1. About equipments
1.1 Overview & foreword
Equipments are important, as much as I emphasize the triangle of the user, the tool and the subject. It is good to know about it as long as you do not hold off your purchase and stop shooting because you worry too much about less important parts of the equipments.
Waileong illustrated the idea very well, as quoted from here.
"Contrary to most beliefs, a camera is not just a light tight box, its design and functionality directly affects ease of use, reliability, performance, compatibility, etc. which affects how you use your equipment, what it is great at and what it is not good at.
Ditto, a lens is not just something to focus light with, its very design depends on the optical approach chosen by its designer, what choices have been made wrt the optical aberrations, and thus determines what it is good at and what it is weak at. Thus you can match a lens to a shot if you know what you want to shoot and what you value in a picture."
2. DSLR body
2.1 Categories of digital cameras
The categorisation of digital camera can be largely grouped by
1. type of sensor medium - film or digital
2. size of sensor medium - Sub-inch (compact camera), 4/3" (olympus and panasonic DSLRs), APS-C (most DSLRs), full frame (high end DSLR), medium and large formats.
3. focusing and viewfinding mechanism
4. lens option - fixed lens or mount with interchangeable lens (read Ken Rockwell)
By mechanism of previewing the shot, they are either
1. through the lens (TTL)
2. through the rangefinder
Further comparison of the two mechanism can be read here at Camera Technologies.
2.2 What is a DSLR and what makes it a DSLR?
DSLR refers to a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera.
The pre-requisite of a DSLR is
1. it must make use of a single lens reflex with a prism, hence the size can be small but never as compact as a compact point and shoot do.
2. it have interchangeable lens option.
Nowdays, the shape is no longer an unique feature, becos a bridge camera may attempt to look like a DSLR with a grip and a large fixed lens, whereas the newer 4/3 sensors DSLRs are getting smaller and less can be flattened out to mimic the shape of a compact.
2.3 What is the mechanism behind DSLR?
DSLR is Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras, which utilises a movable mirror to switch between projecting the image from the lens onto the viewfinder (where you put your eyes near the camera body) when the mirror is down, or onto the digital sensor (which replaces the film) when the mirror is up. This mechanism allows an almost identical image composition between what you see and what is captured on the sensor, regardless of the distances. It is a larger camera than compact cameras because the projection of the image from the lens onto the viewfinder, utilises a mirror and a prism which takes up space.
For a better idea and visualisation of the mechanism, look here (wikipedia)
2.4 Main features
1. saves on battery power, sharper visualisation
The mechanism saves on battery power by enabling a mirror mechanism for you to see the image accurately through a viewfinder which is a sharper and more accurate representation of the image rather than on the LCD, it gives no parallax error compared to other forms of camera.
2. larger size but better grip
The mechanism requires a large size to include the mirror box and pentaprism which both cannot be reduced in size unless the sensor and image size also decreases, but this large size gives you a larger surface area to grip and work with, as explained below. On the other hand, a DLSR body, especially if attached with lens, makes it really big and near impossible to keep comfortably in even the largest pocket (I tried hiding it in a large pocket in a journalist jacket and it simply protrudes out). As such either you hang it blatantly around your body or have to take it in and out of a big bag on the go. This limits handling for situations where cameras are to be kept warm from cold weather or kept less conspicuous from criminal intents or paranoia of the modern society.
3. larger surface area and better handling of controls
DSLR usually gives more control as more features through more buttons with sufficient area to handle, are more easily placed onto the larger camera with a larger surface area. However, advanced compacts and DSLR-like bridge cameras or prosumers have attempted to give that control by making the camera slightly larger than a compact, and adopting a similar shape, without incorporation of the SLR mechanism and an interchangeable lens mount.
4. interchangeable lens to expand on more possibilities
The reason why most people move on to using a DSLR from compact is to adopt the versatility of having interchangeable lens to maximise what each lens is optimal at, and also to have the ease of control over different aspects which in the process aids in understanding photography.
