Seems obvious, don't know why the wheel needs reinventing. SLR means "Single-Lens- Reflex", DSLR denotes the digital variant. "Reflex" refers to the reflection of the image by mirror into the viewfinder. A mirror-less design (one that's not a Rangefinder) would be "Direct" rather than "Reflecting". Hence: "Single-Lens-Direct" or SLD . DSLD would be redundant since the design has to be digital to begin with.
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SLD
- Thread starter reck
- Start date
mamallama
Forum Pro
None other need apply.
Frank LoPriore
Senior Member
Wellington100
Forum Pro
Cameras like the X100 and Leica X1 could be called Fixed Lens Direct
Andy Moreton
Well-known member
But 'Single Lens' is also redundant, when was the last time a new Twin Lens camera was announced?
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Andy
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Andy
falconeyes
Senior Member
I vote +1
I actually thought it is the official term already. I saw it used by several vendors.
IMHO, "Mirrorless" or "System" camera are best as single word, "SLD" best as a term. Anyway, a term with "less" in it is a negative way to phrase things and not going to stay,
I actually thought it is the official term already. I saw it used by several vendors.
IMHO, "Mirrorless" or "System" camera are best as single word, "SLD" best as a term. Anyway, a term with "less" in it is a negative way to phrase things and not going to stay,
But what to do with the Panny 3D lens ? 
The problem with SLD, in my opinion, is that it doesn't differentiate from 'regular' P&S cameras... What is the difference between the Fuji X100, Sigma DP1/2 and so on from a G12 or S95? Basically it comes down to sensor size and quality, doesn't it?
I'd call them HFCs - Hi Fidelity Compacts But I'm not getting any takers on that one yet...
The problem with SLD, in my opinion, is that it doesn't differentiate from 'regular' P&S cameras... What is the difference between the Fuji X100, Sigma DP1/2 and so on from a G12 or S95? Basically it comes down to sensor size and quality, doesn't it?I'd call them HFCs - Hi Fidelity Compacts
But I'm not getting any takers on that one yet...Back in October 2001 , Mirko described his desired digital camera
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=1632921
(Close enough to "Single-Lens Direct ".)
Unless an earlier reference is found, I'd vote to
credit Mirko for coining "SLD" in this context.
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The following is irrelevant, just a fun bit of trivia ;-)
Searching Google Books for the phrase "single-lens direct" reveals its earliest known appearance in 1947, when the RCA journal Television referred to "single-lens direct" optical finders in comparison to electronic viewfinders for TV cameras. ;-)
-- omr
malamut
New member
+1.
SLD (single lens direct, as opposed to SLR = single lens reflex) is the only name as well-established as 'EVIL'. But contrary to 'EVIL', the term itself is neutral. It also leaves room for other technologies like the translucent mirrors, which are named SLT in this terminology.
Wherever the 'single lens' part of the name originates from historically, there is still a good reason to use it. It makes clear that the picture seen on display/viewfinder originates from the same lens which will also be used to take the actual picture. This is a major difference to classical viewfinder cameras as well as rangefinder cameras, both of which still play a role in digital camera market.
Perhaps there is a better name than SLD, but I don't know any. Specifically, all names suggested by dpreview are much, much worse. All of them long, none of them catchy, none of them precise. Why didn't dpreview even include SLD in the list? Very strange... is it that bad to start using a name which large parts of the rest of the world have already been using for quite a long time?
SLD (single lens direct, as opposed to SLR = single lens reflex) is the only name as well-established as 'EVIL'. But contrary to 'EVIL', the term itself is neutral. It also leaves room for other technologies like the translucent mirrors, which are named SLT in this terminology.
Wherever the 'single lens' part of the name originates from historically, there is still a good reason to use it. It makes clear that the picture seen on display/viewfinder originates from the same lens which will also be used to take the actual picture. This is a major difference to classical viewfinder cameras as well as rangefinder cameras, both of which still play a role in digital camera market.
Perhaps there is a better name than SLD, but I don't know any. Specifically, all names suggested by dpreview are much, much worse. All of them long, none of them catchy, none of them precise. Why didn't dpreview even include SLD in the list? Very strange... is it that bad to start using a name which large parts of the rest of the world have already been using for quite a long time?
You're suggesting that the "d" be implied. Then why not the "SL" too?
