Digital SLR: Features explained
Megapixels
Just like standard digital cameras, DSLRs have sensors that capture the image, before the image then gets passed onto and recorded onto memory card.
DSLR sensors are physically bigger than the sensors in standard digital cameras, a reason why DSLRs can give better image quality.
The average DSLR sensor also has more megapixels than the average standard digital camera which helps if you want to create very large prints.
Image quality
If you attach a high quality lens to a DSLR, you can really maximise the image quality of a DSLR to easily surpass what you can achieve with a standard camera – colours, detail and sharpness will be better.
On some DSLRs, the quality from the usual supplied 'kit' lens is nothing to write home about. Sometimes, DSLRs are sold body only, sometimes you get a kit lens included. We test all our DSLRs with the kit lens supplied.
More on the kit lens
Another limitation of the kit lens is that most of them don’t allow zooming in very far. Even most small standard digital cameras can zoom in further.
These DSLR kit lenses have a good wide angle of view, however, meaning that you can zoom out quite a lot – good for wide landscapes or indoor shots in cramped conditions. You can buy lenses for more distant shots, separately.
Focussing, shutter delay and image quality are all lens dependent. Fit a good quality lens, and you should achieve better overall performance than we achieved in our testing with the kit lens.
For more on lenses, see 'Buying a lens'.
Size and weight
DSLRs, with kit lenses included, are much bigger and heavier than pretty much all standard digital cameras, but they're not necessarily heavy in their own right.
However, as you might be carrying more than one lens around with you, or you might be using a bigger lens than the kit one supplied, things can get quite heavy. DSLRs tend to have good handgrips, so holding them in use is usually comfortable.
Shutter delay and speed
Shutter delay is an issue on DSLRs too, but less so. DSLR shutter delay is usually pretty quick (often well under 0.3 of a second). Start-up time and shot-to-shot time are also quicker with a DSLR.
Viewfinder and LCD Screen
DSLRs have viewfinders which are accurate and clear. Unlike older DSLRS, most new models now allow you to compose your pictures on the LCD screen too. Some DSLRs have a separate LCD for displaying setting and shooting information.
Control
DSLRs are a bit easier to control than standard digital cameras. There’s a ring on the lens for manual focussing, and another for zooming. There are also many buttons on the back so it’s quicker to choose settings, rather than having to go into lots of electronic menus as is the case with many standard cameras. Although they can be a bit intimidating to begin with, once you get used to them they are easy to use.
Easy to read displays give shooting and setting information. In auto mode, they’re definitely as easy to use as standard digital cameras.
DSLRs have more controls and settings than standard digitals helping you to be more creative and take the good shot that you want to take.
Video recording
At the moment, no DSLRs can record video. See the Which? camcorder reviews for our Best Buy camcorders.
Dust
A risk of swapping lenses on DSLRs is that dust can get in, leaving visible dots on photos. If this happens, it's safest to hand it in to a camera shop or manufacturer for cleaning. You can clean it yourself using the manufacturer's instructions but this can be risky.
Olympus was the first to cotton onto the problem and create anti-dust technology. Other manufacturers are now following with their in-built own dust cleaning systems on new models.