A modern digital SLR (the Pentax K10D), without a lens installed.Cross-section view of SLR system.The Kodak SLR/c: a full-frame DSLR
Browse a huge selection of digital cameras, camcorders and accessories at low prices. A better way to shop online!

Other Digital Cameras

A digital single-lens reflex camera (digital SLR or DSLR) is a digital camera that operates on the same optical and mechanical principles as a modern electronic autofocus 35mm film single-lens reflex camera. more...

Home
Bags, Cases & Straps
Binoculars & Telescopes
Camcorder Accessories
Camcorders
Digital Camera Accessories
Digital Cameras
Digital SLR
Other Digital Cameras
Parts & Repair
Point & Shoot
Specialty Digital Cameras
Film
Film Camera Accessories
Film Cameras
Film Processing & Darkroom
Flashes & Accessories
Lenses & Filters
Lighting & Studio Equipment
Manuals, Guides & Books
Photo Albums & Archive Items
Printers, Scanners &...
Professional Video Equipment
Projection Equipment
Stock Photography & Footage
Tripods, Monopods
Vintage
Wholesale Lots

The key difference is that the film is replaced with a CCD or CMOS image sensor plus accompanying electronics, thus creating images digitally in-camera, without the need to first chemically develop a latent image on film.

SLR design

The single-lens reflex (SLR) camera uses a mirror to show the image that will be captured in a viewfinder. The cross-section (side-view) of the optical components of an SLR shows how the light passes through the lens assembly (1), is reflected by the mirror (2) and is projected on the matte focusing screen (5). Via a condensing lens (6) and internal reflections in the roof pentaprism (7) the image appears in the eyepiece (8). When an image is taken, the mirror moves in the direction of the arrow, the focal-plane shutter (3) opens, and the image is projected in the sensor (4) in exactly the same manner as on the focusing screen.

Parallax-free optical viewfinder

The principal advantage of DSLR cameras over other digital cameras is the defining characteristic of an SLR: the image in the optical viewfinder is parallax-free, because its light is routed directly from the main lens itself, rather than from an off-axis viewfinder.

However this advantage of seeing the image exactly as it will be captured has been duplicated in many digital compact cameras in their LCD displays. The SLR still retains an advantage because the LCD images are electronically mediated and thus possess time lag, and also have relatively low resolution and brightness making it difficult to see details, especially in outdoor use. In contrast, the SLR's optical image is in real-time and is brighter and more detailed.

Fast phase-detection autofocus

Like most film SLRs, DSLRs typically use a phase detection autofocus system. This method of focus is very fast, and results in less focus "searching", but requires the insertion of a special sensor into the optical path, so it is usually only used in SLR designs. Compact cameras that use the main sensor to create a live preview on the LCD or electronic viewfinder need to use the slower contrast method of autofocus.

Interchangeable lenses

The ability to exchange lenses, to select the best lens for the current photographic need, and to allow the attachment of specialized lenses, is a key to the popularity of DSLR cameras, though not inherently unique to DSLRs. The diameters of the lenses for DSLRs are generally larger than for compact point-and-shoots, resulting in more light captured from the subject, allowing the option of using faster shutter speeds, especially in the case of low-light or moving subjects.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


Nikon D90 Digital Slr Camera +2 Pro Vr +8Gb Kit New $1,299.00 Canon Rebel Xti Eos 400D Camera+ Lens +4Gb~6 Bonus ~Blk $509.95
Olympus Evolt E-420 Digital 14-42 + 40-150mm Lens +4Gb $599.99 Nikon Coolpix S610 Digital Camera Black 10mp +4Gb New $259.95
Sony Dsc-W70 CyberShot Digital Camera 7.2-Mp 2.5" Lcd k $89.99 Canon Eos Rebel Xs Dslr w/Accessories $349.00
Kodak Easyshare C533 5.0 Mp Digital Camera $50.00 Nikon D200 Camera Body Mint Plus Ln+ Bonus $975.00
Fujifilm A400 4.1 Mp Digital Camera Parts Repair As Is $9.99 Sony Cybershot 5.0 Megapixel Digital Camera $49.99
Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera 4gb Huge Kit New Usa $529.00 Casio Exilim Ex-Z75 7.2Mp 3x Opt Digital Camera w/ 2Gb $79.95
Sony Dsc-H10 8.1Mp, 10x Zoom Digital Still - RitzCamera $119.99 Kodak Cd33 3.1 Mp Digital Camera Parts Repair As Is $9.99
Nr New Slim 12 Mp Digital Camera w/ Metal Body 2.4" Lcd $75.70 Samsung Digimax A402 Digital Camera $9.99
Sony CyberShot Dsc-S500 6.0 Mp Digital Camera Repair $49.99 Sony Cyber-Shot Dsc-S700 7.2 Megapixel Digital Camera $29.99
Hp Photosmart M537 6.0 Megapixel Digital Camera Nr $29.00 Kodak Easyshare Z760 6.1 Megapixel $66.00
Kodak Easyshare C653 6.1 Megapixel Digital Camera $19.00 Kodak Easyshare Z1285 12Mp Digital Camera +4Gb~5 Bonus $126.00
Konica Minolta Dimage Z1 3.2 $79.99 Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera +4gb Flash New Usa!! $529.00
Nikon Coolpix L6 6.0 Megapixel "As Is" $9.99 Sony Cyber-Shot 3.2 megapixels $8.00
~NeW~AmAziNg~SpiDeRmaN~Di GiTaL~CaMeRa & SoFtWaRe~NiP~ $29.99 Canon PowerShot G10 14.7 Mp Digital Camera New In Box $439.99
Canon PowerShot A2000 Is 10.0 Megapixel $1.00 Nikon D2X Body & 2 En-El4 & Mh-21 & 2 Straps & Manual $99.99
Casio Exilim Ex-Z150 Silver Mpn: Exz150Sr $162.00 Sony Dsc-T700 $325.00
Mint condition Konica Minolta Dimage Z3 Digital camera $5.00 Kodak Easyshare C813(T) Camera+~Printer G610+8Gb~7Bonus $149.95
New! UltraSlim 10 Mp Digital Camera Video ~2Gb Sd Bonus $69.95 Canon Eos Rebel Xsi Kit digital Slr camera w/ lens new $689.99
Samsung Digimax S860 Pink 8 Mega Pixel Digital Camera $74.99 Jazz Digital Camera With Mini Tripod And Photo Editing! $19.95
Nikon D200 10.2Mp Digital Slr Camera Body Only/Used $734.99 Canon 50D Eos Digital rebel Ef 28-135mm zoom lens New $1,379.99
Nikon D70 6.1Mp Digital Slr Camera Body/Used $293.99 RipRoar - Creation Statio - Nib Retails $169.99 - Gift! $47.99
New Kodak EasyShare Z1285 12 Mp Digital Camera $179.99 Hp Photosmart 120 Digital Camera + Bonus reg $110.00 $14.99
Sealed Polaroid i533 Digital Camera ~ 5 Mp~Pink +4Bonus $69.95 Olympus Fe-100 4.0 Megapixel Digital Camera 2.8 X Optic $49.99
Canon Eos-1Ds Mark Ii in Excellent shape $2,200.00 Polaroid i739 Magenta 7.0 Megapixel Digital Camera $1.00
Kodak Easyshare V550 5.0 Megapixel Digital Camera Case $49.99 New!~ Kodak C633 15xZoom Digital Camera + 4Gb ~ 5 Bonus $79.99
Click to see more Other Digital Cameras items
Prices current as of last update, 11/20/08 7:17pm.


Home Contact Resources Exchange Links eBay