A digital SLR camera will give you more creative control over your photography.

What is it? A digital single lens reflex (D-SLR) camera is a type of digital camera. It is different in several ways to the compact style of digital cameras that many Australians now own.

How so? The most obvious difference is its size. The body of a D-SLR is quite a bit larger than a compact digital camera. It is a similar size to the pre-digital 35mm single lens reflex film cameras.

Another difference is the price. A basic D-SLR starts at around $700, while you can pick up a decent compact digital camera for under $200. However, the gap between entry-level D-SLRs and high-end compacts is rapidly closing, and D-SLRs are growing in popularity.

Are there technical differences? Yes, and these are what account for the higher price.

Every digital camera has inside its body an image sensor. This is the equivalent of film; it converts a physical image into the digital information that is later downloaded to your computer as an image file. In a D-SLR, the image sensor is physically larger than a compact camera's. This can capture more information, which results in cleaner, higher-quality pictures.

In general, D-SLRs also offer better shooting performance. They have no shutter lag, more precise focus, a higher frame rate (the number of shots you can capture per second) and more control over depth of field.

One of the advantages of owning a D-SLR is that you can buy neat accessories for it, such as this remote LCD viewfinder.

Another key technical difference has to do with lenses. Compacts typically have one in-built, non-detachable lens, while a D-SLR accepts a wide range of interchangeable lenses. Similarly, you can buy a variety of neat accessories for a D-SLR that you can't use on a compact.

What are the advantages of a D-SLR?  Because of the factors listed above, a D-SLR camera gives you greater creative control over better quality pictures. No shutter lag means you don't miss crucial moments. And the camera can "grow" with your interest in photography - that is, you can add lenses and accessories as your skills improve.

What are the disadvantages? Compared with compacts, they are bulky, pricey and noisy when shooting. They may also require maintenance - for example, cleaning the image sensor to remove dust spots. However, some manufacturers are now making D-SLRs with an integrated dust-removal system.

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