What is the difference between an SLR camera and a digital one? A quick overview of the differences. What is a digital SLR camera and how to choose

" But somehow they avoided the question of what is better, a DSLR or a mirrorless camera? Today we’ll catch up and talk about the differences between the two types of photographic equipment – ​​mirrorless and DSLR cameras. Go.

What is a SLR camera?

Reflex camera is a camera whose viewfinder is based on a mirror. In general, there are single-lens and double-lens SLR cameras. But since in the world of digital photography there is only room left for the first type, it will be discussed further.

First single lens reflex camera appeared already in 1861. Yes, while in Russia they just canceled serfdom, the camera has already been invented in England. That is, the history of the SLR camera began in the century before last, more than 150 years ago.

Of course, the first SLR cameras were very different from what we have now. One of the differences is the use of film. Today, film, as you all know very well, is practically extinct and exists only thanks to enthusiasts who fell in love with film photography once upon a time. Digital technologies have made it possible to replace the film in the camera with a matrix.

Let's return to the design of a SLR camera. Every DSLR has a mirror-based viewfinder. The mirror stands at an angle of 45 degrees and allows you to see a real non-digitized image through the viewfinder. The mechanism, in general, is quite simple from the point of view of understanding. Through the lens, light (and the image, respectively) enters the camera body, where a mirror is installed at an angle of 45 degrees. The light reflected by the mirror rushes upward, where it enters a pentaprism (or pentamirror), which wraps around the image, giving it its normal orientation. Simply put, if there were no pentaprism, the image in the viewfinder would appear upside down. That's all. This is the optical viewfinder - distinctive feature any DSLR.

What is a mirrorless camera?

Mirrorless Just like a SLR camera, it has interchangeable lenses. But, as you understand from the name, it does not have a mirror viewfinder. Inexpensive cameras use a screen instead of a viewfinder, while more expensive cameras use an electronic viewfinder. In fact, unlike an optical viewfinder, such a viewfinder shows us a digitized image. We can say that this is a small screen. It has a certain resolution, which is indicated in the camera specification. Naturally, as with a monitor, the higher the resolution, the better.

Why is a DSLR camera better than a mirrorless camera?

Let's first talk about why a DSLR is better than a mirrorless one.

• Optical viewfinder- not only a feature of a DSLR camera, but also its advantage over a mirrorless one. There are several reasons for this. First, the optical viewfinder shows the image in real time, raw and undigitized. That is, as your eye would see it without a viewfinder. Secondly, when using an electronic viewfinder there is a slight delay in the image, which is not present with an optical viewfinder. Those. with the latter you always see the picture in real time.
• Phase detection autofocus– it is typical only for SLR cameras. The latest models of mirrorless cameras have learned to use phase sensors on the matrix, thereby giving birth to a hybrid focusing system, but today it still does not reach focusing speed SLR camera.
• Ergonomics DSLRs are better. This is due, among other things, to the fact that the mirror itself with the pentaprism takes up quite a lot of space in the carcass. Because of this, in fact, these cameras are so large. But this minus turns into a plus when you need to control the camera: especially professional cameras have excellent access to all important functions using buttons, wheels and other controls located on the body. Particularly noteworthy is the additional monochrome display, which is found in large SLR cameras and is never found in mirrorless cameras. This display is very helpful in professional photography, and it is never superfluous for amateur photography.
• Huge optics park. Remember when we said that SLR cameras have been produced for a century and a half? Nikon began producing cameras in the 50s of the twentieth century. Today, Nikon's optics fleet is huge and continues to grow. Of course, mirrorless cameras are still far from achieving such richness.
• Price DSLR cameras are generally lower. Specific example. There is a Nikon D5100 with a Nikon 35mm 1.8G DX lens. This is a very inexpensive kit, costing less than 20 thousand. To get similar quality with a mirrorless camera you need to spend a lot more money.
• DSLR camera turns on much faster than mirrorless. In a split second, while mirrorless cameras can turn on in 3 seconds.
• Working hours DSLR cameras' battery life is significantly higher than that of mirrorless cameras. And the batteries themselves are usually more capacious. Thus, amateur cameras like the Nikon D7100 can shoot one and a half thousand frames on a single charge. Professional technicians, like Nikon D4, is capable of taking more than 3 thousand pictures with a single battery charge.
• DSLR cameras more reliable. Some of them have dust and moisture protection. This is why you are unlikely to see a photographer with a Sony A7 in the savannah. But with Canon 1Dx there is nothing to do. There are more of them there than lions and bison...

