Now that we have digital sensors which can be exposed to light repeatedly, why are SLRs still around? Wouldn't a digital viewfinder or a simple LCD be less bulky and prone to failure in addition to allowing shorter focal lengths? Are SLRs just a holdover from the analog days or is there some sort of advantage that I'm missing?
120938
I came across this  on Stuck in Customs today that makes a strong case to hold off too much investment in DSLR gear, and instead switch to mirror-less cameras like the Sony NEX. The author prefers to call such cameras 3rd generation cameras to prevent any bias.  The crux of the argument lies in the smaller size and faster shooting speeds of the new cameras, while the sensor size is an area where they seem to be lacking (Sony &amp; Samsung cameras are APS-C sized though). Currently the big makers - Nikon &amp; Canon - have practically no presence in this market (Nikon seems to be doing something with the V1). However, they seem to have slowed down the introduction of new entry level DSLR models over the last year as well.  So, as DSLR users looking to build and enhance their kit (there are many like me who've jumped the bandwagon over the last couple of years, and are just starting to build their kit), what are the advantages of sticking with the DSLR system rather than switching to the 3rd gen cameras?  IMO, one point that could cause a massive switch in the DSLR base would be if Nikon &amp; Canon announced mirror-less models compatible with their current lens lineups, but that is a hypothetical scenario.  P.S. There is a similar question on mirror-less cameras, but that seems to be from the perspective of a person starting out rather than a person already invested in the DSLR system.
6015
This week I've read two news stories about two different camera lenses that can magnify things that are very far away.  The first is the , which is a point-and-shoot camera that costs $600, has an 83x optical superzoom lens ("the same field of view as a 2,000mm lens on a full-frame camera"), and lets you see the craters of the moon.  The second is the , which weighs 36 pounds, costs $180,000, and can take portraits of people a half mile away.  A non-photographer might ask, "Why would somebody spend their life savings on a gigantic telescope of a lens when you could take far away pictures with a handheld camera for 1/300th the price?"  Well, I am basically a non-photographer, and I would like to ask that question. What does the big one give you that the little one doesn't provide? I understand that small changes in lenses can make a big difference in size and price, but this seems to be of a different scale entirely.   What is going on with the optics of the lenses that makes the small one able to be so small and the big one have to be so...big?   I'm trying to get a basic intuition for what makes lenses different, and I realize I don't understand enough about how lenses work to even know how to compare these apples and watermelons.
19515
I basically decided on a whim (from reading this site, talking to some friends, and always admiring great photos) that I want to get into photography.  Are there disadvantages to starting out with a prosumer camera like the Nikon D7000? I know stuff will be more expensive, but will there also be greater frustration or complexity?  (I am the kind of person who tries to find reasons to justify the extra cost even when I know deep down that it's not necessary...)
63349
I have found film reels some with tails of film others not. Is there a way of telling if they have been exposed/used in a camera? Film types are for 35mm and one Kodak Advantix.
115379
I have a Canon 60D, bought it back in 2013. Use it quite a while, but in past two-three years, I lost interest in photography. I will be going on a long trip this summer and would like to take a decent camera with me. Is Canon 60D still a decent one or I will be missing on features and upgrades comparing to the latest versions?  In terms of lenses I own Tamron 24-70 2.8 And Canon 100 2.8 Macro.
73148
We all buy a new digicam/DSLR every now and then.  So what web sites do you use to get more information about cameras and compare them? Where do you look for technical information, camera reviews, recommendations, comparison tables, and so on?  (There isn't one right answer for this, so this is a Community Wiki question.  Please put one website recommendation per answer - if you know more websites, just write one answer for each one.)
97191
I shoot a Nikon D800, but this question applies to any DSLR.  (I suspect DSLRs are harder on batteries than more compact cameras, so let's stick to this camera family.)  I recently had one of my camera batteries fail.  The weird thing is that the battery was about a year newer than the one that's still fine.  (I put a label with the date acquired on them, so I can keep them straight.)  The deceased battery was about four years old; the good one is five.  I've picked up two more batteries just to be sure (I don't know how much longer the old one will continue working well) but what sort of lifespan is to be expected?  I realize it will vary by usage and depth of discharge, and my batteries tend to be gently used and not deeply discharged before recharging.  I have a fairly busy life so most of my photography tends to be while traveling, and then I will do it intensely for a few days or couple of weeks before the camera gets a good rest again.  What have your experiences been, and what should I be expecting?
