Digital cameras: Technologietrends and Kaufberatung

Digital SLR cameras are growing in popularity, especially since simple models are available for less than 400 euros. The named mirror was historically necessary, because the view through the viewfinder should show exactly what is later on the film – today the sensor – is pictured. For this purpose, a mirror is behind the lens, which deflects the light and sends it through the optical viewfinder, but at the moment of the release it is folded out of the way, so that it can be illuminated.But there were not mirrors and viewfinders alone which had the advantage of a reflex- Against a compact camera. The interchangeable lenses also made the SLRs a breakthrough. They make the (D) SLRs particularly flexible, as the photographer can choose the optics freely depending on the situation and design wish. Disadvantages of the (D) SLRs: Mirror mechanics and viewfinder optics are large and expensive, additional lenses have their price

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Bridgecams are a serious alternative. They offer significantly more photographic features and better lenses than their small brothers, the compact digicams. However, you save in two places: the lens can not be changed, and the display is a viewfinder because of the lack of a mirror system.


Because of their usually much smaller image sensor, depending on the model, photographic styling such as low sharpening depth is difficult to achieve for the emphasis of the main motif against blurred background. However, Bridgecams can be worthwhile.


Despite a small budget, they grant great freedom in the manual selection of aperture and exposure time. At the same time, these cameras are very well suited for photo-tours in rough weather or in deserts, because no dirt can enter the housing due to the lack of the possibility of changing the lens. Extensions like underwater housings are usually cheaper for bridge cameras than for DSLRs with unusual lenses.


There is now a third way: Micro-Four-Thirds cameras with interchangeable lens. The new hybrid class has neither a mirror box nor an optical viewfinder, and therefore, like bridgecams, combines compact dimensions with low weight.


Nevertheless, and this will help you to some success in the coming years, the lens can be changed here (Micro Four Thirds standard). Disadvantage: As a viewfinder, either the display or, better, an electronic viewfinder must be used, which is, however, worse for manual sharpening settings than an optical mirror searcher.


The autofocus is also heavier, because in the case of DSLRs with mirrors, there is a special sensor, but for slower system cameras, the slower image sensor must take this job.


The range of Micro Four Thirds cameras is manageable: With this standard, Panasonic offers the Lumix G1 and GH1. For July 2009, Olympus also announced its own Micro-Four-Thirds.


Often, each generation overshoots the previous one, especially in terms of megapixels. 10 to 12 are often already the entry class, 12 to 15 are aimed at advanced users. The Canon EOS 500D is at the top of its price class with 15.1 megapixels. However, pixel monsters are not always useful. The images consume 3 to 6 MB per JPG, 10 MB or more per RAW file


After all, DSLRs are still not struggling with the pronounced noise, the owners of compact cameras with 12 megapixels spoils the mood. There the twelve million image sensors must share a tiny area of ​​often only 4 x 3 to 6.2 x 4.6 millimeters. In DSLRs, this area is significantly larger: the sensors have dimensions such as 22.5 x 15 millimeters (Canon APS-C), 23.6 x 15.8 millimeters (Nikon DX), 21.5 x 14.4 millimeters (Sony) APS-C) or 23.4 x 15.6 (Pentax).


A special case are the so-called Four Thirds cameras, which have a seal unlike the Micro-Four-Thirds and therefore are DSLRs. In the case of the Olympus E-620, 12 million sensor points spread to 17.3 x 13 millimeters. Four-Thirds sensors are therefore smaller than those of APS-C cameras, but considerably larger than the ones from Hosentaschen-Digicams. Another special case is the SD14 from Sigma. The Foveon X3 sensor places only 4.6 million pixels at 20.7 * 13.8 millimeters. However, unlike the usual sensor cells, these can simultaneously capture all three basic colors per pixel. The factor of 3 gives the manufacturer the resolution of 14 megapixels. The successor model SD15 has already been introduced.


Why a DSLR with "full-format sensor" is only suitable for professionals and what makes a picture stabilization, see page 2 ...