The realm of digital photography has expanded, and technology has improved to the point where professional photographers can comfortably make the transition from their 35mm film cameras (or SLR — “single lens reflex”) to fully professional digital cameras (”digital SLR”). The features provided by the latest digital SLR’s allow the photographer to review his or her captures, keep the good ones and discard any undesired shots. This is just the most basic benefit over the old film cameras, and we will take a look at some other ones in this article.
One of the best features of professional digital cameras is their ability to save shots in uncompressed formats like TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) and RAW. “RAW” is not actually a file type but a general term used to describe raw images that have not been processed yet and are stored as data. Every camera manufacturer has there own RAW extension system, for example; Sony’s “.arw”, or Nikon’s “.nef”. Professional photographers need these uncompressed images so that they can edit them from the base up with software on their computer. This is a huge jump from traditional professional photography, which required a dark room to even be feasible. Want to remove the top of Uncle Frank’s head , that accidentally got into focus in your best photo of the bride and groom? This is possible with software programs that use uncompressed image files.
You can also switch out the lenses on professional digital cameras like you would with traditional professional cameras. This is great, as professional photographers can have an array of lenses for their digital cameras much like they would with any other camera. Lenses come in all kinds of configurations, from zoom depth, telephoto, wide angle, macro and prime lens. Some lenses have a set aperture or exposure ratio, while others allow manual control. This provides the user with multiple shooting options, instead of being restricted to the one lens of, say, a regular digital camera.
These are powerful tools because you can combine the special lenses, the uncompressed photos, and the photo editing software you can use will make it possible for you to be a sort of unstoppable force. While these features are certainly not necessary for just anyone taking photographs, they are valuable tools for any enthusiast or professional. Although true diehards still use the 35mm film SLR cameras, the DSLR crosses the fine line between portability and ease of use.
The DSLR photographer can more easily share files with others on a team, for example, working on a magazine photo shoot. A traveling photographer doesn’t have to wait to return home and have his or her film processed in a dark room before viewing the results. DSLRs bring technology and convenience to these people, at the same time providing more control over their shots and more quality pictures.
Looking to move from your old Nikon or other brand of professional camera and into the digital age? These days, professional digital models are just as viable as traditional models.