Pros & Cons of Various Camera Types

Point & Shoot -

Advantages -

Easy to use. There aren't a lot of controls and features to worry about.
Easy to carry. - Many will fit in your shirt pocket.

Disadvantages -

Limited (or no) accessories available.
The notion of point & shoot is a public relations illusion. You still have to be a good photographer to make good photos.

* Note - Point & Shoot cameras come in both Rangefinder and SLR types.

Folding -

Advantages -

Convenient to carry around. If they aren't pocketable, they are at least flat.
Lens cap not necessary. The lens generally folds inside where it is protected.
Viewfinder image is not interrupted by exposure.

Disadvantages -

Lack of rigidity may make them less precise.
Usually limited to one lens.
Few accessories available.

*Note - most folding cameras are rangefinder type but not all rangefinder cameras fold.

Rangefinder -

Advantages -

Bright viewfinder image.
Many have interchangeable lenses.
Relatively quiet operation.

Disadvantages -

Parallax problems when photographing near subjects.

* Note - a camera may be classed as a "rangefinder" type even if it doesn't have rangefinder focusing.

Twin-lens Reflex -

Advantages -

Viewfinder image matches image size.
No image blackout at the moment of exposure.

Disadvantages -

Parallax is a problem at close distances.
Reversed image (image is upright but reversed left to right).
Most don't have interchangeable lenses (exception - Mamiya C-series).
Can be relatively large and heavy.

Single Lens Reflex -

Advantages -

Finder image matches that of the film (no parallax problem but may not have the same coverage as the film plane).
Interchangeable lenses and accessories such as bellows or extension tubes.
Image is upright and correct left to right.

Disadvantages -

Finder image is dimmed by light loss of lens and prism (potentially a problem when working in low light levels).
Blackout of view at moment of exposure (some remain blacked out until the film is wound).
Movement of mirror and diaphragm may contribute to camera shake.
Relatively noisy operation.

Field, View & Monorail -

Advantages -

1. Focusing on ground glass at film plane insures precise focus and framing.
2. front and rear movements allow maximum control of image.

Disadvantages -

Requires use of tripod and care to hold camera position between focus and exposure.
Controls are complicated and often inconvenient resulting in slow operation (some photographers actually consider this to be an advantage because it forces a deliberate or even meditative approach).
Image is reversed and upside down.

Panoramic -

Advantages -

Extreme wide angle photos (100 to 150 degree view).

Disadvantages -

Limited use - it can include a lot that you'd rather not.
With larger negative sizes it may be difficult to get film processed and/or printed.
Relatively expensive to buy (exception, Kodak Stretch).

Throw- away - (single use cameras including Kodak Stretch)

Advantages -

Low cost - you can use these under conditions you'd hesitate to take a more expensive camera.
Fun - sometimes you just want to take pictures the simplest way or experiment before investing more money.

Disadvantages -

Environmentally questionable. Although the plastic bodies are recycled with new film, the battery (in those that use them) and the outer cardboard is thrown away.
Limited capabilities (they are basically just box cameras).

Digital

Advantages -

Images are immediately ready for digital use. This can be a great advantage for news organizations, insurance records, ID photos, and digital publication such as web sites.
Images can be edited easily with a software program.
No darkroom or chemicals required.
Images stored on CD are highly archival.

Disadvantages -

Equipment capable of high resolution images is expensive and requires strong computer skills. I have read that it is possible to match the quality of a 16X20 chemical image with $50,000 dollars in equipment and each image only requires 1 gigabyte of memory. I can do the same with my $130 Graflex and around $20 in film, chemical and paper.
Where resolution in chemical photography can be controlled by the film type and the photographer's skill using even modest equipment, resolution in digital photography is a direct function of the quality of the equipment used.
Images stored on magnetic media are sensitive to magnetic fields.

Some people believe that digital photography will completely replace chemical photography within a decade or two as equipment costs come down because it is more convenient and more environmentally friendly. I disagree. While it will undoubtedly see increasing use in commercial photography, I expect that chemical photography will remain as a tool of the fine art photographer for many years to come because of it's accessablity to those with limited means. Also when we take into account the manufacturing process of digital materials, it is questionable whether it is better for the environment.

Back to Sharelesson list

"It's a poor workman who blames his tools." Old adage