So, the main thing: for today professional photography almost impossible with a mirrorless camera. A DSLR camera is preferable for commercial photography. And the amateur must decide for himself whether the advantages of a DSLR are important to him, or whether what a mirrorless camera offers is enough. More on this below.

Why is a mirrorless camera better than a DSLR?

Yes, but are there any advantages to a mirrorless camera that a DSLR camera doesn’t have? Eat. And now we will talk about them.

Olympus technology is one of the most popular mirrorless cameras on the market

• Size. This is the most obvious. Mirrorless cameras are smaller. The optics for such cameras are also more compact. As a result, you can get a mirrorless system that will be smaller than a DSLR, but will allow you to get the same high-quality images.
• Electronic viewfinder. Electronic viewfinders also have their advantages. Firstly, they can display different Additional information. Secondly, such viewfinders will be more convenient for nearsighted people. You need to use the optical viewfinder with glasses or use the diopter correction function, which is enough for vision of -2.5, but if the minus is greater, then alas. The electronic viewfinder, as we said above, is a screen. And, of course, when used by a nearsighted person, there are no problems with it.
• Big choice manufacturers. Mirrorless cameras are now produced by the following companies: Nikon, Canon, Sony, Panasonic, Olympus, Fujifilm, Samsung. But affordable DSLRs are produced only by the first 3 companies plus Pentax.

What do DSLR and mirrorless cameras have in common?

There is one thing that these cameras have in common.

• Matrix. The most important part of a digital camera. Just a couple of years ago, I would have said that mirrorless cameras do not have a full-frame sensor. But Sony corrected this by releasing the A7 series cameras. They have matrices that are not inferior to those used in SLR cameras. We have already talked about matrices more than once; there is no need to repeat ourselves.
• Systematicity. For some reason, many people call mirrorless cameras system cameras, forgetting that DSLR cameras also belong to this class. This is the similarity between DSLRs and mirrorless cameras - these are system cameras that feature interchangeable optics.

What's better? DSLR or mirrorless?

There is no clear answer to this question. Everyone must make their choice based on their needs. My opinion is that DSLR cameras today are still too much superior to mirrorless cameras. For me personally, when choosing a camera, the most important criteria are speed (focusing, switching on), a wide selection of optics and price (both for the camera and lenses). Yes, you don’t always want to take a huge mirror set with you. It's better to have a choice. For example, for large (long, important, etc.) filming, have a DSLR, but for the soul - something small, maybe not even a mirrorless camera, but a compact camera like Fuji x100s or the like. But if you choose one single camera, then again, I would choose a DSLR. But that's just my opinion. What would you choose?

It seems that there is no one left who does not know what a SLR camera is. “This is such a big black machine, with a long lens!” 🙂 Well, yes, this is usually true, DSLRs are clearly larger than camera cameras. “And there’s also a mirror in there somewhere or something.” And this is even more true.

Let's understand why it was necessary to invent such complex mechanics. This is so that the photographer looks at the subject directly through the lens!

There was such a legendary Soviet camera “Smena-8M”. What was its viewfinder like? It was just a hole in the top of the case, in which there were some lenses. There it is in the corner on the right, see? Looking through this hole, the novice amateur photographer built a frame composition, pressed a button (and his button was brutal, just like a sawmill starter), and took a picture. Then he developed the film, and saw that the picture was somewhat different from what he wanted! Especially if he was filming something close, a flower, for example. And this happened because the photographer saw through his viewfinder something different from what the lens saw! After all, they optical axes didn't match! The viewfinder was located above the lens. As a result, the photographer composed the correct frame, and the lens captured only the lower part of the scene being photographed. And sometimes this shift was very great.

