DSLR vs Digital Point&Shoot

[ShellyL]

Hi I am new on this board but feel as though there are some experts here and need help with a new camera.
I now own a Canon Rebel SLR. I would like to go digital. I have looked at the DSLR but one of the reasons I do not like them is they are bulky like my SLR I have now. I was looking at the Canon S5IS and wondered if this is a good pick for a digital or am I just not going to be happy unless I have a DSLR. I take a lot of pictures and I am a little nervous that they will not be the quality of picture I want with the Canon S5IS. My big thing about a new one is I want to be able to have something a little more compact.
Thanks
Michele

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

Welcome to the Photography Board. I think you will find that there is an entire group of loyal and devoted fans of the Canon S3IS and the newer generation Canon S5IS camera. There are several threads on the boards that show photos taken with these cameras and where owners share information and settings that have worked for them. I think that camera is a very capable tool that can produce great pictures. Based on the sensor size and other factors it may not be able to produce the level of detail that a DSLR can but as you said, that is part of the trade off you make when choosing a point and shoot versus a DSLR.

Jeff

 

[seashoreCM]

Digital point and shoots show you the exact picture you will be getting, thus equalling the SLR in that regard compared with film point and shoots, with only peep hole viewfinders.

The SLR as a category still has two other advantages, (1) having or able to be fitted with a faster or "zoomier" lens, and (2) (digitals) a better picture for the same megapixels and ISO just because the imaging sensor inside is bigger.

Digital camera hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/digicam.htm

 

[ukcatfan]

The Rebel XT is not very big for a DSLR. Have you looked at it?

Kevin

 

[Master Mason]

It is just my opinion, but if you have been regularly using an SLR camera, you will not be happy with the performance of a P&S, even a high end one such as the S5. You will lose some of the creative control you have over you shots, and there is no abilty to change the lens to give you what your looking for, also, by their nature, P&S cameras will not produce the level of bokah that your used to getting with an SLR.

 

[ukcatfan]

You will lose some of the creative control you have over you shots, and there is no abilty to change the lens to give you what your looking for, also, by their nature, P&S cameras will not produce the level of bokah that your used to getting with an SLR.

Especially if you want to limit the DOF. It is almost impossible to do with a p&s.

Kevin

 

[Anewman]

Since I have not seen it mentioned...

The Canon S5 IS is not exactly pocket sized either. I can understand concerns about size if you were considering a ultra compact camera instead of the DSLR, but IMO if you are already going to need a camera bag... You might as well get the better camera. And yes the Canon Rebel line is about as small as DSLRs come, you can still find the REBEL XT at buydig.com and its price is pretty close to the S5 IS.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I was looking at the Canon S5IS and wondered if this is a good pick for a digital or am I just not going to be happy unless I have a DSLR.

Only you can really answer the question whether or not you'd be happy with the IQ of the S3/S5. As P&S cameras go, I think it's a very good one (IMO, the best available right now); but, there's only so much a 1/2.5 sensor can do.

The body isn't much smaller than a Rebel XT(i), but it's certainly less bulky/heavy than any DSLR fitted with a lens that can reach 432mm.

I'd recommend checking out the reviews on the various camera sites (DPreview, Digital Camera Resource Page, etc) and look at the galleries ... the reviewers usually post very similar pictures for each camera and you can get them at 100% to "pixel-peep" the differences.

 

[manning]

Canon is introducing the G-9 with a 1/1.7 sensor and RAW format.


Here is the preview

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0708/07082005canong9.asp

 

[Groucho]

Color me in the "no way will you be happy" camp. If you're used to an SLR, you'll both be unhappy with the image quality, and feel uninspired by the lack of interactivity of a PnS (no zoom ring, no focus ring, no shutter click, no TTL viewfinder, etc). The latter is one of the best things about an SLR, IMHO - that it can inspire you to take better photos just because of the mechanical aspects of it.

I did some comparison photos in this thread from a WDW trip in January comparing my 6mp Pentax DSLR to my wife's 6mp Canon SD600 PnS (and a few from my sister-in-law with the same camera.) These weren't pre-planned, it was going back to find times where we shot similar photos and how they turned out. In fact, I deliberated picked DSLR photos that were not my best work to try to concentrate more on the technical side rather than artistic.

I would especially lean towards a DSLR as the S5 isn't exactly cheap. If I were considering a Canon long-zoom, I'd probably go with the S5 for $100 less, there aren't that many feature differences and the S3 has less image noise so low-light photos will be better. For the cost of an S5, you are within a hair's breadth from a DSLR.

The G7 isn't much of a solution, it's squeezing 12mp out of a 1/1.7" sensor - that's the same size that Fuji uses for its 6mp sensor in the F30/F31 and S6000. I'm thinking that we can still expect a ton of noise, probably worse than an S3, as it has twice the megapixels and a sensor that's not much more than 50% larger.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

What about the new Olympus DSLRs? They're pretty darn tiny.

 

[handicap18]

The Canon XTi and the Nikon D40 are not much bigger than the S2/3/5 IS series. However, the biggest difference is the size of the sensor. The sensor on a dSLR is smaller than a frame of film, but its still pretty large. The sensor on PnS cameras are TINY. MUCH MUCH smaller than on a dSLR and even more so compared to a frame of film. This translates into high ISO performance. dSLR's have a MUCH MUCH better performance. You can get very usable images at ISO800 and 1600 in the entry level dSLR's and the newest models which are closer to pro level, will have usable images over ISO1600 including 3200 and 6400 (though we're still waiting for sample images).

