Tell me why SLR cameras are so cool!

[Andrea]

I know they are cool, but just not exactly why . . . .

I've heard about RAW, but do people use that all the time - or just for special occassions?

Hoping to upgrade to an SLR (I thnk!) in a few years and have wondered why they are so much better.

Also wondered about lenses - which ones are must haves?

Thanks!

[Hom74]

I love it for the bokeh (blur) :) I love that the pictures captured have more emotion left in it...closer to how I saw it w/my own eye.

Sure you can blur the bg in PS...but you can't really do it as nicely as what comes natural in SLRs. Here's (http://www.digishoptalk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=9334&cat=500&ppuser=12) an early photo I took with my new dSLR and it makes such a big difference even though I didn't know what I was doing. You just can't fake that gradual blur...easily and quickly lol.

I admit...I'm a bokeh addict. I also try for great blur in my photos - I just love the focus it brings to the intended subject.

I notice a big difference in the pictures I've taken pre and post dSLR.


*****ETA:
I originally wasn't gonna get a dSLR since I'm not really a photographer and thought it would be too much for me. But my sister convinced me. She said I will ALWAYS be drooling over other people's pictures. I may get other cameras...until finally I just jump and get a dSLR and will kick myself for not getting it earlier. It will save me money in the long run to just get that dSLR in the 1st place lol. she's right by the way lol.

Not all people use RAW. But professionals (most if not all) do b/c of the editing capibilities.

I would say to start with the 50mm f/1.8 (or 1.4) is a must have. the 50mm 1.8 is relatively cheap - about $70.

[bethwillis]

One of the biggest things to me is that the DSLR cameras are DIGITAL cameras that have manual settings. Meaning that I can set all of my own settings, Fstop, Shutter speed, ISO, white balance, saturation level, sharepn level, exposure compensation, etc. Being a photographer it's so nice to have the convenience of digital with a manual camera. I like Photoshop CS2 way better than a regular dark room because you have so much more room to play and go back and start over with the same image. If you are a photographer shooting film and not developing the film and pictures yourself in a regular dark room you don't have as much manipulation power over the image as you do when you shoot digiral if you are just having a lab develop them for you.

Regarding bokeh- you get that with a DSLR camera because of the manual settings, because you are able to set your Fstop so that the background will blur and change your focus area and depth of field. You can do this with a manual camera but if you want the convience of a digital camera you will want a DSLR.

I have a Nikon D70 and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!

My favorite lens on it is my Nikon 24-120 VR lens (Vibration Reduction feature) I love this feature because I can shoot at lower shutter speeds and still get good pictures.

The two lenses I'm saving up for right now are the Nikon 85mm 1.4 and the Nikon 18-200 VR lens.

[JennPatrick]

I don't have a single lens reflex camera but I wish I did! I can still do all the manual settings that Beth mentioned (Fstop, Shutter speed, ISO, white balance, saturation level, sharpen level, exposure comp, etc) and even though it's not SLR I have gotten great selective focus/bokeh, whatever you may call it, with my high end point and shoot, and I always shoot in raw for the same reason Beth mentioned. You can fix photos in photoshop, sure, but you just can't do it as well! It would be wonderful to have a DSLR! One day, one day, right now I can still take great pics with mine. As for lenses, since I don't have a DSLR I couldn't tell you the best for that but I have 5 lenses for my camera...one of them I would not want to be without is the macro lens! Another good thing to have is a polarizing filter or UV filter, those didn't cost much at all. Great for taking pics of water. I do think that macro would be one of the last lenses to get for most people unless you like to do lots of macro shots.

[DeeZee]

for me, the dSLR freed me to get shots I would have totally missed otherwise. Every press the shutter button only to have an empty photo as your toddler ran away? Ever take a photo of a recital or sporting event and get nothing but dark and unrecognizable shots? I can actually get all those shots and more now! I'm still learning about a lot of stuff, but all I can say is ditto what everyone else said and then some. I've pulled off some great shots for our family -- not professional quality but a heck of a lot better than anything I had been able to do!

[Sunni]

They are FAST!! You can catch things that you never could dream of with a point and shoot digital camera. There is virtually no shutter lag. They are also more tolerant of low light situations. I have a telephoto lens also and absolutely love it! I am still pretty much an Auto mode kinda girl at this point. I honestly don't know that I can even improve on that. I am now taking the best photos I have ever taken and I have my camera to thank for that. I now get the shots I see in my mind when I am pushing that button and I didn't in the past.

[sandra]

I am officially drooling now.... I so wanna upgrade!!! Thanks for starting this thread, ScrapHappy! I want to hear more!

[Andrea]

I'm so glad you guys knew what I meant when I said SLR - I really should have said DSLR - digital of course! Luckily you guys all knew . . .

I'm enjoying what you all have to say and appreciate it!

Thanks