Q. taking an intro to photography class and I'm going to need it through out my university years. Don't really know much about cameras but I'm willing to invest a lot and probably will get much better as I will use it a lot.
Answer
You can, of course, ignore the person who suggested a camera phone.
Any of the entry-level DSLRs from Sony, Pentax, Olympus, Canon or Nikon would be suitable for your needs. Visit a real camera shop that carries those brands and choose the one in your price range that offers the most features and benefits for the money and that feels the best in your hands.
If you're seriously "... willing to invest a lot ..." then look at the new Nikon D800 and the new Canon 5D Mark III. Both are full-frame professional grade cameras and might seem like over-kill for a beginner but truth be told you'll have just about the same learning curve with a Nikon D3200 or Canon T4i as you will with either of the full-frame models.
Photography is photography whether you're using a 35mm film camera or an entry-level DSLR or a professional grade DSLR. It all comes down to Light, Exposure, Composition and Depth of Field and those are the elements you'll be learning about in your class.
You can, of course, ignore the person who suggested a camera phone.
Any of the entry-level DSLRs from Sony, Pentax, Olympus, Canon or Nikon would be suitable for your needs. Visit a real camera shop that carries those brands and choose the one in your price range that offers the most features and benefits for the money and that feels the best in your hands.
If you're seriously "... willing to invest a lot ..." then look at the new Nikon D800 and the new Canon 5D Mark III. Both are full-frame professional grade cameras and might seem like over-kill for a beginner but truth be told you'll have just about the same learning curve with a Nikon D3200 or Canon T4i as you will with either of the full-frame models.
Photography is photography whether you're using a 35mm film camera or an entry-level DSLR or a professional grade DSLR. It all comes down to Light, Exposure, Composition and Depth of Field and those are the elements you'll be learning about in your class.
what is dslr cameras?
Q. What is a dslr camera?
Whats the difference if a camera has dslr or not?
Whats the difference if a camera has dslr or not?
Answer
Hi Judith,
A DSLR or Digital Single Lens Reflex camera is a TYPE of camera, rather than a "feature". It is the modern evolution of the Single Lens Reflex film cameras that were designed to use mechanical construction to allow people to get a very accurate preview of what would be recorded on a photo sensitive material (film). From the 1950's thru the beginning of this century 35mm SLR cameras became the dominant type of camera for advanced photo enthusiasts and many professional photographers. The DSLR continued the existing development path.
Primary reasons for their popularity were -
1] The ability to accurately view an image COMPOSITION almost exactly as it would be recorded on film (because the image appeared on a viewing screen diverted from the optical path of the lens by a system of mirrors plus, in most cases a mirror/prism viewfinder).
2] The ability to acquire interchangeable lenses at relatively modest prices for many special applications such as Macro (High Magnification of nearby objects), Telephoto (the magnification of distant objects), Wide Angle (the ability to record images in views wider angles of view than people normally perceive) and special purposes such as portraits, etc. Most of these with the ability to preview composition in the SLR viewfinder.
3] The ability to adapt the cameras to many specialty applications such photography through Microscopes, Telescopes and specialty optical devices for a variety of medical and other scientific uses.
Digital SLRs use most of the design functions of SLR cameras but substitutes an electronic sensor to record the image instead of film. This takes advantage of the development of electronic recording while preserving much of the technology developed in lenses and other accessories.
However, the handwriting may be on the wall for DSLR cameras, most of which still use the mechanical mirror mechanism and either a pentaprism or pentamirror to give an eye level viewfinder with a properly oriented OPTICAL image. While this is a very good system it requires the inclusion of a mechanically complex vibration inducing mechanism and temporarily interrupts the view of an image while the mirror blocks the light path during exposure (the characteristic "blink" of most SLR/DSLR cameras).
A newer type of camera made possible by digital technology is the Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera (MILC) also referred to as an Electronic View Finder (EVF). These eliminate the need for the complex mirror and heavy prisms and can simplify both camera and lens designs with the benefit of allowing smaller, lighter and more reliable (because of fewer moving/mechanical parts) cameras and lenses. Theoretically this should also mean reduced manufacturing cost/price.
Some disadvantages to MILC are that -
A] They require a power source to operate. Note that ALL digital cameras require a power source in order to record the image but an electronic viewfinder imposes an additional electrical load which shortens operating time/charge.
B] They often rely on display screens (like Smart phones) for composition, which can be VERY hard to see in bright light. Many manufacturers solve this by having eye level viewfinders, either built in or as accessories, to this type of camera. On the other hand this type of viewfinder can make taking pictures in dim light easier because the image brightness can be amplified electronically.
C] Because they provide continuous viewing the actual exposure can be difficult to anticipate. (No blink).
Olympus, Panasonic and Sony were some of the early adopters/pioneers of MILC type technology. Olympus and Panasonic have more or less abandoned the DSLR market in favor of MILC models while Sony continues to offer both DSLR and MILC models (which John has apparently mistaken for some of the SONY DSLR's).
