What is a dSLR?
dSLR cameras are all the rage these days. Sales have been going through the roof and the demand is increasing by the day. However, many users have not been able to realize the full potential of their dSLR, not being aware that dSLRs are advanced tools for photo-taking and do not always feature the same level of automation as their prosumer counterparts. A dSLR requires some training and experience to realize its potential.

So let’s start at the beginning: What is a digital SLR?

SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. What this means is there is a mirror behind the lens which reflects light coming into the camera through the lens onto a ground glass screen above. The view through the lens can be seen through the viewfinder with a five-sided glass prism (a pentaprism) being used to turn the image the correct way round.

As the shutter button is pressed the mirror lifts up out of the way to allow the light to reach the lightsensitive area of the camera, where the image is captured. In the traditional world of film, the negative or slide film is the medium that captures the image, but in digital terms the film is the CCD or CMOS sensor.

As a general rule SLR cameras also feature an interchangeable lens system where different lenses can be used, as opposed to compact cameras that usually have a single fixed lens.

What does this all mean for the photography novice? The very design of a SLR camera means that it allows for increased accuracy and greater versatility. By looking through the lens that takes the picture, composition and framing can be more accurate and the system gives a wider scope of options. The metering and focusing systems are usually more accurate as well.

There are several manufacturers which carry a good range of digital SLR cameras (or dSLRs for short). These include Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, and Pentax.

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