Cameras allow us to capture moments. They allow us to freeze time, to remember. This draws people in. We all want to remember certain things!
A camera is made up of three fundamental components – optical (lens), chemical (film/digital), and mechanical (camera body). These three components make it possible to have these incredible machines.
The first photographic processes began in 1819, as people discovered how light could be used to reveal the image they were looking for. The first practical ‘camera’ came around in 1839. These first cameras consisted of two small boxes and a lens which was used to capture the light. A chemical process using mercury, iodine, and salt was invented to create a lasting image. Since then, photography has come a long way. We now have very high-tech cameras that allow us to take incredible pictures with excellent quality. But had it not been for innovation in the 1800s, we would not be where we are now when it comes to cameras.
There are several different kinds of cameras, and it can be very confusing when first starting to learn about them. Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras (DSLRs) or Single-Lens Reflex cameras (SLRs) are different than simple point-and-shoot digital cameras because they use a hinged mirror to divert the projected image through the viewfinder. When the shutter closes to take the picture, this hinged mirror flips up and allows the projected image to expose onto the sensor.
This process results in high quality images, with better lighting and resolution than an average digital camera. DSLR cameras first became popular in the early 2000s, and replaced a lot of film-based single-lens reflex cameras. For a long time the majority of people that used these cameras were professional photographers, but recently DSLRs have become more and more popular among a large variety of people. There are advantages and disadvantages of DSLR cameras, and it is definitely worth taking into account all of these.
Before describing the advantages and disadvantages of DSLR cameras, it is important to understand three key elements of these cameras. It is important to understand and know the difference between shutter speed, ISO, and Aperture. Shutter speed is the amount of time it takes for the shutter on the camera to capture an image. For instance, if trying to capture something that is moving really fast, like a bullet, the shutter speed can be increased so that the camera can take multiple, very fast shots to capture the moving bullet. ISO increases the camera’s sensitivity to light. In brighter conditions, the ISO can be lowered so that the pictures aren’t too exposed, and when the natural lighting is not bright enough, the ISO can be increased to let in more light. Lastly, aperture is the ability to change the depth of field that the DSLR camera is capturing. For instance, when taking a portrait of one person, a small depth of field is most beneficial because it allows the camera to focus on the person being photographed, while blurring the background. In contrast, a large depth of field would be used when taking a group portrait, so that the camera will focus on every person in the photograph. There is more information about each of these topics in other posts on this blog.
Disadvantages:
-Large size. They are pretty heavy,
bulky, and can often be a hassle to
carry around.
-Can be expensive.
Advantages:
-Interchangeable lenses. Very
versatile.
-Develop you own sense of style, and
fine tune which lenses they prefer.
-excellent speed, responsiveness,
and shutter speed.
-great for action/movement, as they
are able to catch very brief
moments.
-capture great photos even when the
lighting isn’t great.
-Lack of ‘noise’ thanks to the ISO
feature!
A DSLR camera also allows the photographer to have complete control over his/her photographs. The photographer is able to change the shutter speed, ISO, and aperture of the camera for each and every photo, depending on what they are trying to achieve. Although these cameras do have an automatic setting, it is very valuable to learn how to use shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Learning these skills, and using a DSLR camera manually can result in photographs that are of a much higher caliber.
A camera is made up of three fundamental components – optical (lens), chemical (film/digital), and mechanical (camera body). These three components make it possible to have these incredible machines.
The first photographic processes began in 1819, as people discovered how light could be used to reveal the image they were looking for. The first practical ‘camera’ came around in 1839. These first cameras consisted of two small boxes and a lens which was used to capture the light. A chemical process using mercury, iodine, and salt was invented to create a lasting image. Since then, photography has come a long way. We now have very high-tech cameras that allow us to take incredible pictures with excellent quality. But had it not been for innovation in the 1800s, we would not be where we are now when it comes to cameras.
There are several different kinds of cameras, and it can be very confusing when first starting to learn about them. Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras (DSLRs) or Single-Lens Reflex cameras (SLRs) are different than simple point-and-shoot digital cameras because they use a hinged mirror to divert the projected image through the viewfinder. When the shutter closes to take the picture, this hinged mirror flips up and allows the projected image to expose onto the sensor.
 |
| Image by Esrar Ravi 10/18/2010. Sourced from Flickr. |
This process results in high quality images, with better lighting and resolution than an average digital camera. DSLR cameras first became popular in the early 2000s, and replaced a lot of film-based single-lens reflex cameras. For a long time the majority of people that used these cameras were professional photographers, but recently DSLRs have become more and more popular among a large variety of people. There are advantages and disadvantages of DSLR cameras, and it is definitely worth taking into account all of these.
Before describing the advantages and disadvantages of DSLR cameras, it is important to understand three key elements of these cameras. It is important to understand and know the difference between shutter speed, ISO, and Aperture. Shutter speed is the amount of time it takes for the shutter on the camera to capture an image. For instance, if trying to capture something that is moving really fast, like a bullet, the shutter speed can be increased so that the camera can take multiple, very fast shots to capture the moving bullet. ISO increases the camera’s sensitivity to light. In brighter conditions, the ISO can be lowered so that the pictures aren’t too exposed, and when the natural lighting is not bright enough, the ISO can be increased to let in more light. Lastly, aperture is the ability to change the depth of field that the DSLR camera is capturing. For instance, when taking a portrait of one person, a small depth of field is most beneficial because it allows the camera to focus on the person being photographed, while blurring the background. In contrast, a large depth of field would be used when taking a group portrait, so that the camera will focus on every person in the photograph. There is more information about each of these topics in other posts on this blog.
