DSLR

How it is used

The standard professional camera type for about two decades, and still widely used. Many photographers are now moving from DSLR to mirrorless systems, where manufacturers focus most of their new models. People say “a DSLR”; “a DSLR camera” is also heard.

Example sentences

1. I still shoot weddings on two DSLRs, but I'm thinking of switching to mirrorless.

2. An entry-level DSLR with a kit lens is a good way to learn the basics.

Common collocations

• entry-level DSLR
• full-frame DSLR
• DSLR body
• switch from DSLR to mirrorless

Related terms

• mirrorless cameraA digital camera with interchangeable lenses but no mirror inside. Light goes straight to the sensor, and you see the image on a screen or an electronic viewfinder.
• viewfinderThe small window you look through to frame a picture. It can be optical, showing the real scene, or electronic, showing a tiny screen.
• sensorThe light-sensitive chip inside a digital camera that records the image. It does the job that film did in older cameras.
• lensThe part of a camera that collects light and focuses it onto the sensor or film. It contains several pieces of glass and usually the aperture.
• full-frameDescribes a camera or sensor the same size as a frame of 35 mm film, about 36 × 24 mm. It is the reference size for comparing other sensors.

More terms: Camera Parts & Settings

• shutter
• white balance
• tripod
• manual mode
• aperture priority
• shutter priority
• megapixel
• memory card
• burst mode
• crop factor