Digital cameras come in numerous shapes, sizes, prices and capabilities. This usually leaves a lot of novices confused. While it is easy to get lost in this plethora, it is important to note that digital cameras are mainly categorised by lens and sensor type and how these are affixed to the camera body. As of 2010 there are only for digital camera categories, the latest having joined the family as recent as 2009.
Compact digital cameras
Interchangeable Lens Compact
Compact digital cameras, also known as point-and-shoot cameras, are specially designed to be small and portable and are particularly suitable for casual photography. The smallest of these are known as ultra-compacts and they measure less than 20mm in thickness. In order to attain their compact and portable nature, they mostly combine a fixed lens and small sensor in a retractable assembly.
Cheap Sony NEX-5N 16.1 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Camera with Touchscreen - Body Only (Black) Discount Review Shop
Cheap "Sony NEX-5N 16.1 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Camera with Touchscreen - Body Only (Black)" Discount Review Shop
"Sony NEX-5N 16.1 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Camera with Touchscreen - Body Only (Black)" Feature
- DSLR quality in your pocket
- Up to 10 fps shooting to capture the decisive moment
- 16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS image sensor
- Full HD movie shooting 60p/24p
- Photo Creativity Touch provides easy access to image adjustments
"Sony NEX-5N 16.1 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Camera with Touchscreen - Body Only (Black)" Overview
The performance of a DSLR, in about half the size and weight. The NEX-5N is the interchangeable lens camera that fits in your pocket. Enjoy Full HD 1080/60p or 24p movies, astounding low-light pictures, continuous shooting up to 10 fps, incredible panorama shots, and 3.0-inch tiltable Live View touch screen LCD. [if ]Customer Reviews
Because of their small size, compact cameras have to trade-off a lot of features, automating most of those that cannot be dispensed with. This kind of trade-off often results in poor delivery in some instances. Notably, those that have a flash, it is usually tiny with-short range capabilities; in order to maximize on storage space, all compacts capture photos in JPEG format which is not the best place to start for photo-editing. Also because compact digital camera lens are built into a retractable assembly, their zoom capability is often limited to three times. However, recent technology advances have seen some great strides made in most areas including increased optical zoom ranges of up to ten times, picture stabilization and face recognition, just to mention a few.
Digital SLR cameras
Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras are those film cameras with protruding lens from yesteryears. Digital SLR (DSLR) is its computerized version. Instead of using film, the Digital SLR uses digital memory cards and light sensor chips. SLR cameras enable the photographer to view the subjects using a mirror mechanism in the body whereby the light coming through the lens is reflected at an angle to a separate optical viewfinder. In order to capture an image the mirror is flipped out of the way, allowing light to fall on the imager behind it. The distinctive "clack" sound you hear when the picture is taken using SLR camera comes from the mirror flipping out of the way at the moment of exposure.
SLRs also uses interchangeable lens, all with different focal lengths, allowing for close-ups or long ranger macro photography. DSLR cameras are some of the best selling camera as they have the look and feel of the old professional cameras. But while they look like their ancestors, they are not as complicated to use due to the advancing digital technology. A novice who is intimidated by the old manual controls of focusing, light and speed controls can simply switch to 'auto mode' and everything will be automatically set for you. However, it is this very manual manipulation option that remains a major attraction for most uses, professional and enthusiasts alike.
Bridge cameras
Bridge cameras, is sort of a hybrid, having the looks and some features of the DSLR but also share with compacts the use of a fixed lens and a small sensor. They do not have retractable mechanism for lens and sensor. But unlike compacts, many bridge cameras come with manual focus mode, in some instances, even carrying a separate focus ring for ease of use. And since they have a long lens feature, albeit fixed, bridge cameras tend to come with high-end lenses with large zoom range and fast aperture. Image stabilization is almost always standard.
Mirror-less interchangeable lens camera
Making its entry in 2009, the digital, mirror-less. interchangeable lens camera is basically a DSLR with one exception: it has no mirror box, hence its name. Since it cannot use a mirror to reflet the image to a view finder, this camera uses the live preview viewing system of compact cameras, either through a rear LCD or viewfinder. And unlike the bridge camera, the mirror-less comes with interchangeable lenses capabilities of DSLRs.
Conclusion
It is important to understand that there are several subcategories emanating from these four and, at the rate technology is growing, there could as well be other categories in the near future. In the final analysis, however, digital camera categorization of today is defined by lens and sensor types and how these are connected to the camera body.
Digital Camera Categories - How to Tell Them Apart
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