Point and Shoot Cameras vs 35mm Digital SLR Cameras - Which is best for you?

Questions and Answers for Casual Photographers

Not everybody wants to be a professional photographer. Some of us just want to take a few pictures here and there, and don't want to spend a fortune doing it. Before you confront the army of camera sales teams in your local home electronics store, take a look at this guide for casual photographers. The cost for an entry level digital camera can be high, so it's best to really think about what kinds of pictures you are hoping to take before you invest in expensive equipment that may be collecting dust after 6 months.

1. What is an SLR camera? (note: DSLR refers to a Digital SLR camera)

SLR refers to "Single Lens Reflex", or a camera that has one single lens to both view a scene and capture an image. What this means to the casual photographer is that the image you view through the lens will be the picture you take when you press the button. What you see is what you get. It also means you can change the lens to take telephoto or wide angle photos. Probably the most appealing aspect of an SLR camera is the ability to adjust the camera's settings manually for creative control over the final image.

2. What is a digital Point-and-Shoot camera?

A point-and-shoot camera uses one lens to view the scene (the viewfinder), and a separate lens to capture the desired image. This means the image captured will not be the actual image viewed by the photographer, but only a close approximation. For most casual photographers, the image is so close you won't recognize the difference. Point-and-Shoot cameras require very little manual adjustment (if any), and operate like the name describes. Focus is usually automatic. The casual photographer will get acceptable pictures but taking the really creative photographs we all admire is generally not possible with a "point and shoot".

3. Does an SLR take better photos?

Yes. With an SLR camera it is usually easier to capture high quality photos, but there is a price. Entry level Digital SLR camera prices are six or eight times higher than digital point-and-shoot cameras. SLR cameras also take time to master, and require the user to learn quite a bit more about how a camera works in order to take pictures that will "wow" family and friends.

The good news is that now that we are in the digital age, there is very little expense once the initial investment in camera equipment is made. You can take literally thousands of pictures, delete the bad ones and keep the good ones at no additional cost. (except perhaps if you want to have prints made) You can learn how your camera works much faster this way.

4. Does a "Point and Shoot" take poor photos?

No. A Point-and-Shoot camera may take high quality photos, and the quality of these cameras is constantly improving. It is more difficult to produce a professional quality photo with a Point-and-Shoot camera, but it is possible. Point-and-Shoot digital cameras now take pictures that can be printed as large as 11x17 with excellent results.

5. Is a Digital SLR worth the investment for a casual photographer?

Probably not. An SLR camera is usually the choice of serious amateur photographers and professionals. For people who just want to snap a few shots of their friends here and there, or take a picture of their dog while hiking, a digital Point-and-Shoot will produce great pictures. An SLR is bulky, expensive, and requires more time to learn. A Point-and Shoot is compact, less expensive, and easy to use straight out of the box. If you're going to spend the extra money on a DSLR 35mm camera, it makes no sense to take pictures in full automatic mode. The pictures will not be much different from a "point and shoot" camera. You should plan to spend the time and effort to learn what the camera is capable of, and make full use of the creative capabilities of its features to produce high quality images.

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