Digital SLR reviews: Features explained
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Megapixels in digital SLRs
Just like standard digital cameras, digital SLRs have sensors that capture the image, before the image then gets passed onto and recorded onto memory card.
Digital SLR sensors are physically bigger than the sensors in standard digital cameras, a reason why digital SLR cameras can give better image quality.
The average digital SLR sensor also has more megapixels than the average standard digital camera, which helps if you want to create very large prints.
Digital SLR image quality
If you attach a high quality lens to a digital SLR, you can really maximise the image quality of a digital SLR to easily surpass what you can achieve with a standard camera – colours, detail and sharpness will be better.
On some digital SLR cameras, the quality from the usual supplied kit lens is nothing to write home about. Sometimes, digital SLR cameras are sold body only, sometimes you get a kit lens included. We test all our digital SLR cameras with the kit lens supplied.
External flashes give you more control
More on the digital SLR 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 digital SLR 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 our guide on buying DSLR lenses.
Digital SLR size and weight
Digital SLR cameras, 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. Digital SLR cameras tend to have good handgrips, so holding them in use is usually comfortable.
Shutter delay and speed on digital SLR cameras
Shutter delay is an issue on digital SLR cameras too, but less so. Digital SLR 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 digital SLR.
Most new digital SLR cameras have an LCD screen to help you compose your shots
Digital SLRs' viewfinder and LCD screen
Digital SLR cameras have viewfinders which are accurate and clear. Unlike older digital SLR cameras, most new models now allow you to compose your pictures on the LCD screen too. Some digital SLR cameras have a separate LCD for displaying setting and shooting information.
Controlling a digital SLR camera
Digital SLR cameras 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 of a digital SLR, 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.
Though digital SLR cameras 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, digital SLR cameras are definitely as easy to use as standard digital cameras.
Digital SLRs have more controls and settings than standard digitals, helping you to be more creative and take the good shot that you want to take.
Dust can get in your digital SLR when you change lenses
Dust in your digital SLR
One risk of swapping lenses on digital SLR camera 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 have since followed with their own in-built dust cleaning systems on new models.