Disadvantages:
-Large size. They are pretty heavy,
bulky, and can often be a hassle to
carry around.
-Can be expensive.
Advantages:
-Interchangeable lenses. Very
versatile.
-Develop you own sense of style, and
fine tune which lenses they prefer.
-excellent speed, responsiveness,
and shutter speed.
-great for action/movement, as they
are able to catch very brief
moments.
-capture great photos even when the
lighting isn’t great.
-Lack of ‘noise’ thanks to the ISO
feature!
A DSLR camera also allows the photographer to have complete control over his/her photographs. The photographer is able to change the shutter speed, ISO, and aperture of the camera for each and every photo, depending on what they are trying to achieve. Although these cameras do have an automatic setting, it is very valuable to learn how to use shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Learning these skills, and using a DSLR camera manually can result in photographs that are of a much higher caliber.
 |
| DSLR with a variety of lenses Image by Allyn Bernardo 10/10/2009. Sourced from Flickr. |
Another type of high end digital camera growing in popularity is the mirrorless camera. A mirrorless camera functions similarly to a DSLR, but the mirrorless camera foregoes the mirror
system used to reflect light and create an image in the view finder of a
camera. By using a small LCD screen as the viewfinder instead, or even foregoing the viewfinder to just display the image on the screen, mirrorless
cameras are much smaller and weigh a lot less than DSLRs. They are more
comparable to the dimensions of a point and shoot camera.
mirrorless camera in comparison to these options:
 |
| Comparing sizes: left- DSLR, right- mirrorless Image by Nando Harmsen 6/19/2016. Sourced from Flickr. |
Although smaller and simpler than DSLRs, mirrorless cameras
still have large sensors and interchangeable lenses. Of course, there is a wide
range in the quality of mirrorless cameras just as there is for DSLRS, but mirrorless cameras tend to function just as well.
Advantages:
-Greater potential shooting speed Disadvantages:
-Greater potential shooting speed Disadvantages:
-Portable
(smaller, lightweight, etc) -More
expensive lenses
-Shows what the
final image will look -Fewer
lens options available
on the screen
with light adjustments -Viewfinder/LCD view can be grainy in low light
-superior
filming quality -shorter battery life (constantly powering the electronic viewfinder or LCD screen)
In addition to these two options, there are several other kinds of cameras available. The most prevalent cameras on the
market are point and shoot cameras, a simplified digital camera, and cameras on smart phones. These cameras are generally
seen as lesser cameras when compared to DSLR of mirrorless cameras, as they are not used professionally. However, they
can take good pictures, depending on what you are looking for. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of a DSLR or
market are point and shoot cameras, a simplified digital camera, and cameras on smart phones. These cameras are generally
seen as lesser cameras when compared to DSLR of mirrorless cameras, as they are not used professionally. However, they
can take good pictures, depending on what you are looking for. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of a DSLR or
mirrorless camera in comparison to these options:
Advantages over
phone or point and shoot: Disadvantages:
-interchangeable
lenses -more
expensive
-bigger sensor -less
portable
-more
megapixels -needs
more regular cleaning
-image
stabilizing -more
complicated
-easier control
of different functions -can
be less convenient for sharing pics
There are also a couple more options for professional cameras such as medium or large format cameras. These cameras
are generally film, but can also be digital and are distinguished by their large image sensor size. Medium format
cameras record an image in material larger than 24 by 36 mm and smaller than 4 by 5 inches, which is what a large format
camera uses. These cameras were quite popular near the beginning of photography, and their main benefit is that their
pictures have unparalleled resolution. However, as the retail cost of these cameras generally begins around $10,000 and
developing film is less convenient due to diminished demand than it has been in the past, these cameras are generally only
used by some professionals and a few camera enthusiasts.
Sources:
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/dslr-vs-mirrorless-cameras,news-17736.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_format_(film)
 |
| DSLR vs point and shoot
Image by Marc Crowther 5/14/13. Sourced from Flickr.
|
There are also a couple more options for professional cameras such as medium or large format cameras. These cameras
are generally film, but can also be digital and are distinguished by their large image sensor size. Medium format
cameras record an image in material larger than 24 by 36 mm and smaller than 4 by 5 inches, which is what a large format
camera uses. These cameras were quite popular near the beginning of photography, and their main benefit is that their
pictures have unparalleled resolution. However, as the retail cost of these cameras generally begins around $10,000 and
developing film is less convenient due to diminished demand than it has been in the past, these cameras are generally only
used by some professionals and a few camera enthusiasts.
 |
| Large format camera
Image by Massimiliano Acanfora 6/30/2017. Sourced from Flickr.
|
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/dslr-vs-mirrorless-cameras,news-17736.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_format_(film)
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