I mean, if you want to base this name on the previous one (dSLR) which was created to differentiate it from the previous class (SLR), which was created to differentiate it from the mainstream camera of its day (TLR), then we really should keep the "d".
I mean, if you want to base this name on the previous one (dSLR) which was created to differentiate it from the previous class (SLR), which was created to differentiate it from the mainstream camera of its day (TLR), then we really should keep the "d".
Le Kilt
Senior Member
+1 for SLD !!!
Ravitej Khalsa
Senior Member
Personally the SLD works but I would put forth a slightly different version. Single-Lens Digital. Single-Lens was originated from using a single lens instead of a twin-lens. Both having to do with cameras that had interchangeable lenses. SLR is Single-Lens Reflex, but is commonly known to mean Single 'Interchangeable' Lens Reflex. The reflex is the path to the eye. Direct could mean digital or mechanical. Digital means it has a digital way of seeing the image instead of reflex through a prism (mechanical) So using digital instead of direct implies electronic (viewfinder).
Since Single-Lens has come to mean a single interchangeable lens. And digital is electronic. So in my view the closet thing to the time honored moniker Single-Lens Reflex is Single-Lens Digital. And it rolls off the tongue as easy as SLR. When saying SLD, the "D" naturally has the emphasis just like the R did. In fact the D has slightly more. The "D" applied to almost anything camera has come to mean digital. D3, ID, D60, 5D and etc. "D" means digital. And digital reflex cameras have come to be known as DSLR, a slight tongue twister. By removing the R of reflex and moving the time-honored D of digital to takes it's place one is told that something has changed in the formula, but it still means digital.
Personally I am convinced this would be the easiest for the consumer to understand with minimal education. And not to be confused with the newer yet fast time honor Point and Shoot. PS. This is not PS, but SLD. With the digital (electronic) viewfinder instead of the reflex (mechanical) viewfinder.
Just my personal interpretation.
YMMV
Since Single-Lens has come to mean a single interchangeable lens. And digital is electronic. So in my view the closet thing to the time honored moniker Single-Lens Reflex is Single-Lens Digital. And it rolls off the tongue as easy as SLR. When saying SLD, the "D" naturally has the emphasis just like the R did. In fact the D has slightly more. The "D" applied to almost anything camera has come to mean digital. D3, ID, D60, 5D and etc. "D" means digital. And digital reflex cameras have come to be known as DSLR, a slight tongue twister. By removing the R of reflex and moving the time-honored D of digital to takes it's place one is told that something has changed in the formula, but it still means digital.
Personally I am convinced this would be the easiest for the consumer to understand with minimal education. And not to be confused with the newer yet fast time honor Point and Shoot. PS. This is not PS, but SLD. With the digital (electronic) viewfinder instead of the reflex (mechanical) viewfinder.
Just my personal interpretation.
YMMV
Thanks Ravitej. Well spoken. But I tend to think that "Digital" is rather unnecessary as it is implied for the viewfinder, and could be confused as a decription for the image capture capability versus the viewing capability. To use the SLR example, an SLR is an SLR regardless of the the image capture (film or digital), hence the D was added to DSLR. If the intention is to distinguish the path to the eye as you explained so well, then using the term "digital" might just muddle the meaning. But do be devil's advocate, "direct" could also be interpreted as ambiguous. But again, just my initial thoughts. I think either way, that SLD would be easily accepted to distinguish between reflex, and non reflex cameras. - Jerry
Izu
Leading Member
I have an Olympus XA SLD, a Minox 35 SLD and even a Minolta Talking SLD... and I suppose that my G12 could be defined as a SLD camera...
Le Kilt
Senior Member
Le Kilt
Senior Member
I would disagree with D for Digital, although by far it is not the worst suggestion! Once explained, Direct make sense as not being redirected via a mirror, and as it is not currently used in describing cameras, people would quickly catch on that it designated a new breed of camera.
Unfortunately, as these discussions are showing, there isn't a common term that will satisfy everyone. If only the first manufacturer had given theirs a globally acceptable name !!! Mirrorless does seem to have gained ground in English-speaking countries, and Hybrid in some others...
Unfortunately, as these discussions are showing, there isn't a common term that will satisfy everyone. If only the first manufacturer had given theirs a globally acceptable name !!! Mirrorless does seem to have gained ground in English-speaking countries, and Hybrid in some others...
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