DSLR or Point & Shoot?

Robert Cohen said:

Dave,

30 years ago in the grand old days before digital, a friend of my
father's asked for a camera recco. I had a couple of SLRs. For
him I recommended a nice, almost completely automatic, P&S. He was
delighted and - because he had a good eye and the camera's
automation was good - he got really nice photos. For him that's
all he wanted or needed. He could have afforded anything, but the
appropriate camera was a small P&S.

The same today. No one camera or even type of camera is going to
be ideal for everyone or every situation.

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Thanks for your input Bob. I think my friend is labouring under the delusion that he is going to be able to get long distance shots like the 'pros' do, but with something he can just slip into his pocket. I think I'm going to have to give him a few tutorials and bring him back down to earth.
--
Dave (Sgt. Pepper), Epsom, England.
http://www.pbase.com/davecq

Depends on the photographer and the situations he finds himself in. I'm a magazine editor and photojournalist. Personally, in terms of digital, I have a 5700, a D2x and a D50. For me, there are some photographs that I just can't do as well with anything but as dslr.

On the other hand, there are occassions when I find the 5700 the best overall tool for the job. (That would be even more true if the flash on it worked as well as it should). The D2x gets the best shots when I strictly am looking for artistic photo qualities (except on a few occassions perhaps when the D50 does better in low light) and it has audio recording for notetaking. The D50 has no audio or video recorder which greatly limits its value to me. But The 5700 gives me video notetaking to go along with the photographs I shoot, which is great for captions notetaking, and the image quality in terms of sharpness, resolution, etc., is good enough for a magazine cover. The 5700 is especially good at event photography which I do a lot of.

That being said, I love my D2X. At 4 or even 8 frames a second I can catch and freeze macro shots of insects in flight or catch the the perfect moment by a dunking basketball player. I have much more control via the extensive menu features, and I have virtually every feature that was ever invented for a camera, from mirror lock-up to multiple exposures etc. etc. etc.

Diderot

I also have to recommend cameras sometimes and it's really hard.

But if money isn't that big problem, why not take a D40+18-200VR?
Picture quality will be very nice and handling will be very fast.

I don't know if a bridge camera is really easier to use?

Dave, that Coolpix 5700 picture is fantastic. Yes cameras like the Coolpix 5700 can deliver excellent resuts, but IMHO, only if light conditions are near perfect. I have a Coolpix 8800 which made me vow never to buy anything Nikon again as it is such a terrible performer, in anything but perfect conditions. AND, at South African prices it did not come cheap. (The D200, of course, changed my mind about Nikon).

If I were to recommend a P&S type of camera to any casual shooter, my choice would be a Fuji S9600 or even the S6500, just a pity they do not have image stabilisation. It is of course, certainly not something you could slip into your pocket. I have recommended these to many people who are quite happy with them.

If however the person is likely to become hooked on this wonderful hobby, I would certainly recommend an entry level DSLR, probably a D50.

--
Regards,
Pieter.

'Sometimes things aren't what you imagined – They are even better'

Pieter Jordaan said:

Dave, that Coolpix 5700 picture is fantastic.

Click to expand...

Hi Pieter and thanks very much.

Pieter Jordaan said:

If I were to recommend a P&S type of camera to any casual shooter,
my choice would be a Fuji S9600

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I've just had a look at that and it seems like an ideal solution for him. It's a very good specification for such a low price.

Pieter Jordaan said:

If however the person is likely to become hooked on this wonderful
hobby, I would certainly recommend an entry level DSLR, probably a
D50.

Click to expand...

I don't think he's the type to get hooked to be honest, but then I may be proved wrong.

Have a Very Happy New Year Pieter.

--
Dave (Sgt. Pepper), Epsom, England.
http://www.pbase.com/davecq

Small, light, almost the size of a large P&S, not much more expensive. Have it all!
--
Phil Flash
SF, CA USA

I should probably take more photographs instead of hanging around here posting.

Stuff I own in my profile.

Thanks Dave and all the very best to you and yours, as well, for 2007.
--
Regards,
Pieter.

'Sometimes things aren't what you imagined – They are even better'

Dave Chambers said:

I know I'm only an enthusiastic amateur who still has lots and lots
to learn, but as an owner of several DSLRs as well as a
point-and-shoot Coolpix 5700, I still occasionally find myself
wondering if all that expenditure on high-end DSLRs was really
worth it.

The answer for ME is always yes, because I am as much of a
gadget-fan as I am a 'photographer' and I just love using that pro
equipment ... it keeps me happy.

The question arose again in a different context last night during a
wonderful meal with old friends, and the husband was seeking advice
on what camera he should buy. I found myself really torn between
recommending an entry-level DSLR or a P&S and I said I'd think
about it.

This morning, whilst sorting through some old images, I came across
this one taken with my Coolpix 5700 and I thought 'could I have
done this any better with a DSLR ?'

Click to expand...

That is a great capture, cant say that it would be much, if any, better if it was shot with a DSLR. However, it is much easier to get the shot with a DSLR IMO. The lag and the viewfinders of the digicams drives me crazy. I took a look at the new Canon G7 but ended up with a little D40 as a companion to my D200.

Dave Chambers said:

--
Dave (Sgt. Pepper), Epsom, England.
http://www.pbase.com/davecq

Click to expand...

--

http://www.pbase.com/interactive
http://tri-xstories.blogspot.com

Hi Dave,

I won't tell you anything that you don't already know, but it depends on the level of interest in photography of that person. If he only wants to take snapshots, a P&S would be enough, but if he wants to:

• control DoF in a creative way

• have a versatile equipment that can change its configuration with different lenses and accessories

• get good results using flash

• take photos in difficult light conditions

• take photos of moving objects (pets and kids included)

• enjoy using and having control of the tool

then he must get a dSLR.

Of course your P&S example looks good at this size, but how does it look in big prints? I'm sure you would have got more texture using a SLR (bigger sensor, better lens).

A friend of mine bought a 500 € digital P&S a year ago after 20 years of analog SLRs... and he's sick of it. He'd better got a dSLR.

Alex

I think that most photographers amateur or pro are 'gadget freaks'

I certainly am myself and I love being one!!

Technology is awesome and i love just being around these forums and buying magazines t see what the next great 'thing' is !

I used to have a Nikon 8800, I sold it but i miss it now, the great 10x optical zoom was great and unless you were shootong acton or movement it was as good as any DSLR for out of camera shots.

I think nowadays the price of a D40 or 400D Canon especially, even the supplied cheaper lens are far better in the long run than a P&S for speed and quality.

BUT a good P&S and good PP ( and Dave I'm still learning about photoshop with a great dvd supplied from Warehouse Express, about 3 hours of video tutorials!!) can produce pro looking shots.

Happy New Year everyone.

FletchUK.

Your PP looks fine to me, I'm basic myself but a nice B&W background has made the driver stand out even more with the BOKEH! ;-)

FletchUK.

If he's looking for "long distance shots" I'm sure you can tell him that the pros who take such photos at sporting events and the like use very expensive, very specialized equipment that is quite unlike what most other pros and what most advanced amateurs use. That sort of gear is not only super expensive, it's impractical and inappropriate for most people.
--
--Bob