Digicams Courtesy - fotosearch.com

Digicams Courtesy - fotosearch.com

Digicams, or fixed-lens digital cameras, differ from their more expensive cousins, the DSLR, or digital single lens reflex cameras. If you are in the market for a camera but cannot decide which of the two you would rather buy, read on.

There are a few you things you should know about DSLRs and how they differ from digicams before investing your dollars in them. You definitely do not want to buy a camera now and regret it later.

Single lens reflex cameras use an automatic mirror system that allows the user to see the exact image that his camera will capture. This is called WYSIWYG, meaning What You See Is What You Get. The lenses gather the light forming the image, while an angled mirror reflects this light and sends it, through a pentaprism, to the viewfinder. When the shutter is pressed, the mirror folds to allow the light to fall directly on the film or, in DSLR cameras, the digital sensor.

Zooming in with DSLR cameras is done manually. Focusing can also be done manually if desired. These are usually faster, more precise, and more responsive than electronic zooms. In addition to this, DSLRs usually feature full manual override of the different camera features, such as ISO sensitivity, white balance, aperture, and shutter speed.

These features of the DSLRs result in photos that have better image quality than those taken by fixed lens digicams. Low image noise and a better retention of details allow DSLRs to score better than the digicams. This is especially true at higher ISO levels. The dynamic range of luminance that DSLRs can capture is also wider. This results in more pronounced contrasts of light and darkness.

As far as color, white balance, and exposure are concerned, both types of cameras are basically equal in capability.

DSLRs can focus and shoot faster than digicams. Start-up times and the gap between one shot and the next are also shorter. These features are fully appreciated when shooting subjects in action, such as in sporting events or modeling.

The two main objections to DSLRs are the price and sensor dust. Even the cheapest DSLR is more expensive that the average fixed-lens camera. If you choose to buy two or more lenses, the cost soars even higher. Sensor dust refers to the possibility of dust getting into the camera sensor while changing lenses.

Other issues include the bulk of the camera and its loud shutter noise. The bulky frames of DSLRs make them rather inconvenient and cumbersome to carry.  Indeed, there is an unacknowledged rule that the larger the camera, the less pictures are taken. Some people object to the loud shutter noise of these cameras as they can be distracting in quiet places, such as in a courtroom or chapel.

The bottom line is the purpose for which you will use your camera. If you are the average new father who just wants photos to document his baby’s first years, you don’t need a pricey DSLR. When the baby grows older and begins learning how to ride a bike or a horse and begins exploring places away from home, that’s the time you start thinking about moving up to a DSLR.