What is a DSLR Camera?

Whether you are just getting into photography or are an established pro, you have likely heard the term DSLR everywhere. They tend to be the standard camera choice since they are very versatile and can work with many interchangeable lenses.

So, what exactly is a DSLR Camera? Keep reading to find out!

DSLR stands for digital single-lens reflect – or a digital SLR camera. It is a digital camera that combines a digital imaging sensor with the mechanisms and optics of a single-lens reflex camera.Let’s break that down further. Digital refers to the fact that the camera works with a fixed digital sensor. The single-lens portion means that the camera utilizes one lens for focusing, framing, and actually taking the photo – which is very different from rangefinder construction that does not allow you to view the image from the lens that will be capturing the photo. With non-DSLR cameras, you have to rely on different methods to set up the shot. The R in DSLR stands for reflex, which is the system that uses a mirror to direct the light coming in towards the viewfinder so you can see an optical view of what you are capturing.

The reflex design scheme is what sets DSLR cameras apart from other types of digital cameras. When the light travels through the lens, it connects with a mirror that alternates so that it can send the image to a prism – which displays the image on the viewfinder – or to the image sensor.
The benefit of this is that when you look through the viewfinder, you see what the camera is going to capture when the shutter is released.

Brief History of DSLR Cameras

In 1986, Nikon produced the first DLSR camera prototype. They went on to release the first commercial digital SLR camera in 1988. The next decade saw an influx of other DSLR camera manufacturers such as Kodak, Canon, Fujifilm, and Sony.

Since then, DSLR cameras have only gotten more sophisticated, with the number of megapixels found in the imaging sensors rapidly increasing. Greater emphasis has also been placed on focus speed, frame rates, high ISO performance, and eliminating digital noise.
Benefits of DSLR Cameras.

One of the primary benefits of the DLSR camera’s construction is that you see exactly what you are going to shoot. The reflex mirror lets you see directly through the lens that is taking the photo, ensuring that you can set up the shot properly.

The image quality is also significantly better on DSLR cameras since the sensors are much bigger than those on traditional point and shoot cameras. This allows the camera to reduce the noise and grain you see on the final image.

DSLR cameras also offer better sensitivity to light, so you can work in darker environments than you could with a point and shoot lens. This is also due to improved shutter and focus speeds, and the fact that digital SLR cameras can take up to 10 frames per second!