Anybody (considering) moving from DSLR to P&S?

I have a DSLR and some very good lenses and some point and shoots plus use of my old G5 which I gave to my daughter who being an art grad makes good use of it .I would like a good quality low noise G5-6 replacement ,not the pro 1 but next generation .Not sure I'll ever see one made but it would be nice .Something not too heavy with a good fast lens , SLR type low noise, a flip out screen and a moderate zoom .All the so called SLR replacements by Pansonic ,Canon ,etc are high noise and use in a sense use in camera IS to hide the fact .I use a Fuji E550 as a pocket rocket ,its fine but nothing remotely replaces any DLSR in any P+S in any review or use I have ever seen.
Martin
http://www.trackpass.net
http://www.pbase.com/trackpass

so Dell is out.

ajkessler said:

http://www.slickdeals.net/#p7587 in case you were serious about
upgrading to a p&s

Click to expand...

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Misha

I have my Canon 20d and a good number of lenses from my EOS film days. I love the camera with its fast responsiveness and image quality.

However, when I went on a long trip to Asia and Europe recently I only took a new Panasonic DMC-TZI, 5 Mp 10X optical zoom point and shoot. It is an impressive camera. I found myself being more creative with it than I have been with my DSLR for a long time. In fact, I didn't miss the DSLR at all.

It does have its drawbacks, such as no optical viewfinder and yes, noise above 400 ASA is a problem. But when you can travel light and have a very capable camera with you everywhere, with a capable lens of 35-350 equivalent with image stabilization, you have a heck of a tool. And no dust problem and no need to change lenses.

One major advantage I find with this camera is that you can stand back and take a close zoom shot and nobody even knows that you are doing it, as the lens uses "folded" technology and doesn't stick out very far from the camera when you shoot. None of this heavy and obtrusive "white" lens problem at public events which can attract attention that you really don't want.

Yes, the DSLR has its place. But remember the older medium format cameras? Where are they now? The DSLR has replaced them, especially Canon's full frame cameras. But these new point and shoot cameras have the potential to replace the DSLR in the future as well. And the sensors are getting more and more capable. It seems to me that once you have a sensor that is capable of providing a good 16X20 or so, and these can, you have opened the door.

Oh, and one more thing. I no longer need to take a separate video camera either. This Panasonic takes high quality video as well. All in the palm of your hand.
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Allan R

Interesting you asked. I own the Olympus C8080WZ, pretty much one of the king of P&S. For all the leisure non-critical, non-money making shoots, the C8080 works great. I say about 10 to 15% of shots taken by the C8080, are sellable if they are not under stringent scrutiny.

Now if you compare the C8080 with my 30D or the 5D, not counting speed, added features, etc, but just IQ, the C8080 is a par under the Canon DSLR. Here is what I discover:

Cons:
C8080 is softer (just slightly) than my Canon with zoom lens
C8080 is just a bit more noisier (due to CCD sensing element)

C8080 can't stop down beyond F8 at WA and F11 at Tele. This will be true for all other P&S

Pros:
No lens change implies no dust problem
Very portable, even with the WA lens
Movie mode really comes in handy
movable/tiltable LCD screen with live view (again is very handy)
Very Very nice macro capability that my Canon lens can't match

So my comment/advice/conclusion is that P&S has their place in the sun. Being a DSLR person, I naturally am critical about IQ. But you might not be as picky as I am. But I expect all other P&S to perform worse than my C8080, except maybe in startup time or other non-IQ related parameters.

If portability is what you want and need, get a P&S. For me, a 5" cube bag is considered portable. For you maybe much smaller.

Ben
--
5D 30D, C8080WZ
EFS18-55 kit lens
EFS 17-85mm F4-5.6 IS
EF 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 IS
EF 50mm F1.8 II
EF 24-105mm F4L IS USM
Sigma 24mm F1.8

Remember on P&S F11 is more like F22 on DSLR. I do like my P&S for its huge DoF. Its interesting as the P&S speed up they will get to DSLR response time in a few years. Right now even my new S3 is a bit slow since I got used to my 20D. However I have to lug the 20D around so if I dont have it I cannot take pictures. I hope Canon comes up with some decent sensor for the P&S... Right now I am using Fuji.