The same thing happened with other rangefinder cameras. Instructors and teachers in photo clubs even advised students to take this effect into account and make adjustments to framing when shooting.

To prevent this from happening, the SLR camera was invented. In the picture below, the number 2 indicates this very mirror. Light passing through the lens is reflected straight up by the mirror into the viewfinder shaft. It passes through the pentaprism (number 5) and enters the photographer’s eye through the viewfinder (number 6). The moment the photographer presses the shutter button, the mirror rises horizontally and presses against the bottom edge of the shaft, allowing light from the lens to hit the matrix (or film). When the photo is taken, the mirror lowers back down. This is why, by the way, at the very moment of shooting, the image in the viewfinder disappears for a moment.

It is very easy to see this mirror, you just need to remove the lens. Typically, any modern SLR camera has a special mode when the mirror is raised for a long time - then you can see the matrix, which is located behind the mirror. The matrix needs cleaning periodically.

This scheme, when the photographer looks at the scene being photographed directly through the lens, eliminates the parallax that I spoke about at the beginning. There is no need to make any corrections - the picture will turn out exactly as it was framed before shooting. A DSLR camera allows you to shoot macro without any distortion. Rangefinder cameras are, frankly speaking, not very suitable for this.

Someone may say “why is this viewfinder needed, after all, there is a screen.” Yes, it’s true, it exists, and often it’s more convenient to take pictures based on it than to look through a hole. But don’t forget that the DSLR camera was invented back in the film era, when there were no electronics. This is the first thing. Secondly, many photographers still prefer to work with the viewfinder, considering the screen inconvenient. There are reasons for this - the screen does not cause inconvenience when you have a small, lightweight camera in your hands. And when you have a professional camera, and even with a heavy lens, and possibly with a flash on top - try holding it suspended all day!

It is true, of course, that the progress of electronics leads to very rapid changes in photographic equipment. And in many amateur and semi-professional camera models, the viewfinder is no longer needed. And if so, then they don’t even need a mirror! The image on the viewing screen is formed on the same matrix that takes the final image. These cameras are significantly lighter and smaller than real DSLRs.

Let me return to the main topic of my blog - working with photo banks. It is clear that a DSLR camera is an ideal tool for any income, including on photo stocks. It provides so many possibilities that many photographers simply do not fully utilize them. Therefore, if possible, then it is very advisable to buy a digital SLR camera for stock photo work. But there is a nuance - an adjustment for progress. 🙂 There are already a lot of mirrorless models on the market, or models with fixed lenses, or various other devices that can no longer be classified as DSLRs, but which still produce quite high-quality images! And which are successfully sold in photo banks.

Therefore, if someone says that a cool DSLR camera is not at all necessary for a photographer to make money, I agree! Nowadays, you can even start making money with an advanced soap box! But sooner or later you will realize that only a mirror device can satisfy your increased requirements.

Although, this statement is only true as of mid-2016, when this article is being written. Who knows what will happen in five years! 🙂

Hello, dear readers of my site! Today I will tell you how DSLR cameras differ from compact cameras. Let's consider their advantages and disadvantages.

First, let's look in and see scientific definition DSLRs. I recommend adding the dictionary to your bookmarks; in the future, this will save enormous time.

To identify characteristic distinctive feature between a SLR camera and a compact, popularly also often called a point-and-shoot camera, let’s consider how does a DSLR work.

Operating principle of a SLR camera

After passing through the lens system in the lens, it falls onto the mirror, hence the name "Reflex camera", which at the initial moment (position 1) closes the matrix with the shutter.

Next, the rays, passing through the focusing frosted glass, enter the optical system called a pentaprism, in which the image is flipped 90 degrees so that it does not appear upside down at the output of the eyepiece.

The next step is to press the shutter button. As soon as we have done this, the mirror in the camera body rises to position 2, the shutter moves back and the image is freely projected onto the camera matrix.

The final stage, for which the camera electronics are responsible, is reading, processing and displaying the information received from the DSLR matrix. This is where the operating principle of a SLR camera ends.

As for digital compacts, there are no mirrors. The light is immediately projected onto the matrix and, after pressing the shutter button, the photograph appears on the screen. The design is simple, but such cameras have technical characteristics much worse than SLR cameras.

