Reading mode: Light Dark

So am I insane? Thinking of using the S95 as only camera

Go to last post
Rotlex

Rotlex

Leading Member
Messages
923
Reaction score
19
Location
PA, US
I think I just came in here for a sanity check, LOL. Quick background. I've been a LONG time DSLR user. Well, at least since the days of the 10D. I've played around and owned a few P&S cameras over the years, but have never really been happy with them. However, I have also found myself almost loathing dragging my DSLR with me everywhere I go. (Most recently on a trip to Disney, I literally dreaded carrying the thing around in the heat).

Fast forward to yesterday. I received my new S95. Played with it all night long, and REALLY love this camera so far. I am very pleased with the results I've done to this point with testing. I cannot believe the performance of this tiny camera.

Without rambling on, I am seriously considering selling my DSLR gear, and using this as my primary\only camera. My shooting style over the years has changed quite a bit, hence, the reason for sometimes dreading the size of the DSLR.

In a nutshell, has anyone out there moved to a high end P&S from a DSLR and been happy down the road? I may hang onto the DSLR for a while, but I'm already starting to think I'm going to be using the S95 95% of the time. The ONLY concern I have is that indoor flash usage is not going to give me the results I'm used too, which of course, it is not.

Again, just looking for some input from anyone who may have moved this way; which seems backwards in some ways, but forward in others, LOL.
--
Steve
http://web.mac.com/rotlex
 
Check out this group:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/notslr/

The big questions could be ...

How much do you love to be able to blur the background on just about any shot? For some it's the quick and easy method to remove distractions, for some, the falloff of focus in 3 dimensions is one of the main ways they express emotion ...

And ... how much do you love taking single exposures that have a large dynamic range?

For me, the answer in both cases was ... "not that much".

But I still shoot black and white 35mm film for a change once in a while.

Some people have shooting styles that push every parameter and every vector of flexibility to the max, while some have shooting styles that revolve around a more limited set of parameters. Henri Cartier Bresson shot mostly at 1/125 sec, at a small selection of focal lengths and ISO settings. Your average edition of National Geographic contains at least one photo set that requires an all-singing, all-dancing, big DSLR kit/entourage.

I am the kind of person who likes to take a given camera system and find where the flexibility lies, and use it. That's why the switch is working for me.

--
"We give advice by the bucket, but take it by the grain." -- Tom Stoppard
 
here's my quick story: 5 yrs into digital photo only. 8 cameras at least - started with some p&s cameras - got 3 dslr's - last spring got the s90 and left my nikon d-300 in the drawer.this summer got g11 and liked it too. a few weeks ago used my big boy again and i'm glad to have it as the IQ is really much better. so now i take whatever i'm in the mood for and i'm happy to have this choice. in short - give yourself a few months before you make a big decision to make sure you have no remorse as we know how expensive it is to get started with a dslr. happy snappin'
 
Thanks for that. 8-)

I drive myself nuts with these things at times, and hate making hasty decisions. Part of the problem is, even though I have only owned the camera a day, I can see using it very often, as it's so darn small, I'll have it with me 24x7. I also can't help but feeling that I could sell all of my DSLR gear, and probably pay for my next 2 vacations, LOL.

I think I'll play around for a week or so with it, and see how it goes. I can already tell I have zero issues with good lighting, and outdoor stuff, it's just the indoor flash work that bothers me. I hate not being able to bounce. :) Problem is, I do so little of it, I don't know if I can justify keeping a few K worth of gear for once or twice a year.
--
Steve
http://web.mac.com/rotlex
 
Canon Flash HF-DC1

Stronger flash
Can bounce it off ceiling, hand held slave
Very small
 
Rotlex said:
I think I just came in here for a sanity check, LOL. Quick background. I've been a LONG time DSLR user. Well, at least since the days of the 10D. I've played around and owned a few P&S cameras over the years, but have never really been happy with them. However, I have also found myself almost loathing dragging my DSLR with me everywhere I go. (Most recently on a trip to Disney, I literally dreaded carrying the thing around in the heat).
Click to expand...
On a recent trip to Disney, I carried around 10.5 pounds of gear around all day every day, and did so very comfortably.

The key is the bag. In fact, in addition to what I said above, the bag also carried snacks for my family and the maps to the park we were at. So, that's body, flash, 4 lenses, 2 teleconverters, accessories, snacks and maps, all carried comfortably all day every day for nearly 8 days.

I use a ThinkTank ChangeUp. I use it because it can be fastened around your waist and around both of your shoulders at the same time. This distributes the weight very comfortably and keeps everything accessible in front of you at all times.

