Digital Camera Help

What is the difference between a regular digital camera and an SLR digital camera?

SLR are the ones with the big lense on the front that pokes out...they tend to be bigger.
canon-eos-350d-slr-digital-camera.jpg


Other option would be point and click which tend to be the small, flat ones.
nikon_coolpix_s200_01.jpg


This is my simplified answer. I'm sure Kiwi or April will be here shortly to give details ;)
 
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But there are none SLR digital cameras with long lens.... This in here lies my confusion.

I have two small pocket size digi cams.. But I'm wanting to get into photography as a hobby and wondering if the SLR cameras are worth the money for a hobby or if I could make due with one of the non SLR cameras.
 
If you are hardcore and like to use fancy lenses, polarizers, etc. and don't mind carrying around a bulky camera you probably want SLR. If you want something to keep in your pocket and snap quick pics around town or whatever, point and click all the way.
 
What does SLR stand for when it comes to digital camera's?

SLR stands for single lens reflex. SLR (single lens reflex) refers to the way these camera's work. When a photographer presses the shutter button, a mirror flips out of the way to reveal the sensor. Some people also refer to them as DSLR, with the D being short for digital.
What are the main differences between a digital SLR camera, when compared to a point and shoot?

* One of the main differences between a point and shoot camera and a SLR digital camera is that an SLR has a detachable lens. In other words, you're not limited only to the lens that comes with the camera.

* SLR camera's also give you more control over manual settings such as exposure.

* In many cases they offer a higher resolution. 10mb resolutions are quite affordable nowadays for those purchasing their first SLR camera.

* Another advantage to SLR digital camera's is that they take photographs almost instantly with no lag time. This is useful when taking photographs of moving objects such as children.


http://www.slrphotographyguide.com/slr.shtml


If you are gonna be a hobbyist and plan to do artsy stuff with your exposures and use different lenses, polarizers, whatever...i'd go SLR. Point and shoots are just handy and easy but don't give much options of what you can do with the picture.
 
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Yea I guess you're right, just that point and click don't get near the quality of picture that SLR gets. But I guess for a photography hobby it's ok.
 
I say, take your point and shoot, learn all you can about it, learn about composition, lighting, elements of design, exposure, etc. Then after you have done all that and exhausted the capabilities of your point and shoot, if you still have a desire to learn more and get into more, then buy an SLR.
 
Yea I guess you're right, just that point and click don't get near the quality of picture that SLR gets. But I guess for a photography hobby it's ok.

This is untrue, you just need to learn to use your camera well. I've seen lots of beautiful photos come from point and shoots.
 
This is untrue, you just need to learn to use your camera well. I've seen lots of beautiful photos come from point and shoots.

Yeah, i'm not saying the quality is worse...just that you have les flexibility with features, lenses, that kind of thing. point and clicks are usually best when just left on auto. SLR gives you lots of options when you want to go manual.
 
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Yeah, i'm not saying the quality is worse...just that you have les flexibility with features, lenses, that kind of thing. They are usually best when just left on auto. SLR gives you lots of options when you want to go manual.

Yes, but only if you understand those features and how to use them. If you don't know how light is going to affect your photo, and how to best frame it compositionally, and what different shutter speeds are going to accomplish, an SLR isn't going to make things better.
 
Then learn that first, a DSLR isn't going to improve your photos at all at this point.

This is true. The photo is only as good as the photographer.

If you take shitty pics with a PS then you will take shitty pics with a dslr.
 
What's the difference between digital zoom and none digital zoom and which is better?

A digital zoom takes the photo and crops in, much as you would do in a photo editing program afterwards, a non digital zoom, is a zoom on the lens, so it's done before the photo is ever taken. A non digital zoom is much better.
 
polaroid = amateur porn in the 80s. That's a shoebox you don't want to find in your recently deceased parent's attic.
 
Lame I just recently bought a Nikon Coolpix camera but it has a digital zoom.

Ok another question
I have a camera with a higher mega pixel but digital zoom
then I have a camera with lower mega pixel but no digital zoom

Which would be better to use?
 
Lame I just recently bought a Nikon Coolpix camera but it has a digital zoom.

Ok another question
I have a camera with a higher mega pixel but digital zoom
then I have a camera with lower mega pixel but no digital zoom

Which would be better to use?

are you going to make prints? megapixels just help you make a larger print at 100% quality, right Kiwi? I've never had to make a print bigger than my 3.2 megapixel camera could handle, biggest i've ever gone was a 4"x6". I'm sure there is some table somewhere that shows megapixel to printsize.

Ok, i'll shut up and let the experts answer, i don't know what the hell i'm talking about.