Difference Between DSLR and Point and Shoot

The term ‘camera’ is used to refer to a device that is used to take pictures or videos. It comprises a lightproof chamber with a lens and shutter. There are various types of cameras used for professional or daily use like mirrorless cameras, film cameras, smartphone cameras and many others. Camera used by different people depend on their needs and preferences.

DSLR and Point and Shoot

The main difference between DSLR and Point and Shoot is that DSLR cameras offer more control compared to the latter in terms of aperture and shutter speed. At the same time, controlling point and shoot cameras become difficult in manual mode which is not the case in DSLR cameras. DSLR cameras offer flexible controls in comparison to point and shoot cameras.

DSLR stands for digital single-lens reflex camera. It is a type of camera offering high quality images used by both professionals and amateurs. It allows one to take a close look at the picture and visualize the same through the viewfinder. It is the perfect amalgamation of single lens reflex camera and digital imaging sensor.

Point and Shoot is another type of digital camera. It is also known as a ‘P&S’ or compact camera. It is a simple, automatic digital camera perfect for people wanting better pictures than a smartphone at affordable prices without any complexity of a lavish camera. This is because of its built-in zoom lens and flash.

Comparison Table Between DSLR and Point and Shoot

Parameters of Comparison	DSLR	Point and Shoot
Use	Used by professional photographers and hobbyists	Best for casual use
Level of skill required	Higher as compared to point and shoot; knowledge of techniques required	Lower in comparison to DSLR cameras; very simple to use
Manual Control options	Offers many manual control options	Works best with automatic settings
Customisation	Allows many finely tuned settings	Not many customisations available
Size	Heavier and larger	Smaller and lighter
Format of pictures	RAW, JPEG or TIFF	JPEG
Preview of shots	Available	Lacking
Cost	Expensive	Comparatively less expensive

What is DSLR?

DSLR is a high-end camera used by all professional photographers. It is the most popular type of camera. The quality of images captured by it is 1000 times better than a regular smartphone picture making it perfect for professional use.

It has the capability of capturing 10 shots per second. It has customisation options available with different sensor sizes. It has interchangeable lenses which come in handy to meet our various needs. Unlike digital cameras, these interchangeable lenses provide more manual control and more options.

A DSLR camera has a bigger sensor than most cameras providing better image quality. Its pictures have less noise allowing photographers to work in very low light conditions. It also has a viewfinder allowing us to take a good look at the pictures before capturing the shot.

The best part about DSLR cameras is that it can be used without any problems in extreme weather conditions. It works best while taking landscape pictures. It has the power to stand snow, dust, moisture, rain and severely cold weather. However, DSLR cameras are heavy and are not easy to maintain and use.

Canon and Nikon are the market leaders in this segment. Fuji, Sigma and Pentax also provide DSLRs.

What is Point and Shoot?

Point and Shoot is another type of digital camera. These are easy to use cameras most suitable for casual needs like vacation pictures or creating a documentary. Coming with variable focal length and fixed lens, it does not offer many customisation options.

These cameras have zoom lenses that are already built in. It comes with image stabilization perfect for casual photographers who do not want to worry about the settings and are comfortable with automated settings. Some manual settings are provided but it works best with automated ones.

These cameras are the most affordable options. Many a times, they are available at a price lower than a smartphone. These are quite comfortable to travel with due to their sleek and compact design, making it easy to put anywhere. However, due to the small size the quality of images is not as good as DSLRs.

These cameras cannot be upgraded in terms of external accessories, and camera’s original features. They provide a large depth of field putting the whole scene in focus. On the other hand, due to large depth the foreground cannot be separated from the background. They do not work best for shooting at night.

Main Differences Between DSLR and Point and Shoot

DSLR cameras are high end cameras used by professional photographers and hobbyists. On the other hand, point and shoot cameras are digital cameras used by casual photographers.

For using a DSLR camera one needs to be equipped with all the technological knowhow. Though, point and shoot cameras can even be used by novices.

DSLR cameras offer various manual control options which is not the same for point and shoot cameras.

DSLR cameras are larger and heavier in weight whereas point and shoot cameras are lighter and smaller. Point and shoot cameras can fit anywhere and occupies a very small space.

DSLR cameras are comparatively more expensive than point and shoot ones.

The format of pictures in DSLR is RAW, JPEG or TIFF whereas point and shoot provide pictures in JPEG format only without providing preview of shots.

Conclusion

Thus, a DSLR is different from a point and shoot camera in terms of size, image quality, prize and modifications. DSLR cameras do not provide ease of use like the latter cameras. Also, it demands greater skill. On the other hand, point and shoot cameras are great for everyday use and come at a cheaper price.

Both these models are great. Though, the camera one needs depend on their requirements and specification needed.

References

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