
So lately I have been thinking (don’t I seem to start all of my posts with this phrase???)… I have been thinking about the benefits of a SLR versus the benefits of a point and shoot. All my life I have been afraid of SLR cameras. This is a true statement. Is there a name for that kind of fear? SLRaphobic?
When I was in my late teens/early 20’s I had a film SLR. I used it while I traveled through Europe. Once my backpack was “broken into” and they stole my favorite black sweater but they left the SLR. Secretly, I was a little sad about that.
I came home from my trip and seriously had about 1 picture that looked halfway in focus. It was a huge photographic bust. I longed for my black sweater.
At that time in my life, a point and shoot was exactly the kind of camera I needed. I needed something that I could just “point” and “shoot”. I didn’t want to have to think about how my camera worked. I didn’t even really care what the images looked like. In reality, I don’t think I really ever developed more than two rolls of film because I just didn’t care. I enjoyed the act of photographing much more than the finished result.
Part of me is sad about this because the first 4 or so years of my married life are pretty much unphotographically (not a word, I know.) documented. Then I was introduced to the relatively new technology of a digital camera - still a point and shoot. But awesome. An HP Photosmart early edition. It rocked in all its dinosaurish technological glory. Finally, I was able to see my photos when I uploaded them to my computer. I still wasn’t doing anything with them but at least I could see what the photos I took looked like!
After the HP Photosmart came a Nikon Coolpix, edition number unknown, however I think it was 3400 or something like that. After that came my current Nikon Coolpix 5600. The thing that I loved about these Nikons was that they had all these cool program modes. My HP didn’t. It was too early in history for that.
I never fully took advantage of my program modes but I sure had fun taking lots of pictures. I loved that there were program mode possibilities. It made me feel like I could be a good photographer if I just worked on it a little. I guess I didn’t really ever work on it very much…
My step into the digital SLR (DSLR) world didn’t actually happen until early this year. Like I said, I was SLRaphobic. I mention in a previous post about my 2007 Halloween frustration because I didn’t have access to my point and shoot and the Nikon D100 was too scary. I tried to use the D100 but my photos were too dark and I didn’t have any idea how to make them lighter.

My next experience with that DSLR was at Christmas time. I dressed my three boys up as three little kings and tried to take a photo to use on a Christmas card. I overcame my fear and produced an image that was OK for my complete lack of knowledge. I slowly have been learning more and more about how to use that camera.

I still have my point and shoot - Nikon Coolpix 5600, but officially I call it Uly’s Camera. The last time I tried to use it I realized it really is broken and isn’t worth the frustration. It’s way more fun to watch my 4 year old take pictures with it. I love seeing his results. He’s an artistic little fellow!

So I guess the point that I want to make in this meandering post is that I am really enjoying using a DSLR. I am officially unafraid! Do I get a medal or anything? I enjoy it way more than I ever did, my point and shoots. I love the control that I have over the exposure and focus. I guess truly am a control freak! I just love being able to tell my camera what I want and have it create that. I’m not beholden to a preset mode, if I don’t want to be.
Now before you died in the wool point and shoot users turn your back on me, I want to say that I have seen some amazing images that came from a point and shoot. Also, the newer cameras have some pretty cool technology. I am just really enjoying this DSLR adventure. I am having so much more fun using this camera than I ever did with any of our previous cameras. I am also getting many more results that I like.