HELP Please-urgent

Hello,

I'm an amateur photographer and am interested in buying a camera. I am interested in the Canon EOS 500D or the Leica d-lux 4. Which equipment shuld I buy, since it will soon make a safari.Thank you all.

You need to put this in the beginners forum. But I don't think you will get any answers that make sense.
--

“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”

“Showing off is the fool’s idea of glory.”

Chris, Broussard, LA

Urgent?

ok I'm not "Jack Bauer" - but still, I define urgent & the call for "I need help" somewhat different than your request.

that aside I'll make this quick and painless:

Either buy the D-Lux 4 (you maybe want to look at panasonic's more affordable "identical" Camera aka "Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3" ... ).... or take some serious photography lessons (or at least buy some good books on photography).

it may sound harsh - but if you don't know the answer to your question and have trouble deciding between a P&S and a DSLR... well, you don't have much knowledge on the topic.

Not meant to put you down... but a DSLR will bring you not a lot of improvement if you're not interested in mastering the "advanced" options...

Also a DSLR needs good glass (and the kit lens for the 500D is hardly adequate for anything).

The only advantages a DSLR will have - if you do not want to spend time learning about good exposure control, etc.. - would be:

• Optical TTL Viewfinder (a lot better in bright sunlight)
• Less noise at higher ISO (considerably....)
• A lot faster AF (although that also depends on the lens you choose)
• Longer lasting battery (if you use the Viewfinder and not that Live View thing) (from my Nikon D200 i get regularly like 700-900 shots per battery...)
• Arguably better image quality (but that really depends on what you do with your photos afterwards... again, depending on your willingness to master post processing...)

Disadvantages with the DSLR (compared to the Leica / Pany):

• Larger....
• Heavier
• To achieve maximum possible quality you need to shoot RAW, do good Post Processing, and know your way around all the settings.

(although arguably, even the JPEG output from any DSLR would beat the image quality of any P&S)

peixanibal said:

Hello,

I'm an amateur photographer and am interested in buying a camera. I am interested in the Canon EOS 500D or the Leica d-lux 4. Which equipment shuld I buy, since it will soon make a safari.Thank you all.

Click to expand...

I fully agree with most of what eric wrote in the previous post.

However, I must point out that the Leica D-Lux-4 (or Panasonic LX-3) are not very adequate for a Safari. They only have a maximum Tele setting of 60 mm equivalent, and you will likely want much more to shoot wildlife (after all, it is not very healthy to walk right up to a lion and ask him to sit tight... ).

But the same consideration apply for the 500D. What lens comes with it? if it is a kit lens, say 17-55 mm, the problem is the same (or slightly worse).

So, may be you should consider (if Safari is the aim) to get something with a greater tele range, or you will be very limited. I suggest you look into the Panasonic range, and think about a camera which can go up to 250 - 300 mm equivalent FL.

As you seem to be inexperienced, I don't recommend anything above 300 mm, an inexperienced photographer is unlikely to get many satisfactory images. But up to that value (used with caution) it is a good idea, for a safari.

Unless you are talking about an insect safari, in your back yard. That is a different thing!
Good luck!
--
Antonio

http://ferrer.smugmug.com/

peixanibal said:

Hello,

I'm an amateur photographer and am interested in buying a camera. I am interested in the Canon EOS 500D or the Leica d-lux 4. Which equipment shuld I buy, since it will soon make a safari.Thank you all.

Click to expand...

I'm afraid I have to agree with all the replies you have received so far.

Indeed you need to carefully consider how far you wish to go with photography on your safari. If you don't want the complexity, lens interchangeability, cost, size and weight of a DSLR then you will need to consider something other than the Leica if for no other reason than its very limited zoom range which is completely inadequate for a safari.

Have a look at the reviews of the Canon G11 (or if you can find one) the G10. Smallish and with a good zoom range it will fit the bill nicely if you don't want to take the "plunge" and get a DSLR.

As for which DSLR to buy if you decide to, the 500D is an excellent camera which will give you an excellent range of focal lengths with the two kit lenses (18-55mm IS and 55-250mm IS).

Whichever camera you decide to buy, make sure you purchase it at least a month or two before you go on safari to check that everything is working satisfactorily and that you shoot lots of images of all kinds under different conditions and try your hand at RAW processing. The more time you allow yourself, the better you will know your camera and how all its features work (and which ones you don't need to worry about) and the more comfortable you will be shooting on safari.

By the way, make sure you shoot RAW (or at least JPEG + RAW) because even if your RAW processing skills aren't up to "scratch", with RAW you can always go back and reprocess an image later with no adverse consequences or image degradation.

I have to disagree with RAW shooting on a Safari.

On the contrary, if the resolution and sharpness of your "amateur" pictures isn't very important, a fast shooting super zoom like the (already old) Casio F1 seems to be a good choice.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08010601casiof1.asp

http://gizmodo.com/383843/casio-exilim-ex+f1-slow+mo-super-cam-full-review-verdict-totally-unique-shockingly-powerful

or the newer FH20
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08091601casio_fh20.asp

Laurentiu Todie said:

I have to disagree with RAW shooting on a Safari.

On the contrary, if the resolution and sharpness of your "amateur" pictures isn't very important, a fast shooting super zoom like the (already old) Casio F1 seems to be a good choice.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08010601casiof1.asp

http://gizmodo.com/383843/casio-exilim-ex+f1-slow+mo-super-cam-full-review-verdict-totally-unique-shockingly-powerful

or the newer FH20
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08091601casio_fh20.asp

Click to expand...

I diasagree with you. The main reason people go on safari these days is to shoot animals with a camera rather than literally as was done in the past.

The OP is clearly concerned with image quality and if that is the case, shooting RAW (if it is available) not only provides for the best image quality possible, it allows comprehensive and non image degrading adjustments to almost all image parameters after the shutter is tripped.

If sharpness, detail , noise performance and dynamic range are not important then it really doesn't matter much what camera he chooses provided he has the telephoto focal length reach he needs.

sorry

I understand what you're saying in support of RAW,
but still think that most people just want to document their being there,
especially those who describe themselves as amateurs.

The number of professional or advanced amateurs is small compared to that of tourists.

Have you ever used a Casio EX-F1?
I did; it is awesome.
Just imagine a leaping lion in slow motion (from a safe distance : )

It shoots RAW too, but at 6MP, the resolution that (for many years) was considered by professional photographers to be ideal : )

Get the newer Canon , 550/T2i. With the 15-85 lens.

Pedagydusz said:

I fully agree with most of what eric wrote in the previous post.

However, I must point out that the Leica D-Lux-4 (or Panasonic LX-3) are not very adequate for a Safari. They only have a maximum Tele setting of 60 mm equivalent, and you will likely want much more to shoot wildlife (after all, it is not very healthy to walk right up to a lion and ask him to sit tight... ).

Click to expand...

Maybe he/she could do that with the Safari edition of the DLux 4??

The Canon is your best bet; although, for a safari, you'll want a longer lens. On a budget, I'd suggest the 75-300mm f/4-5.6.