Features

• One of the key features to an SLR camera is the ability to change lenses. The smaller compact cameras offer a built-in lens that has a set amount of zoom range. With an SLR camera, you can attach a variety of different lenses, getting as much or as little zoom as you want.
  
  SLR cameras react faster than others. They take the picture faster, record it faster and are ready to record the next frame faster than a compact camera. SLR cameras record images instantly, which gives photographers a huge advantage when trying to record fast-moving subject matter such as athletes, auto races and birds in flight.
  
  

Types

• There are two types of SLR cameras available on the market: film-based and the digital version, referred to as a DSLR.
  
  

Benefits

• Controlling shutter speed and the ability to stop fast-moving subjects are two benefits of using an SLR camera. Greater control over image exposure, and in-camera cropping using zoom, are also coveted features of an SLR.
  
  Since an SLR camera can accept a variety of lenses, the photographer can choose to shoot a wide scene or zoom in to get closer on a subject. Smaller compact cameras don't offer as much versatility.
  
  

Considerations

• SLR cameras can be heavy. With a lens and flash unit attached to the camera body, they may weigh 2 to 7 pounds. They require a larger camera bag and won't fit nicely into a pocket or purse. Taking an SLR camera to events can become cumbersome.
  
  The cost of an SLR camera is quite often more than a point-and-shoot-style camera. Film SLR camera bodies may cost only a few hundred dollars, while a digital camera body can start at $500 to $600 for a hobbyist model. Most SLR camera kits, including lenses, camera bag, flash unit, filters, batteries, chargers and accessories, can quickly cost more than $1,000.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Owning an SLR camera with more features doesn't automatically mean you will get great pictures. With more options available on the camera, you will need to learn how to use it correctly. The misconception is often that a bigger camera will take better pictures. A practiced photographer will take better pictures, not the camera.