Canon SD700 IS

Jpeg and AVI only
6Mp
Automatic exposure mode only
Control over ISO including Auto
Control over WB including Auto
Control over exposure compensation
Control over metering mode evaluate Counterweight spot
Control over image size and quality
IS
Optical Viewfinder can't use for close up macros though parallax
Orientation sensor image
Use SD cards up to 2GB
Superfine Jpeg image 3MB
Very nice camera operation
simple menus that are quick and easy to use.

Straight from camera image
http://www.mouseprints.net/old/dpr/IMG_0098.JPG
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JJMack

Add to the 2fps and 9AF points
--
JJMack

ISO does not show in EXIF is available in Canon software but if set to AUTO it shows auto and you have no idea what ISO was used.

The image I posted use ISO 200 the zoom was at its longest Focal length the camera shoot i wide open.

Small CCD sensor noise is quite high at ISO 800 which is the highest ISO the camera offers
--
JJMack

Easy to carry BIG ZOOMS,, no trouble with dust oon the sensor, and my NO ONE BOO COO fav is YOU CAN READ and change all the info in your VIEWFINDER!!!!!!!!!
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Cherylm

I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God's business
http://www.pbase.com/cherylm

Yes both is a great idea and I have both but never want to carry BOTH around .
--
Cherylm

I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God's business
http://www.pbase.com/cherylm

After a second repair attempt I got my lens back with exactly the same problem: doesn't focus at 35mm at far distances.

I.e. it focusses more-or-less but doesn't give the 'focus OK' beep so I can't press the shutter.

really sad, send it in for the first time almost 5 months ago ....

Tomorrow I'll call Canon, this third-party repair policy doesn't seem to work.

I think it would be too easy for Canon to say that it's not their business, because it IS their business! What's the sense of buying expensive lenses if there is no knowledge about how to repair them?
Shame on you, Canon!

A very angry and disappointed
Theo

One more reason to stop with these expensive toys and get a decent P&S!
Panasonic just announced the LX2.

Stiefbeen said:

Hi Max,

Canon doesn't repair their lenses themselves, they sent me to
ATB-ASS (www.etbass.com).

I just did a first short test, but test 1 already failed, it
doesn't AF (nor MF) at 35 mm :-( to be more precise it doesn't
focus in the range 35-50mm.

Very, very, very sad.

I'll call them today what to do next.

Took 500 euro to get it repaired.

A not-so-happy Theo

Click to expand...

fancy a medium format digital though

--
PhD Student and photographer

I use a canon a620 when ever I "walk around" and dont feel like bringing a DSLR, it has all the features I need, great prints, not to mention, I use it for UV Black and IR photography, since my Canon DSLR's stink at IR and UV Black Photography. Not to mention, when working on the car, its nice to get shots, without getting grease all over my DSLR. (especially if you need a specific part, its easier to show the store clerks).

Shot using UV Black 403:



Hands covered in tranny fluid and oil, but with a620, I was not worried about getting my P&S dirty:

90% of my candids are with my portable s700. It goes in my pocket and its easy to carry. In fact, my favorite candids are always from a P&S camera.

However, if you are thinking that a P&S can replace your DSLR, then you clearly are not using your DSLR system to its full potential. Its highly doubtful you are experienced enough to work with studio strobes/580EX flashes/ect... I'm guessing you are using your DSLR like a P&S camera, so you might be better off with a smaller P&S camera where you can focus your efforts on things like capturing the moment. Photographers using DSLRs focus on things like getting the right ND filter so they can take that perfect silky waterfall photo. Or just carry around a smaller digital rebel, those are just like P&S cameras if you get the cheap kit lens and they have that little pop up flash as well.