How To Not Be A Photographer: DSLR is The Best
I love my DSLRs. I literally take them with me everywhere. The first camera I used was an SLR and I usually only shoot with DSLRs, but I know that these cameras are not the best of the best. It seems some people have started to adopt that idea though. Professional and non-professional alike seem to have this notion that DSLRs are the greatest achievement technologically in photography. I would like to say I hate breaking the news to you that they are not, but I love saying that.
The Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera is definitely one of the greatest technological achievements in regards to photography, but it is not the best camera you can use. The DSLR is a very versatile camera, allowing you to take it virtually anywhere, able to hold up to a fair amount of abuse, and produce high quality images. All of these traits make this camera phenomenal and mark the reason many professionals still use them. There is a camera type that far surpasses any DSLR currently made, however. That is the medium format camera system.
Why is it that these camera systems are not widely used if they are so great? The price tag, usually. These camera usually range in the $10,000+ range for lower end models. But even the lower end models far surpass the capabilities of the current lines of DSLRs. If there so pricey and not widely used why would the be considered the best? Several reasons.
1) Image Quality
Image by diego o saldiva.
The resolution of a medium format camera varies depending on the type of camera back you have. Some of the lower end camera backs range from 22-40 megapixels, and some of the higher end ones range between 50-80+ megapixels. While there are some DSLRs that boast a megapixel rating within the low end range, they do not compare in image sensor size or quality.
2) Versatility
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If you buy Cannon lenses you usually cannot equip them to your Nikon camera, the same applies both ways. With Medium Format Cameras it is possible to assemble your camera in almost anyway you like. There are some limitations to this, but for the most part you can use various camera backs on different camera bodies, and even interchange lenses (this one is more rare). While you cannot bait and switch between medium format cameras completely freely, the ability to attach a different brand camera back to your camera body is still one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen in a camera.
3) Upgrade-ability
Image by imago6.
Ever buy something only to have the next best thing come out a week later? It’s even worse when dealing with camera equipment. Medium format cameras typically allow you to only have to upgrade a single part, whether the camera body or camera back, to upgrade the quality of your camera. This allows you to only have to replace the camera back if a new camera back comes out. Alternatively, this also allows you to maintain a budget when buying one (which is good seeing how expensive they are). You can buy a high-end camera body and attach a lower end camera back, until you can afford to upgrade to a better one.