Best Digital Cameras

Digital cameras are more popular than ever before. In fact, according to eMarketer, global camera sales will reach $23 billion by 2020. This growth has been fueled by the popularity of smartphones, which now come with built-in cameras. 

So if you have a camera on your phone should you consider investing in a DSLR or Mirrorless camera? And what makes them different from traditional point-and-shoot cameras or the camera on your phone?

DSLR and Mirrorless cameras use and offer many features that were previously only available on professional level camera models. 

While point-and-shoots or camera phones are so easy to use that a child can operate them, they aren’t as good at taking pictures as a dedicated digital camera.

This is because digital cameras have more features than point-and-shoot models. These features allow you to adjust settings such as shutter speed, aperture, and ISO sensitivity. All of which allow you creative control over the quality and style of the image.

Think of a bicycle vs a car. Both are great forms of transportation and can get you from one place to another. The bicycle is much smaller and easier to move around and store. Though obviously a car has many features that a bicycle doesn’t.

Does this mean you shouldn’t own a car if you own a bicycle? Or course not. Both have different reasons for owning them.

Point-and-shoot cameras, similar to the bicycle, are generally cheaper than digital cameras, but they’re not nearly as capable. In fact, they often lack some of the features found on higher-end digital cameras.

Ease of Use and Use Case

While not as easy to use as a smartphone, most DSLRs are easy to get started with. Then you have the option to dive much deeper to adjust and refine the results and level of control you want.

Point -and-shoot cameras are designed to take pictures quickly and easily.

This also allows for an inexpensive option for people who just want to snap a few quick shots without having to worry about too much technical stuff.

However, there are other uses for a DSLR camera, beyond just taking photos. For example, you might use one to record a short video while also capturing a still, or even make a stop motion animation.

Then there are different types of photography. As long as you have a camera body with solid specs, you can switch from wide angle to telephoto lenses, to capture landscapes to wildlife photography.

While at one time it might have seemed strange for someone to have multiple pairs of shoes. Many people have a pair of shoes specifically for running, or just for formal occasions. 

The same is true for lenses. A DSLR or Mirrorless camera allow you to have a set of lenses so you can cater to specific features of the types of photography you’re interested in.

Lifespan of a Digital Camera

While not true of everyone, many people end up getting a new phone about every 3 or 4 years. This can be good, since newer phones will typically have better cameras and image technology. Although with the current landscape, every phone is just trying to get closer to the specs of even a basic DSLR camera.

DSLR’s have a much longer lifespan. Models from over 10 years ago are still great cameras, especially if you’re looking for something that’s entry level. 

Plus, the camera lenses are typically more important than the camera body. Buying a camera that has a broad and quality camera lens base is really important.  Many photographers start with a lower end model and then upgrade the camera body while still using the same camera lenses.

Just know that camera lenses aren’t really transferable between brands (at least not easily in most cases). Also, lenses designed for a DSLR camera model won’t fit a Mirrorless camera body, even if they are from the same camera brand.

Superior Image Quality

Due to simple physics it’s not possible to have even the most advanced phone be superior to a quality DSLR or Mirrorless camera.

Point-and-shoot cameras are generally cheaper than digital cameras, but they’re not nearly as capable. In fact, they often lack features found on higher-end digital cameras.

Again, camera lenses are one of the major reasons you get such better image quality.

First off, a DSLR or Mirrorless will have a much larger senser than a phone camera. This sensor is what collects the light/image information. As a simplified statement, a larger sensor gives you better images.

The size and quality of the camera lens is what funnels the light to the camera sensor. Again, as a simplified statement, a larger lens allows for more light (aka: information) to get to the sensor.

So most camera phones do a lot of digital manipulation to the images in order to compensate for the limited senor and lens sizes that they can have.

For example, newer camera phones have a “portrait” mode, that artificially blurs the background and helps the subject stand out. While this technology will continue to get better, that’s a feature that cameras have had since back in the days of film photography.