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Author: Dan Mold Posted on November 30th 21

I defend the humble DSLR, why beginner photographers should definitely start with one

There are tons of choices in camera types and models, so it's difficult to know exactly which camera is worth your hard-earned money, especially if this is your first time doing this. When you first started, from compact cameras to bridge cameras and DSLRs to mirrorless cameras, the variety of options seemed overwhelming. 

In this article, I will explain my views on the humble DSLR and why you should consider using it if you want to take photography more seriously. In terms of image quality, any DSLR camera will be a huge improvement over your mobile phone, compact camera, or bridge camera, because most DSLR cameras have larger APS-C or full-frame sensors. They also have more professional functions, handling and ergonomic design.

So let's start with what are DSLR cameras and why they are great for many reasons. DSLR stands for Digital SLR. Single lens refers to the fact that only one lens is connected to the camera-yes, dual lens reflex cameras are a thing in the film age. They can cause inconsistent framing issues because you will be framing the shot with a lens that is different from the lens inserted into the exposure film. The "reflection" part is used for the mirror and optical viewfinder, allowing you to see the exact image you want to take through the attached lens, so your composition is accurate-then the mirror flips up and moves out of the way when you click the shutter.

Of course, you can still buy non-digital SLR cameras, such as Canon AE-1 or Nikon FM2. These are only versions exposed on film instead of digital imaging sensors, but the mechanical operation is roughly the same as that of mirrors and optical viewfinders.

I used the old Olympus OM-10 35mm SLR film camera when I was studying photography in university. This is a good tool to master semi-automatic modes such as aperture and shutter priority. It also taught me some discipline, because each roll of film may only have 36 or 24 exposures-so you can't take the explosions that we take for granted with modern digital cameras today.

So now that we have determined what a digital SLR camera is, why should you buy one? Well, digital SLR cameras have been around since the 1990s, but now the market is shifting to mirrorless cameras. As the name suggests, these do not have a mirror, and when in use, you need to use the rear LCD or electronic viewfinder to compose the picture. Always powering the LCD and EVF for composition will also have an impact on battery performance, but when using a digital SLR camera, you are much less likely to encounter this problem.

Broadly speaking, this new mirrorless technology is very expensive, so the older DSLR technology that has been used for a longer time can be much cheaper! When you first start, it is best to use these savings for additional lenses so that you will usually be worth the money-it can be said that the additional lenses are more important than your camera body!

We studied three popular lenses of Canon EF (full-frame SLR) mount, EF 16-35mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens, 24-70mm f/2.8L standard lens and 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto lens, and conducted Comparing to replace them with the equivalent Canon RF lens for Canon full-frame mirrorless, it is found that the cost of RF lens is 20% higher. Therefore, taking the SLR route can undoubtedly save some big expenses.

In addition, although the electronic viewfinder on the mirrorless model is getting better and better every year, I personally still prefer to use the optical viewfinder of a digital SLR camera to view directly through the lens, and call me old-fashioned but I like digital The iconic mirror "click" sound of the SLR camera is also exposed.

Finally, let's talk about the lens...

Another reason why DSLRs are excellent is that they are interchangeable lens cameras. This means that the lens can be detached and you can put on another according to the needs of the shot at hand.

For example, if you are shooting sports or wild animals, you can change the lens to a large zoom telephoto to get closer to the action, or if you are shooting landscapes, you can use an ultra-wide-angle or even a fisheye lens to squeeze more people in. Amazing vision. 

This also makes DSLR cameras more suitable for bridging cameras and compact cameras that use smaller sensors and fixed zoom lenses. Due to the extended zoom range, the limitations of smaller sensors and poor image quality mean that they often fail to meet expectations. Due to the smaller sensor, bridge cameras are also more difficult to achieve shallow depth of field. 

However, with a DSLR, you can install a more specific lens for the scene at hand, so you can be fair-the smaller the zoom range, the better the lens quality is usually.

Because of the long history of digital SLR cameras, you can be sure that the lens you need already exists. Nikon is still using its 1959 F mount, which has made the transition from SLR to SLR-you can still use old film lenses on the new SLR! We estimate that there are more than 400 lenses available for the Nikon F mount, while the new mirrorless full-frame Nikon Z mount that debuted in July 2018 has only 24 lenses.

Although more lenses are being developed for mirrorless cameras, there are still considerable gaps to be filled. By investing in a digital SLR camera, you can be sure to find any lens that meets your needs. In addition, the addition of a large number of third-party digital SLR camera lenses provided by manufacturers such as Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, Laowa, Samyang, and Lensbaby, allows digital SLR cameras to win in lens selection.

So there you go! If you want to buy your first "right" camera, I hope I have given you some inspiration and explained why I think a digital SLR camera is the best choice when you first start photography.

PhotoPlus: Canon Magazine is the only monthly newsstand in the world that is 100% dedicated to Canon, so you can be sure that the magazine is completely related to your system. Each issue also comes with a video tutorial CD. 33% discount

The best DSLR camera The best full-frame DSLR camera What are DSLR cameras and are they still useful? The best Canon cameras for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras

As the technical editor of PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, Dan also brings his technical magic and editing skills to the world of digital cameras. He has been writing articles on all aspects of photography for 8 years, and previously served as a technical writer and technical editor for Practical Photography magazine, and a Photoshop editor for Digital Photo. 

Indeed, Dan is an Adobe Certified Photoshop Master, which makes him an official beast in post-processing-so he is the perfect person to share in-camera and post-production tips and tricks. Dan is able to take all types of photos, providing news, techniques and tutorials on everything from portraits and landscapes to macros and wildlife, helping photographers make the most of their cameras, lenses, filters, lighting, tripods, and of course There is editing software.

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