what are the key differences between a slr-like camera and a regular point and shoot?

Answer 1

Differences depend a lot on the specific brand and model however generally ...

SLR-like cameras ...

1) Have a longer zoom
2) Provide more control over things like exposure etc
3) Have a larger lens and thus more aperture choices
4) Have a larger sensor thus higher image quality
5) Provide a more powerful flash
6) Usually always have an optical view finder
7) Are larger and heavier than P&S cameras
8) Are easier to work by people with large hands
9) Have a larger range of options and features
10) Are usually, but not always, more expensive.
11) Are usually more robustly built.
12) The ability to connect an external flash on most
13) Sometimes the availability of additional lenses

Generally the physical package is larger in these cameras so it's possible to build in considerably mroe sophistication than is possible in a smaller container.

That said though, some P&S cameras can be as sophisticated as the SLR-like cameras, and some can even be more expensive. The major differences in that area tends to be the range of the zoom and the aperture and sometimes the number of external controls.

Usually you're looking at an SLR-like camera if you're a real camera buff who demands control and many photographic features without spending the money on an SLR. Often people like that also don't want to get into the complexities and weight of SLRs so they opt for this type as a reasonable compromise and good value.

Now if you're asking about the difference between an SLR and a P&S, that's a different issue. SLRs offer ...

1) A huge ranges of different lenses
2) A huge range of lighting options and flash
3) Sophisticated features you can't get in anything less
4) A growth path allowing you to upgrade the body and still use all the accessories
5) Must faster more reliable performance.
6) Higher resolutions at the upper end of the models
7) A larger sensor and therefor higher image quality
8) More external controls
9) A much broader range of apertures and shutter speeds
10) Greater weight and cost too
11) You see through the lens so you know exactly what you're photographing

Like with the SLR-like camera, the SLR is an even bigger package so again there is more room to build in more capabilities. But the biggest difference here is that an SLR is a marriage. The moment you buy an accessory you're stuck with that brand for life unless you're willing to give up what you invested. With an SLR-like camera and a point and shoot camera you can easily change brands when you grow out of the camera you're using.

I hope this answers your question.

Answer 2

The important differences to you as a photographer, are two main capabilities of a true SLR type digital camera.
1)Assuming your SLR has an optical viewfinder, you can manually focus the camera, this gives you major control instead of getting what the auto focus of a point and shoot gives you.
2)You can stop the lens down, usually to f22 whereas a point and shoot is limited to f8. This again gives you major control of depth of field.

Answer 3

First and foremost is the ability to interchange a wide variety of lenses- closeup lenses, wide angle lenses, telephoto lenses, lenses with wide apertures for low light situations. Secondly there are so many more flash options with an external flash- bounce flash, multiple flash set ups, off camera flash, and more. Some point and shoot, compact cameras do have some of the same modes and options as an SLR, such as aperture priority, all manual mode, shutter priority and a host of automatic modes for scenics, portraits and close ups, so that is not necessarily the essential difference. With an SLR, you can grow in knowledge of photograph as you add to the system's capability- something you can't really do with a compact- even a capable one.

Answer 4

Basically a point and shoot has no options or only a few. You can't change exposition time and lens aperture in detail. Sometimes only a setting for indoor/outdoor/flash.

The other cameras allow you to change all the possible settings separated.