Let’s talk a little bit about how we can make the best possible photographs from YOUR camera as well as the difference between types of cameras. To do that, I’ll talk about some of the differences between my wife’s camera, an Olympus Stylus 1010 Point-and-Shoot, and my camera, a Nikon D90 Digital SLR.
Here’s Allison’s camera. Isn’t it cute?
Here’s my camera. Isn’t it sexy?
Obviously looks aren’t everything. There are many, many differences between point-and-shoot cameras and SLRs…oh…yeah…SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex.
Here’s what a Twin Lens Reflex looks like:
As you can see, a Twin Lens Reflex has two lenses and the SLR has one. So what’s up with the “reflex” part? The “R” in SLR is referring to the camera’s ability to reflect light as it comes through the lens. Your “image” will go into the camera and reflect light onto a mirror, which tosses your “image” up onto a glass prism. You can then see the image through the viewfinder. This is truly a “what you see is what you get” moment as compared to a point-and-shoot that gives you a digital representation.
If you see the term DSLR…this just means DIGITAL Single Lens Reflex. As opposed to film. Yes, they still sell film. Even I’m bored with this post at this point…therefore, we’ll move on to ISO!!
ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization. Now that you’ve got that worthless piece of knowledge under your belt, you’re ready to go right? What ISO really means is Film Speed…or at least film speed equivalents. Check out a visual:
Back in the day, we used to have to buy film in different speeds. Most of the time, we didn’t have any idea what speed to buy, so we just got something in the middle…either 400 or 800. This is the ISO number. It’s a film speed rating. Here are the basics:
Low ISO //
50, 64, 100, 200…these will have a tight grain structure and more vibrant colors. You’ll need lots of light though, or a tripod, because a low ISO takes LONGER to expose properly.
High ISO //
800, 1600, 3200…these will have a more grainy look and the colors are desaturated. Also, at really high ISO ranges, images can lose sharpness. But, this ISO setting will allow you to shoot in lower light and maybe get that image that you would have missed with a slow ISO.
So…what difference does this make between a point-and-shoot like my wife’s camera and my SLR? Well, the ISO range. On a point-and-shoot, you’re very limited on the range of ISO you can shoot in. This will greatly limit the situations you can get a decent exposure within.
Allison’s purple Olympus has an ISO sensitivity range of 100-1600…which honestly, is pretty good for a point-and-shoot camera. These cameras have come a long way and are getting much more versatile.
My Nikon D90 has an ISO sensitivity range of 100-6400…this proves to make a big difference in low lighting situations.
Low ISO // Olympus Stylus 1010
High ISO // No Flash…Nikon D90
Let’s talk Megapixels
Another big difference between point-and-shoot style cameras and SLR cameras are the pixels. Everyone assumes that you’ll get a better photo with more pixels and it’s just not the case. A megapixel is essentially 1 million pixels. My wife’s camera has 10.1 million pixels and my camera has 12.3 million pixels…it’s not a huge difference right?
The real difference is in the size and quality of those pixels! Did you know that different cameras have different-sized pixels? Not quantity…I’m talking about the size of each individual pixel. That’s right…a point-and-shoot camera has a much smaller image sensor with even smaller pixels packed into it. What this means on a practical level is that each pixel is a little lower quality than a pixel on a big camera like my Nikon. Bigger pixels = better image quality.
Lenses
One more huge variant between point-and-shoots and SLRs is the lens capability of each. Currently, my wife’s little point-and-shoot can zoom farther than my camera. That’s because she’s got a decent zoom lens built right in and I don’t own any telephoto lenses at this point. 
A major plus for SLRs however, is the ability to change lenses. The possibilities are endless, if only the funds were as well.
Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye Lens
Sigma 30mm Lens
This post is…
TO BE CONTINUED…next week.
Feel free to ask questions, as I know I’ve left huge photographic gaps all over the place. I’ll answer whatever I am able to later on tonight within the comments section.
And for all of you peeps out there who couldn’t care a rip about photography, don’t worry…I’m done posting photo info this week. I don’t want to talk about photography for a few days. 
I can see how talking about this can wipe a person out. Sheesh! I’m a lens junky. I messed around with ISO this weekend at a graduation party. Pretty happy with the varying results, but I was not happy with my limited lens options. Then again, I’m not spending a house on a lens… not yet, anyway (hee hee).
As always, good post! Very informative.
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Excellent tut, Ryan.
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I’d love to know what are the specs on your lens that you use most often, Ryan? And how much post-processing do you normally do? Loving your photos!
