wrote:
Hi,
I am a newcomer to photography.Just tell me the difference between a
SLR and SLR like camera.For example Canon EOS 350D is an (D)SLR and
Fuji S5500 is called an 'SLR like' camera..By single lens reflex I
suppose that what you see through the view finder is what you are
going to get as the image.i.e front end optics for both the
viewfinder and image capturing mechanism are same.

Both of these cameras satisfies my definition.But only one is
qualified as an SLR why ??

Current usage may include the term ZLR (zoom lens reflex) to describe
SLR-like cameras (although I don't particularly care for the term myself).
These cameras tend to have the same shape as an SLR, and have the manual
controls which are lacking in the simple point-and-shoot flat bodied
cameras. There is a newsgroup devoted to such ZLR cameras he

rec.photo.digital.zlr

Some people demand that on an SLR, the reflex part must be achieved with
mirrors, whereas on the ZLR the reflex is electronic. This does limit the
quality of the reflex finder, and may prevent highly accurate viewing such
as depth-of-field preview or manual focus. For this group,
interchangeable lenses and complete systems of add-ons distinguish the SLR
from the ZLR.

David