The only downside I've heard about this setup from others is that it doesn't fit in with their fashion sense. That's something I couldn't possibly care less about than I already do, but maybe that sort of thing actually matters to you.

--
Lee Jay
(see profile for equipment)
 
Other issues you've probably considered, but if not, might you want
  • a focal length shorter than 28 or longer than 105?
  • faster AF and less shutter lag
  • as mentioned, the ability to control depth of field
  • optical view finder
  • better image quality, noise, dynamic range
I moved from film SLRs to compact digital some years ago. The main difference is probably size and weight, but I have occasional twinges of missing some of the features of an SLR.

If I go on another African safari or go to the Galapagos or some other place I need more equipment, I'll rent
 
.

I don't think you are insane. In the 70's, 80's, up until the early
90's I shot film. When the digital's started coming in with decent
cameras I moved towards them and haven't shot any film in years.

I picked up a Nikon D70 when they came out and really liked it,
but I found myself using my SD790is for most of my shooting, so
I sold the Nikon D70, which I did regret a bit. BUT, I did not have
the $$ tied up in that rig that you do. I had just the kit zoom.

I recently decided to go back towards more control in my photography.
I want more control, but still in a small package. Another thing I wan
is more zoom reach. In the end, I decided to go with 2 cameras and I
think this may take care of most of my needs. An S95 and an SX30is.
This will give me a lot of flexibility for $825. I'll have a pocket camera

that I think will open things up quite a bit for me there and I will also have a camera
with exceptional reach, good control, and decent IQ. If I feel I still need
more control over DOF and IQ for certain things, then I will add back a
DSLR later.

The SX30is has a hot shoe and will take a flash gun. I used to shoot a lot
of flash in the earlier 35mm days when my kids were young. I don't shoot
much now, but grandkids may come and I will have the ability to do decent

flash with this camera. The SX30 is also really two cameras in one, still and
video, being competent on both.

EVERYONE likes the IQ of a DLSR. But not many like the weight, lens changing,
and expense.

I'm going to see if this compromise will work for me. Good luck on
finding your path !

Chris

.
 
photo perzon said:
Canon Flash HF-DC1

Stronger flash
Can bounce it off ceiling, hand held slave
Very small
Click to expand...
Ah, I found it, here's a thread about an external flash and the s95 -

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1010&message=36183658&changemode=1

I think you need to fire the main flash to get it to work, but you can turn down the flash power on the main flash. (Ok, I know for sure you can turn down the power, not sure if there's some other way to fire the external flash than firing the main flash).

I wouldn't be as impulsive as selling all my dslr gear, personally, until I had used the s95 for a while. The s95 makes a great compliment to a dslr, that's for sure.

The only thing I didn't see mentioned in the drawbacks is the worse low light performance of the s90 in typical indoor lighting. I personally find it's about 1 stop short of being able to take solid pictures of people who are or may be moving, on average (without flash). I always get either 1/30 and iso800, or 1/60 and iso1600 which gets fairly noisy (still usable, that's what I do, but you definitely start to lose detail or end up with noticeable noise in the pic, and I'm no noise snob - not by any means).

I guess I'm just suggesting using the s95 for a while before selling all your gear. :-)
 
You are not insane, definitely. During our last trip to Sicily I I fought everyday with 4 kg. of gear and about 3-4 of drinks (very hot) and something to eat. At the end I was really exhausted and bored with this situation. I'm a really strong man very fit etc.

Now I think that there's one solution of this problem S95 or similar camera. My wife used Panasonic TZ7 amazing camera only jpeg and most of them are ready without PP, weights only 7.7 oz (217 g) includes batteries. Pics from my Canon and two "L" lenses are better but a lot of pics fron TZ7 and S95 are very close.
So in conclusion is I'm insane too :).
--
Best regards, swnw.
 
Thanks for the insight in this thread so far. It really is very helpful. Where I'm at right now, is, in the midst of selling some of my "not too often used" gear. I've already paid for the S95, and then some, with what I've sold so far, and I still have a very useable DSLR kit. (Still have what I use 99.9% of the time when using the camera).

The only thing I have sold to date that I kind of regret, is my one external flash unit, however, I'd been wanting the updated model anyway. :)

I think maybe this weekend will help me think even a bit more, but I'm kind of agreeing that hanging onto the body, my primary lens, and a few other things is a good idea....at least for a little while.

