itself. So it makes sense to buy lenses which are of better quality than your camera . . . do keep that in mind when budgeting for your new D-SLR.
Of course, it is essential to buy the right lenses for the jobs you need your camera to do . . . different types of photography need very different lenses (we will discuss this in detail later).