So what's the most important thing?difference between SLR cameras?

The digital camera has on board a mirror optical viewfinder, which is not subject to the phenomenon of parallax, since the light enters through the lens.

Note: if the manufacturer has built a viewfinder into the compact, then light, as a rule, enters it through an additional window offset relative to the optical axis.

Let's consider advantages of a DSLR camera:

1. The presence of a mirror optical viewfinder, as a result, the absence of the phenomenon of parallax, more accurate aiming and focusing of the object.
2. significantly more than digital compacts, so the amount of noise and defects in the image is less, the colors in the photograph look more natural and richer, the range of depth of field is wider, and the detail of objects is much higher.
3. Phase detection autofocus sensors, not contrast sensors like point-and-shoot cameras. As a result, we have fast autofocus and a high rate of fire.​

​K Other differences between SLR cameras and digital compacts include the following advantages:

• Possibility of connecting an external flash.
• for different shooting scenes.
• A huge number of accessories from different manufacturers: filters, cases, remote shutter buttons, tripods, diffusers, and other goodies.

Basic cons of DSLRspeak for themselves:

• Price. For the price of a budget DSLR you can buy a couple of decent digital compacts.
• Weight and dimensions. Weight - 510 grams (according to the passport) and this is without a lens, the weight of compacts is at least 3 times less.​

What better DSLR or soapbox?

The answer is neither one nor the other. The devices are designed for different purposes. Due to their light weight and size, point-and-shoot cameras can easily fit into a pocket, while a DSLR camera will have to be carried around your neck or placed in a backpack. These two types of technology have different philosophies. Compacts are designed for point-and-shoot or "I was here" photos, but a DSLR is a lifelong hobby.

I think this is a mistake: “a wider range of depth of field.”

A DSLR has a narrower depth of field.

Thanks for the comment. No, I don't see this as an error. If we are talking about the POSSIBILITY to control the depth of field, then the range on a SLR camera is wider, and if we're talking about about the MAXIMUM depth of field, then the compact (if you compared the DSLR with it) will have more.

With this age of IT technologies and the transition from film photography to digital photography, I have almost forgotten how to take photographs. At one time I shot with Zenit-ET and Zenit-TTL SLRs, there was a pretty good film photo archive, and slide deposits as well. Then, from 2007. Having switched to a compact digital camera, I slowly began to lose my photography skills through a mirror.

Now I’m glad that I returned to the DSLR again, now to the imported Nikon 😉

Although I’m not parting with my Canon IXUS 1100 HS soap dish yet. In particular, due to good quality videos being shot. On a 16 GB card, the camera shoots for more than 55 minutes, plus excellent color quality

Cool article. I also recently switched to a DSLR. I used to shoot on a point-and-shoot camera and didn’t bother, but then I realized that I wanted more. Now I don’t want to pick up a soap dish. Although there are also a lot of difficulties with a DSLR - it’s hard to carry, lenses need to be changed. But the quality of the photographs justifies everything.

Alexey, what did you choose as your first DSLR?

I am a fan of taking photos, but not a professional, I didn’t understand the intricacies...thank you for the article, it expanded my horizons

Thank you, Alexey, with great pleasure!

Which most expensive and professional DSLR has a matrix larger than that of the Sony RX1 point-and-shoot camera? And the lenses are interchangeable?!

Sergey, here’s Nikon D810 Body offhand

A very mediocre article.

Why are there 2 rectangles in the path of light after the lens? Maybe it's the aperture and shutter/curtain?

They have a huge "frosted glass" sign on them with a small arrow pointing towards the truly frosted glass - confusing.

The principle of operation of a SLR camera ends earlier - immediately after the mirror moves away and the shutter is released.

Again, what does “the shutter was triggered” mean? It would be nice to explain that the shutter moves back for milliseconds, and the mirror can return to its original position much later.

The rest of the process is no different from the process in a non-mirror device.

The advantages of a DSLR camera are exaggerated in the article:

The size of the matrix is ​​not an advantage of a DSLR, but an advantage of a large device. If you increase the size of the soap dish, you can make the same matrix as in a DSLR.

