What Digital SLRs Can't Do
With all of the hype, it's
easy to lose track of something.
Digital
Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras don't have all of the same features
as compact cameras.
While a
digital SLR is the ideal camera for the photographer
who wants more control, they aren't for everyone.
Before you rush out
to buy one, you should know what a digital SLR can't do.
No Photo Preview
If you own a compact
digital camera, do you ever hold the camera up to your face to take a
photo?
I doubt it.
With a compact camera,
it's much easier to use the LCD on the back of the camera to set up your
shot.
You won't be able
to do this with a digital SLR.
The majority of digital
SLR cameras don't have this live LCD preview mode. While you can use the
LCD to adjust camera features and playback photos, you can't see the photo
you're about to take.
As of April 2006 there
is only one SLR with a live preview mode - the Olympus E330 - which helps
narrow your options if this is a feature you really want.
No Movie Mode
Digital SLR cameras
don't moonlight as video cameras.
They exist to take
still photos, and that is all that they do.
If you want your camera
to take short video clips along with your photos, you'll have to consider
either a compact digital camera or SLR-like compact camera.
The SLR-like camera
will have many features of a digital SLR, but will still include the movie
mode that a digital SLR lacks.
No Electronic Zoom
If you own a compact
digital or have done some research, you know that these cameras have electronic
zooms.
There is a lever on
the camera somewhere that lets you zoom the lens in and out.
This lever is convenient,
because you can zoom right in on your subject with only one hand on the
camera.
With a digital SLR,
you'll need two hands.
None of the digital
SLR zoom lenses are electronic, which means that you have to hold the
camera with one hand and zoom the lens with the other.