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Digital - YES; S45 - No

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Darrell_F

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I was a very active amateur photographer, with two SLR and a lot of accessories, but pretty much stopped about 15 years ago. Last year I decided to start again. Unfortunately, both cameras and lenses were in bad shape from improper storage and too bad to use and too old to repair. A good time to go digital. I bought a new Canon G2 and three 256K CF. I’ve added a 420EX flash, lens adaptor, close-up and tele-converter. The G2 allows more options than the S45. With in 3 months I had about a $1000 invested.

Do I get good pictures? YES, without a doubt! Better in every aspect than I got with film. I very quickly found that print at home is not the answer. Walmart does a great job at less than $2.00 for an 8X10. I never got the detail or color from film that I get in digital prints. For any thing up to 8X10 4Meg digital is better than 35mm film.

The most important advice I can give you, however, is don’t buy the S45 or any point and shoot. If you’re taking a photography course, I assume your interest goes beyond ‘snap shots’ of family and pets. If you get a point and shoot that’s about all you can do with it. You’re about to spend approximately $700 on a camera and accessories that you’ll feel you’ve outgrown long before you finish the photography course. I regret buying a new G2. I should have shopped for a good used digital SLR, like a D30 for $700 and started collecting lenses and accessories.
 
Darrell_F said:
I was a very active amateur photographer, with two SLR and a lot of
accessories, but pretty much stopped about 15 years ago. Last year
I decided to start again. Unfortunately, both cameras and lenses
were in bad shape from improper storage and too bad to use and too
old to repair. A good time to go digital. I bought a new Canon G2
and three 256K CF. I’ve added a 420EX flash, lens adaptor,
close-up and tele-converter. The G2 allows more options than the
S45. With in 3 months I had about a $1000 invested.
Do I get good pictures? YES, without a doubt! Better in every
aspect than I got with film. I very quickly found that print at
home is not the answer. Walmart does a great job at less than
$2.00 for an 8X10. I never got the detail or color from film that
I get in digital prints. For any thing up to 8X10 4Meg digital is
better than 35mm film.
The most important advice I can give you, however, is don’t buy the
S45 or any point and shoot. If you’re taking a photography course,
I assume your interest goes beyond ‘snap shots’ of family and pets.
If you get a point and shoot that’s about all you can do with it.
You’re about to spend approximately $700 on a camera and
accessories that you’ll feel you’ve outgrown long before you finish
the photography course. I regret buying a new G2. I should have
shopped for a good used digital SLR, like a D30 for $700 and
started collecting lenses and accessories.
Click to expand...
For you, yes. For us, no.

I had the G2 for a year and sold it simply because it's too big to lug around. Imagine holding a four-pound floor tile by hand; this is how heavy the G2-420EX combo is. Great for semipro jobs, a royal pain for everything else, and that's why I gave the S45 a nod.
 
darrel, the manual features are the same as the G3. .with flash compensation, i get pictures that are great. maybe not as good as the g3.. but for the portablility and the price difference... i'm sorry... it's like a merecedes guy telling everyone... dont buy a lexus...
of course the mercedes is better.. but the lexus is still a superb car....

i don't know why you would post a don't buy an s45 thread.. you are in my mind, just a sh*t disturber. have fun with your g3 and don't ruin the fun of others.
Darrell_F said:
I was a very active amateur photographer, with two SLR and a lot of
accessories, but pretty much stopped about 15 years ago. Last year
I decided to start again. Unfortunately, both cameras and lenses
were in bad shape from improper storage and too bad to use and too
old to repair. A good time to go digital. I bought a new Canon G2
and three 256K CF. I’ve added a 420EX flash, lens adaptor,
close-up and tele-converter. The G2 allows more options than the
S45. With in 3 months I had about a $1000 invested.
Do I get good pictures? YES, without a doubt! Better in every
aspect than I got with film. I very quickly found that print at
home is not the answer. Walmart does a great job at less than
$2.00 for an 8X10. I never got the detail or color from film that
I get in digital prints. For any thing up to 8X10 4Meg digital is
better than 35mm film.
The most important advice I can give you, however, is don’t buy the
S45 or any point and shoot. If you’re taking a photography course,
I assume your interest goes beyond ‘snap shots’ of family and pets.
If you get a point and shoot that’s about all you can do with it.
You’re about to spend approximately $700 on a camera and
accessories that you’ll feel you’ve outgrown long before you finish
the photography course. I regret buying a new G2. I should have
shopped for a good used digital SLR, like a D30 for $700 and
started collecting lenses and accessories.
Click to expand...
 
I think his main point was that the G2 or G3 was more 'expandable', for the girl who was deciding between a film SLR and S45.

