Types of Digital Cameras
Many people before choosing a camera will ask, what is the best camera?, or what camera should I buy? While
those are logical questions to ask, it is more important to first know what types of digital cameras are on the market
and then choose a digital camera category that would be the best fit for the individual.
Once you have decided which type of digital camera would be the best fit for you, then check out several cameras
in that category to see which cameras have the features that are most appealing to you.
This tutorial will give you general information about each type digital camera. If you then need a little more detailed
information about each type camera, check the tutorial for that specific type camera.
Compact Cameras: Digitalcompact cameras, also known as "Point and Shoot"
cameras vary in features,price, and styles. Their smaller size and ease of use is
the main appeal of the compact cameras. Most basic compact cameras will easily
fit in a pocket or small purse.
All the current compact cameras have a minimum three time (3X) zoom lens and
at least 10 megapixels. With that many megapixels, great looking, quality images
can be enlarged to 16 X 20 inch print size.
Today's digital compact cameras come with a fully automatic mode which is great for beginners or those who just
want to "point and shoot" when taking pictures.
In addition to the automatic mode ,digital compact cameras come equipped with a number of scene modes such
as landscape, beach, sports and fireworks among others, that you can use to adapt to different picture taking
settings.
While it is great to be able to just point and shoot, there are very few manual exposure adjustments that can be
made when using a basic digital compact camera. However, the average casual photographer will get pretty good
pictures from a basic compact camera and there won't usually be a need to make too many manual adjustments.
The Canon Powershot A3300 pictured above as well as the are examples of two
pretty good digital compact cameras on the market today.
Check the tutorial, Compact Digital Cameras for more detailed information about the features of some of the basic
compact cameras on the market.
Bridge Compact Digital Cameras: Bridge cameras, also known as Advanced Compact cameras are a step up
from the Basic Compact camera.
The main difference between Bridge cameras and Basic Compact cameras is that
they allow the photographer to have more control over the camera's exposure
settings. Most Bridge cameras will have aperture priority, shutter priority, and
program modes. Many will also have a manual mode that will allow the
photographer to have full control over the camera exposure settings.
Many Bridge type cameras also have lenses with a much longer zoom range. For
instance, instead of a three to five time zoom lens range, the zoom lens range for an
advanced compact digital camera might be as high as thirty times (30X) ,depending
on the manufacturer. (the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 has an 24X zoom for example.)
The lens on a Bridge camera is "fixed" and cannot be changed the way you can change the lens on a Digital Slr
camera. Also, most Bridge cameras will have a smaller image sensor and a smaller lens than the ones found on
a Digital Slr.
Bridge type compact cameras are larger and slightly bulkier than basic point and shoot digital compact cameras.
Bridge cameras are great for photographers who want a little more control over the camera exposure settings
without having to purchase a Digital Slr camera.
If you think a Bridge camera might be the right fit for you, the Canon Powershot G12 is one of the most highly
rated bridge cameras available.
Check the Bridge Cameras tutorial for more details about the features of Bridge/Advanced cameras.
Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras (also known as Digital SLR or DSLR cameras): Digital Single Lens
Reflex cameras are the most versatile and advanced type cameras available on the
consumer market. The first thing you will notice about a Digital Single Lens Reflex
camera is that it is bigger than the other above mentioned cameras and putting it in your
pocket is out of the question. The or the Canon EOS Rebel T2i
shown to the left are examples of good quality mid price range Digital Slr cameras.
One of the most important features or Digital Slr cameras is that you can change the
lens to fit different situations.
For instance you can use a fixed focal length 28mm lens for wide angle scenes, then remove that lens and put on
a 200mm fixed focal length telephoto lens to pull the scene in closer. You also have the option to use a variety of
zoom lenses with different zoom ranges.
The lenses for Digital Slr cameras will generally be of a better quality than those found on compact cameras which
will result in better image quality. Read the tutorial, Camera Lens Types for more details about the importance of
the camera lens.
With a Digital Slr camera you can set the camera to the automatic mode and just start taking pictures. However,
you have the option of taking pictures in the full manual mode, as well as in the aperture priority, shutter priority or
program modes. The most important thing to remember about using a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera is that
you have more control over the way the picture will be taken as far as exposure settings.
