Digital SLR camera or just a SLR??? difference??

Question

Ok well I am only 16 but took photography last year and want to take it my senior year also. Im looking into buying a SLR camera, i'm not very advanced so nothing to to high tech but i want one that will produce good pictures. But is there a big difference between getting a digital SLR camera??? Also I know about aperture and focusing, however no where near to the extent of a professional photographer, so is there anything else I need to learn in order to use one of these camerass??? Thanks so much

or do you think I should just stick to a really good digital one??

Answer 1

The SLR camera it is referred to the "old" / "classic" 35 mm (and not only) photo film camera.

The Digital SLR it is a digital camera = no film with same construction of an SLR. Is saving the photos as files on a memory card.

SLR stand for Single Lens Reflex = you see through the lens (using a complex mechanism involving mirrors, prisms and high speed motor) and not just using the side viewfinder or a display. The advantage of an SLR, still today, that you see what camera will capture because on  the so called compact cameras the viewfinder or the display may not show the real "frame".

However ... I can see how in the near future, with the help of a much faster microprocessors, software, lenses and (LCD/OLED) displays, the complexity of SLRs will be history. In short all digital cameras will show a live view, a true "frame" through the lens.

Answer 2

The difference... SLR's use film, DSLR's use memory cards.

Answer 3

I recently bought a Nikon D40 and you what? My Pentax K1000 film camera takes way better photos.  The focus is better and the quality of the prints are far better  Save yourself some money and get a good film SLR.  The hype for the digital isn't worth the money you spend.    

Answer 4

I have a Canon Rebel XTi, a digital SLR. It's a fantastic camera and I truly adore it.

I started off with a basic digital camera (It wasn't that expensive), and as I got the hang of digital photography, I upgraded to my current camera. If you're not feeling comfortable with apatures, shutter speeds, focusing and such, I reccomend a decent digital camera, then, you can upgrade to an SLR.

Digital cameras allow immediate viewing of images, so if you don't like one, you can delete it and retake it.

Regular film cameras don't allow you that liberty. If you take a picture that ends poorly, you're still paying for it to have it exposed, so now you're out an image you could've liked, and you're out the money for it.

I use digital.

My father uses film.

It's a constant battle. It's entirely up to you.

Answer 5

I think you should start out with a good film camera and not digital.  I know that most people on here will rave about their new dslr and how much they love it but here are my reasons for urging you to use a film camera.

If you want to improve your photography film will actually be a better choice because it might make you slow down and think about the subject, composition, and exposure before you take the picture.  I think it is way to easy for people to just click away with a dslr and eventually they might get an image they like.  Wouldn't you like to take a good or great photograph every time?  Film will help you get there.

The cost savings with buying a film camera is good too.  For the price of an inexpensive dslr you can get a really nice used film camera with several lenses, hundreds of rolls of film and pay for the processing many times over.  The best part is you will have the prints and negatives for years to come long after people with the latest dslrs have been forced to upgrade to newer equipment because their cameras have either broke or become obsolete.

Finally, with what ever type of camera you decided to buy, practice and take notes of the settings you use when taking a picture.  This will help you get consistent results.  

I hope this helps