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

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. GeoR

[Not4wood]

Lens Buyer Addicts Anonymous (LBAA) , 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??? 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.

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