Beginners Photography Question: Why get a DSLR?

Here’s some more possible justifications for getting a DSLR. Read on…

Real time shooting

Again, this is another major selling point of DSLRs. When you click the shutter button, the camera takes the photo. With most point and shoots, you click the shutter button, a slight lag time, then the camera takes the photo. How many wonderful moments have you missed capturing because of that darn lag time?

Low light and High ISO capability

This is related to image quality. The maximum useful ISO of most point and shoot cameras is 200. At ISO 400 some can still look good at smaller resolutions or in printouts. With the latest digital cameras that have high ISO features, you’re just getting a high ISO value of 800-1600 and a overdose of a noise reduction feature. Don’t expect good results.

Most DSLRs can produce photos that are generally noise free up to ISO 400, and still usable upto 800 and 1600. Some, like the wonderful Nikon D3 have useful images upto ISO 12800 or higher (they say).

But why would you want to have low light shooting capabilities if your camera has a flash? The answer is, there are situations that don’t allow you to use your flash like in some in churches, museums, events or places where flash photography is not allowed, for example at the Singapore Night Safari.

So far I’ve tried my best to show you the practicality of getting a point and shoot over a DSLR and vice versa. But remember, it’s not just the camera that takes good pictures, it’s the photographer who framed the shot and pressed the button.

Avoid people who tell you that the gear will make you look good or an even better photographer. Most of the times people saying that are gear heads (camera collectors who focus on the photo gear rather than the art of photography itself). Read, Learn and practice: that will help you more than a piece of gear that burned a hole in your wallet. For me, a good photographer can take a good picture even with a camera phone. Peace.