Compact Camera vs DSLR Camera Difference


By Arindam Roy

What’s the difference between a compact camera and DSLR camera? The DSLR camera has a viewfinder, which allows you to use a bright light to take photos. It can also be used as a video recorder. The compact camera has no viewfinder, only an optical viewfinder that takes photos and videos. Compact cameras are usually cheaper than DSLRs, but they don’t have as many features as the DSLR.

 

This blog post will compare and contrast features of both types of cameras in order to help decide which one is best for you. To learn more, continue reading or go to the next article in this series called: Comparison of compact camera vs DSLR camera difference.

Compact Camera vs DSLR Camera – Key Differences

Compact cameras vs DSLR cameras: touch screen vs non-touch screen

 

What is the difference between a touch screen and a non-touch screen? Well, it’s actually quite simple. A non-touch screen usually means that the display doesn’t have all the same buttons as a touch screen display does.

 

Which is better touch screen or non-touch screen? Well, that’s really up to you. It just comes down to personal preference in the end. The touch screen can be very convenient for some people, but it is also nice to have some of those buttons that a non-touch screen has as well.

DSLR vs Point and shoot f32bdce202214b7e9710a3db837f2872

Also read: Top Cheapest DSLR Cameras in India – Buying Guide

Compact cameras vs DSLR cameras: optical zoom vs digital zoom

 

What is the difference between optical zoom and digital zoom? Optical Zoom uses a lens to get closer to the subject without any loss in quality. Digital Zoom however just makes the image bigger on the display and isn’t actually zooming in any closer, so it tends to be less clear and result in grainy pictures.

 

Which is better optical zoom or digital zoom? Well, this one is a little bit harder to answer, as it really depends on the camera you have. Digital Zoom can be a problem in general, and some cameras don’t even give you the option of turning it off. If your camera has an optical zoom though, it will be better than digital zoom every time.

 

Compact cameras vs DSLR cameras: image resolution vs video resolution

 

What is the difference between image and video resolution? Image Resolution means how many pixels are on your camera’s display. This determines how clear your photos will be. Video Resolution is the same thing, but for videos instead of photos.

Read more: Top DSLR Cameras You Can Buy Below ₹40000

Which is better image or video resolution?

 

Well, if you want to print your photos at home, you will need a camera with a higher image resolution. If you want to make posters or gifts for friends and family, then a lower resolution will be fine. A lot of cameras these days also have the option of taking high definition pictures, which means there are even more pixels on that display. Also if you want to edit your pictures at home, then it would be worth getting a higher resolution.

 

Compact cameras vs DSLR cameras: optical viewfinder vs digital viewfinder

 

What is the difference between an optical viewfinder and a digital viewfinder? Optical Viewfinders are the ones you get with DSLR cameras. They allow you to take photos with a nice big bright screen that takes up most of the back of your camera. This is great for taking pictures in areas where there just isn’t much light, because it makes it really easy to see. Digital Viewfinders on the other hand are like your phone or tablet’s display, except bigger. They still work great in low light situations, but aren’t quite as good as an actual optical view finder.

 

Which is better optical viewfinder or digital viewfinder? Well, it really depends on what you would prefer. Optical Viewfinders are usually too small to be able to see a lot of the scene you want to take a photo of, but if you can’t see the back display then you will get a glare from all the light behind you. Digital viewfinders are great for seeing a lot of the scene, and they aren’t affected by any glare problems that can happen.

Related article: Best DSLR Cameras Below Rs.30000 – Buyer’s Guide

Compact cameras vs DSLR cameras: shutter speed vs exposure time

 

What is the difference between shutter speed and exposure time? Shutter Speed is how long your camera’s shutter stays open when taking photos. This determines how much light comes into your camera and has a big effect on your photos. Exposure Time is the same thing, but for video recordings instead of photos.

