The Difference Between SLR and Digital Compact Cameras

What Digital SLRs Can't Do

Here's a major difference between SLR and digital compact cameras: price.

Even though the price has been dropping on digital SLRs, they are still significantly more expensive than their compact cousins.

Let me put it this way: an inexpensive digital SLR camera starts around $500 - and that's often without a lens.

Tack on an additional $100 for a kit lens or $500 for a higher-quality zoom.

If you can't fathom spending $800 to $1,000 on a digital camera, then an SLR is definitely not right for you. If price isn't a problem, there are still several other differences between SLR and compact digital cameras that you need to be aware of.

No Movie Mode

Digital SLR cameras don't capture movies. They are dedicated to taking still photos and they excel at that.

If you're a budding videographer, then a camcorder or a compact digital camera with a movie mode is a better bet.

Limited Live Preview

If you've seen any compact digital cameras, then you know that you can compose a photo just by looking at the LCD monitor on the camera's back.

You'll notice that virtually everyone who uses a compact camera takes photos this way - they never look through the viewfinder.

Time for a reality check.

A surprising difference between SLR and compact digital cameras is that SLRs don't have a live preview mode.

The LCD is only good for reviewing shots that you've already taken - it won't show you the photo you're about to take.

This means that you must compose all the photos you take with a digital SLR by looking through the viewfinder.

This used to be true for all digital SLR cameras. Today, there are several live view digital SLR cameras that you can choose from.

Manual Zoom

Most compact digital cameras have electronic zooms. Just push a button (or lever) and the camera's lens zooms in and out.

With a digital SLR, you're going to need two hands - zooming is a manual process. You have to twist a ring on the lens to get it to zoom in and out.

Zoom Range

Since we're on the topic of zooms, let's talk about another difference between SLR and compact digital cameras.

Recently several compact cameras have been introduced with "mega-zooms".

In the compact world, zoom range is described by a multiplier (i.e. 4x, 6x or 10x) while with digital SLR lenses it's described in millimeters (i.e. 50mm, 100mm or 300mm).

Compact cameras with a 10x or 12x zoom cover an extremely wide range from wide angle to telephoto.

A similar lens for a digital SLR camera costs $400 or more and it usually doesn't have the same optical quality as zooms that don't cover such a wide zoom range.

If you want a 12x zoom with a digital SLR, it's a better bet to get two lenses instead of just one.

Size and Weight

If your idea of the ultimate camera is something that fits in your pocket, then forget all about digital SLRs.

The most obvious difference between SLR and compact digital cameras (besides price) is sheer size.

Even a small-sized digital SLR camera is twice the size and bulk of a compact camera.

While there are many new digital SLR models that are more portable (and are easier to travel with) the addition of a lens to your camera ensures that you'll never be able to stow it away in your pants.