5. better optical and digital quality by sheer size
DSLR have bigger sensor, bigger body, bigger image circle and bigger glass in the lens, hence better light collecting ability. Larger sensor means that if you pack the same resolution of sensor elements per unit area of sensor, you can pack more sensor elements in a larger sensor, hence the difference of a 3MP and 6MP sensor for example. If the smaller compact sensor gives the same total number of sensor elements, it is only done so with smaller sensor elements making it more vulnerable to various digital defects. If the technology of the smaller sensor elements advanced to reduce that defect, the same technology also makes the bigger sensor elements performed better too, so the gap is always there.
6. Lack of video mode and live preview on LCD
By virtual of having an optical viewfinder, it makes use of preview through it and not on the LCD, which means that your habit of looking at the camera at arm lengths is to be brought up directly to the eye, which can be uncomfortable for some. And by the mirror flip up at the point of shutter release, you would not be able to see the image unlike that on the LCD on the compact, you would be able to do so, but for that it is usually not an issue if the mirror flip up is instantaneous. And because of that, the video recording mode is also disabled. Overall, there is a saving of battery power. A dual option of having other an optical viewfinder and a LCD live display is not impossible though. Olympus offered such concept of liveview versus preview on DSLR LCD.
7. Lack of angling of viewfinder
Because the eye must stay close to the viewfinder, the positioning for bizarre angles can be difficult because the head may not be able to be in that holding position whereas the hand can. In terms of viewing of the image when the camera body is already in that bizarre angle, both compact and DSLR would require a LCD display that can be swivel into the correct angle for the eyes to see - in this aspect, not all compact can do that, but many do. For a DSLR, only olympus do so, the others would require a zigview viewfinder.
8. Potentially heavier weight
With the overlapping market between DSLR and compacts, there is by now (late 2007) many models that parallels the weight of heavier prosumers. Of cos, compacts are also now going also towards the ultraslim form and going into handphones. Some of the latest DSLR entry level bodies weigh as little as 435g in Olympus E410, 510g in Canon 400D and 475g in Nikon D40. Couple with a small and light prime lens, they are very light. Nonetheless, this is only based on the very basic setup. With higher end models, the weight gradually goes up with inclusion of built in vertical grip, such as 1210g in Canon 1Ds mark III and 1240g in Nikon D3. Needless to say, some lenses are heavier and can add from a few hundred grams to more than 10kg.
.
1.1 Overview & foreword
Equipments are important, as much as I emphasize the triangle of the user, the tool and the subject. It is good to know about it as long as you do not hold off your purchase and stop shooting because you worry too much about less important parts of the equipments.
Waileong illustrated the idea very well, as quoted from here.
"Contrary to most beliefs, a camera is not just a light tight box, its design and functionality directly affects ease of use, reliability, performance, compatibility, etc. which affects how you use your equipment, what it is great at and what it is not good at.
Ditto, a lens is not just something to focus light with, its very design depends on the optical approach chosen by its designer, what choices have been made wrt the optical aberrations, and thus determines what it is good at and what it is weak at. Thus you can match a lens to a shot if you know what you want to shoot and what you value in a picture."
2. DSLR body
2.1 Categories of digital cameras
The categorisation of digital camera can be largely grouped by
1. type of sensor medium - film or digital
2. size of sensor medium - Sub-inch (compact camera), 4/3" (olympus and panasonic DSLRs), APS-C (most DSLRs), full frame (high end DSLR), medium and large formats.
3. focusing and viewfinding mechanism
4. lens option - fixed lens or mount with interchangeable lens (read Ken Rockwell)
By mechanism of previewing the shot, they are either
1. through the lens (TTL)
2. through the rangefinder
Further comparison of the two mechanism can be read here at Camera Technologies.
2.2 What is a DSLR and what makes it a DSLR?
DSLR refers to a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera.
The pre-requisite of a DSLR is
1. it must make use of a single lens reflex with a prism, hence the size can be small but never as compact as a compact point and shoot do.
2. it have interchangeable lens option.
Nowdays, the shape is no longer an unique feature, becos a bridge camera may attempt to look like a DSLR with a grip and a large fixed lens, whereas the newer 4/3 sensors DSLRs are getting smaller and less can be flattened out to mimic the shape of a compact.