You can reduce the matrix, but leave the mirror and the rest - the device will still remain a mirror.

Non-DSLR cameras (for example, Canon G10) also have the ability to connect an external flash.

It is not at all necessary that the range of depth of field be wider - it is determined by the capabilities of the lens, not the camera.

A huge number of accessories from different manufacturers: filters, cases, remote shutter buttons, tripods, diffusers, and other “goodies” are also no different.

In summary, from my point of view, there is only one fundamental difference between a DSLR - the future photograph is immediately visible in the viewfinder and you can immediately see how it is affected by focusing and aperture (the same depth of field) - what will be visible clearly and what will be blurry. Even autofocus is not a fundamental difference, because... 30 years ago, DSLRs did not have autofocus.

Don't be offended by your opinion.

Oleg, hello.

Two squares + lens - tried to show a lens system. Apparently unsuccessful.

I completely agree that the main difference is the mirrors, hence the name - DSLR. But I’ll argue about the range of depth of field... It’s very difficult to get a shallow depth of field on a small matrix (you can experiment on a mobile phone).

Everything else... matrix size, flash, buns were written according to average models, meaning by digital compacts ordinary point-and-shoot cameras (modern mirrorless cameras and other expensive models were not taken into account).

P.S. I agree 100% that the article should be of higher quality. There are plans to rewrite a couple of dozen articles on the blog, add examples, etc., but this is not my main job and I have to spend time whenever possible.

Thanks for the criticism and detailed answer.

Alexey, thank you very much for calmly responding to my criticism. Many people in your place would simply ban me. This highly characterizes your moral qualities.

As for the depth of field, it completely depends on the aperture. The aperture value is the ratio of the area of ​​the image to the area of ​​the lens, not closed aperture. The smaller the hole in the lens, the larger the aperture number. Old cameras even had a depth of field table combined with the aperture value. In a mobile phone, therefore, it is theoretically impossible to experiment with depth of field, because... there the aperture is always constant.

Thank you, gentlemen, your criticism is the source of our development!

Kozma Petrov

Oleg, regarding the depth of field. I have read debates on this topic many times on various forums. Many people write that it is connected indirectly, because A small matrix has less sensitivity to light, etc.

I accepted math for myself. point of view, the formula for depth of field contains a focal length, so I think it is more correct to use the equivalent focal length, which already depends on the size of the matrix.

Oleg writes:

This highly characterizes your moral qualities.

Not a fact... If the criticism is constructive, normal, without insults, trolling, etc., then on the contrary, I’m glad, it means people read the article. In general, this blog was created for main goal- understand the whole theory yourself, etc... Over time, the goals, of course, were adjusted.

I doubt that the sensitivity to light of a small matrix is ​​less; it is determined not by the size of the matrix, but by the sensitivity of its individual elements - pixels. The film had no pixels, but the film speed was indicated on the packaging. In photography theory, I consider myself to be at an average level, far from professional.

Here are interesting articles on this topic

fototips (dot) ru/teoriya/grip/

www (dot) cambridgeincolour (dot) com/ru/tutorials/camera-lenses.htm

Oleg, I agree about the photosensitivity of pixels. The same point of view was expressed in an article about Megapixels.

www (dot) 64bita (dot) ru/basicshot.html

Nice site. Thank you. I'll read it later. By the way, the photo shows a lens on which there are scales of apertures and corresponding depths of field.

I saw and the site is really good!

I don’t know about anyone, but for myself I came to an unexpected conclusion and result:

A DSLR camera only has the advantage of having a viewfinder, but this is often found in regular cameras. And the fact that additional accessories... there are mirrorless cameras with such capabilities. From my own experience I am convinced that... the most important thing is not accessories, but skill and a head with straight arms. Now I've generally moved to full digital equipment. The camera is a point-and-shoot camera, the video camera is hand-held, like an amateur one. So I will say one thing - and all this can be mounted on a tripod. Normal lighting is required for photo and video shooting. In the studio it’s enough that I don’t use flash on the point-and-shoot camera anymore. Outdoors in sunny weather, even more so. So the advantages of this technology are its mobility and ease of transportation, instead of kilogram equipment. And the results can already be processed and mounted on a computer in such a way that no one can tell the difference. So it's a matter of taste and color. The main thing is not the artist’s brush and canvas, but how he knows how to paint and paint. And I realized the benefits of technology at the moment of mobility, when I picked up and put the camera in my pocket...

