Are SLR's worth it
Discussion
okay, im no photographer..
And just use a Sony Cybershot Digi most of the time... but after seeing the BT&P shots with SLR's - and going somewhere impressive next month - I was wondering if its worth investing in a Digital SLR to really capture the views?
But, how portable are they? I always think of them as bulky things you have to lug around?
And price? I want good quality pictures, but it will be occasional use, so i dont want to spend a fortune..
And just use a Sony Cybershot Digi most of the time... but after seeing the BT&P shots with SLR's - and going somewhere impressive next month - I was wondering if its worth investing in a Digital SLR to really capture the views?
But, how portable are they? I always think of them as bulky things you have to lug around?
And price? I want good quality pictures, but it will be occasional use, so i dont want to spend a fortune..
I umm'd and arrrr'd for about 3 yrs about getting a digital SLR. I always had a point and shoot compact but it just gave me so little flexibility I was alway sfrustrated and always wanted to do more.
2 months ago I bought one and haven't looked back. I LOVE IT!!! It all depends if you want that control or not though, I think. I mean do you want to be able to control the aspects of photography (aperture, shutter speed, focal length etc) or are you simply looking for better quality photographs?!
2 months ago I bought one and haven't looked back. I LOVE IT!!! It all depends if you want that control or not though, I think. I mean do you want to be able to control the aspects of photography (aperture, shutter speed, focal length etc) or are you simply looking for better quality photographs?!
I was in the same position as you a few months ago. I'm no photographer compared to most on this part of the forums but I enjoy taking photos and trying (and failing!) to be creative. I realised I needed to upgrade from my point-and-shoot Canon but just couldn't justify the cost of an SLR.
I ended up going for what I think is called 'pro-sumer' by some websites. A sort of half and half between a point-and-shoot and a proper SLR
Panasonic Lumix FZ30. It's been brilliant so far - I can't fault it and I taken a fair few shots with it. The frequency of good ones seems to be increasing too!
I ended up going for what I think is called 'pro-sumer' by some websites. A sort of half and half between a point-and-shoot and a proper SLR
Panasonic Lumix FZ30. It's been brilliant so far - I can't fault it and I taken a fair few shots with it. The frequency of good ones seems to be increasing too!
From what you've said, Ian, an SLR may be a bit too far if you're simply after better quality photographs! Unfortunately though I don't know anything about the pro-sumer (as mentioned above) side of the market so can't comment!
But, if you have the desire to do it, it can open up a whole new opportunity for you!
But, if you have the desire to do it, it can open up a whole new opportunity for you!
Hello,
I'm not a quality photographer opting for quantity rather than quality and specialising in the social / spontaneous / story-telling kind. This means that my weapon of choice has to be pocket sized.. and thus I haven't ever taken much of an interest in the larger camera.
However I do have a large "SLR-sized" camera which does come out at times (eg. in the bar area at BTaP). One of the reasons I haven't changed the camera is because the quality is SO good - even though it's not a proper SLR.
It's a Sony DSC F717 and although discontinued it's a stonker of a bargain camera. Here - have a look on (ebay).
The results are better than any pocket camera can offer and in my uneducated opinion, better than a 350D with kit lens. Examples on DPReview here
Just a thought....
Ben
PS. MATT - you previously had one of these didn't you?
I'm not a quality photographer opting for quantity rather than quality and specialising in the social / spontaneous / story-telling kind. This means that my weapon of choice has to be pocket sized.. and thus I haven't ever taken much of an interest in the larger camera.
However I do have a large "SLR-sized" camera which does come out at times (eg. in the bar area at BTaP). One of the reasons I haven't changed the camera is because the quality is SO good - even though it's not a proper SLR.
It's a Sony DSC F717 and although discontinued it's a stonker of a bargain camera. Here - have a look on (ebay).
The results are better than any pocket camera can offer and in my uneducated opinion, better than a 350D with kit lens. Examples on DPReview here
Just a thought....
Ben
PS. MATT - you previously had one of these didn't you?
I went for a prosumer/bridge camera, the Minolta A2.
A year and a bit later it was sold(at a big loss) and I had a 350d.
Sure the sony may, in some situations, get a better pic than a dSLR with the cheap kit lens. My A2 also done macro, time stop & movies.
dSLR's take a bit of learnming and a lot of glass but get the better pic.
Just remember that its usualy the wetware behind the camera thats way more important, most cameras can get most pics most of the time, a dSLR is for when you cant with others or want to print large.
A year and a bit later it was sold(at a big loss) and I had a 350d.
Sure the sony may, in some situations, get a better pic than a dSLR with the cheap kit lens. My A2 also done macro, time stop & movies.
dSLR's take a bit of learnming and a lot of glass but get the better pic.
Just remember that its usualy the wetware behind the camera thats way more important, most cameras can get most pics most of the time, a dSLR is for when you cant with others or want to print large.
This is fairly simple.
How good do you want the digital pic to be?
