What Digital SLRs Can't Do

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With all of the hype, it's quick to shed track of one thing.

Digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras don't have all of the identical capabilities as compact cameras.

Although a digital SLR is the perfect camera for the photographer who desires much more control, they aren't for everybody.

Before you rush out to purchase one, you must know what a digital SLR cannot do.

No Photo Preview

If you own a compact digital camera, do you ever hold the camera up to your face to take a photo?

I doubt it.

With a compact camera, it's a great deal easier to use the LCD on the back of the camera to set up your shot.

You will not be able to do this with a digital SLR.

The majority of digital SLR cameras do not have this live LCD preview mode. When you can use the LCD to adjust camera attributes and playback pictures, you can't see the photo you are about to take.

As of April 2006 there is only 1 SLR with a live preview mode - the Olympus E330 - which assists narrow your options if this is a feature you certainly want.

No Movie Mode

Digital SLR cameras do not moonlight as video cameras.

They exist to take still photos, and that is all that they do.

If you want your camera to take short video clips along with your pictures, you'll have to give consideration to either a compact digital camera or SLR-like compact camera.

The SLR-like camera will have several attributes of a digital SLR, but will still incorporate the movie mode that a digital SLR lacks.

No Electronic Zoom

If you own a compact digital or have done some analysis, you know that these cameras have electronic zooms.

There is a lever on the camera somewhere that lets you zoom the lens in and out.

This lever is handy, simply because you can zoom appropriate in on your topic with only 1 hand on the camera.

With a digital SLR, you will require two hands.

None of the digital SLR zoom lenses are electronic, which means that you have to hold the camera with 1 hand and zoom the lens with the other.

In Summary

Are there positive aspects of owning a digital SLR camera? Absolutely.

But that is material for one more post. For now, just recognize that digital SLR cameras can't do every little thing that compact and SLR-like cameras can.

If you take the plunge and get one, at least you will know ahead of time what capabilities you will be missing.