2.3 What is the mechanism behind DSLR?
DSLR is Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras, which utilises a movable mirror to switch between projecting the image from the lens onto the viewfinder (where you put your eyes near the camera body) when the mirror is down, or onto the digital sensor (which replaces the film) when the mirror is up. This mechanism allows an almost identical image composition between what you see and what is captured on the sensor, regardless of the distances. It is a larger camera than compact cameras because the projection of the image from the lens onto the viewfinder, utilises a mirror and a prism which takes up space.
For a better idea and visualisation of the mechanism, look here (wikipedia)
2.4 Main features
1. saves on battery power, sharper visualisation
The mechanism saves on battery power by enabling a mirror mechanism for you to see the image accurately through a viewfinder which is a sharper and more accurate representation of the image rather than on the LCD, it gives no parallax error compared to other forms of camera.
2. larger size but better grip
The mechanism requires a large size to include the mirror box and pentaprism which both cannot be reduced in size unless the sensor and image size also decreases, but this large size gives you a larger surface area to grip and work with, as explained below. On the other hand, a DLSR body, especially if attached with lens, makes it really big and near impossible to keep comfortably in even the largest pocket (I tried hiding it in a large pocket in a journalist jacket and it simply protrudes out). As such either you hang it blatantly around your body or have to take it in and out of a big bag on the go. This limits handling for situations where cameras are to be kept warm from cold weather or kept less conspicuous from criminal intents or paranoia of the modern society.
3. larger surface area and better handling of controls
DSLR usually gives more control as more features through more buttons with sufficient area to handle, are more easily placed onto the larger camera with a larger surface area. However, advanced compacts and DSLR-like bridge cameras or prosumers have attempted to give that control by making the camera slightly larger than a compact, and adopting a similar shape, without incorporation of the SLR mechanism and an interchangeable lens mount.
4. interchangeable lens to expand on more possibilities
The reason why most people move on to using a DSLR from compact is to adopt the versatility of having interchangeable lens to maximise what each lens is optimal at, and also to have the ease of control over different aspects which in the process aids in understanding photography.
5. better optical and digital quality by sheer size
DSLR have bigger sensor, bigger body, bigger image circle and bigger glass in the lens, hence better light collecting ability. Larger sensor means that if you pack the same resolution of sensor elements per unit area of sensor, you can pack more sensor elements in a larger sensor, hence the difference of a 3MP and 6MP sensor for example. If the smaller compact sensor gives the same total number of sensor elements, it is only done so with smaller sensor elements making it more vulnerable to various digital defects. If the technology of the smaller sensor elements advanced to reduce that defect, the same technology also makes the bigger sensor elements performed better too, so the gap is always there.
6. Lack of video mode and live preview on LCD
By virtual of having an optical viewfinder, it makes use of preview through it and not on the LCD, which means that your habit of looking at the camera at arm lengths is to be brought up directly to the eye, which can be uncomfortable for some. And by the mirror flip up at the point of shutter release, you would not be able to see the image unlike that on the LCD on the compact, you would be able to do so, but for that it is usually not an issue if the mirror flip up is instantaneous. And because of that, the video recording mode is also disabled. Overall, there is a saving of battery power. A dual option of having other an optical viewfinder and a LCD live display is not impossible though. Olympus offered such concept of liveview versus preview on DSLR LCD.
7. Lack of angling of viewfinder
Because the eye must stay close to the viewfinder, the positioning for bizarre angles can be difficult because the head may not be able to be in that holding position whereas the hand can. In terms of viewing of the image when the camera body is already in that bizarre angle, both compact and DSLR would require a LCD display that can be swivel into the correct angle for the eyes to see - in this aspect, not all compact can do that, but many do. For a DSLR, only olympus do so, the others would require a zigview viewfinder.
8. Potentially heavier weight
With the overlapping market between DSLR and compacts, there is by now (late 2007) many models that parallels the weight of heavier prosumers. Of cos, compacts are also now going also towards the ultraslim form and going into handphones. Some of the latest DSLR entry level bodies weigh as little as 435g in Olympus E410, 510g in Canon 400D and 475g in Nikon D40. Couple with a small and light prime lens, they are very light. Nonetheless, this is only based on the very basic setup. With higher end models, the weight gradually goes up with inclusion of built in vertical grip, such as 1210g in Canon 1Ds mark III and 1240g in Nikon D3. Needless to say, some lenses are heavier and can add from a few hundred grams to more than 10kg.
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