 

Which is better shutter speed or exposure time? Well, the shorter you can make your shutter speed, the less blurry your photos will be. This is because it only leaves your camera open for a shorter period of time. The exposure time on the other hand can be as long as you want, but if you have it set to a long setting then it will leave the sensor open for longer and let more light in. This can make your photos look better, but it also means that it takes longer to finish recording your video.

 

Compact cameras vs DSLR cameras: sensitivity vs ISO

 

Sensitivity is how sensitive the sensor on your camera is. A camera with a high sensitivity rating will give you the highest resolution when taking photos in low light situations. This is because the sensor on the camera can pick up more light from a smaller area and let all of that light get into next image sensor. On the other hand if your photo sensor has a low sensitivity rating, then it will only let in as much light as it can from all over the image and won’t be able to pick up anything in very dark areas. ISO is the same thing, but for videos instead of photos.

 

Which is better sensitivity or ISO? Well, the higher sensitivity rating you have the more light your camera can pick up in dark photos and videos. The downside to this is that it also makes your camera more sensitive to motion and can create a lot of noise around what you are taking a picture of. ISO does the same thing as Sensitivity, except it’s just for video recordings and it isn’t as noisy.

Read here: Top DSLR Camera Below 20,000 Rs – Budget Pick

Compact cameras vs DSLR cameras: image stabilization vs sensor shift image stabilization

 

What is Image Stabilization? Image Stabilization is used on high end DSLR cameras to help give smoother video recordings when things aren’t perfectly still. It works by moving the image sensor around slightly to compensate for camera movement. The downside to Image Stabilization is that it can create some strange artifacts over the video or photos and have a chance of not working correctly if your camera isn’t completely still. Sensor Shift Image Stabilization is used on nicer compact cameras and DSLR cameras that don’t have Image Stabilization yet. It works by moving the image sensor to compensate for any movement you make with your camera. This type of stabilization gives much smoother videos and photos then just using Intelligent Auto, but it can also be a little more confusing if you’re new to a DSLR camera.

 

DSLR cameras vs compact cameras: image stabilization vs sensor shift image stabilization

 

What is Image Stabilization? Image Stabilization is used on high end DSLR cameras to help give smoother video recordings when things aren’t perfectly still. It works by moving the image sensor around slightly to compensate for camera movement. The downside to Image Stabilization is that it can create some strange artifacts over the video or photos and have a chance of not working correctly if your camera isn’t completely still. Sensor Shift Image Stabilization is used on nicer compact cameras and DSLR cameras that don’t have Image Stabilization yet. It works by moving the image sensor to compensate for any movement you make with your camera. This type of stabilization gives much smoother videos and photos then just using Intelligent Auto, but it can also be a little more confusing if you’re new to a DSLR camera.

 

What is Image Stabilization? Image Stabilization is used on high end DSLR cameras to help give smoother video recordings when things aren’t perfectly still. It works by moving the image sensor around slightly to compensate for camera movement. The downside to Image Stabilization is that it can create some strange artifacts over the video or photos and have a chance of not working correctly if your camera isn’t completely still. Sensor Shift Image Stabilization is used on nicer compact cameras and DSLR cameras that don’t have Image Stabilization yet.

 

There’s no such thing as a perfect camera, but if you really want to get that DSLR type video quality on your compact camera, then I suggest you choose a camera that offers sensor shift image stabilization. The only downside is that it requires you to have a tripod or something else to keep your camera steady so it can move around. I like the idea and it works tremendously well but it can be a bit of hassle to setup. It’s great for longer exposure photography where your camera isn’t moving around in the wind or when you are shooting with a moving subject.

Read more: Reasons: Why Does It Still look Blurry After Using the Manual Focus and Adjusting It

Compact cameras vs DSLR cameras: digital zoom vs optical zoom

 

What is the difference between digital zoom and optical zoom? Digital Zoom doesn’t actually work. It just makes the image on your camera larger on your display, but it doesn’t actually make it closer to you in space. Optical Zoom works pretty much the same way as digital zoom except it’s done with a lens instead of a sensor.

