why i need an SLR camera?

Answer 1

The biggest plus for an SLR is the ability to change lenses. This gives you a lot of options. If you are just starting out and the idea of a $1,400 short zoom lens raises your eye brows then you can look at a third-party brand for less money. There is a trade off in this because there will probably be a reduction in image quality. Will you notice the difference...maybe...maybe not. But it doesn't matter because at a later date you can trade up to the 17-35 f/2.8 and sell the 35-70 F/4.0-5.6 to some other young photographer. Once you get good glass you can keep the lenses and trade the body for the next generation. (Hopefully, the lenses will still work on the new body....this used to be a problem in the old days and something you should make sure of when you upgrade) If you need a 400mm for nature photography you can buy the lens and not be locked into the 3X of a point-and-shoot.

One more thing....I have found it very frustrating to shoot with the small cameras due to the shutter lag. I push the button at peak action and the shutter releases an eternity later. SLRs are pretty responsive and something I really look for in a camera.

Answer 2

SLR (single lens reflex) cameras allow you to change lenses and view the exact picture that you are taking directly through the lens not through an approximation through an optically modified view finder. this becomes important in close-up photos and when you are cropping a scene with the camera. Additionally if the metering system for light is built into the camera it only meters the scene being captured.

Answer 3

picture u see in a SLR camera view-finder is the same picture you are going to take. nothing changes. in other cameras it change a bit..in non SLR camera u can't get exact picture u see through the view finder

Answer 4

SLRs are nice because the image you see in the viewfinder is the actual image that will be captured on film.

Digital cameras have the same advantage, when you use their LCD screen as a viewfinder.

Answer 5

As always, Sam and Morey provide excellent answers... it seems like I racked up my level 6 account just by reading their responses and answering the occasional question myself ;-)
As for me, I had a whiz-bang prosumer Nikon Coolpix 8700 for two years and I cursed the damn thing for 3 reasons - and these reasons still hold for all point & shoots:
* It was crap at low light photography
* It was even worse at action photography (and even candids) - I was constantly missing the moment due to slow AF, EVF lag, and shutter lag
* The viewfinder was horrible. You could barely compose a shot, never mind check for details.
In the end I bit the bullet and upgraded to a dSLR. Problem solved.

Answer 6

as oppossed to a digital camera? or a digital slr camera? it gives you more control over the photo.

Answer 7

Some reasons:
Ability to change lenses.
Big optical viewfinder
Low noise at high ISO (better for low light)
Excellent image quality
more features
quicker response.

Some downsides:
More costly.
big and heavy.
No video

Answer 8

Because you want one and you know it.