DSLR or Point and Shoot Digital Camera - Who's the Best?

Both DSLR and Point and Shoot cameras are good in their own respective performances. However, a big debate has been going on recently on which type of camera is better. Before comparing both these cameras, let’s understand what these cameras have to offer and what their terminology means.

DSLR Camera:

DSLR implies to digital single lens reflex. Both the amateur and professional photographers make use of the DSLR cameras. The reason why they like using DSLR cameras is that they contain a creative control function and when compared to the point and shoot cameras, DSLR’s have a better image processing control. The control function of DSLR cameras is quite similar to analog SLR cameras and there is a brisk difference between the storage and digital format of these cameras.

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Due to the single lens reflex technology present in such cameras, the user can catch the scene in the camera sensor and viewfinder too. The moment camera shutter is released; light goes straight to the image sensor. There are removable lenses in the DSLR cameras.

Strengths of DSLR camera:

1. Image quality:

The Image sensor present in the DSLR cameras cater to a huge difference in the picture quality. There is a semi conductor chip present in image sensor that converts the optical image onto the electronic signal. The bigger the sensor, the lesser is the noise in the picture and better the clarity. The shutter speed of such cameras is also very fast due to the presence of high ISO. CCD (Charged coupled device) and CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) are present in the DSLR’s.

2. Adaptability:

The user can easily remove lenses in DSLR’s. For the professional photographers who take photography seriously find DSLR’s quite versatile and adaptable. DSLR’s can be equipped with wide angle lenses as well as super long focal length high quality lenses. There is an extra provision for putting flash and filters in the camera.

3. Speed:

The presence of fast focusing feature as well as the fast shutter leg fastens the time in which the camera is started by the user. The shots taken by a DSLR camera are measured at 2.5-3 frames per second. However, this can be increased up to 5-12 frames per second, and it all depends on the quality and the price of the DSLR camera.

4. Optical viewfinder:

The reflex mirror is one of the most important features of the DSLR camera. What the user sees through the reflex mirror of DSLR is exactly the same that returns through the image that is clicked. The optical viewfinder of DSLR provides the image of the object that the lenses of DSLR see.

5. Large ISO:

Normally the range of ISO in DSLR’s is 800 to 6400 and it determines the quality of the camera. That concerns to the light that falls upon the image sensor of the camera. When there is dark light and the sequence is to be shot in the night, the photographer can use high ISO instead of flash, when required. This flexibility makes DSLR high in demand.

6. Manual controls:

Most of the professional photographers give preference to manual controls only when it comes to DSLR cameras. With this the performance of the shot is increased double fold. However, the user can choose ISO, shutter, aperture, white balance and other settings according to his own requirement. It also includes an auto mode option which is the most integral feature of the DSLR’s.

7. Battery life:

On charging the camera for a single time, the user can click up to 500 photographs on a trot using a DSLR camera. As compared to the point and shoot camera, they can allow the user to click only 200-300 pictures on single charging. Hence, the user does not have to carry the battery of the camera every time they go for a shoot.

Weaknesses:

1. Price:

The price factor is quite important when it comes to DSLR cameras. These days DSLR’s are being sold at a nominal price and many companies are launching DSLR’s with low cost. The lenses of DSLR cameras are however highly priced and this is the reason why the total costing of DSLR cameras is increasing every day.

2. Size and Weight:

When compared to the point and shoot cameras, the DSLR cameras are heavier in weight. If you bag contains the camera as well as the whole kit, like the charger and other things, the weight of the bag becomes unbearable sometimes. Moreover, the DSLR cameras require special care from the user. If the shoot requires the use of multiple lenses, user has to carry these lenses in his bag always.

3. Lenses:

The DSLR cameras usually come with a basic 18-55mm lens kit. However, if the photographer needs special features such as zooming angle or macro performance, he has to afford lenses of different kind. With this, the overall cost of maintaining a DSLR camera increases significantly. Sometimes, the cost of lenses is higher than that of the camera itself.