Most of the other major manufacturers of DSLR cameras are beginning to offer MILC models.
Some links to DSLR and MILC cameras.
Four Third & Micro Four Third (Olympus Panasonic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Thirds_system
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Four_Thirds_system
http://www.four-thirds.org/en/fourthirds/body.html
Sony, Look at Alpha DSLR & Alpha NEX
http://store.sony.com/digital-cameras/cat-27-catid-Digital-Cameras
In my opinion you can realize most of the advantages of a DSLR with more compact and less costly MILC cameras. If looking for something w/advantages of a DSLR I would add consideration of MILC models such as the Olympus/Panasonic Micro Four Third or Sony NEX models.
I purchased this Olympus model 2~3 months ago, it has basic components of the most expensive models at about h1/2 the price -
http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/body.html#i_pen_lite_e-pl5_olympus
Hope that helps, email me (from my Answers profile) if you want more information.
Hi Judith,
A DSLR or Digital Single Lens Reflex camera is a TYPE of camera, rather than a "feature". It is the modern evolution of the Single Lens Reflex film cameras that were designed to use mechanical construction to allow people to get a very accurate preview of what would be recorded on a photo sensitive material (film). From the 1950's thru the beginning of this century 35mm SLR cameras became the dominant type of camera for advanced photo enthusiasts and many professional photographers. The DSLR continued the existing development path.
Primary reasons for their popularity were -
1] The ability to accurately view an image COMPOSITION almost exactly as it would be recorded on film (because the image appeared on a viewing screen diverted from the optical path of the lens by a system of mirrors plus, in most cases a mirror/prism viewfinder).
2] The ability to acquire interchangeable lenses at relatively modest prices for many special applications such as Macro (High Magnification of nearby objects), Telephoto (the magnification of distant objects), Wide Angle (the ability to record images in views wider angles of view than people normally perceive) and special purposes such as portraits, etc. Most of these with the ability to preview composition in the SLR viewfinder.
3] The ability to adapt the cameras to many specialty applications such photography through Microscopes, Telescopes and specialty optical devices for a variety of medical and other scientific uses.
Digital SLRs use most of the design functions of SLR cameras but substitutes an electronic sensor to record the image instead of film. This takes advantage of the development of electronic recording while preserving much of the technology developed in lenses and other accessories.
However, the handwriting may be on the wall for DSLR cameras, most of which still use the mechanical mirror mechanism and either a pentaprism or pentamirror to give an eye level viewfinder with a properly oriented OPTICAL image. While this is a very good system it requires the inclusion of a mechanically complex vibration inducing mechanism and temporarily interrupts the view of an image while the mirror blocks the light path during exposure (the characteristic "blink" of most SLR/DSLR cameras).
A newer type of camera made possible by digital technology is the Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera (MILC) also referred to as an Electronic View Finder (EVF). These eliminate the need for the complex mirror and heavy prisms and can simplify both camera and lens designs with the benefit of allowing smaller, lighter and more reliable (because of fewer moving/mechanical parts) cameras and lenses. Theoretically this should also mean reduced manufacturing cost/price.
Some disadvantages to MILC are that -
A] They require a power source to operate. Note that ALL digital cameras require a power source in order to record the image but an electronic viewfinder imposes an additional electrical load which shortens operating time/charge.
B] They often rely on display screens (like Smart phones) for composition, which can be VERY hard to see in bright light. Many manufacturers solve this by having eye level viewfinders, either built in or as accessories, to this type of camera. On the other hand this type of viewfinder can make taking pictures in dim light easier because the image brightness can be amplified electronically.
C] Because they provide continuous viewing the actual exposure can be difficult to anticipate. (No blink).
Olympus, Panasonic and Sony were some of the early adopters/pioneers of MILC type technology. Olympus and Panasonic have more or less abandoned the DSLR market in favor of MILC models while Sony continues to offer both DSLR and MILC models (which John has apparently mistaken for some of the SONY DSLR's).
Most of the other major manufacturers of DSLR cameras are beginning to offer MILC models.
Some links to DSLR and MILC cameras.
Four Third & Micro Four Third (Olympus Panasonic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Thirds_system
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Four_Thirds_system
http://www.four-thirds.org/en/fourthirds/body.html
Sony, Look at Alpha DSLR & Alpha NEX
http://store.sony.com/digital-cameras/cat-27-catid-Digital-Cameras
In my opinion you can realize most of the advantages of a DSLR with more compact and less costly MILC cameras. If looking for something w/advantages of a DSLR I would add consideration of MILC models such as the Olympus/Panasonic Micro Four Third or Sony NEX models.
I purchased this Olympus model 2~3 months ago, it has basic components of the most expensive models at about h1/2 the price -
http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/body.html#i_pen_lite_e-pl5_olympus
Hope that helps, email me (from my Answers profile) if you want more information.
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