Differences between Digital compact camera & SLR camera?

Digital compact cameras are built for a common user of a camera who wants to take it to the ballgame, to take pictures of family, nature, etc. An SLR, or single-lens reflex camera is more commonly used by newspaper and media photojournalists. What enters the lens and is recorded onto film or memory card is the same as what the user sees on the viewfinder. SLR cameras generally can be accessorized with different lenses for different situations. Most have the ability to take "rapid-shot" photos (multiple per second).

A compact camera is commony know as a point and shoot. And it is exactly that. It is meant to be compact so you can point it and shoot it without doing anything. An SLR has all the things everybody said because it give the photographer the ability to set up the camera in a way to use their skill and knowledge to achieve the best shot, by isolating or exaggerating an element in the scene.

For example I saw one where a white horse stands out over a stormy field. The photographer over exposed the film a little to make the horse much brighter than the field. If he did it with a compact, the automatic meter in the camera would have made the filed lighter and the horse darker, evening out at a boring gray. It may have also focused on the grass, leaving the horse out of focus.

1) Cost - a DSLR is going to cost more than $800, not including lenses

2) Lenses - a point and shoot camera has a retractable lens included. A DSLR requires extra lenses

3) Quality - let's be honest, a points and shoot will NEVER give you the quality you will find in a DSLR

4) User friendly - a Point and Shoot is simple; just point and shoot. A DSLR has a LOT of adjustable settings, which can be frustrating if you don't know what you're doing. You CAN use the auto function, but why would you pay so much for just one function?

5) Live View - most DSLR camera require photographers to look through a view finder instead of a screen (or live view) like most Points and Shoots

6) Features - Point and Shoots have a LOT of extra little features and modes, like smile detection, face focus, color settings, etc. Most DSLR don't have that because most DSLR users don't want that - some DSLR will have a wonderful RAW format option though.

These are just a few. If you're looking at both and don't know where to start, go with a point and shoot digital camera. If you know cameras a little bit, try a super zoom - like the Canon SX10 IS. It's going to give you more manual controls and higher quality prints than just a traditional P&S but not with the high price or full manual controls of a DSLR.

Compact cameras:

- Live view

- Retractable lenses

- Usually not more than $400

- More "user-friendly"

DSLRs:

- Interchangeable lenses

- Viewfinder

- Usually more than $400

- Quality is much better than P&S cams

SLR you can manually control aperture, shutter speed and change lens.

In Compact camera you can't do that.

whereto start...

the ability to change lenses, the speed it takes to take a picture, the startup speed, the processing power, the mirror to view exactly what the lens sees, the quality of the pics, the price, etc...