Another advantage of DSLRs over prosumer cameras is the size of the imaging sensor. DSLR sensors are larger than those of prosumer cameras. This has been done so because a larger sensor will need larger lenses to be fit on the cameras. Subsequently the weight and bulk of the cameras increase. But is there a real difference in the image quality you get from a large sensor? Well, the fact is, there is. It has been seen that a smaller sensor will produce more digital noise (grains) than a larger sensor. Also, a larger sensor has more dynamic range than a smaller sensor. Dynamic range is the range of tones that the camera can record. It is typically measured as the range between the whitest white to the blackest black recorded by the camera. A wider dynamic range will allow you to make very fine adjustments in the exposure of the image without affecting the tonality of the overall image. For example, you might have observed, while adjusting the brightness of images in an image editing software, enhancing the shadows in an image cause the highlights to blow out and vice versa. A larger sensor will take care of this.

But is this a necessity if you don’t need to make too many adjustments with your images? The answer is, if you are satisfied with the out-of-camera image from a digital camera and do not bother to tweak the image much, then you do not need the bigger sensor of a DSLR.

In any case, if you decide to buy a DSLR soon, also be prepared to make some extra investments on lenses, a good camera bag and proper facilities for storage of the equipment. And do not forget to take the camera for a walk at least once in a month since the intermittent sunlight can prevent fungus from growing.

Best DSLR Cameras: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III, Canon EOS 5D, Canon EOS 40D, Nikon D3, Nikon D300, Pentax-K100D

Best Prosumer Cameras: Sony-DSC-H10, Panasonic-LUMIX DMC-FZ50, Fuji Film-FinePix S8000fd, Canon S5 IS, Olympus-SP-560 UZ

To compare digital cameras, click here.

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