Another big difference between Digital Slr cameras and compact cameras is the image sensor size. Digital Slr
cameras have larger sensors which will generally produce better quality images. If you are not familiar with camera
sensors please read the Digital Camera Image Sensors tutorial.
Don't forget to check the tutorial, Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras for more detailed information about this type
camera.
Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras: These type cameras are very similar to Digital Slr cameras.
Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens cameras allow the photographer to use the camera in full manual or automatic
modes the same way Digital Slr cameras can be operated. The Olympus E-P2 Pen digital camera as well as the
Sony Alpha NEX 3 are two good examples of Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens cameras.
However, Mirrorless interchangeable Lens cameras are much smaller than Digital Single
Lens Reflex cameras. Their camera body size is closer to the size of a compact camera.
The reason the body size is so much smaller is because they do not have optical
viewfinders like the Digital Slr type cameras.
Optical viewfinders that are found on Digital Slr cameras require a system of mirrors and
pentaprisms so that the photographers can view the scene they will be photographing.
Mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras are equipped with an LCD screen and/or
Electronic Viewfinder for previewing the scene that is to be photographed.
The mirrors in a Digital Slr camera take up a lot of space in the body of the camera, so the elimination of the
mirrors allows for a smaller body to be used for the interchangeable lens cameras.
As you can tell by the name of this type camera, the lens on the camera lens can be changed. However, they use
smaller lens sizes than Digital Slr cameras. (some Digital Slr lenses can be used on the mirrorless camera if an
adapter is used.)
Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens cameras also have larger image sensors than compact cameras which will result
in better image quality similar to that of the regular Digital Slr camera.
Overall, this type camera should appeal to those who want to take pictures that are Digital Slr quality in a much
smaller sized camera. For more details about this type camera, read Mirrorles Interchangeable Lens Cameras.
As you can see, there is a variety of different types of digital cameras available. Hopefully, this tutorial will be the
first step in helping you decide which type camera might be the best fit for you.
Many people before choosing a camera will ask, what is the best camera?, or what camera should I buy? While
those are logical questions to ask, it is more important to first know what types of digital cameras are on the market
and then choose a digital camera category that would be the best fit for the individual.
Once you have decided which type of digital camera would be the best fit for you, then check out several cameras
in that category to see which cameras have the features that are most appealing to you.
This tutorial will give you general information about each type digital camera. If you then need a little more detailed
information about each type camera, check the tutorial for that specific type camera.
Compact Cameras: Digitalcompact cameras, also known as "Point and Shoot"
cameras vary in features,price, and styles. Their smaller size and ease of use is
the main appeal of the compact cameras. Most basic compact cameras will easily
fit in a pocket or small purse.
All the current compact cameras have a minimum three time (3X) zoom lens and
at least 10 megapixels. With that many megapixels, great looking, quality images
can be enlarged to 16 X 20 inch print size.
Today's digital compact cameras come with a fully automatic mode which is great for beginners or those who just
want to "point and shoot" when taking pictures.
In addition to the automatic mode ,digital compact cameras come equipped with a number of scene modes such
as landscape, beach, sports and fireworks among others, that you can use to adapt to different picture taking
settings.
While it is great to be able to just point and shoot, there are very few manual exposure adjustments that can be
made when using a basic digital compact camera. However, the average casual photographer will get pretty good
pictures from a basic compact camera and there won't usually be a need to make too many manual adjustments.
The Canon Powershot A3300 pictured above as well as the are examples of two
pretty good digital compact cameras on the market today.
Check the tutorial, Compact Digital Cameras for more detailed information about the features of some of the basic
compact cameras on the market.
Bridge Compact Digital Cameras: Bridge cameras, also known as Advanced Compact cameras are a step up
from the Basic Compact camera.
The main difference between Bridge cameras and Basic Compact cameras is that
they allow the photographer to have more control over the camera's exposure
settings. Most Bridge cameras will have aperture priority, shutter priority, and
program modes. Many will also have a manual mode that will allow the
photographer to have full control over the camera exposure settings.
