Is It Worth a DSLR?

We started the year with a topic that I think is very important especially for those who are passionate about photography and want to go a step further.

I have known many cases where they are trying to make the move from compact to DSLR to seek higher quality, but in the end they frustrated because they take better photos with the compact one.

If you are thinking of making the jump to DSLR looking for more quality than your compact give you. Then read the post to understand what it is understood that an SLR is better and if this is what are you looking for or perhaps there are better choices for you.

DSLR Cameras Means more quality? Well the answer is Yes and No. It all depends on the use and what we mean by "quality." But what makes a DSLR "better"? In short there are 3 basic characteristics. Exchangeable lenses, Body and Sensor:

Interchangeable lenses: This provides flexibility to use the best-suited lens to each situation. But, you know how much it cost? Well the cheapest we can buy is the Canon 50mm for 100 €, normal zoom lenses about € 200-600 if you are looking for quality usually starts at 1000 €. Seriously are you still thinking that a DSLR suits you? In my case I use old manual lens to save € and not in quality, but you have to focus manually making it quite uncomfortable.

In general what happens is that most people gets the most basic lenses, less quality and unable to juice the camera. Another drawback is that if you have multiple lenses and you have to change from one to another, you will lose a lot of photos, and the sensor can get dirty.

The Body: It provides good grip and all the necessary control. But honestly I think you just need to look a DSLR and a compact and realize that is their main weakness for most. For hobbyists and professionals is something that is appreciated and if you're going to buy lenses with weigh of 1kg or more, but for the rest, that what we want is that our compact make a better quality photos is a great disadvantage the huge and heavy SLR body.

Sensor: Although the optics are those that give the quality, as they are the first channel through which the light passes, is the sensor that has to take advantage of the good or bad quality light coming. Why is "better" than a DSLR sensor? Because is much bigger than a compact.

Basic User benefits: Basically the pixels (light receptors) with the same amount of pixels, if the sensor is twice as large, the pixels will be twice as large. Therefore it can capture more light and when there are bad light and you force the pixel to capture more light or to be more sensitive to light (ISO) The DSLR hold up better by having larger pixels.

Basic user Disadvantages: Although it depends on many other factors, one disadvantage is the depth of field. For some it is an advantage for others a disadvantage. What is?  It is all that will be in focus. In a compact if you look, everything is always in focus, in an SLR, forget the typical group photo with the monument behind, or the monument or the group will be out of focus. I'm not saying that you cannot do it, actually you can, and that's the advantage, with an SLR you can play with depth of field but you have to know what it is and how it works, if not, you will take dissatisfaction.

Conclusions:

Everything is roughly, there are more advantages and disadvantages, but I think it is that those who come from compact must consider.

Usually for those who want to "play", who wants to create, they can go ahead to a DSLR with a manual lens, cause is what they offer, you will be able to do everything with a DSLR, but you have to do all the hard work, and forget the auto mode.

As advantages of the system is first the amount of options that allows: change lenses, both manual and automatic, easy of use as it is full of buttons and wheels to control everything and finally in terms of pure quality is better. Like I said it lets you play and control the outcome.

Disadvantages From my point of view is clearly the high price, size and weight and the difficulty to take good pictures, as there always have to worked on it more than with a compact, and all of them by a pure quality difference almost inappreciable and even less if we use normal quality lenses.

For portraits, macro photography, to play with the photos DSLR are the best tool, especially in portraits is easier of blur the background of a face (little depth of field). Camera travel or everyday, I think there are better options that bring a cumbersome of those.

Well, now I´m not so sure that I need a DSLR, what do I do?

If what you made it back is the size, then looks for mirror-less cameras (Sony nex for example), the same sensor but much smaller size.

Another good option is the Micro Four Thirds system (M4 / 3) that have a smaller sensor, still considerably larger than compact. Small bodies, more compact lenses, a little more depth of field. In my opinion they are more designed for the general public and I find a great choice. For now, only Panasonic and Olympus make them.

And for me, the first option is the advanced compact cameras that I will explain in the next post. There are Compact cameras with which you can start to “play”. And, moreover, already have very good optics.

I hope I helped you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the DSLR system. Any questions email me!

In the next post I will talk about the compact advanced cameras, perhaps the best option for most. Don´t loose it!!!

See you soon!