The digital age has democratised many previously pricey activities, and photography is a particular case in point. While it is still possible to spend thousands on a high-end Digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera, and more on quality lenses, the ability to take literally thousands of shots without spending anything on film has radically altered the potential for the keen amateur to hone their photography skills on a budget. However, if you are at the beginning of your journey as a photographer, and have taken a quick look online at sites like Currys.co.uk to try and find a suitable camera, the choice can seem so wide as to be a little intimidating. You will quickly find that the choice of camera can be broadly categorised as being between 'point and click', and digital SLR – here we take a brief look at the merits of each.
Photography is a broad umbrella term, and opinions can range quite widely about what constitutes 'real' photography. The fact that photography is often approached as a serious 'art' subject can mean that the debate can get a bit elitist, a common issue in the art world. However, it can be strongly argued that ignoring this debate entirely is the best way forward for the newcomer, and that instead the focus should be on what you will want to do with your new camera.
Modern digital 'point and click' cameras are increasingly sophisticated, and can be used with the minimum of fuss to produce great results through the use of automatic settings. In fact, many with years of experience in photography own both a Digital SLR and a point and click, using each for different purposes and occasions. Typically smaller than a Digital SLR camera, a point and click digital camera is more portable, quicker to use, and thus less intrusive when you are travelling around and engaged in other activities, which you may wish to document in passing through photography, while not making the taking of pictures the sole focus of what you are doing. What's more, a decent point and click can still be very affordable. On the downside, point and click cameras are more limited in capability than Digital SLR cameras. While there are many different specifications through which this point can be illustrated, one of the most important is the smaller size of the image sensor that can be incorporated in a point and click. The size of image sensor is probably the single more important factor in determining the capabilities and limitations of a digital camera.
Digital SLR cameras on the other hand are what you need for 'serious' photography. While these cameras – especially at entry level - usually come with a god range of presets, the point of owning a digital SLR is that you learn to manually adjust the settings, which can allow you to take a wider range of more technical pictures. Often featuring image sensors some 25 times the size of the average point and click, Digital SLRs can also offer full control over things like shutter speed, light sensitivity (ISO), and white balance, to name just three of the parameters that can radically alter the type of image that you capture. However, if you really just want holiday snaps, a good point and click may be all that you require.
Image: The Suss-Man (Mike) at Flickr
