Decoding the DSLR revolution

Photography is no longer the hobby of a select few.

Photography is no longer the hobby of a select few. While point and shoot cameras are easily passable, they don't provide much opportunity to add depth to a photograph and the current crop of photography enthusiasts are ready to pay an additional price to satisfy their creative urges.

Earlier SL₹or Digital SL₹were toys of professional photographers only. But, now even amateur photographers are buying these hefty pieces. So, why is it that these cameras are getting so much attention? Let's try and decode.

What is a DSLR?

Digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLR) are digital cameras that allow an accurate preview of framing close to the moment of exposure. They also allow the user to choose from a variety of interchangeable lenses. Price: ₹5,000 upwards

Why a DSLR?

Ravi Dhingra, a professional photographer explains: "The basic differentiating factor between a DSLR and a point to shoot camera is the size of the sensor. An SLR has a bigger sensor size which stores more information of the picture in terms of colour and contrast. The mega pixels are irrelevant."

Control is a strong point

"A DSLR gives me freedom to make things look the way I want them to. This is possible because of various functions available in the camera," says Aditya Deshpande, an amateur photographer, who owns a Canon EOS 500D.

Creativity is the game

A DSLR is arguably a creative marvel. "With the DSLR, the composition which I make is mine and not just automated. It is designed in such a way that it is assumed that the photographer would want to control the settings," says Samir Paul, who owns a Nikon D7000 and Nikon D3000. Jomon Philipose, owner of Nikon D5100, echoes the same thoughts. "With a DSLR a lot can be done without having to learn or install extra software in which the photos look artificial."

Lens lend depth, range

"The lenses that you buy or get with a DSLR give you a range and depth in your photography that you won't get out of an ordinary digicam," says Varman. "You can interchange lenses in a DSLR depending on the specification of the photography," adds Dhingra.

Which brand to buy?

The biggest question that confronts prospective buyers is which brand to choose. Canon and Nokia are the two of the biggest names in the market today. "There is nobody who can prove that one is better than the other," says Deshpande. "Both Nikon and Canon are excellent, so it depends on every DSLR enthusiastic person which one he or she likes. Both do the job right," says Paul.

Things to keep in mind

Go to various sites to compare each and every camera with respect to their price, brand, features and technical specifications. One such site is

www.snapsort.com

. There are plenty of others too.

Size of the sensor matters the most. Anything above 10 or 12 MPs works just fine. Keep in mind the speed of the camera and the ISO range on it. Also, decide how much you want to spend on your DSLR camera and then select your model accordingly.