DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES
the right camera for you
your instructor
Mike Clendenen

Introduction
Welcome to The Right Camera for You. In this course we will discuss the types of cameras available today, and the differences between each type. When you complete this course, you should have a better idea of what type of camera best fits your picture taking style.
Now lets look at the four basic types of cameras

DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex)

DSLR
The name comes from having what you see in the viewfinder being reflected by a mirror directly through the lens.
BEST CHARACTERISTIC
Lenses can be detached from the camera body and be replaced with dozens of specialized lenses and imaging adapters.

DSLR-Advantages
Highest quality cameras available
Great in low light
Non-compressed photos
Interchangeable lenses
Lots of features/controls
A DSLR allows a photographer to select a lens based on the shooting environment. You can use a wide angle lens for a landscape shot outdoors, then switch to a fast (lets in LOTS of light) lens for a low-light shot indoors.

DSLR-Disadvantages
Bulky and heavy
Steep learning curve
Requires additional lenses to cover all situations
Expensive
A DSLR user will typically carry quite a few accessories, such as flashes, tripods, lens filters, and light meters. All together, the camera and accessories can become quite a load.

DSLR-Why Own One?
For QUALITY over everything else

Yes, you may have a lot of extra equipment associated with a DSLR, but for the ultimate ability to get the shot you want, nothing can beat a DSLR.

Point and Shoot

Point and Shoot
The name alone for this category indicates ease of use - you simply "point and shoot"

BEST CHARACTERISTIC
Very easy to use and small enough to carry with you all the time.

Point and Shoot-Advantages
Easy to use
Made to be carried
Does not require a lot of photography knowledge
Automatic picture taking modes
Good quality
There are more camera models in this category than any other. Being able to carry one of these around with you all the time is worth the lack of some of the more sophisticated features of other camera types.

Point and Shoot-Disadvantages
Typically do not have a viewfinder
LCD screen drains batteries
Limited features and modes
No manual adjust for better pictures
Limited zoom

When you buy one of these, you are stuck with the lens and features that come with it. You cannot change the lenses or all any zoom capabilities. In addition, not having a viewfinder forces you to hold the camera further away from your eye, thereby increasing the chance of a blurry end result.

Point and Shoot-Why Own One?
For the simple fact of CONVENIENCE

Old Photography Adage:
"The best camera is the one you have with you"

You can have the greatest camera in the world, but if you don't carry it with you, it's no good. Point and Shoots are small enough to carry all the time. Sure, everyone has a camera on their cell phone, but the pictures they take are not nearly as good as most Point and Shoots.

Prosumer

Prosumer
A "Prosumer" camera is one that fits in-between a professional DSLR and consumer model. These cameras are also in-between in size and weight as well - not quite as large as most DSLRs, but certainly not as small as the typical "point and shoot".

BEST CHARACTERISTIC
A camera for almost any photo taking situation, with a single lens that can go from a macro shot all the way to a very high level of zoom.

Prosumer-Advantages
High quality photos sometimes rivaling DSLR
Smaller and lighter than DSLR
Can be used in automatic mode like a "Point and Shoot", but can be used in manual mode as well
Lots of features/controls
Built-in lens can shoot macro (close-up) to telephoto (zoom) with no need to switch lenses
Zoom can go up to 30x and beyond

Having the entire range of close-up to zoom in one lens greatly reduces the amount of equipment that has to be carried. Although you may want to use a tripod with any camera type, that may be the only extra thing you need with one of these cameras.

Prosumer-Disadvantages
Too large for your pocket
Somewhat heavy
Not as good with low light as a DSLR
Still expensive compared to smaller cameras
Requires learning manual controls for the full benefit of features

Although available, some features, such as manual focus, are much more difficult to use on these types of cameras versus a DSLR.

Prosumer-Why Own One?
For the best FEATURES and CONVENIENCE

If you want more than a Point and Shoot, but don't want to spend the extra money for a DSLR, this is the camera to have. You have a lot more features for manual control if needed, and most cameras in this category contain very large zooms with no need to switch lenses.

Cell Phone

Cell Phone
Finally, there are the cell phones. One of the more popular ones is of course the iPhone, but just about every cell phone made today has some sort of camera built-in.

BEST CHARACTERISTIC
You have it with you all the time. It's better to take the shot with a cell phone than not take it at all.

Cell Phone-Advantages
You have it with you all the time
Convenient and easy to use
Easy to send photos to others
Easy to upload to social web sites

Cell phone photos (and videos) have become almost the norm for the way we take pictures.

Cell Phone-Disadvantages
Low resolution compared to dedicated cameras
Very few features
Typically no optical zoom
No viewfinder
Inconsistent picture quality

Everyone loves using their cell phones for taking pictures because they don't have to carry around another electronic device. Sure the quality is good enough for something like FaceBook, but it really cannot replace dedicated cameras for any serious work.

Cell Phone-Why Own One?
The fact is, you probably already do. Why buy a camera when you have one built-in to your cell phone. Just remember that even a phone with a 5 Megapixel camera will not take as good of a picture as a 5 megapixel dedicated camera.

Ever compared the size of the lens on a cell phone to other cameras?

Which One Would You Choose?