When looking into choosing a compact or a SLR digital camera there are a few things that you may want to consider before making a purchase. Compact cameras can be convenient but they often do not have all the features that you may want out of a camera. Some features are only found in single lens reflex cameras this is true even in the digital world of photography. While there are many things, which can be automated with, the use of digital technology there are some things that just work out better when more traditional functions are used.

Compact cameras are usually lighter weight and they are designed for point and shoot. For the most part they have auto functions that handle things like exposure, lightening and focus. With an SLR you may find some of these features automated however, there are some things, which can not be automated, or that you may not want automated for a number of reasons.

Compact cameras are going to offer a limited range when it comes to zoom or even wide angle shots. This is where there is a distinct advantage for the SLR cameras over the compact point and shoot cameras. SLR cameras are designed to allow you to change out the lens, adding zoom and wide angle features that can offer you significantly more versatility than you can achieve through point and click cameras.

Digital SLR cameras are also usually larger in size offering a larger viewing area if LCD screens are part of the camera's features, than can be had through compact cameras. They also usually come with cleaning features that are usually only found on the higher end compact digital cameras. These cleaning features help to make sure dust and dirt do not ruin your photos as well as your camera. Many of them are also made of materials that help to combat moisture. This helps to prevent your camera from receiving damage from humidity or even accidental sprinkling.

There are also the advantages of an extensive amount of shutter control, which may not be featured with point and shoot compact models. Other features may include frame rates per second, imagery features and a large number of features such as variable AF. Depending on the model there may also be movie modes and live action modes featured on SLR models, which may not be available on compact cameras.

Effectively, most camera manufacturers do produce their digital single lens reflex cameras as their premium product, and for the standard price, you would get a device loaded with a lot of the current technolgy, in one camera where these features would not normally be standard on a compact.

For you the buyer, the type of camera you should go for depends on, amongst other things, your budget, what you want the camera for, your knowledge of what the camera can do and the challeges that getting your shots might present you.

If you're an amatuer who just wants to take decent photo's on a casual basis, one of the many excellent compacts will serve you just fine. However, professional or highly motivated amatuer photographers would usually benefit from having one of the truely awesome high end DSLRs.