DSLR, digital SLR or digital single-lens reflex is all the rage in the ever-growing field of digital cameras. They are not the same as a digicam, although the name is similar. It is generally believed that digital SLR photography produced more true to life pictures than digicams. Digital SLR cameras cost a little more, but do not do all of the work. Here are some tips to succeed at digital SLR photography.

Check Your ISO Setting

Remember the ASA film speed number you would get for your traditional 35mm camera? The same numbers (called ISO) apply to digital SLR photography, as well. 100 would be for bright sunny outdoor shots, 200 for cloudy days and 1600 for night shots or subjects moving at a fast speed. Since digital cameras obviously don't use film, the settings are equivalent to a traditional film speed.

Be sure your ISO mode is set before you start taking the pictures. However, if it's not set, the camera will just pick a default ISO setting. Some digital cameras have an "ISO Auto" button or mode where you just let the camera decide, or the camera will automatically just lock on to the next highest ISO setting.

Get A Decent Tripod

If you are thinking of setting up digital SLR photography or portraits with you in it, you will need a tripod. Invest in the best quality one you can afford or you will have one that's unreliable or falls apart after a few uses. The tripod should be stable, firm yet portable. Ideally, you don't want the slightest breeze to make the tripod and your camera shake.

Join An Online Photo Sharing Community

An economical and fun way to get extremely specific digital SLR photography tips is to join an online photo sharing community like Photobucket, Flickr or Stock.Xchnge. Many of these sites not only offer places for professional and amateur photographers to network, but also publish free articles about the latest and greatest in digital SLR photography.

Allow Yourself To Make Mistakes

When you learn a new skill, you are bound to make a lot of mistakes before you become proficient at it. The same is true with digital SLR photography. The advantage of digital SLR photography is that you can quick check what you've just taken and edit any mistakes right away, instead of having to wait for your film to be completed and then developed. Mistakes can be a great teacher if you have the right attitude towards them.