Whether you have been taking pictures for some time, or just recently began following a photography course online, sooner or later you will probably face a decision. Do you need to change to a digital SLR, or upgrade the DSLR you own already? Behind any great picture, it is the photographer taking the image - not the camera. But access to the best equipment you can afford certainly helps. As long as you invest time to learn how to use it properly, you can ensure you are always in control - not the camera.
The first, and most obvious, advantage of using a digital SLR will be in picture quality. You could compare a compact with, say, 7 megapixels, and an SLR with 3 megapixels, and assume the compact must produce better pictures. More megapixels equals higher quality, surely? Well, actually - no. Image sensors on compacts tend to be smaller than their DSLR equivalent - and having so many pixels packed tightly onto the sensors can create 'noise' - i.e. when looked at closer the photo will show up small dots or freckles.
Another advantage a DSLR gives is the ability to shoot and save your images in a variety of formats. The well-known JPEG is catered for, but a DSLR will also enable you to save images in RAW format. Whilst these are usually large files when saved, the trade offs more than outweigh this. Firstly, the RAW image will produce better quality and detail than a JPEG. Also, when carrying out post-production in Photoshop or equivalent program, RAW images allow much more finely tuned manipulation, which can make a considerable difference to the final image. A good photography course online will provide further details on using RAW images.
A DSLR will be able to handle a wide range of photographic situations. This is possible due to the vast array of lenses available on the market. You can attach a lens for any situation, confident that results are only constrained by your own personal skill and imagination. For example, you could add a telephoto lens if you want to get in close to a subject that is far away, or a wide angle lens to capture landscapes. Macro lenses enable you to get up close and personal to nature's creatures, and can result in the most astonishing of photographs.
These are only a few examples of the advantages of using a DSLR. Certainly, if you are serious about your hobby, then a DSLR should be a serious consideration. When following a photography course online, there will be assignments that benefit from the increased quality and flexibility that a DSLR offers. All I would say is that once you have experienced a DSLR, you may not feel like using a compact camera again.
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