Many Bridge type cameras also have lenses with a much longer zoom range. For
instance, instead of a three to five time zoom lens range, the zoom lens range for an
advanced compact digital camera might be as high as thirty times (30X) ,depending
on the manufacturer. (the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 has an 24X zoom for example.)
The lens on a Bridge camera is "fixed" and cannot be changed the way you can change the lens on a Digital Slr
camera. Also, most Bridge cameras will have a smaller image sensor and a smaller lens than the ones found on
a Digital Slr.
Bridge type compact cameras are larger and slightly bulkier than basic point and shoot digital compact cameras.
Bridge cameras are great for photographers who want a little more control over the camera exposure settings
without having to purchase a Digital Slr camera.
If you think a Bridge camera might be the right fit for you, the Canon Powershot G12 is one of the most highly
rated bridge cameras available.
Check the Bridge Cameras tutorial for more details about the features of Bridge/Advanced cameras.
Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras (also known as Digital SLR or DSLR cameras): Digital Single Lens
Reflex cameras are the most versatile and advanced type cameras available on the
consumer market. The first thing you will notice about a Digital Single Lens Reflex
camera is that it is bigger than the other above mentioned cameras and putting it in your
pocket is out of the question. The or the Canon EOS Rebel T2i
shown to the left are examples of good quality mid price range Digital Slr cameras.
One of the most important features or Digital Slr cameras is that you can change the
lens to fit different situations.
For instance you can use a fixed focal length 28mm lens for wide angle scenes, then remove that lens and put on
a 200mm fixed focal length telephoto lens to pull the scene in closer. You also have the option to use a variety of
zoom lenses with different zoom ranges.
The lenses for Digital Slr cameras will generally be of a better quality than those found on compact cameras which
will result in better image quality. Read the tutorial, Camera Lens Types for more details about the importance of
the camera lens.
With a Digital Slr camera you can set the camera to the automatic mode and just start taking pictures. However,
you have the option of taking pictures in the full manual mode, as well as in the aperture priority, shutter priority or
program modes. The most important thing to remember about using a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera is that
you have more control over the way the picture will be taken as far as exposure settings.
Another big difference between Digital Slr cameras and compact cameras is the image sensor size. Digital Slr
cameras have larger sensors which will generally produce better quality images. If you are not familiar with camera
sensors please read the Digital Camera Image Sensors tutorial.
Don't forget to check the tutorial, Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras for more detailed information about this type
camera.
Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras: These type cameras are very similar to Digital Slr cameras.
Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens cameras allow the photographer to use the camera in full manual or automatic
modes the same way Digital Slr cameras can be operated. The Olympus E-P2 Pen digital camera as well as the
Sony Alpha NEX 3 are two good examples of Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens cameras.
However, Mirrorless interchangeable Lens cameras are much smaller than Digital Single
Lens Reflex cameras. Their camera body size is closer to the size of a compact camera.
The reason the body size is so much smaller is because they do not have optical
viewfinders like the Digital Slr type cameras.
Optical viewfinders that are found on Digital Slr cameras require a system of mirrors and
pentaprisms so that the photographers can view the scene they will be photographing.
Mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras are equipped with an LCD screen and/or
Electronic Viewfinder for previewing the scene that is to be photographed.
The mirrors in a Digital Slr camera take up a lot of space in the body of the camera, so the elimination of the
mirrors allows for a smaller body to be used for the interchangeable lens cameras.
As you can tell by the name of this type camera, the lens on the camera lens can be changed. However, they use
smaller lens sizes than Digital Slr cameras. (some Digital Slr lenses can be used on the mirrorless camera if an
adapter is used.)
Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens cameras also have larger image sensors than compact cameras which will result
in better image quality similar to that of the regular Digital Slr camera.
Overall, this type camera should appeal to those who want to take pictures that are Digital Slr quality in a much
smaller sized camera. For more details about this type camera, read Mirrorles Interchangeable Lens Cameras.
As you can see, there is a variety of different types of digital cameras available. Hopefully, this tutorial will be the
first step in helping you decide which type camera might be the best fit for you.
Easy Basic Photography
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