Point & Shoot vs. Digital SLR

o_O What are the chances of a massive electrical storm zapping out all electronic devices on the planet? Sure we get massive sunspots that might disrupt the satellite streams around the planet but not a huge one as your parents think would happen. Besides, what good would a film camera do as it is also running on battery power and would probably not work. And developing film and printing the pics? Unless you know how to by hand, you wouldn't be able to till power was back on or the interference was gone. Did they watch War of the Worlds or something?

Anyhow, a digital SLR is an investment and a good one if you are wanting to explore outside of the limitations of a point/shoot digital camera! You do have to remember that it is much more expensive, especially when you start getting into buying lenses.

If you are more comfortable with Nikon, being that you used that brand already for your P/S, then the Nikon D50 is a good choice! It's especially good for those new to SLR. I do suggest, if you haven't already, to take a basic photography class to learn how to use your DSLR to its full potential!

 

I think a local craft store was offering digital photo taking classes for a short time. I think I'll also take your advice, Nikita, and try to find a class to take. Though I need to find myself a dummy proof cam that takes decent pics before I even make it to that point.

 

If you can afford it - definitely a digital SLR - I have the Ollympus E 300 - and I have worked my way up from point and shoots, starting with a 640k one several years ago!

I can pretty much do point and shoot, by selecting one of hte many modes... I can have complete control.. and I can certainly see the difference from my last point and shoot fuji S5500.....

There are free online digital photography courses and forums, much like this one, with lessons and critiques and other things... well worth looking into..

Just fyi I am a scrapbooker and also a reborner, I take pictures from extreme macro through to landscape, loads of portraits, happy snaps, action shots, indoors, outdoors, you name it, I photograph it, to the tune of about 4000 prints per year at last count, thats the number of pictures I print, not the pictures I take... thank goodness for digital there!

Be well

Carol
Outback Australia

 

:grin: Buying my Canon 20D was one of the BEST choices and investments I ever made.

If you're really devoted to photography, even if it's "just" doll pics, family, etc. I wouldn't discount an SLR just because they're pricier and might require some form of schooling (be it a class or online tutorials) to make the most of your investment.

When I was first thinking about buying one it was also mainly going to be for dolls pics and personal stuff like friends and family but I knew that were I to drop $1500 on a camera like the 20D, I'd have longevity with it (based on all the available accessories & durability etc.) unlike my Cybershot and other digital P&S's which were constantly being upgraded and outdated.

I also decided to buy a digital SLR because I really wanted to learn more and become a better photographer and when I see my transitions from film, to low/medium end digital P&S to my 20D (when I got it through to now) the things I've learned are, at least to me, visible.

Good luck and I hope you're able to decide on something that works for you

 

Gircreeture, you are so right about the longevity of the DSLR....

When I was looking to upgrade, I knew my camera was at its limits, its still a GREAT camera, and I gave it to a friend with a much lower end camera who is a fantastic photographer...

I looked at upgrading to just the next one up in that range... but I realised that I had learnt so much and wanted to learn so much more, that in 12-18 months I would probably be in the same position of upgrading again... so I went the whole hog and went DSLR... had never used an SLR before, and the learning curve was interesting, but looking at the improvement in my picture taking just over the last 5 months, I can really see a change.. even friends comment on the great pictures I am now taking...

Be well

Carol
Outback Australia

 

Yep! This is exactly the same experience I had ^__^

The learning curve I think was and still is the most interesting aspect and it's also the most fulfilling. I still have a lot to learn as I had never used a DSLR either but luckily I get tons of practice since I take my camera almost everywhere and having worked at a studio and doing freelance assisting, I have lots of friends in the field who I can turn to for help and advice.

Many situations are still frustrating but a lot of my problems now relate to conditions like lighting (argg!) and environment and it's nice to see a semi icky shot and be able to really judge it either as "I just screwed that up by improperly white balancing" vs. "goddamnflourescentsnotenoughbouncedudesheadinmywaygrrr" vs. "this camera just can't keep up with me".

I loves my camera so much:-D

 

I bought the Pentax ist* D Digitial SLR. I love it.. Even if it is only 6.1 mp. good enough for what I use it for. I've always liked SLR's I still have my old fully manual 35mm. I use it once and a while. I just find you get more control over the picture. The only draw back is several point-and-shoot cameras will have a great macro mode. While the SLR's need a seperate lens to do that really well. I can get pretty close with the standard lens. But not true macro.

 

me and my sister (tawn) share a Canon 350D and it's really good! it's IMO, better than a Nikon. (but then again, i'm bias to Canon products.) it's 8 mp.

getting a D-SLR is definitely very worth it.

 

I agree a dSLR is worth it, but only if you're planning on learning how to use the settings! Otherwise it'll just be a pricey point-and-shoot.