The SLR: Technological Marvel or Overpriced Camera?

Photography employs the use of cameras to capture images. One may choose to photograph people, places, things or events. However, some cameras lack the ability to capture moving objects or people. A Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) camera is a type of camera that allows a photographer to capture exactly what he or she sees in the viewfinder. An SLR has a wider range of features compared to a standard camera, thus enabling one to capture moving subjects of photography.

An SLR camera is one that allows photographers to capture pictures with excellent focus, colour, and composition and light (Mithra). SLRs provide photographers the ability to control settings which results to better picture quality. This type of camera is very versatile. It allows photographers to capture images in different situations and areas, such as moving subjects and low-light areas. Some people view SLRs as just a prettier and more expensive camera. Professional photographers however would beg to differ.

Like most cameras, the SLR is composed of three main components: the lens, film, and body. The lens is made of either plastic or glass (“How Cameras Works”). The camera also has a flip-up mirror. As light beams enter the lens, they are reflected to a pentaprism via the flip-up mirror. The pentaprism then redirects the light to the viewfinder, thus allowing the photographer to see what the “sees” (“Single Lens-Reflex Camera”). The lenses, mirror, and pentaprism, along with the film and the camera’s mechanical parts are all housed in a plastic or aluminium (among other choices) body. When a photographer decides to take a photo, he or she presses the shutter button. The shutter button moves the mirror so the film behind it can capture an image.

As mentioned previously, as SLR has lenses, mirrors, a pentaprism, and film. Some SLRs also have batteries (others do not) and a port for external flash support. Higher-end and more advanced SLRs like Digital SLRs have screens and memory card slots. Additionally, SLRs allow control over shutter speed, aperture and ISO, all of which have a direct effect in picture quality. Photography.com defines shutter speed as the amount of time the camera allows light to pass through the lens to record an image. The shutter speed is measured in seconds (“Shutter Speed”). An example of a shutter speed value would be 1/100” or 10”. Aperture controls the amount of light entering the lens as well as the image depth. Small apertures result in vice versa (“Aperture, Shutter and ISO Value”). The aperture is measured in f-stops , such examples are f16 or f32. ISO measures a camera’s light sensitivity. Since ISOs measure light sensitivity, this allows the photographer to capture images in low light areas despite using a lower shutter speed setting. However, the major drawback of a high ISO is that captured images tend to have more noise (“Aperture, Shutter and ISO Value”). Noise refers to the “grains” in pictures, which make the image pixelated. Since SLRs are deemed as more advanced, one has the liberty to mix-and-match aperture, ISO and shutter speed settings to achieve their desired photo. SLRs also have a wide variety of peripherals, the most common being lenses and/or lens kits. Interchangeable lenses are an integral part of a professional photographers’ camera kit. Interchangeable lenses allow one to switch between lenses and to prevent the corruption of film. There are many different lenses which cater to many different needs, such as macro, wide-angle and zoom lenses.

A common misconception on some folk is the SLR is just a fancy term for a digital or film camera. Some people would prefer a digital camera (digicam) to a film SLR camera. SLRs use film while digicams use memory cards. Digicams have a liquid crystal display (LCD) which eliminates the use of viewfinders. In fact, most digicams today have just an LCD, with no more viewfinders. A digicam eliminates the photo waiting time. With an SLR, one would need to develop his or her film to see the photograph. Digicams, on the other hand, are able to display recent photos taken. This allows a photographer to see his or her photo quickly, enabling him or her to correct lighting, composition, and other photography-related errors. However, one of the major drawbacks of a digicam is the unavailability of aperture settings. If one wishes to capture a picture focused on a certain subject, he or she would have to keep adjusting his or her camera to capture the subject. The SLR allows for faster focusing thanks to its focusing mechanism. Additionally, the SLR allows for manual zoom, which is faster than a digicam’s motorized zooming lens (“Differences Between SLRs and Digital Compacts”). Digicams also support video recording and playback, but SLRs do not. Most consumers would prefer to own digicams though, thanks to its more compact size, lighter weight and cheaper cost. If one wishes to purchase a camera, one must keep in mind both the pros and cons of the SLR vs. the digicam.

Even SLRs today have gone digital, thanks to the birth of Digital SLRs (DLSR). SLRs and DSLRs are basically the same, except that the latter now has a display and uses memory cards to store captured images. Memory cards give photographers the chance to shoot more and more images, thanks to the high capacity that memory cards have (“Difference between SLR and DSLR”). The DSLR is, technically speaking, more advanced compared to an DLR. DSLRs provide all features that SLRs do, such as manual zoom, aperture and shutter speed; however, the advantages of the DSLR include digital storage, LCD, availability of different shooting modes and built-in flash. Additionally, like a digicam, some DSLRs can record videos. There are also some DSLRs that have an audio/video jack so that pictures and videos can be stored in the camera’s memory card can be displayed straight to a screen, such as a television. The DSLR is like a digicam-SLR-combo. The DSLR may be better than both the SLR and digicam, combining the former’s advanced features and the latter’s technological breakthroughs. The DSLR, despite being more expensive than an SLR, has become the pinnacle of photographic technology (“Difference Between SLR and DSLR”).

Despite numerous misconceptions, the SLR is still one of the best choices of professional photographers. It is a piece of technology that has changed the landscape of the world of photography due to its ability to capture precisely what a photographer sees through the lens. Though the SLR seems to have been eclipsed by more technologically-advanced cameras like the DSLR and digicams, the experience of using an SLR is very much different. These SLRs can still give some users a run for their money.



LIST OF REFERENCES:

Aperture, Shutter and ISO Value. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2010 from http://www.kamerasimulator.se/eng/?page_id=2

Differences Between SLRs and Digital Compacts. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2010 from http://www.digital-slr-guide.com/difference-between-slr-and-digital.html

Difference Between SLR and DSLR. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2010 from http://www.differencebetween.net/object/difference-between-slr-and-dslr/

How Cameras Work. (n.d.) Retrieved March 25, 2010 from http://www.howstuffworks.com/camera.htm

Mithra, S. (n.d.). What is a SLR (Single Lens Reflex) Camera?. Retrieved March 25, 2010 from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-SLR-camera.htm.

Shutter Speed. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2010 from http://www.photography.com/articles/basic-concepts/shutter-speed/

Single Lens-Reflex Camera. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2010 from http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/HBASE/geoopt/slr.html