What you need to know, from the kind of user you are to current technologies.
Digital SLR pros and cons
Digital SLR vs. prosumer digicam
 
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Greater lens versatility.
Several manufacturers' SLR lens systems offer more than 40 lenses, each optimized for its intended purpose. Sample from a smorgasbord of zooms, ultra-wide-angles, supertelephotos, and specialty optics such as macro and perspective-control lenses. |
Generally bigger and heavier.
The SLR mirror box and pentaprism add some weight and bulk compared to a point-and-shoot's design. Other factors include heavier, more durable materials and the need for larger batteries to power higher-performance components. That said, recent consumer models from Canon and Pentax are about as light and compact as the larger EVF cameras. |
Almost always better image quality at a given resolution. In other words, 5 megapixels from a digital SLR beats 5 megapixels from a typical digicam. This advantage is especially dramatic at higher light sensitivities (ISO 400 and greater).
(For more on the reason for this, see page 3.) |
Increased complexity. Choosing and changing lenses while shooting is an unwelcome chore for some folks. Plus, digital SLRs generally have a plethora of buttons and dials, which can intimidate some users. |
Better performance.
Typically, digital SLRs have faster autofocus, shorter shutter delay, faster continuous shooting, and a bigger memory buffer. |
Higher prices.
While the least-expensive digital SLRs are now available at prices that compete with non-SLR cameras, the price range for digital SLRs is generally higher. |
Usually a more functional "shooter's" design.
Some designs are better than others, but digital SLRs tend to have easily accessible thumb and forefinger wheels for exposure settings, discrete buttons for other critical features (exposure compensation, white balance), vertical position shutter releases, and just less menu surfing overall. |
Generally can't use the LCD for framing.
When you are composing with most digital SLRs, the mirror is bouncing light to the viewfinder, so no image is falling on the sensor. This means that you can't use a typical digital SLR's LCD for composition--it's for playback only. A couple of exceptions to this are Olympus's Evolt E-330 and Panasonic's Lumix DMC-L1. |
Greater flexibility.
Access to a much broader range of accessories, including powerful external flashes, alternate power sources, wireless transmitters, and remote triggering devices. |
|
Digital SLR vs. film SLR
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Instant results.
The instant review of your shots and the instant transmission capability (by e-mail or even via wireless transmitter, for instance) is the beauty of digital photography, regardless of whether the camera is an SLR or a standard digicam. |
Greater initial expense.
Feature for feature, digital SLRs tend to be two to four times more expensive than their film counterparts. |
Virtually no per-shot cost.
There's no film or processing expenses. Flash media and disk space are reusable. Your archiving media--CDs or DVDs, usually--can be counted as a per-shot expense, but it's tiny. |
Larger and bulkier.
Many digital SLRs are bigger and heavier than similar film cameras, although a number of newer models have narrowed this gap. |
Greater shooting flexibility.
The ability to change ISO sensitivity, white balance, and a host of other image parameters from shot to shot. |
Much greater power consumption.
Digital SLR batteries are bigger, more complex, and more expensive. Plus, keeping them charged and ready is a critical part of your photography routine. |
| |
Dust.
It inevitably accumulates on the sensor, which makes you think twice about changing lenses, tests your Photoshop correction skills, and may lead you to nerve-wracking adventures in cleaning fragile and frightfully expensive microelectronic surfaces. |
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