Compact System Cameras seem to have appeared from nowhere to take a large chunk of the consumer camera market. The niche for which they were designed, originally by Panasonic, was supposed to be quite small - people who liked the quality and flexibility of a DSLR camera, but who didn't like the cumbersome weight and equipment they felt they had to carry around with it. In short, they didn't think it would attract the DSLR purists, who enjoy the craftsmanship side of photography, or the compact user who just wanted a point and shoot style camera. How wrong they were. Panasonic made the equivalent of a dashing little sports car, light, exciting, full of advanced features and great to look at.
CSCs can be as small and light as a compact camera but still have all the functionality of a DSLR. The lenses are interchangeable, there is often a built in flash and there are loads of exciting options that you wouldn't find on you normal DSLR. The main difference is that there is no mirror inside the camera and so no SLR action. This means that there is no viewfinder and that all viewing must be done through the back screen. it also means that the camera's width is not restricted by the mechanics inside and so they can be a lot slimmer.
In fact, with a pancake lens (small and wide) a CSC can easily hide in a jacket pocket or purse. this adds to their functionality - after all how many times have we not taken that picture, because bringing our camera would have been too much effort. CSCs can be collected with your keys and wallet. Whilst most manufacturers have developed an adapter for their standard lenses to fit their CSC range, it is better to use the specialized CSC lenses. They are superb quality and utilize the full functionality of the camera. In some cases standard lenses don't offer auto focus, for example.
There is an ever greater range of CSC lenses available. Most offer a pancake option, which keeps the cameras ultra slim, and a mid range option zoom often up to about 42 or 55MM. Longer lenses are just being introduced extending to 100mm or so. Remember these are supposed to be fun and exciting rather than workaday cameras, so I don't think manufacturers will be producing lenses that are much longer than this.
Fun is the defining word for CSC cameras. Because the designers were able to start from scratch, they have filled their cameras with all sorts of goodies. Big files have been accompanied by wide ISO ranges and burst speeds which would put even the most expensive DSLRs to shame. For example, the Nikon J1 can go up to 60 FPS! They also tend to have some quite innovative auto focus systems, which can make them extremely quick. Their Video functions are also very clever. Most of them shoot full HD and some can even help you to create a favicon for your social media page. In camera software can help you edit your photos, or do it for you, making a selection of the best pictures and discarding the rest.
Over the last few years, CSCs have established themselves in the hearts of enthusiast and purist alike. The innovation and advanced technology you find in these cameras is often trialled by the manufacturers before they put them in their best selling DSLR ranges. Consequently, you sometimes marvel at the potential of these little cameras. They are fun, small and exciting, and they are predicted to outsell DSLRs in a few years time.
CSCs can be as small and light as a compact camera but still have all the functionality of a DSLR. The lenses are interchangeable, there is often a built in flash and there are loads of exciting options that you wouldn't find on you normal DSLR. The main difference is that there is no mirror inside the camera and so no SLR action. This means that there is no viewfinder and that all viewing must be done through the back screen. it also means that the camera's width is not restricted by the mechanics inside and so they can be a lot slimmer.
In fact, with a pancake lens (small and wide) a CSC can easily hide in a jacket pocket or purse. this adds to their functionality - after all how many times have we not taken that picture, because bringing our camera would have been too much effort. CSCs can be collected with your keys and wallet. Whilst most manufacturers have developed an adapter for their standard lenses to fit their CSC range, it is better to use the specialized CSC lenses. They are superb quality and utilize the full functionality of the camera. In some cases standard lenses don't offer auto focus, for example.
There is an ever greater range of CSC lenses available. Most offer a pancake option, which keeps the cameras ultra slim, and a mid range option zoom often up to about 42 or 55MM. Longer lenses are just being introduced extending to 100mm or so. Remember these are supposed to be fun and exciting rather than workaday cameras, so I don't think manufacturers will be producing lenses that are much longer than this.
Fun is the defining word for CSC cameras. Because the designers were able to start from scratch, they have filled their cameras with all sorts of goodies. Big files have been accompanied by wide ISO ranges and burst speeds which would put even the most expensive DSLRs to shame. For example, the Nikon J1 can go up to 60 FPS! They also tend to have some quite innovative auto focus systems, which can make them extremely quick. Their Video functions are also very clever. Most of them shoot full HD and some can even help you to create a favicon for your social media page. In camera software can help you edit your photos, or do it for you, making a selection of the best pictures and discarding the rest.
Over the last few years, CSCs have established themselves in the hearts of enthusiast and purist alike. The innovation and advanced technology you find in these cameras is often trialled by the manufacturers before they put them in their best selling DSLR ranges. Consequently, you sometimes marvel at the potential of these little cameras. They are fun, small and exciting, and they are predicted to outsell DSLRs in a few years time.
About the Author:
Jason Tandy has worked in the photographic industry for more than two decades. He has a particular interest in digital photography and good cameras. Learn more about the best digital slr cameras available from his camerawize site. It is regularly updated and can help you take better photographs.
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