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Traded my SLR in for a G12...loving it!

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GeorgeFellows

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Well....not exactly traded in. I am in the process of selling it all off, but basically the idea is to get to the stage where all I have is the G12 and my 430EX speedlite.

This is a major downsize from a 40D and multi lens kit. I wanted to get back to the photography, stop pixel peeping and have something that can take excellent photos with me all the time...my SLR just seems to sit in the cupboard all the time.

I could be missing low depth of field and phase AF, but it is all blown out of the water by actually taking photos on a daily basis! Here are some samples from today, C&C is welcome, all shot in RAW except the 'toy' mode shot of the guitar.

It proves that SLRs aren't the be all and end all! I would say bring a larger sensor to compacts, but it changes how they act...if I were to suggest a larger sensor it would be to 2/3" which Olympus and Fujifilm have used in the past. That would make the pixel density around 2.3MP/cm^2.









 
I know exactly what you mean. I still have my pro cameras, but more and more I am using compact cameras, my SD4000 is with me all the time, and just picked up an Olympus epl1. I want to put the fun back into photography, and stop worrying about what camera to take, what lens, and I am approaching 60 years old, it gets harder to lug my 2 DSLR kit around all the time like I use to.

--
Nikon D300, Canon G9, and Canon SD4000IS
http://www.daverussell.org
 
My s95 is my only camera, so don't think I'm some sort of dslr-crazy guy or something.

But my advice would be to hold onto your dslr before selling it, just to see if you don't find that there are some situations where you'd prefer it. While image quality in good light is about the same, the dslr does have some advantages -
1. Noticeably better with a prime lens in low light without a flash
2. Much, much faster autofocus and shot-to-shot times

A lot of people just pare their dslr kit down to the dslr, a prime lens for low light shooting, a general purpose lens for other shooting, and a compact that they use the rest of the time. You don't necessarily need to always carry an entire kit around. Just a thought. Good luck!
 
I sold my 5d and L primes some time ago. Have not missed dslr life "too" much.

There are few times I find myself wanting to:

1- knock out distracting backgrounds and

2- take a picture in near darkness,

but for the most part the S95 does everything I need it to and more. It even does well for some types of action shots. A real plus is the small, take-everywhere size, and the really awesome video clips. I print 8x10s exclusively and this little gem really delivers.

If I could only have one camera the S95 would be it. Wait...the S95 is my only camera.
 
I think you have struck a chord here.

Too many of us, myself included, keep getting more gear to feed our consumer attitudes. Maybe subconsciously thinking it will improve our picture taking.

To be honest, I have tried the P&S route with a G7 & the m43 with a G1.
I just didn't use them enough to justify the extra gear. They're gone now.
So for me, it may be too late ;-)

I mostly shoot with a 1DsMkII and recently acquired a Mamiya RZ67 film rig.

This seems to have been the thing that makes me shoot more for the pleasure & discovery of it. Who knows.

I am still looking for that P&S that will always be with me AND satisfy my image requirements. After all, if you don't have a camera, you can't take a picture.
Sorry, not ready for the cell phone genre yet.

I would take the other posters advice & not just yet sell of the 40D.

You don't know when that opportunity comes to "make" a photograph that is beyond the P&S capabilities.

Dan
--
'A bad idea in search of a good cause is..
just a bad idea' ... me
 
Do you routinely make prints and, if so, at what size and how do you make them?
dswcamera said:
I mostly shoot with a 1DsMkII and recently acquired a Mamiya RZ67 film rig.

This seems to have been the thing that makes me shoot more for the pleasure & discovery of it. Who knows.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Paul,

My long term plan is to swap systems to Olympus, I used to use them with an E-1. The colours and contrast straight out of the camera suit my tastes down to a tee. My parents are selling some wine at the moment, and I get half (about 2 grand)....so that will allow me to fully kit myself out in the near future, or the next couple of years. At the moment though I am not using the 40D mostly for the fact the results look too perfect...'plastic' as some say. That and the fact my car insurance needs paying and I'm a bit broke is helping the sale along though!

I agree with your points, compacts can't cover all the bases due to issues inherent in their design as pocketable cameras. It will still be good to ride solo and explore the aspects of them though, it might give me some more skills when I go buy a new DSLR.

Cheers
 
Printing at 8x10, upto A1 is fine with 10mp, and you don't see the imperfections you see in pixel peeping because of the bleed of the ink.
 
The SD4000 looks is a really nice camera, in a world where money was no object I'd have one (or two...)
 
Hi Dan,

I wish I had some extra time and somewhere to develop, as I have my grandfathers old OM1n and some lovely lenses.

As I said to the other poster, I was going to sell my 40D and lenses to fund a move to Olympus at some stage, but riding with just a G12 for a while will allow me to develop skills with a compact and wait to see what happens in Oly's DSLR lineup, as I keep hearing rumours they are dropping it for the PEN cameras.

Cheers
 
Hi George,

Wellcome back to the fun of taking pictures.

I also own a 40D as well as a G10, then purchased a S90 a little over a year ago.

It's true the quality is not equal to the 40D and it can't compete with the resolution of the G10 at base ISO but I have gotton so many fun and occationaly good pictures with the S90 that i would not have gotton otherwise as A) Id not have had either of the other two cameras with me or B) I would not have been able to take pictures unnotices as I can with the S90.

So the pictures on the memory card is worth far more than the higher quality picture that was never taken!

Dave
take it slow
 
Just got my G12 in preparation for a European riverboat cruise. Didn't want to lug my D50 around in Europe. Guess what - so far the G12 is taking better pictures! Sharper, and more accurate colors, and I have good glass on the D50.
--
GHW
 
You can get it even sharper without editing...shoot at iso 80-200 in RAW and make sure there is no luminance or chroma noise control on. The sharpness of the RAW image is stunning.
 
Wow! Good pics.

I just bought an S95 and all it's done for me is reaffirm why I bought my SLR. The pics you're showing are the ones where the point and shoots shine -- where the subjects are inanimate objects. But it's much more difficult to do subjects in motion because the focus isn't fast enough....and it's difficult to separate subjects from background....low light performance isn't nearly as good....and generally speaking, the SLRs collect more and better data on their sensors. It's much easier to tweak your shot in photoshop if you used an SLR.

If I were you, I'd keep the SLR too!...at least for awhile until you're SURE that the G12 is actually what you want all the time....there's nothing wrong with having a camera with you all the time, as well as one that you use for those "special" shots.

But I like your pics very much. Keep shooting!
 
Challenge accepted! I will try to get some pics with movement in...sports or something...see how it copes. Apparently the new tracking on the G12 is some of the best you can get in a compact...lets put it to the test.

Cheers
 
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