And in general... Now I consider all this bulky equipment just a visual show-off. Like “you’re a photographer or a video studio operator.” More than once during filming I noticed how people around me looked - like a new amateur showing off and pretending to be a professional, and how other photographers with huge lenses smile condescendingly... But I’ve already forgotten about it and don’t pay attention. On the contrary, sometimes you even feel sorry for the same operator with his bulky camera. But the IT age does not stand still. We must keep up with the times and admit that it is not the size of the device that plays a decisive role... I realized this in time.

Thanks for the informative article. Very simply told about the complex)

Well, you wrote an article!

The quality of ANY photo depends on 3 parameters: SHARPENESS, SHUTTER SPEED and APERTURE.

For precise focusing, SLR cameras appeared. This was huge progress! The photographer could fine-tune the sharpness at the MOMENT OF THE SHOT.

DSLR cameras only make sense for FILM cameras!!!

In the age of digital cameras, the viewfinder is an LCD monitor: everything that appears in the photo you immediately see on it. A digital SLR is a scam for those who don’t understand anything, but are willing to pay a lot to make it cool...

In digital photos, the decisive word lies with the lens and electronics (primarily the bit depth of the CCD matrix).

After reading different material on the Internet, most people immediately rush to buy reflex camera , naively assuming that with its help you can get the highest quality photographs. In reality, DSLRs are more of a mindset than a technology. And if you do not know how to handle such equipment, then in 99% of cases you will get pictures no better than ordinary point-and-shoot cameras. Naturally, this state of affairs is very frustrating for novice photographers. The purpose of a SLR camera is that, unlike point-and-shoot cameras, it is, first of all, big job in manual mode, which almost completely eliminates the automatic mode, although this is present in SLR cameras.

First of all, SLR cameras are used to obtain end result high quality pictures. It is for this reason that all the constituent elements of “DSLRs” are created precisely in order to achieve this goal.

First, let's start with the matrix. In entry-level and mid-level DSLRs, it is different in size and larger than those used in previous types of cameras. Concerning professional SLR cameras, then its size there is even larger and equal to the size of a frame of standard 35 mm film. In addition, there are cameras whose matrix differs from good DSLRs and has an even larger size, however, such devices will clearly not be affordable for ordinary amateur photographers and even some professionals. Thanks to large size SLR camera matrices have high ISO equivalent sensitivity (up to 100,000 for the most modern models), as well as greater control over DOF - depth of sharply depicted space.

Secondly, DSLR cameras have interchangeable lenses, with which you can control the range quite easily focal lengths. This point is one of the main advantages of SLR cameras. Thus, the quality of photographs will be much better, which is what distinguishes cameras from soap cameras.

If you want to achieve high quality photos, you will have to work hard and invest a lot of money, but believe me, it is worth it. Having become the proud owner of a SLR camera, you may soon notice that your “DSLR” is not so good (of course, not without exceptions). The standard optics of ultrasonic cameras often turn out to be of higher quality than those of SLR cameras. But this kind of problem can be easily solved; for this you need to purchase good optics. But if you prefer to work exclusively in one genre, then one lens for your camera is quite enough. But if your fantasies and interests are much broader, then the amount of costs should increase. You have the opportunity to save money; to do this, you need to choose lenses from third-party manufacturers, for example, Tokina, Sigma, Tamron, or by purchasing a used lens, or by resorting to the services of Soviet-era devices, connecting them through various adapters, although this is not always the case comfortable. But, if you take the trouble, if you buy a good quality lens, if you understand it and know how to use it, then the quality of the photographs will be an order of magnitude higher.

There are two types of power supply for SLR cameras. The first is from a lithium-ion battery, which can be replaced with a finger-type battery if you purchase a special battery pack and attach it to the camera from below, but this will be quite expensive. The second is powered by AA batteries. In some models, this type of power supply is provided initially.

