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What Is A DSLR Camera?

When you take a step into the camera world, you will recognize different types of cameras, ranging from DSLR, mirrorless, compact, and so on, the most popular being the DSLR cameras. But what are those, what does it stands for, why is it called that, and what is it good for, you may ask. Today I will try to answer all these questions and try to give you a good explanation about DSLR cameras, what are they, what they can be used for, and are they useful for you.

DSLR camera stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex camera, and if you are new to this technical lingo it is difficult to understand. This means that the camera has just one lens, from which the light will travel through to the digital sensor to capture the photography, easy right. These cameras utilize a mirror that reflects the light to a focusing screen which then directs the light to a prism, so in the end, you see everything that your lens sees on the viewfinder. So when you want to take a photo and press the shutter button, the mirror flips up and the shutter opens so the light goes through to the digital sensor, which is then processed and you get the end product.

Since now we know what DSLR stands for and how it functions, let’s see the pros and cons of these cameras so you can decide if a DSLR camera is a right choice for you.

Pros

Versatility

First of the major reason why most people and professionals choose DSLRs are because they are very versatile, for a variety of reasons. These cameras, especially high-end models, can be utilized in a wide range of situations from amateur photography for your events and vacations, to more professional purposes, like portrait shooting, landscape and sight shooting, urban photography, sports and wildlife, videography, vlogging and many more, the possibilities are endless. This is mostly due to the interchangeable lens mechanism of these cameras, meaning that you can use a wide arsenal of lenses to get the best possible outcome for the situation.

Detail

Thanks to their large sensors and the range of lenses, these cameras are capable of acquiring amazing detail and sharpness, as well as color. Due to this, they have been the first-hand choice for many professionals, and most of the beautiful photographs we see these days are captured with a DSLR camera.

Durability

These cameras are built for the occasion, and since they are an expensive piece of equipment, the manufacturers have developed military-grade bodies that will stand the test of time, and most of them are also weatherproofed.

Cons

Size and Weight

The biggest deterrent from DSLR cameras is their size and weight since they are pretty large and hefty devices. This means that they are not perfect for everybody if you are a professional you can get by having a large piece of tech hanging from your neck, but most of us can carry them around. For example, packing them for travel is a little difficult as they weigh a lot, and take up a large amount of luggage space, not pretty ideal for everybody.

Controls

This is a double-edged sword, to be honest, this can be a good thing for professionals and enthusiast that know the craft and want as many controls to get the best possible photograph in every scenario. However, for the average Joe, this means that you’ll have to undertake a learning curve to learn about all the controls and dials of your new expensive device, and mind you there is a lot to learn.

Should you buy a DSLR camera?

Since we have some general information about these cameras, let’s get to the point.

If you are a professional photographer or an enthusiast that wants to capture beautiful photographs and want to dive deeper into this hobby, yes a DSLR is perfect for you.

On the other hand, if you just want to take some good photos, but don’t want to bother with difficult controls and hefty equipment, you should look elsewhere.

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