-EBP-
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twin lens reflex. i love classic cameras but i dont have brain to use it [yet. i have old classic mamiya so i plan to play with it]
! i’m glad.
this photography classes prove a great assistant for me
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I did not know about different sized pixels. See, you really do learn something new everyday. I think I’ll go around asking all my camera peeps “Hey what size pixels do you have?” Just for fun. Or maybe not.
Great tutorial! Really easy to understand. And since I find the “techy” side to photography so hard to understand and completely boring, these are really great little tidbits of info for me. (as none of these have been hard to understand or boring for me so far)
Thanks for sharing.
Inquiring minds want to know how Allison and baby are doing. Are they fighing for space yet?
Have a overly blessed day!
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I say bring on more tutorials, I can’t get enough. I love all the info and can’t wait for the next one.
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These tutorials have been more helpful and easier to read than anything I’ve ever found on the web. Thank you!
My question is about the different sized pixels. What are the different size pixels, and how do I know what to look for in a new camera?
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Please keep the tutorials coming! This series was really well-timed for me, I just got a Canon EOS Rebel for work last week, and I’m trying to learn how to use it as best I can.
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My son plays ice hockey and when I attempt to take action pictures there are white streaks and sometimes the pictures come out blurry. What do you recommend as far as the f/s? and ISO? Small aperature/fast ISO? I cna’t figure it out? I have a Canon EOS Rebel. I appreciate any advice you have to offer. Thanks!
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I really appreciate the class; I have a Nikon D80 that I mostly keep on auto, this is helping me/making me learn to utilize all of it’s features. It would be awesome if you could offer an on-line class for those of us interested where we have to share/post and challenge one another to learn more about photography. Regardless, you have been a tremendous help to us want to be’s.
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[...] Read the rest here: Photo Class // Maximizing YOUR Camera… [...]
Thank you sooo much! I have an Olympus Stylus and you’re really helping me! I LOVE these posts! You explain better than any photography website I’ve seen!
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I have read countless magazine articles, and text books and taken multiple photography classes and NEVER have I seen ISO explained so clearly and succinctly! Marvelous job!
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Ryan, thanks so much for these timely posts. I’m a new blogger and my point and shoot is realllllly starting to show it’s limitations. I’m hoping to learn to use it better, and make do with what I’ve got until I really know what camera to get. I’m a bit overwhelmed with it all now.
I loved the ISO differences, it was awesome to see them like that!
Thanks again.
LOVE YOUR MEXICAN LASAGNA
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Thanks so much for these tutorials! Fantastic job at explaining everything and not sounding like a text book.
This is off topic, but I thought you (or someone) would have a good idea. I’m looking for a program to manage my digital photos that is not Picasa. Picasa and my external hard drive do not play nicely together and when your computer is as old as mine is…well, let’s just say it pays to have everything stored on an external hard drive. Anyway, if anyone has any ideas, I’m all ears
Thanks in advance!
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You make me want to get to know my camera better. I wish the laundry would do itself so I could play.
Thanks for taking the time to post all this information along with your regular stuff.
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Well, I love looking at photos (absolute flickr junkie) though I don’t know the first thing about photography… yes, the point is, yours is the first photography “tutorial” I’ve been interested in following and it HASN’T been boring or long-winded in the least
And, your explanations make things easy to understand 
Very cool.
(Trust me, I know what I’m talking about, I’ve given up on scores of online tutorials because they aren’t written in EnglishForNormalPeople and have faaar too many words per lesson!)
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“The possibilities are endless, if only the funds were as well.”
*sigh*
If only…
~K
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As others have mentioned, this has been the photography tutorial I’ve ever seen on the web. Thank you, and keep going. I will miss the tutorial when it ends.
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Thank you for doing a photography tutorial. I’m attempting to teach myself and sometimes hearing other explanations will help keep things in my head. Thank you so much!!
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Thanks for the tutorial! I am saving for a Nikon have not decided which one I want yet. For right now I have a point and shoot. It does great but I would like to do a it more with my photos!
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Thanks so much for these tutorials! I have started to play with my Canon because of your posts. I have gotten great results by changing the aperture. Now, on to ISO settings!
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This is so incredibly helpful! I have a cannon point-and-shoot and have been looking into the SLR’s and it’s so great to have a educated/experienced opinion! THANK YOU!
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this is awesome! i am tuning in next week! i use a point and shoot for all my jewelry photographs. would love if you ever post about shooting up close/small objects.
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I have loved reading this photo class! Very informative! Keep it coming.
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Let me know if you ever decide to teach a photo class. I have a new SLR camera and am dying to learn how to use it properly.
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