If you want a crap pic - buy a £100 compact
If you want an ok pic - buy a £300 compact.
If you want a good pic - but a £500 DSLR.
If you want a great pic - buy a £1000 DSLR
If you want a pic you can blow up to A1 and sell - spend a lot more (and read the manual)
..and each time you move up, the size and weight get BIGGER... and a real pain to cart about.
You takes your choice.
How good do you want the digital pic to be?
If you want a crap pic - buy a £100 compact
If you want an ok pic - buy a £300 compact.
If you want a good pic - but a £500 DSLR.
If you want a great pic - buy a £1000 DSLR
If you want a pic you can blow up to A1 and sell - spend a lot more (and read the manual)
..and each time you move up, the size and weight get BIGGER... and a real pain to cart about.
You takes your choice.
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 22 November 20:38
GetCarter said:
If you want a good pic - but a £500 DSLR.
If you want a great pic - buy a £1000 DSLR
If you want a great pic - buy a £1000 DSLR
Not entirely true - my £2500 EOS1D mk2 will not give me the same quality as a new £500 EOS 400D. It may be easier to use and more flexible so helps me to more easily take the picture I want, but in terms of absolute resolution and technical quality the little one will beat it. Still wouldn't swap it for a 400D though. Or even several 400Ds!
I assume the more expensive camera has more AF modes, meetering modes, more options etc.
Lets face it if you shoot a dSLR on 'P' or full auto and never change a setting its wasted.
IMO even 100-200 quid cameras can be great tools thesedays, just dont expect them to suit all situations (fast cars, long/wide zooms, low light etc). or to produce images that will blow up or crop well.
Lets face it if you shoot a dSLR on 'P' or full auto and never change a setting its wasted.
IMO even 100-200 quid cameras can be great tools thesedays, just dont expect them to suit all situations (fast cars, long/wide zooms, low light etc). or to produce images that will blow up or crop well.
dougc said:
I was in the same position as you a few months ago. I'm no photographer compared to most on this part of the forums but I enjoy taking photos and trying (and failing!) to be creative. I realised I needed to upgrade from my point-and-shoot Canon but just couldn't justify the cost of an SLR.
I ended up going for what I think is called 'pro-sumer' by some websites. A sort of half and half between a point-and-shoot and a proper SLR
Panasonic Lumix FZ30. It's been brilliant so far - I can't fault it and I taken a fair few shots with it. The frequency of good ones seems to be increasing too!
I ended up going for what I think is called 'pro-sumer' by some websites. A sort of half and half between a point-and-shoot and a proper SLR
Panasonic Lumix FZ30. It's been brilliant so far - I can't fault it and I taken a fair few shots with it. The frequency of good ones seems to be increasing too!
I trod the same path a few weeks ago and narrowed my choice down to the Panasonic FZ 50 , the Canon IS 3S and the Fujifilm Finepix 9500. (The 9600 came out on 1st Oct)
I dismissed the Canon as I found it to fiddly for my porky fingers.
There was little to seperate the other two cameras. I chose the FZ50 because it had a good lens, it had a better OIS system that the Fuji and I liked the feel of it.
If you look in the photography resources thread on this forum you will find links to a number of review sites which I found very helpful.
Although it's early days yet, all in all, I'm very pleased with it. thumbup
Well, speaking as a photographer, I wouldn't go to BTaP with my 1DS because I would be out to have fun and carting that, lenses, battery packs and huge flash with spare batteries - you get the picture - is a pain. If I was wanting to do a Luca - social photography - then without doubt I'd opt for the DSLR, 5D/30D/20D or Nikon equivalent, complete with flash. I have a top notch compact (S50 - well it was three years ago) but rarely use it because it won't fit in my hand bag or coat pocket without ruining the line of my clothes. And I'm a lazy bugger when in 'socialising' mode. So, had I the choice, I'd go for a neat little compact, around 5 or 7 megapixels, something like the Canon SD700. Fits comfortably into your pocket, is light weight, unobtrusive, won't cost the Earth and will give you enough MBs to get a decent 7x5 inch print.
If you want to venture into the realms of photography as a hobby, producing pleasing pictures on your travels, of landscapes, cars or people, then a DSLR is a consideration. Just bear in mind the cost of additional lenses, flash, filters, tripod. Consider the weight too.
If you want to venture into the realms of photography as a hobby, producing pleasing pictures on your travels, of landscapes, cars or people, then a DSLR is a consideration. Just bear in mind the cost of additional lenses, flash, filters, tripod. Consider the weight too.
poah said:
not really anything much mnore tbh. but like you say using a dSLR on P is a waste
Not really. Its a time and a place thing.
If you need depth of field, then shove it in Av, if you need control over movement (either a speed blur or a fast shutter to capture a fast moving item) then shove it in Tv. If you want to over rule the exposure settings for whatever reason, then shove it in M.
But surely if your subject matter doesn't really require a specific input, keep it in P and let the camera do the hard work.
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