All DSLRs can be divided into 3 groups:

- amateur;

- semi-professional SLR cameras;

- professional.

But sometimes it is impossible to say exactly which of them this or that model belongs to and what distinguishes SLR cameras. Moreover, often every new model has the same technical characteristics as the previous one high level. The division into groups is carried out taking into account such parameters as matrix size, resolution, shutter life, which has its own service life and its repair is very expensive, as well as the mechanical characteristics of the body and burst shooting speed.

Mirrors of different brands belonging to the same group practically do not differ from each other, but at the same time they have their own zest. The manufacturer plays an important role when choosing a DSLR camera, since camera accessories, such as lenses and flashes, from different manufacturers are not interchangeable. Simply put, if you ever decide to change the brand of the device, you will have to assemble the entire set again. However, you cannot divide brands into bad and good, because each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, therefore the most objective and only criterion for choosing a SLR camera is availability, cost of accessories and the availability of service centers from the manufacturer.

IN Lately SLR cameras now have the ability to shoot video, which added to their number of advantages. However, it is not available in all models.

And some statistics:

Title " Best professional camera 2010» according to the EISA Association, ranked mirror Nikon camera D3x

Title " Best advanced camera 2010"according to the EISA Association, Canon EOS 5D Mark II was ranked

Title " Best DSLR 2010"For beginners and experienced users" according to the EISA Association, the Canon EOS 500D DSLR was ranked

A SLR camera is a type of camera whose design is based on an optical design that is based on a mirror viewfinder. Thanks to this, when shooting, the photographer sees through the viewfinder exactly the image that will appear in the photograph.

The operation scheme of a SLR camera is as follows: the light flux passing through the lens hits the mirror, reflected from which it hits the pentaprism. After passing through the pentaprism, the light enters the viewfinder eyepiece. At the moment of shooting, the mirror rises, blocking the viewfinder. At the same time, the shutter is raised to cover the matrix for the duration of the exposure.
In addition, focusing sensors are installed in the body, the light flux hits which is reflected from an additional mirror.

SLR cameras have a number of advantages and disadvantages associated with their structure. One of the main disadvantages is the cost. It is quite high due to the complexity of the camera manufacturing process. Also, due to the complexity of the structure and the presence of moving mechanical parts, the reliability of the camera decreases. The presence of a pentaprism and a mirror forces us to make a fairly massive body, which is not always convenient. However, the larger body allows for more controls to be placed on it and is also more comfortable to hold.

The advantages of DSLR cameras, first of all, include the quality of the images. This is achieved due to the fact that matrices are installed in DSLRs large sizes, allowing you to photograph with great sensitivity. Other advantages include the ability to change lenses, ease of aiming and high speed and accuracy of focusing, as well as ample manual adjustment options to achieve maximum image quality.

Video on the topic

Mirrorless cameras are becoming increasingly popular. They allow you to take photos that are as good as DSLR cameras, but also have some superior features.

At its core, a mirrorless camera differs from a DSLR in that its body does not contain a mirror, a pentaprism, phase focusing sensors and, as a rule, a shutter. Thanks to this, the camera body can be made as compact as possible. At the same time, the matrices in mirrorless cameras are often installed the same as in DSLR cameras, and in this parameter they may not differ in any way.

The way a mirrorless camera works is incredibly simple: the light flux passing through the lens hits the matrix directly, from which it is transmitted to the processor for processing. And in its processed form the photographer sees it on the LCD screen. During shooting, an exposure is taken at the program level and the finished photo is obtained.

Naturally, an SLR camera has its pros and cons related to its structural features. The advantages include compactness, the ability to change lenses, and high quality images. In addition, DSLRs are cheaper to manufacture and more reliable due to the absence of mechanical parts.

The disadvantages of DSLR cameras include the fact that they are rarely equipped with viewfinders that are superior to the LCD screen in sunny weather when there is a lot of glare, and also do not drain battery power. In addition, there are currently quite a few interchangeable lenses available for DSLRs, and their prices are very high. Mirrorless cameras also use software contrast focusing methods, due to the lack of special sensors in the body designed for this purpose.