Compact vs SLR Digital Cameras

Having purchased a lovely little compact camera,the Sony Cybershot W70 at the beginning of 2007, I found myself really getting into photography,something that I’ve always loved but now with a decent camera i was taking pictures everywhere I went. I took nearly 1000 photos on my 4 week trip to Australia and from then on I had this compact on me at all times ready for those snapshot moments. It takes fantastic photos and has loads of features on it.

Towards the end of the year, I thought it was time to invest in an SLR as I had just passed City and Guilds Level 1 photography course and was really starting to get to grips with the technical stuff. After reading loads of reviews, most of them Nikon DX40 versus Canon EOS400D, I favoured the Canon and bought a second hand (but immaculate) one from Ebay. Photography is an expensive hobby so I was pleased to save myself a few pounds.

It can be so tempting with SLRs to have one just because you feel you should and set it to auto all the time. I found myself doing this at the start, but I realised that the I could photos which were just as good as these on my trusty compact, so I realised it was time to read the manual and put into practise what I had learnt on my course, playing about with the aperture and shutter speed. Yes, it is very daunting and you can cheat sometimes by using the pre set modes such as landscape and sports mode which do create fantastic photos but at the end of the day it is research and practise that is going to improve my photography. I buy photography magazines which all have “how to” step by step guides on how to create different creative photographs. These are a great help in improving techniques.

Pracise makes perfect and I am still constantly referrring to the instruction manual and my own notes when not sure on which settings to go for, but the more I use the camera,the better my pictures become. When all is said and done, my compact camera takes great photos and is great to keep in my bag as it is so small and lightweight, but my SLR has loads of features to offer as I am hoping to progress with photography,maybe make a career out of it one day. I am hoping to purchase a new zoom lens for the SLR which will make all the difference when getting those shots that the compact would never reach. They are both fantastic cameras and both have their advantages and disadvantages. I wouldn’t be without either of them.

If the photography bug has bitten you, then start with a simple compact camera and take it from there. I am learning new stuff all the time, and still consider myself an amateur, but I am getting better all the time and learning some great techniques. There is nothing better than capturing a moment and having people admiring your work. Stick at it – I know it can be frustrating,because if you’re anything like me, you will want instant perfect results, but that’s not the way it goes with most things and photography is no different!