What is a DSLR?

[jjvera00]

Can someone explain exactly what a DSLR camera is and the advantages or disadvantages compared to a regular P&S camera.

Thanks

[ChampOzark]

Digital Single Lens Reflex.

There's a ton of info on the web. Wikipedia has a decent write-up that should get you started: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSLR

Biggest advantage in my opinion: interchangeable lenses. There are a ton of great point and shoot cameras available now days though.

[Joe M]

A DSLR camera can provide many advantages over a P & S but it's not without side effects. One very serious side effect can be a condition known as LBA (Lens Buying Addiction.) This serious ailment can in fact be beneficial to overall health. When a person has LBA, his bank account and disposable income are much smaller. Resulting in less money available to purchase cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, and pornography.

[ChampOzark]

Sir,
You are not alone. Please contact Lens Buyer Addicts Anonymous (LBAA). They can help. The group was started by a disgruntled spouse who was sick of eating Ramen Noodles and checking the cup holder for gas money. They have meetings throughout the country. They do keep a low profile to avoid infiltration by Nikon, Olympus, and Sony sales reps.

[msbrad]

You guys are too much! I am new with a dslr and loving it.
Only have 2 lenses at the moment, but I can see what will happen.
already bought a camera bag with "growing" room;)
I may need to search for the application for the LBAA association.
m

[Mack]

The topper for me is the much larger sensor size that DSLR's have when compared to a typical P&S camera.

Don

[TonyW]

And rather than just Point and Shoot, with a DSLR you have to read the manual and then buy a book and take courses to understand it :D

Tony

[GeoR]

Owning a DSLR camera means Xmas can be all year long. Myself only having one brithday-fathers day-anniversary I have to "present" the rest of the year to keep up. :D GeoR

[Not4wood]

Lens Buyer Addicts Anonymous (LBAA) :eek:, I can taste a New Lens Now. Hurry, please help me and make a call for me........... There is a 400 mm calling for me!! Ringgggg, Ringggggg??? Hello? Its me, come to the store and pick me up....

I already have a New Backpack that can take several of the new lens. I just don't have the money. Maybe, I can sell some of my cats food cans..... Nah, she'd make sure I'd never ever get to sleep again...;)

The advantages of a DSLR over a P&S. Faster On Times, Faster recovery times from burst shooting. As good as the Lenses are for P&S cameras, I would even say they can't really compete with some of the great ones available from the Major DSLR manufacturers like Canon, Olympus and Sony.

Canon has great Lenses. Notice I didn't insert Nikon in here??? :eek: I am a Nikonian, and I'm trying very hard to keep a good even discussion. Nah, go ahead he says. OK, Nikon has great a really great assortment of toys. :cool:

Processing Power, Oh, I almost forgot. Do P&S Cameras shoot in RAW???

[Edmund]

All you guys are in the wrong 12 step program. It's not LBAA it's "AA". Which converts to Accessories Anonymous. Which means that when one purchases a DSLR he now needs a tripod, Fixed focal length lenses, Zoom lenses , wide angle and tele's and super tele's, A ball head, camera bag/pack, 15 or 20 storage cards, CS3, PSE-6, Nikon Capture NX, Adobe Lightroom, at least 15 Digital software books, Digital camera school, free plug in's and purchased plug in's. And the list goes on and on. I think at this point that DSLR manufactors should give us the camera so they can sell us all the required add on's. Sort of like Gillette and the razor blade.
Of course this is IMHO so let's all contact our Senator's and Congressman and hire some influential lobbyist's to get the ball rolling.

Eddie:D

[NMarti]

Hello
I'm Nancy and I'm an addict. I have an equipment addiction. Eddie hit the nail on the head. I'm currentlly looking for my next lens.

DSLR - the best and worst thing that can happen to you. You will love the control, picture quality and interchangable lenses. You will hate the lens addiction, the accessory addiction and the sudden need to travel to beautiful, exotic places to use all that equipment. :D

[RonH]

Not to mention the Chiropractic bill from carrying around the bag with all of the accessories. You never know when........

I don't have a lense addiction problem
I just like to give the little fellas a home.

Owwwww my back.

[epaul6]

Let me see.

A P&S is a camera, a DSLR is a hobby. A P&S comes with a case, A DSLR- a diapper (nappy for the Brits) bag. That said PSE comes in a box, but you better have space for a library. I have book addiction also.

[Chuck S.]

P&S can also be addictive if you're not careful. I have 'only' 2 DSLR's, but at last count, there are 8 or 9 P&S models floating around this house...:o

[JulieM]

Isn't anyone going to warn Johnny about the cost of the divorce attorney if the spouse doesn't approve of the new hobby? :D

[msbrad]

Lucky for me, my spouse is very supportive, with my camera (his idea:D) and my scrapbooking addiction too!
I just bought a new book yesterday:
Canon EOS Digital Rebelxti/400D -guide to digital slr photography, by David Busch.
Now, off to start reading this one!
m

[NMarti]

Chuck - I'm not as bad off as you then - I only have 4 P&S and 2 DSLR's ( one broken) and 1 film.

