Roscoe Dog
New member
As a PhD physicist, naturally inclined techie, and simple amateur photographer, I have watched the evolution of digital photography technology for the last couple of years with fascination -- browsed dpreview regularly. After test driving some early models, I finally purchased the Canon Powershot S45 when it first came out in fall 2002. That camera has been a lot of fun, but more than half my shots are either red-eye or out-of-focus enough that I am forced to delete them -- even though many could have been great shots. I wanted a camera with a more robust AF and lens that could consistently take shots 10+ feet away -- that upon zooming could resolve the pores on a subject's skin. After great deliberation between the SLR-like cameras and real SLRs, I chose the 20D with the efs 17-85mm lens. After a thousand or so photos, I am very pleased with this camera's AF and lens. But there has been an unexpected, interesting, and fun consequence: the jump to this SLR finally pushed me to learning to use the more creative controls on the camera, eg. shutter speed, ISO, aperture settings. In particular, this camera gives immediate and difficult to ignore data on every photograph, like brightness histograms, and fairly easy controls and options for adjusting it. The problem I have now is I have more cool and amazing photographs than I know what to do with.
Problems:
I was aware of these issues before purchasing -- and none of these issues is limiting my current fun with this new toy -- but I think it is still important to note for prospective first-time-digital-SLR-buyers:
- This camera is huge, not at all like the S45 which fit in a casual pocket. It requires a different kind of commitment to carry around. It would not be the most convenient camera for exploring new places on foot, unless it's really your mission to take pics. I think I'll be on the lookout for a new pocket camera for that.
- The flash is weak. I was bummed to see so many of my in-door/evening pictures a little on the dark-side. Great focus and sharp, but dreary. I see there's an interesting new compatible flash for $500 or so, but I am fresh out of camera money; and I don't really want the additional weight. Plus, I've now figured out how to adjust the ISO and shutter speed to mostly compensate.
- The digital viewer can't be used for taking photos, only viewing already captured ones. I don't know why engineers can't figure out how to make this feature work on SLRs, but I've really grown used to it on my S45.
Problems:
I was aware of these issues before purchasing -- and none of these issues is limiting my current fun with this new toy -- but I think it is still important to note for prospective first-time-digital-SLR-buyers:
- This camera is huge, not at all like the S45 which fit in a casual pocket. It requires a different kind of commitment to carry around. It would not be the most convenient camera for exploring new places on foot, unless it's really your mission to take pics. I think I'll be on the lookout for a new pocket camera for that.
- The flash is weak. I was bummed to see so many of my in-door/evening pictures a little on the dark-side. Great focus and sharp, but dreary. I see there's an interesting new compatible flash for $500 or so, but I am fresh out of camera money; and I don't really want the additional weight. Plus, I've now figured out how to adjust the ISO and shutter speed to mostly compensate.
- The digital viewer can't be used for taking photos, only viewing already captured ones. I don't know why engineers can't figure out how to make this feature work on SLRs, but I've really grown used to it on my S45.