I must say though, I am still very impressed with the S95. Even in my short time with it, it is already more camera than I thought something this small could ever be. However, I AM comparing to to a 2-3 year old $125 P&S.
--
Steve
http://web.mac.com/rotlex
 
Rotlex said:
In a nutshell, has anyone out there moved to a high end P&S from a DSLR and been happy down the road? I may hang onto the DSLR for a while, but I'm already starting to think I'm going to be using the S95 95% of the time.
Click to expand...
I bought the G11 as a complement to my DSLRs when I couldn't/didn't want to be burdened with extra gear, but I've since sold the G11 and selected the S95 for it's balance of IQ, features, and portability.

.....but for challenging conditions or a dedicated shoot there's really no substitute for a DSLR and the proper lens for the job.

--
Regards,
Hank

 
Rotlex said:
Thanks for that. 8-)
Click to expand...
You're welcome. I must say though that I'm a little biased - I once had a DSLR stolen because I left it in the car to go into a restaurant (in Montreal).

I would like to suggest an alternative to you ... if you want to travel light and prefer depth-of-field flexibility to focal length flexibility, take back your s95, sell some more of your DSLR gear, and get a mirrorless compact interchangeable lens camera with a normal focal length pancake lens. At about 2x or 3x the price of your s95, and a somewhat larger size, it might not fit your needs, or ... it might. There are significant pros and cons to both.
 
you might also consider the Metz 28 CS-2 slave flash. It has more controls than the Canon HC flash.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/352521-REG/Metz_MZ_52822D_mecablitz_28_CS_2_Digital.html

I never had a digital SLR, but I carried a film SLR for 25 to 30 years, and drifted away due to the bulk and weight. I prefer the compact point and shoot cameras I've had (A620, G9, and G11), but would also prefer larger sensor quality/capability. Size still concerns me, as well as having to acquire lenses again. Therefore, my insane moments keep coming back to the Sigma DP series, with high quality fixed focal length lens and larger image sensor. Unfortunately, you pay for the quality output with (from my readings) maddeningly slow performance. Here's a link that should be required reading for anyone (like me) considering the DP models. I still haven't purchased one...yet.

https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0ARddveJWxIl_ZGZuN3Y0ZG1fMTA1ZmRyOHNkaHE&hl=en_GB

Dennis
 
I've just finished doing exactly that - the DSLR gear is gone. For me, the smaller size won out. I've ordered the Canon HF-DC1 slave flash for the same concern you mentioned. But, I think I will cancel the order and go with a Metz 28 CS-2 slave flash since it uses standard AAA batteries (unlike the Canon).

As many have mentioned, we all have different priorities and you should give it some time to find your's. There is no way the S95 (or S90) matches the image quality of a DSLR but it's definitely several steps above the typical P&S camera.

Good luck!

--
(insane) Rick
 
Rotlex said:
Thanks for the insight in this thread so far. It really is very helpful. Where I'm at right now, is, in the midst of selling some of my "not too often used" gear. I've already paid for the S95, and then some, with what I've sold so far, and I still have a very useable DSLR kit. (Still have what I use 99.9% of the time when using the camera).

The only thing I have sold to date that I kind of regret, is my one external flash unit, however, I'd been wanting the updated model anyway. :)

I think maybe this weekend will help me think even a bit more, but I'm kind of agreeing that hanging onto the body, my primary lens, and a few other things is a good idea....at least for a little while.

I must say though, I am still very impressed with the S95. Even in my short time with it, it is already more camera than I thought something this small could ever be. However, I AM comparing to to a 2-3 year old $125 P&S.
--
Steve
http://web.mac.com/rotlex
Click to expand...
Well gee, that sounds downright reasonable! :D
 
First and foremost the Canon HF-DC1 is 1/3 the size of the S95, whereas the Metz is big and clunky and ugly and not a Canon. Some of my other Metz flashes have annoying high pitch noises.

Yes the Canon uses a special battery but you could buy those online for about $ 5. And lets face it with a Canon S95 you won't be taking that many flash pictures the whole point of the S95 is not to.

So get the small cute Canon recommended HF, the Metz is ugly and too big!
RRRick said:
I've just finished doing exactly that - the DSLR gear is gone. For me, the smaller size won out. I've ordered the Canon HF-DC1 slave flash for the same concern you mentioned. But, I think I will cancel the order and go with a Metz 28 CS-2 slave flash since it uses standard AAA batteries (unlike the Canon).

As many have mentioned, we all have different priorities and you should give it some time to find your's. There is no way the S95 (or S90) matches the image quality of a DSLR but it's definitely several steps above the typical P&S camera.

Good luck!

--
(insane) Rick
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top