 

Which is better digital zoom or optical zoom? Well, since you can’t really see what your camera sees when making a photo or video, I guess whatever makes things look clearer wins out sometimes. You have to be careful about not using the digital zoom on your camera though, because I find that if you do it too often, it can actually blur your photos and videos a lot.

 

Compact cameras vs DSLR cameras: sensor size vs sensor resolution

 

Sensors are tiny chips that turn light into electricity so it can get processed by your camera. Larger sensors are better for taking photos in low light situations because they let in more light from a smaller area.

 

Larger sensors also give you more room for moving parts like lenses and image stabilizers, which adds to the quality of your photo or video recordings. Sensor resolution is how many pixels there are on a camera’s chip. The lower the number of pixels, the greater the quality of the photo or video.

 

Larger sensors give you more room for moving parts like lenses and image stabilizers. Camera that have larger sensors give you better photos no matter if you’re shooting video or photos. The one drawback to having a large sensor is that they are a lot bigger, which can make it harder to take photos where your hand is covering up parts of your scene in your photo.

Relevant reading: Shutter Priority Explained in Photography

Compact cameras vs DSLR cameras: megapixel count vs pixel count

 

Megapixel counts are how many pixels are on a camera’s sensor. The higher the number, the better quality of photo and video recordings before they get processed by your camera.

 

Larger sensor gives you more room for moving parts like lenses and image stabilizers. The number of pixels don’t mean much when it comes to actual photo and video quality. They’re just used to give you an idea of how many photos your camera can make before getting processed by the camera. A higher resolution doesn’t make your photos or videos any better than a lower resolution does. It’s just an idea of how many photos the camera can take before it goes through the image processing process.

 

Larger sensors gives you more room for moving parts like lenses and image stabilizers. The higher the number, the better photos or videos you’ll be able to take in low light situations without having them get blurry due to camera movement.

 

Compact cameras vs DSLR cameras: low light image quality vs noise reduction

 

Noise is unwanted random colored dots that can appear on your photos and videos in low light situations. It’s a side effect of the camera trying to pick up more light from a smaller area. The larger the sensor of your camera, the less it has to try to pick up more light from a smaller area so it’s less likely to happen. Noise Reduction is a process that takes the data from each photo or video and tries to correct for any problems that can happen over time like fuzzy edges or noise.

 

Which is better low light image quality vs noise reduction? Well, the higher the number of pixels or sensors you have, the less likely you’re going to have to worry about noisy photos or videos. This doesn’t mean that you will never get noise and it usually isn’t a big problem, but with images taken in dark rooms with not much light coming into your camera, it can happen occasionally. Noise Reduction can also help you take better photos and videos by making sure that any extra coloration over what’s supposed to be in your photo doesn’t show up.

Related post: What is Sensor Cleaning – Detailed Guide

Compact cameras vs DSLR cameras: video recording options vs video quality

 

Video Recording Options are the different settings you have for your camera to record videos. The amount of video recording options you have will determine how you can record your videos and how many different ways you can do it. Video Quality is the resolution of your video recording and can go from a 120p to a 30p 4k resolution. The higher the number, the better quality the video will record in. If you want an extremely high quality video then I suggest choosing a camera with a 4k or better resolution.

 

Which is better video recording options or video quality? Well, this really depends on your needs. If you just want to make really short videos, then a camera with fewer recording options will probably be fine for you. If you want to record lots of videos without having to change your settings back and forth, then get a camera with as many video recording options as possible.

 

Compact cameras vs DSLR cameras: image stabilization vs focus type

 

Image Stabilization is used on high end DSLR cameras to help give smoother video recordings when things aren’t perfectly still. It works by moving the image sensor around slightly to compensate for camera movement. The downside to Image Stabilization is that it can create some strange artifacts over the video or photos and have a chance of not working correctly if your camera isn’t completely still.

