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overall image quality in your photos.

Even though the number of megapixels may be very similar between a P&S and a DLSR, the image chip inside a DLSR is much larger sometimes as much as 25 times larger.

What does this do for you? First of all, a larger image chip has more surface area to accurately capture the color of each little pixel. This results in cleaner images, which means not only do your photos have less noise (digital graininess), but they will also have truer color.

In addition to better image quality, the larger image chip also helps a DSLR to offer more film speed (ISO) choices. While most P&S cameras have three different film speed settings (usually ISO 100, ISO 200, and ISO 400), a DSLR will also offer ISO 800 and ISO 1600. Some of the more expensive, professional models offer up to ISO 6400.

What does faster film speed offer you? Let's go back to the situation of the piano recital. In many recital halls and auditoriums, even if the stage is well lit it still may be too dark for you to hand-hold your camera and get a blur-free photo your shutter speed just isn't fast enough to overcome the slight movements of your hands as you take the shot.

That's where film speed comes to the rescue. For each bump in speed you are adding twice as much light into your camera to expose the shot. So if the camera says you need a shutter speed of 1/15th of a second at ISO 200, then ISO 400 needs 1/30th of a second, and ISO 800 needs only 1/60th. And 1/60th is fast enough to overcome anything but the most nervous hand shaking when taking a photo.

3. MORE PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTROL

Simply put, you will have better control over your photos; that's the biggest advantage a DSLR will have over a P&S camera. How will you have more control? Here are several ways:

1. Aperture-priority, shutter-priority, and manual modes most P&S cameras have pre-programmed photo taking modes (like portrait, sports, and landscape) that take control out of your hands. The camera picks what settings to use, which may or may not be best for your situation. DSLRs have these too, but they also have aperture-priority, shutter-priority, and manual modes, which give you full control over how you want the photo captured.

2. More powerful flash not only will it give more light, it is also less likely to cause the dreaded red eye. And if you opt for a dedicated flash (one that attaches to the "hot shoe," or small metal plate on the top of the camera), it makes red eye even less likely.

3. Greater shutter speed

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