DL50 SLR Vs' 8800 Questions about Difference and Quality?

What are the benefits to SLR vs the higher pixel quality of the 8800?

Is there a automatic mode to both these cameras? OR are they fully manual? 8400 is much cheaper so, how does the quality compare? Can someone give me a idea better than 10x the zoom so how far really is that realistically that I would be seeing the photos take?

I have both a D70 and the 8800. The D50 is tweaked a little different than the D70. Both are good in their own way. That's a separate issue. I don't know about photo quality between a DSLR and the 8800. I would prefer to leave that to others. I went to a DSLR for better higher iso range, available light photography, speed when I need it, etc.

To me there is room for both and I have both. Just depends on your needs and what you want to do with the camera.

There are things my D70 will do or will do better than the 8800. But there are places I do not want to take my D70. There are times when having an all in one lens is a real advantage like with the 8800 and other times I can get photos with the D70 that would not be possible with the 8800. I probably use my D70 80% of the time. I have a versatile lens in the 18-70, which is actually 27-105 in 35 mm terms and I am getting a prime for Christmas which will be good in low light (50mm f1.8). Of the remaining 20%, 10% I use my 5700 for because it is old enough that I can take it to work frequently and let everyone use it, something I will not do with my other cameras. The other 10% is divided between my 8800 and my little Panasonic FZ4, both stabilized long zoomers, the FZ4 having a longer range but being a smaller and slightly more basic camera. Sometimes I carry the D70 plus either the 8800 or the FZ4.

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Darlene
D70
Five Coolpixes and the Panny FZ4
http://www.pbase.com/imacatmom

To further answer your questions, or try to, there is an auto mode to both as well as scene modes, but if you are going to shoot in automatic, you would probably be well served with a less expensive camera, and certainly not a DSLR. You would at least want to shoot in program mode so you can adjust settings.

The 8400 is a wide angle camera and not a long zoom. It does not have lens stabilization, as it has a much shorter lens and really does not need it. It is probably about 3x but that is a guess. Both the cameras otherwise share many similarities.

Cameras do not necessarily get easier to use, the more you pay for them. Rather, they sometimes have a steeper learning curve, but ultimately if you learn them, they give you more features and better photo quality. If you are really interested in learning photography, either can be good. The D50 is optimized as much as possible to appeal to the beginner who wants to learn photography as well as for the serious amateur. If you just want to take snapshots in auto, I would look at some of the less expensive Nikon, Canon, or Fuji point and shoots.

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Darlene
D70
Five Coolpixes and the Panny FZ4
http://www.pbase.com/imacatmom

and not up with modern state of the art .. if that is what you want.

I love my 5700 but it is dated so I now work mostly with my Panasonic FZ30 except for moments of nostalgia when the 5700 is put to use.

If you want to stick to Nikon then there is the 8400, but for a small compact back-up to a DSLR I'd look at the Pany LX-1.

The answer to your question is that while the 8800 has a wonderful lens, like all Nikons, it has a small sensor. They crambed in 8Mp into the same size as my 5Mp ... which may be adequate but it is not good practise.

Panasonic increase the size of the sensor when they upgraded from 5Mp FZ20 to the latest 8Mp FZ30 and did a great job of re-organising the layout of the controls which leaves Nikon for dead. Much as I like the 5700

So the DSLR is using a much larger sensor and that enables you to use faster ISO setting without getting anything like the level of noise that any small sensor, pro-sumer suffers from.

For me I accept the limitations of the pro-sumer for the ability to have the versatility of that type. DSLRs are only versatile if you have the cash to buy all the accessories and in three or four years I have not missed the few things the DSLR will do better ... but that is my photography, maybe not yours

I would suggest your choice is between the modern DSLR and a modern pro-sumer like the FZ30. If you do a lot of work in poor lighting situations then the DSLR wins hands down, and you need the ability to work at higher ISO settings.

jcuknz said:

The answer to your question is that while the 8800 has a wonderful
lens, like all Nikons, it has a small sensor. They crambed in 8Mp
into the same size as my 5Mp ... which may be adequate but it is
not good practise.
Panasonic increase the size of the sensor when they upgraded from
5Mp FZ20 to the latest 8Mp FZ30 and did a great job of

Click to expand...

The CP8800 has a 2/3" sensor, which is bigger than
the 1/1.8" sensor in the Panasonic DMC-FZ30

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikoncp8800/page2.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz30/
http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/Camera_System/Sensor_Sizes_01.htm