With a PnS, most have issues starting at ISO400 and many don't even go above ISO800.

Now if you take a lot of pictures during the day or indoors with a flash at a fairly close range, then PnS would do you fine. But if you like fast action sports or indoor theater/sports, flash photography, low light photography or other specialized photography stuff, then you might not be as happy with the PnS.

One example: A friend and I were taking pictures at a baseball game. Game started at 7pm. He had an S2 IS and after the 4th or 5th inning he stopped taking pictures. The lights on the field were on, but the sun had started to set and he couldn't get a fast enough shutter speed. Past ISO 400 he felt the noise was too much and wasn't worth trying. Me with my Nikon D50, I bumped the ISO to 1600 and was able to take pictures right up to the end of the game which was after 9pm.

Don't get me wrong, Canon makes a GREAT product with the S# IS lineup. I've seen some STUNNING images taken with them. They do have their limits though. For many many people it fits great for their needs.

Its all going to depend on what kind of pictures you've been taking with your current SLR and what your needs are.

 

[jann1033]

you are where i was a yr ago. had a canon film rebel, was planning on the s2IS but it just wasn't going to fit the bill imo so went with the rebel xt...while i can see the benefit of a P&S sometimes( ie weight mainly, but for me that is only when i am really tired) i think as my main or only camera i wouldn't be happy with one. i think my rebel is probably lighter with the same lens as my slr would have been( haven't done a test but just by feeling the 2 bodies)

 

[CarolA]

It is just my opinion, but if you have been regularly using an SLR camera, you will not be happy with the performance of a P&S, even a high end one such as the S5. You will lose some of the creative control you have over you shots, and there is no abilty to change the lens to give you what your looking for, also, by their nature, P&S cameras will not produce the level of bokah that your used to getting with an SLR.

I actually disagree.

I have both a Canon DSLR and a Canon S2. (I just upgraded this weekend to the S5)

IMHO I have decided the "downgrade" was worth it. The ONLY thing I really notice the difference on is my zoom lens so when I went to Costa Rica and took "nature" photos (animals, birds etc) I took the DSLR. For my upcoming trip to Europe the DSLR is staying home.

Fireworks is another place I use the DSLR (but I don't expect any of those in Europe so it stays home)

For me to fully use my DSLR I needed the "whole" kit of my lenes etc. I have just decided the weight is not something I want to deal with anymore LOL! (I am never going to be a National Geographic Photographer )

 

[jann1033]

I actually disagree.

I have both a Canon DSLR and a Canon S2. (I just upgraded this weekend to the S5)

IMHO I have decided the "downgrade" was worth it. The ONLY thing I really notice the difference on is my zoom lens so when I went to Costa Rica and took "nature" photos (animals, birds etc) I took the DSLR. For my upcoming trip to Europe the DSLR is staying home.

Fireworks is another place I use the DSLR (but I don't expect any of those in Europe so it stays home)

For me to fully use my DSLR I needed the "whole" kit of my lenes etc. I have just decided the weight is not something I want to deal with anymore LOL! (I am never going to be a National Geographic Photographer )

i just read a post from you on another thread and i think you mentioned you shot in the lowest possible setting to get more photos on the card and only view/ print them at 4x6. if that is so i wonder how much of the lack of difference in the image quality you see is due to that rather than the camera. i think basically by shooting so low you are losing mps so i would think you won't notice a huge difference between very low and very low quality small photos...if you don't mind that, then of course why bother with a dslr...but if you want really good iq i don't think you are going to accomplish as much with a P&s as you are with a dslr...maybe one of the more tech minded ie mark or groucho or some of the others will see and comment on if i'm right or wrong on that.

 

[CarolA]

I don't use the lowest possible, but I also don't shoot in RAW. I have done higher settings for thing I know I want great resolution on (See Costa Rica) however I don't find the "degregation" a big issue on your avg 4 x 6 inch print.


IMHO a bigger issue seems to be the quality of the actual print. For those I really want good stuff on I have them printed a place near me that "costs" more but uses better paper etc.

It is a trade off, but to just make a "blanket" statement that "you won't be happy" is not always true. The OP may, like me, decide that the losses were outweighed by the gains. (For me it was "less to carry" and "less to worry" about. While lossing the Canon S5 would be painful, it does not require a rider on my home insurance as the DSLR set does LOL!)

The other thing I realized with the DSLR mindset was the "photos" were running the vaction... (And I am not alone I have seem us out there seeing Europe ONLY thru the viewfinder) Taking it a little less "seriously" opens me up for more adventures.

 

[jann1033]

i totally agree about the mindset you have...sometimes i don't feel like taking photos period and i do think a p&s would help in those types of situations. ie when we go to wdw i usually have a few days to take my camera and many days to leave it in the room( since it's just hubby and i, i'm not so worried about taking one of his face light up when he first sees the castle ) but when we go to a more sightseeing type place i usually lug it everywhere...about 9 pm is when a p&s would be really nice to have around my neck and i would be willing to accept pinhole camera quality at least till my shoulders stop hurting