But it is noteworthy that the S45 has a lot of user control. The only significant difference for me ended up being the F2 lens on the bigger cameras (for low light).
AdamW said:
Darrell_F said:
I was a very active amateur photographer, with two SLR and a lot of
accessories, but pretty much stopped about 15 years ago. Last year
I decided to start again. Unfortunately, both cameras and lenses
were in bad shape from improper storage and too bad to use and too
old to repair. A good time to go digital. I bought a new Canon G2
and three 256K CF. I’ve added a 420EX flash, lens adaptor,
close-up and tele-converter. The G2 allows more options than the
S45. With in 3 months I had about a $1000 invested.
Do I get good pictures? YES, without a doubt! Better in every
aspect than I got with film. I very quickly found that print at
home is not the answer. Walmart does a great job at less than
$2.00 for an 8X10. I never got the detail or color from film that
I get in digital prints. For any thing up to 8X10 4Meg digital is
better than 35mm film.
The most important advice I can give you, however, is don’t buy the
S45 or any point and shoot. If you’re taking a photography course,
I assume your interest goes beyond ‘snap shots’ of family and pets.
If you get a point and shoot that’s about all you can do with it.
You’re about to spend approximately $700 on a camera and
accessories that you’ll feel you’ve outgrown long before you finish
the photography course. I regret buying a new G2. I should have
shopped for a good used digital SLR, like a D30 for $700 and
started collecting lenses and accessories.
Click to expand...
For you, yes. For us, no.

I had the G2 for a year and sold it simply because it's too big to
lug around. Imagine holding a four-pound floor tile by hand; this
is how heavy the G2-420EX combo is. Great for semipro jobs, a royal
pain for everything else, and that's why I gave the S45 a nod.
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/madmaxmedia
 
and exactly since when is S45 just a point and shoot? what are all these manual controls for, Darrell? Decoration?
Darrell_F said:
I was a very active amateur photographer, with two SLR and a lot of
accessories, but pretty much stopped about 15 years ago. Last year
I decided to start again. Unfortunately, both cameras and lenses
were in bad shape from improper storage and too bad to use and too
old to repair. A good time to go digital. I bought a new Canon G2
and three 256K CF. I’ve added a 420EX flash, lens adaptor,
close-up and tele-converter. The G2 allows more options than the
S45. With in 3 months I had about a $1000 invested.
Do I get good pictures? YES, without a doubt! Better in every
aspect than I got with film. I very quickly found that print at
home is not the answer. Walmart does a great job at less than
$2.00 for an 8X10. I never got the detail or color from film that
I get in digital prints. For any thing up to 8X10 4Meg digital is
better than 35mm film.
The most important advice I can give you, however, is don’t buy the
S45 or any point and shoot. If you’re taking a photography course,
I assume your interest goes beyond ‘snap shots’ of family and pets.
If you get a point and shoot that’s about all you can do with it.
You’re about to spend approximately $700 on a camera and
accessories that you’ll feel you’ve outgrown long before you finish
the photography course. I regret buying a new G2. I should have
shopped for a good used digital SLR, like a D30 for $700 and
started collecting lenses and accessories.
Click to expand...
 
I've not been on these forums very long, but I see far too many "my camera's better than your camera" threads. Photography and cameras in my mind are about taking photographs . Thats what they're meant for. When you get the image on the screen or paper and you're happy with it, who cares how many bells and whistles your camera has.. it's the image that counts, unless I'm mistaken ?
Darrell_F said:
I was a very active amateur photographer, with two SLR and a lot of
accessories, but pretty much stopped about 15 years ago. Last year
I decided to start again. Unfortunately, both cameras and lenses
were in bad shape from improper storage and too bad to use and too
old to repair. A good time to go digital. I bought a new Canon G2
and three 256K CF. I’ve added a 420EX flash, lens adaptor,
close-up and tele-converter. The G2 allows more options than the
S45. With in 3 months I had about a $1000 invested.
Do I get good pictures? YES, without a doubt! Better in every
aspect than I got with film. I very quickly found that print at
home is not the answer. Walmart does a great job at less than
$2.00 for an 8X10. I never got the detail or color from film that
I get in digital prints. For any thing up to 8X10 4Meg digital is
better than 35mm film.
The most important advice I can give you, however, is don’t buy the
S45 or any point and shoot. If you’re taking a photography course,
I assume your interest goes beyond ‘snap shots’ of family and pets.
If you get a point and shoot that’s about all you can do with it.
You’re about to spend approximately $700 on a camera and
accessories that you’ll feel you’ve outgrown long before you finish
the photography course. I regret buying a new G2. I should have
shopped for a good used digital SLR, like a D30 for $700 and
started collecting lenses and accessories.
Click to expand...
--
Joe.
 
Perhaps you are thinking of the IXUS series since the S45 is every bit a P&S as the G2 is. IOW, it has all the modes and a lot of the features of the G2/G3 series in a size that you can slip in your pocket.

If someone is looking at a S45, I assure you that they are not interested in a dSLR. If someone is interested in a VW bug, you don't steer them to a Lincoln Towncar.

The truth is that dSLRs are not about price of the camera, but price (which varies with quality) of the lens. A lens (just one) that would be somehow equivalent to that of a G2/G3/S45 would cost as much as the S45 alone, not much less than a G2/G3 alone.

