When starting out for the first time with photography or video, choosing the right camera is an important step to your success. What is the difference between a DSLR camera and a compact one? Read below to find out.

Although in recent years, the line between these two types of cameras have begun to blur, there are still several distinctions that can be made when it comes to differentiating them on the market and knowing what they are both made of.

DSLR stands for Digital Single-Lens Reflex Camera and it is exactly what its name says. It uses a memory chip as opposed to film and uses only one lens, or single lens, for viewing and shooting scenes. What does the reflex stand for? Reflex is simply describing how light is manipulated inside the camera. Reflex means the camera bounces the image off a mirror, and then either off a second mirror, or more commonly, through a prism. Through this prism, or lens, you can see what it is you're shooting. 

Of course, you don't really see this happening inside the camera. You only get the end image. In other words, whatever it is you see through the lens is what will end up being shot or converted digitally into its memory chip.

Other than the mentioned above, a DSLR camera is also slightly larger than most compact cameras. DSLR cameras are also better in image quality than compact cameras and are used professionally to shoot photography or movies.

Compact cameras are small, light and easy to use. They are for the average consumer and don't require much fiddling.

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          Sem Maltsev