DSLR
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| side by side: Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 w/ mirror finder and Nikon's D600 w/ pentaprism finder image by maoby (Image rights) |
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| The beginnings were made with expensive chunky AF SLR derivatives like the Minolta RD-3000 of year 1999 and Kodak's DCS 620X of year 2000 image by maoby (Image rights) |
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| Pentax's DSLR K3 II of year 2015 - has a penta-prism finder, version III followed in 2021! image by Alan Pamler (Image rights) |
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| transverse section of an Olympus E-400 - has a penta-mirror finder image by marcof (Image rights) |
Digital single lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) combine the advantages of SLRs with those of digital cameras since they have an image sensor instead of a film in the image plane, and a digital image memory. These cameras were the flagships of modern camera marketing. Early models were very expensive, only affordable for professional photographers. Until recently a great variety of cameras were in the market, mostly DSLRs for interchangeable lenses, especially lenses for existing autofocus SLR lens mounts of the most successful SLR product lines of the past. Exceptions are some camera models with fixed lens. A further trend was to make DSLRs for new autofocus lens mounts. The first one was the Four-Thirds (4/3) mount (see also 4/3 category). Since c. 2015 the mirrorless digital system cameras (CSCs) almost drove the DSLRs out of the camera market. The last amateur SLR may have been the Pentax K3 III's monochrome version of 2023.