And while dSLRs have certain expandability and benefits, they still lack in features that you find in your S45 and G2/G3.

Olga
 
OlgaJ said:
Perhaps you are thinking of the IXUS series since the S45 is every
bit a P&S as the G2 is. IOW, it has all the modes and a lot of the
features of the G2/G3 series in a size that you can slip in your
pocket.

If someone is looking at a S45, I assure you that they are not
interested in a dSLR. If someone is interested in a VW bug, you
don't steer them to a Lincoln Towncar.

The truth is that dSLRs are not about price of the camera, but
price (which varies with quality) of the lens. A lens (just one)
that would be somehow equivalent to that of a G2/G3/S45 would cost
as much as the S45 alone, not much less than a G2/G3 alone.

And while dSLRs have certain expandability and benefits, they still
lack in features that you find in your S45 and G2/G3.

Olga
Click to expand...
Olga, very well said.

Darrell, maybe you're thinking of another camera that doesn't have manual controls. The S45 does. Different strokes for different folks. Many people like myself like to hook the camera on our belt and forget it's there. This allows for spontaneous picture taking, which the G2 makes very difficult.

Besides, being new to digital photography, I hope you realize a big difference between dig and film. The technology on dig is like computers. Six months from the time of purchase there WILL be something better, and probably less expensive than what you just bought. I'm willing to bet there are very few members here that wouldn't want to trade their 3 year old digital camera for a new model. So if you want that nice new Dig SLR, that's fine. But I would not buy one with long term goals. Cause you'll be replacing it in a couple of years.
 
I think you're being too hard on Darrell, as he has a valid point. The G series are really glorified point and shoots compared to the dSLRs, and really this comes down to (a) the wider apertures available from the lenses (b) much lower noise at higher ISOs (c) much faster focusing (and general response). I love my G2 because for what it does I think it is peerless, but that doesn't mean I don't miss the extra features of a good SLR and some decent lenses. Personally I'm dying for the time when dSLRs reach a sensible price point for me, and thankfully it doesn't seem as if its going to be long. Nevertheless I shall definitely be keeping my G2 as well as it is a truly great compact camera.
DP said:
OlgaJ said:
Perhaps you are thinking of the IXUS series since the S45 is every
bit a P&S as the G2 is. IOW, it has all the modes and a lot of the
features of the G2/G3 series in a size that you can slip in your
pocket.

If someone is looking at a S45, I assure you that they are not
interested in a dSLR. If someone is interested in a VW bug, you
don't steer them to a Lincoln Towncar.

The truth is that dSLRs are not about price of the camera, but
price (which varies with quality) of the lens. A lens (just one)
that would be somehow equivalent to that of a G2/G3/S45 would cost
as much as the S45 alone, not much less than a G2/G3 alone.

And while dSLRs have certain expandability and benefits, they still
lack in features that you find in your S45 and G2/G3.

Olga
Click to expand...
Olga, very well said.

Darrell, maybe you're thinking of another camera that doesn't have
manual controls. The S45 does. Different strokes for different
folks. Many people like myself like to hook the camera on our belt
and forget it's there. This allows for spontaneous picture taking,
which the G2 makes very difficult.

Besides, being new to digital photography, I hope you realize a big
difference between dig and film. The technology on dig is like
computers. Six months from the time of purchase there WILL be
something better, and probably less expensive than what you just
bought. I'm willing to bet there are very few members here that
wouldn't want to trade their 3 year old digital camera for a new
model. So if you want that nice new Dig SLR, that's fine. But I
would not buy one with long term goals. Cause you'll be replacing
it in a couple of years.
Click to expand...
 
i don't really see why so many people look at the S30,40,45,50 as just a point and shoot and yet they look at the G series as a "serious" camera... with the exception of a faster lens, ability to accept add on lenses, and flash, the S series can do everything the G series can do... same exact manual controls...
 
My post was not intended to be a stand alone criticism of anyone’s camera. It was a reply to a post from a photography student that started: “I'm looking at buying either a Rebel Ti SLR or an S45 digital (seem to be best deals within my budget).”

I clicked the wrong icon and it became a new topic. Big mistake. I really wish that I could have immediately edited the post to get it in the correct place.

My input was directed at the choices defined as new film SLR or comparatively priced S45. I can’t believe that any who wants an SLR would be satisfied with an S45 or any non-SLR camera. I felt that digital was indeed the better way to go and that a used SLR should be considered.

I was really surprised how much reaction I got to my using the term ‘point and shoot’. I don’t understand why people would be upset and offended. Do a search on ‘point and shoot’ on B & H’ site, and you’ll see that among the cameras that are included are the S50, Olymputs 5050, Sony 717, Nikon 5000, G2/G3, and the Leica Digilux . Would it be more acceptable if I had said ‘advanced’ or ‘high-end’ point and shoot? I’m not going to loose sleep because my G2 is categorized as a ‘point and shoot’ camera.
 
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