 

Image Stabilization is used on high end DSLR cameras to help give smoother video recordings when things aren’t perfectly still. It works by moving the image sensor around slightly to compensate for camera movement. The downside to Image Stabilization is that it can create some strange artifacts over the video or photos and have a chance of not working correctly if your camera isn’t completely still. Image Stabilization is used on high end DSLR cameras to help give smoother video recordings when things aren’t perfectly still. It works by moving the image sensor around slightly to compensate for camera movement. The downside to Image Stabilization is that it can create some strange artifacts over the video or photos and have a chance of not working correctly if your camera isn’t completely still.

 

Which is better image stabilization or focus type? Well, if you’re recording videos on your kids then I’d go with focus type because you don’t want to be making adjustments while holding your camera. If you’re doing something like wildlife photography or sports photography then I would definitely suggest getting a camera with Image Stabilization since it can help reduce vibrating from things like wind or when taking a photo of a moving subject.

 

Movies can be a lot of fun to record, but the quality you get from filming with a compact camera just isn’t going to be as good as what you’d get from a DSLR camera. If your camera has image stabilization, then I suggest turning it off when doing slow or fast panning video while filming with your compact camera.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why won’t my cameras battery stay charged when it’s not in use?

A camera battery gets charged when it’s connected to a power outlet, such as a wall socket. One main cause of this fault is that your camera has not been fully charged for some time now. It’s possible that you’ve forgotten to charge your battery, so make sure you do it as soon as you get home and before your next shoot. Another reason why a camera might not be getting enough power is if the USB-C hub or charger does not have the correct wattage or voltage.

How to fix this?

In the future, it’s recommended that you keep your batteries charged, so they’ll be ready to go at all times. If you’re in a bind and need some extra juice for your camera battery, pick up a battery charger at your local electronics outlet.

If this hasn’t worked for you yet, try changing your batteries. If that doesn’t solve the problem either, call up a professional to check on your device. They might be able to tell if there is another reason why the batteries are not getting enough power.

Can a camera get dirty inside on the sensor?

The short and concise answer to your question is yes, it can. And in fact, cameras are part of the reason that gets all of those unsightly smudges on your lens. The images you take are actually projected onto the camera’s sensor (or film), so if any dust particles or oils from your fingers get caught in that space, they will show up in every photo you snap until you clean off that space. If this has been happening for a long time, it could even cause permanent damage to the sensor.

What is the right way to clean photos from a camera sensor?

There are several ways to remove oil and dust from your camera. For starters, you can use compressed air to blow off smaller particles, but air alone will not do the trick, so you’ll need to find a way to remove dirt and oil from your DSLR’s sensor. Here are just a few of the ways:

– Use an eyemask or one of the commercially available lens cleaning kits that contains some cleaning solution that comes in contact with the actual glass part of your lens (as opposed to a brush that only touches the surface).

– Buy a special piece of equipment called a “blower brush” from a camera store. The “blower brush” has a small nozzle on it that allows you to apply some cleaning solution directly to the glass part of your lens.

– Use an air bulb, and aim it at the sensor holes (found on most DSLRs) as if you’re shooting an actual picture. There should be one hole in the middle and two holes near the edges of your lens. This will blow any objects directly off the glass part of your lens.

– Take off any filters on your camera (flash works great). Then point the lens toward a light source. If you are able to see any dust or smudges, they will be immediately blown off the glass part of your lens!

What are some of the popular cleaning products that can be used to clean a camera sensor?

– Blower brushes (from camera stores) – very effective when applied directly to the glass part of your lens with compressed air. Other non-camera store products can also work, but not as well: Use an eyemask (and some compressed air if necessary) and hold it in front of the sensor holes until you see any kind of debris (dust, smudges, etc.) being blown off your lens. I especially like the telescopic eyemask because I can get into those little hard-to-reach spots more easily.

– Soft cotton clothes – I have been using soft cotton clothes on my lens for a long time, and they really do a great job of not leaving any kind of residue behind. Just hold your camera over the soap in your sink, and use some compressed air to blow off any dust particles or smudges.

About The Author

Reply