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Useful information which will help you buy the camera

6. A compact camera versus a reflex camera (SLR)

2007-06-26

The advantages of the compact cameras are different than the advantages of the reflex cameras. The compact cameras vary according to construction, weight, size and capabilities. The information below helps to understand differences between discussing types of cameras.
The advantages of the compact cameras are:

• size - a great deal of cameras compact cameras are pocket size or if they are a little bigger it's easy to carry it in the special small bag attached to the bell like a mobile phone. The weight is thought by one as a feature and by other as a fault. The feature because it's trouble-free during the long hikes. On the other hand holding the light camera causes that the hand shaking is transmitting to the camera. It can cause a blur of a photo. Such effect can only occur in case of quite long exposure time(longer than 1/60 sec.)If the exposure time is shorter it shouldn't occur.
• Display framing without necessity of using the viewfinder - a great deal of display can bend or even rotate (180 degrees) in that way that it's possible to take a photo oneself holding the camera in a hand and seeing oneself in the display. It isn't the feature available with the every model.
• Video recording - usually with the voice but there are still some model without voice recorder.
• Zoom- the part of the compact cameras which resemble the reflex cameras, sometimes called hybrid reflex cameras, are designed to zoom even 12-times! Some advertisements claim that the camera can do 40-times zooms, but don't mislead yourself. It's product of optical zoom and digital zoom. Previously I explained why it shouldn't be taken under consideration.

The disadvantages of the compact cameras referring to the utilization and picture's quality. A operational faults are:

• stand-by time after activation of the camera - frequently it take couple of seconds (up to 3). In some models is less than one second,
• Reaction time after pressing shutter button - the camera reacts after a few seconds - it's to notice in case of taking a photo of people in motion. If you want to take a photo of a rotating dancer, while you are seeing her in front, the picture would show her back. It's a lag of camera reaction
• The optical or digital viewfinder - the optical not always show the view from the lens. It means we see a little different image that is recorded. Digital viewfinder transmit the image straight from the image sensor like is seen on the display, but don't reflect so many details as optical,
• Large power consumption - the electric current flow through the image sensor constantly,
• Electronic zoom with low precision (in a big deal of models) - it's hard to set because it's controlled by the engine, which doesn't stop immediately,
• A focal point is setting with low precision,

The faults of the picture's quality caused by the structure of compact camera are:

• noises with increased ISO or with elongated exposure times,
• Noises caused by long work time of the camera,
• Vignette making,
• Chromatic aberrations.

Advantages of the digital SLR camera are:

• stand-by time after activation of the camera - almost immediate,
• Reaction time after pressing shutter button - almost immediate,
• optical viewfinder - transmit the image from the lens,
• Low power consumption - no power consumption during the stand-by mode. The electric current doesn't flow through the image sensor. Considerably longer work time with the same battery,
• Precise manual zoom (depending on the lens) - allows to set precisely,
• Precise setting of the focal point - the little points in the viewfinder are visible in which the focal point is able to set,
• Ability to change a camera's optical system - easiness of adjusting the camera to different work conditions. Unfortunately the lenses are expensive,
• The low noises with increased ISO (depending on the model),
• good quality of details,

The disadvantages of the reflex cameras (SLR)

• Large sizes,
• Weight,
• no ability of recording the films,
• Ability to take a photo only by the viewfinder,

It's easy to notice that most often the advantages of digital SLR camera are the disadvantages of compact cameras and vice versa. It's unnecessary to become discouraged. On the market are so many different models that everyone will find something for himself. But, as I said it's not easy. It's necessary to check many offers, comparing the technical specification. It's advisable to check some topical forums.