Yeah - the divorce attorney - make sure he understands YOU get custody of the camera and accessories. It's a great bargaining tool - you get the equipment and car - he get's the house and bills. Seems fair to me! :D

[lexcell]

OMG! You guys are too funny. And here I thought I was just a gearhead! Instead, it's...Hi, I'm Laurie and I have an equipment problem....I need to buy new equipment all the time. I constantly think of that next new lens, body, (insert any accessory here), I dream about photography all the time, when I'm not sleeping, I daydream about it too. Help!!!

On the other hand....don't help, I'm having far too much fun to want to stop.

[NMarti]

Laurie - actually I have a pretty good deal going with my hubby. He gets a new wood lathe - I get a new lens. He gets a new golf club - I get a new filter or bag or whatever. He has a LOT of golf clubs. :D

[lexcell]

Nancy,
That's perfect! I, too, have a very understanding husband. He gets to do a new project for each new expensive toy, I mean, tool I buy. Needless to say we will have to move soon, he is running out of projects both inside and out. :)

[NickLewis]

Laurie - actually I have a pretty good deal going with my hubby. He gets a new wood lathe - I get a new lens. He gets a new golf club - I get a new filter or bag or whatever. He has a LOT of golf clubs. :DNancy,

It seems to me that you didn't negotiate that deal very well.:(

He'll want lots of golf clubs, but only one wood lathe. Which means you get lots of filters, but only one lens.

Wrong way round entirely. Back to the negotiating table.

Wood lathe = filter
Golf Club = lens........

:D

Nick

[NMarti]

He'll want lots of golf clubs, but only one wood lathe. Which means you get lots of filters, but only one lens.
Nick

Nick - to the contrary - he has two lathes, one for small projects and one for larger ones. The larger one netted me a new flash for my XTi. He also had to have a new table saw, band saw, compound miter saw, air compressor, planer, etc. I see a number of lenses in my future. ;):D

[NickLewis]

You clearly planned ahead. :)

Are you also setting him plenty of woodworking tasks that will require new, exotic tools.......

Nick

[NMarti]

Nick
Of course! I have a list of dozens of projects and buy him lots of woodworking magazines.;) :D

[Chuck S.]

You clearly planned ahead. :)

Are you also setting him plenty of woodworking tasks that will require new, exotic tools.......

Nick

Nick, when I first read this post, I thought you had written, "You clearly planed ahead."

Which, of course, would be a woodworking pun.....:rolleyes::D

[NickLewis]

Chuck,

If I'd thought of that, I would have....... :(

Nick

[Bayla]

You've all forgotten to list one of the primary disadvantages of a dSLR (or maybe it's an advantage) - they are a total embarrassment to one's kids.

Whenever I go out with my dSLR & gadget bag slung over my shoulder, my kids can be heard moaning 'Oh Mum, no....please take something smaller, here - borrow my camera......all my friends will be looking at you':)

Bayla

[Jennn]

LBA?! HA! Try this: my main walk around lens for my 20 month old Rebel XT is broken, so rather than replace it, I'm convinced it's a sign that I need a whole new Canon 40D! What do you think?:twisted:

[NMarti]

Hmmm - sounds perfectly logical to me. Your hubby into woodworking? :D

[Not4wood]

Wow, has this thread taken a beating.... :twisted:

As funny as this has gotten, let me add my 2 cents.....

for being funny, my nic is Not4wood.

The full sentence that I had shortened it for, reads

"If Not for Wood, Where would I be Now". :eek:

I am a Carpenter by trade, and as a O'bby besides Photography, I am also a woodworker...........

To go one further, I am a retired "Wedding Photographer" (previous career when I was a lot younger LOL) and I have also been seen from time to time on the Golf Course trying to play. Now, how is that for being Ironic???

I have been Not4wood since the old AOL Days when I first signed on in about 1990!

[NMarti]

Mark -too funny! Guess you would be a great fit for me - I could use the lenses while you are busy building me a nice desk for my computer and we would both be happy. :D

[Not4wood]

Mark -too funny! Guess you would be a great fit for me - I could use the lenses while you are busy building me a nice desk for my computer and we would both be happy. :D

Uh oh, I think maybe I spoke to much too soon :eek:

But, theres a price to pay for my work........ LOL :twisted: Haha, I never ever said I was shy....

[Michael1116]

Laurie - actually I have a pretty good deal going with my hubby. He gets a new wood lathe - I get a new lens. He gets a new golf club - I get a new filter or bag or whatever. He has a LOT of golf clubs. :D

Hahaha That is funny. I have the same deal with my wife. She collects Native American jewelry, and I am a Canon Lcoholic

[NMarti]

Mark :eek: :D

Michael - hey I really like that Lcoholic:D