4. Maintenance:

DSLR cameras require a high maintenance. While shooting at a beach or mountain region, the photographer has to keep special care of the camera. The camera can be spoiled upon contact with dust or moisture. The sensor of the camera is very delicate and it can be spoiled due to rough physical conditions. However, there are some DSLR cameras that have the self cleaning sensor attached to them, but if you are shooting in an area full of dust, then such features might not save your camera from being spoiled.

Point and Shoot Camera:

The point and shoot cameras are usually referred to as the compact cameras. They use autofocus or focus free lenses for focusing feature. The point and shoot cameras are quite popular among the non-photographers as well as the amateur photographers. These photographers are usually clicking pictures for fun and not professionally. The point and shoot camera market has suffered since the arrival of camera in mobiles. However, mobile cannot heed to every occasion when it comes to photography as they do not have a perfect zoom as well as less clarity. Therefore, the families usually carry a point and shoot camera while they go on vacations.

The easy to use feature as well as their compact size makes them the best choice among backpackers and travelers. The inbuilt non movable flash, fixed lens and automatic setting mode are the USP of this camera. The settings of this camera are so simple that even the first time user can click photographs using this camera at ease. The market of point and shoot cameras is improving these days and a change in people’s perspective about such cameras is noticed recently. The 35x cameras that are available in the market currently are giving a high competition to the DSLR cameras.

Strengths:

1. Size and Weight:

The compact size of the camera is its USP (unique selling proposition). The user can easily keep the camera in their pocket. The 20 megapixel and 20x zoom cameras can be easily accommodated into the pocket of the user. Some companies are making cameras that are quite slim and light weighted. These are revolutionizing the camera market in the current scenario. Point and shoot cameras are quite affordable for use in parties, travel and family functions. However, the point and shoot cameras that provide high zooming ability are often heavy in weight.

2. Simple operation:

As compared to the DSLR cameras, the point and shoot cameras are quite easy to use. Their controls and other features are user friendly and an amateur photographer can also use them correctly without any hassles. The settings of point and shoot cameras do not require great efforts from the side of the user. Incredible pictures can be clicked with the automatic setting mode and the preset mode.

3. Price:

The point and shoot cameras are usually quite inexpensive. However, some point and shoot cameras that possess high scale zoom and settings are so expensive that they can even compete DSLR’s. The pricing of point and shoot cameras start from the range of $100. If the user requires a better performance, he has to integrate 10 to 15x zooming feature with his camera. These cameras are often available at the price of $200.

4. LCD Framing:

The low price point and shoot cameras do not possess the viewfinders at most of the times. However, a LCD is always attached to them. With the help of flip out screens, the user can take shots from different angles according to his needs and requirements. It also lets the user know what he is shooting.

Weakness:

1. Image quality:

When compared to DSLR’s, the point and shoot cameras have a lower image quality and the reason for it is the small image sensor. If you are shooting the pictures for fun, there is no better option than a point and shoot camera.

2. Smaller ISO range:

The latest point and shoot cameras come with 1600 ISO range.

3. Speed:

The shutter leg of such cameras is quite slow. Most of the point and shoot cameras cannot frame with the camera speed. The startup time and the focusing time of such cameras are also delayed.

4. Limited manual controls:

Sometimes, the lack of manual settings in this camera proves to be a big disadvantage. Most of the cameras come with aperture priority and shutter priority, which poses problems to the user in clicking good quality pictures at times. Some advanced point and shoot cameras come with fast aperture speed, but their whole subject is on the focus. In such cameras, there is no option to highlight the subject by blurring down the background color.

5. No up gradation:

There is no room for up gradation in such cameras. The lens, flash and on battery cannot be upgraded and the user has to work with the basic zoom, wide angle and macro range. This can be highly frustrating for the professional photographers as they have to adjust the zoom and other settings according to the need of the shoot schedule. Therefore, it poses to be the biggest weakness in point and shoot cameras.

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