CASE STUDY 1: SHOULD YOU BUY A DSLR OR POINT AND SHOOT DIGITAL CAMERA?

DSLR vs PoinT and Shoot Comparison

There’s two types of digital cameras to concern yourself with: point-and-shoot digital cameras (digicams) and DSLRs. If you’re a casual shooter of snapshots, you’ll probably want a digicam. If you’re seriously interested in photography, you’ll want a DSLR.

Digicams make up the vast majority of consumer digital cameras on the market. A digicam has an electronic viewfinder on a built-in LCD display, and generally takes care of everything short of zooming without any user input, including focus. They often also have a lot of fun novelty features, like automatic smile detection, fun image filters, or even automatic YouTube video conversion. They are fantastic choices for almost everyone with a totally casual interest in photography.

The problem with digicams, though, is also their greatest benefit: they take control out of the hands of the user. For professionals then, or amateur photographers, digicams won’t get the job done.

For these types of photographers, a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera is the way to go. Think of DSLRs as a high-end 35mm camera to the digicam’s Polaroid Instant. Digicams sacrifice user-friendliness for user options and quality. A DSLR allows a photographer to change out lenses, manually focus, capture photographic effects like depth of field (probably the signature aesthetic of DSLR photography), and balance color and light within the camera. DSLRs offer better quality photography, plain and simple… but only in the hands of photographers who know what they are doing with one.

Ultimately, the question that needs to inform your choice is whether your interest in photography is casual, or more serious. If it is casual, you will still be able to take great images with a digicam: photo composition and framing count for a lot! But if you have any interest in photography ranging from amateur status to the professional, you’ll want to invest in a DSLR.

Here are some benefits to owning a DSLR camera:

• More creative control: These cameras include a broad array of manual settings, allowing the photographer to frame the picture exactly as they want it. True shutterbugs would never settle for auto focus and automated aperture and ISO settings. Although many point-and-shoot cameras have similar manual settings, these features are limited.

• Faster shutter speed: All digital cameras have shutter lag, the time between pressing the button and the camera capturing the photograph. These image capturing devices have a significantly shorter shutter lag than point-and-shoot cameras.

• Interchangeable lenses: Interchangeable lenses provide the photographer with more versatility.

• Viewfinder for better framing: Looking through a viewfinder opposed to an LCD screen provides for better framing.

DSLR Strengths

• Image Quality - The larger size of image sensors in DSLRs which allows for larger pixel sizes – DSLRs are generally able to be used at a faster ISO which will lead to faster shutter speeds and less grain.

• Adaptability – DSLR’s ability to change lenses opens up a world of possibilities for photographers. Add to this a large range of other accessories (flashes, filters etc) and a DSLR can be adapted to many different situations. It should be noted that when it comes to lenses that the diversity in quality of lenses is great. Image quality is impacted greatly by the quality of the lens you use.

• Speed – DSLR’s are generally pretty fast pieces of machinery when it comes to things like start up, focusing and shutter lag.

• Optical Viewfinder – due to the reflex mirror DSLR’s are very much is a what you see is what you get operation.

• large ISO range - this varies between cameras but generally DSLRs offer a wide array of ISO settings which lends itself to their flexibility in shooting in different conditions.

• Manual Controls – while many point and shoots come with the ability to shoot in manual mode, a DSLR is designed in such a way that it is assumed that the photographer using it will want to control their own settings. While they do come with good auto modes the manual controls are generally built in in such a way that they are at the photographers finger tips as they are shooting.

• Hold it’s value – some argue that a DSLR will hold it’s value longer than a point and shoot. There is probably some truth in this. DSLR models do not get updated quite as often as point and shoot models (which can be updated twice a year at times). The other factor in favor of DSLRs is that the lenses you buy for them are compatible with other camera bodies if you do choose to upgrade later on (as long as you stay with your brand). This means your investment in lenses is not a waste over the years.

• Depth of Field – DSLR can give you depth of field that puts everything from forground to background in focus through to nice blurry backgrounds.

• Quality Optics – There is a large degree of difference in quality between DSLR lenses (and point and shoot cameras are always improving) but in general the lenses that you’ll find on a DSLR are superior to a point and shoot camera. DSLR lenses are larger (more glass can add to the quality) and many of them have many hours of time put into their manufacture (especially when you get into higher end lenses). I strongly advise DSLR buyers to buy the best quality lenses that they can afford. It it’s the difference between a high end lens on a medium range camera or a medium range lens on a high end camera I’d go for quality lenses every time as they add so much to photos.

CONCLUSION :

From my point of view, i think it is worth to upgrade to a DSLR camera. WHY? It is because there are a huge different between DSRL than any other cameras (digicams, phone camera, web cam ,etc). First, DSLR have better image quality. Second, It's offer interchangeble lenses. Third, Depth of field. Lastly, accurate composition.

Below are the pictures that i had taken with digicam and DSLR. It is just for fun. Can you see the different?.

MY LOVELY CAT