66172
I'm looking to buy a new camera. I've looked at  and decided that mirrorless is right for me. But what next?   What should I be looking for when shopping for a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (and what should I not be concerned with)?
97974
I know cell phone cameras are generally wide angle, which makes sense because  people wanna go out to dinner, or a show, or at the park with their kids, and they want to get the whole scene. And even though digital zoom is horrible...if anyone needs to get closer, they zoom.   I am not in a rush to get a wide angle lens for my DSLR just yet. For now, I believe that I can get away with just using my phone for wide shots. And yes, I know it is not necessarily the same because the available aperture and things like this.   However, I recently learned that even smartphone pictures may have EXIF metadata in them. For my phone's camera, it gave me a focal length of 5mm. Now I understand the sensor size on the cameras are much smaller, so how do I calculate the 35mm-equivalent?   Does anyone know what the focal lengths are on cell phones?
32182
I have a Canon 20D. I'd love to take some photos of the moon and stars.   How do I get started?  I've search the web and the information is sparse and cryptic.   I'd like to know what equipment is the best for a beginner and what I should try taking a photo of first... besides the moon :).
55944
Is there any way, shape, or form that ultraviolet light is recorded by a digital sensor?  Ideally, this question is related strictly to the sensor, without even a glass lens in between which could cut or block UV light.  But of course I don't take pictures with a bare sensor, I also have a lens, so I'd also like to know how much UV gets to the sensor to begin with.
6454
It has been mentioned at    that a larger sensor results in images with a shallower depth of field. Example image:          I understand how sensor size would relate to, for example, field of view, but the relationship with depth of field does not seem straightforward.  It actually seems contradictory - I have more wells on my sensor, and I am able to focus on less number of points.  What is the reason for this effect?
48640
Why does a flash freeze a picture even if I use a shutter speed like 1/10 sec?  I don't understand it, because the light will hit the sensor the whole time, not just when the flash is fired.
27134
I've got a couple of spots of dust on the sensor of my Canon 20D. A rocket blower isn't shifting them, and I'm ridiculously scared of some of the more direct methods for cleaning sensors — what methods/systems have you tried, and how successful have they been?
11616
Some flagship-level smartphones today come with excellent cameras, at least for their own use-cases. Sometimes you don't really need more than that in most of the photos you'll shoot, and thinking about a "better" camera experience isn't an easy task if you already have a "good enough" smartphone camera sensor.  However, I am looking to "upgrade" my photographical experience, without spending too much on high-end equipment and lenses, but at the same time without going for cheaper quality models that modern smartphones might actually beat in some cases.  Finding the right balance is not an easy task, you might look at a photo and say, "My smartphone shoots better than this", or look at another photo and think, "It does look better, but I don't see much of a difference to justify the price", and today's world of modern standalone cameras is not small, it certainly has many different models, which is why I've come here to ask, is there any camera model that satisfies or at least comes very close to my requirements? I am aware that I might be vague, and some photography professionals may perhaps request much more details than what I've offered you, but I hope you understand the gist of what I'm trying to say, even if I cannot express it well in words.  I have looked at mirrorless/MLIC models, but I'm not sure if they're the right type for my use case.
82701
So,  (credit to mattdm for pointing it out) says:     Firstly, when you turn the lens around you obviously lose the CPU connection between the lens and the camera, so say goodbye to autofocus, metering (in most cases) and aperture control (though I’ll come back to that)   Then:       The advantage of this old lens is that it has a manual aperture ring, which neatly neutralises the loss of automatic control mentioned above.   So, since G lenses don't have an aperture ring, aperture can't be controlled anyhow if we reverse the lens?    Secondly, is it practical that we set the metering and the aperture (manually) before taking the lens out and reversing it?  Is there any other way to get around this problem in G lenses (assuming that the camera bodies have the manual focus, aperture, metering controls)?
49821
Why should I put up with the inconvenience of lugging around a DSLR?  They look cool, but is there more substance to it?