SLR Cameras
The term SLR stands for SINGLE LENS REFLEX. The cameras which uses single lens for viewing and taking pictures is known as SLR CAMERAS. The light from lens up into a prism for viewing is directed by a mirror in the body, just before an exposure is made the light flips out of the way. The two common examples of SLR CAMERAS are:
1) Canon Digital Rebel (C D R)
2) Nikon D80
Both the cameras mentioned above works almost in the similar as they look alike. In spite of a piece of a film behind the shutter there is an electronic sensor is the only difference between both the cameras mentioned above.
The things which enable the photographer to frame images more quickly and accurately are the mirror and the optical viewfinder as compared to point-and-shoot cameras. Irrespective of the lens or the filters that are attached to the camera one sees or the sensor sees. Including the other important camera settings, the additional information underneath the image is offered by typical digital SLR camera viewfinder. As compared to point and shoot-camera the SLR is much bigger and heavier.
Advantages of SLR cameras over other cameras
As compared to other cameras SLR cameras have more enhanced features and can be listed as follows:
1) SLR Camera is used to view and focus the image through the attached lens. This function is not included in many other cameras.
2) Accuracy and confidence are provided to the photographer with the help of SLR cameras.
3) In macro photography and when photographer is using long telephoto lenses an exact focus can be confirmed by eye and parallax error can be eradicated. By stopping down to the attached lens aperture the depth of the field can be seen, which is not possible in all cameras except the costliest SLR cameras. Many of the manufacturers have a wide range of various lenses and accessories available for them, just because of the SLR's versatility.
4) The commonly used and inexpensive SLR lenses offer a wide aperture range as compared to most fixed-lens compact cameras. This feature provided by SLR allows the photographer to take photographs to be taken even in darker conditions without using flash, which helps in making the subject more prominent.
5) For allowing the camera to be used and adapted in many different situations with the help of various lenses. This feature provides the photographer with better control as compared to a normal view camera.
6) To expose a sharp and a focused image even at a considerable distance away from the photographer some SLR lenses are built in with extremely long focal lengths.
7) This feature is useful if the subject includes scary animal's example tiger. All the SLR and DSLR bodies can be attached to telescopes and microscopes using adapter tube to enhance the better imaging capacities.
Disadvantages of SLR cameras
SLR cameras also have some disadvantages and can be listed as follows:
1) Like range- finder cameras, auto focus compact cameras and digital cameras with electronic viewfinders -EVF, single reflex cameras cannot be made as small or as light as compared to the cameras mentioned above.
2) The rear elements closer to the film are prevented by the mirror box or the sensor is to be mounted if the camera does not have a mirror lock up feature; which means that simple designs for zoom angle lens can be used.
3) During the time of exposure SLR mirror blurs the viewfinder image. Limiting the maximum shooting the reflex mirror takes time for the movement. Vibration and noise are caused due to the mirror system. Very few designs can avoid these problems due to the inbuilt mechanism like Partially-reflective fixed mirrors. But these particles have their own limitations. Professional cameras offer a mirror lock-up facility, this feature results in totally disabling the SLR's focusing ability.
4) To display a live preview SLR's cannot be used. This scenario has changed with the arrival of the following cameras with enhanced capabilities:
1. Olympus E-330.
2. Olympus3. E- 410.
3. Panasonic DMC-L1.
4. Panasonic DMC-L10.
5. Leica Digilux 3.
Because of the superiority in the use of viewing and focusing optical system the SLR's and DSLR's will be considered as the future system.
What are the various types of digital SLR's available in the market?
There are three kinds of SLR's found in the market namely:
1. Big lenses, big sensor
2. Big lenses, small sensor
3. Small lenses, small sensor
In spite, of the limitations of the SLR it can be concluded that SLR has better enhanced capabilities than normal cameras. Thus, using SLR cameras one can take better photographs.
