DSLRs at the parks observation

[Gdad]

The problem is that the camera companies are spending lots of money advertising the message that you get good pictures if you use an SLR. Who can blame people for buying one if that's what they're told?

regards,
/alan

I think a person using an entry level dslr and a kit lens with everything in auto mode WILL get better pictures most of the time than a person using a P&S. At the same time I think whatever kind of camera a person uses they will get better pictures with it if they understand it's basic operation and capabilities.

 

[rtphokie]

I think a person using an entry level dslr and a kit lens with everything in auto mode WILL get better pictures most of the time than a person using a P&S. At the same time I think whatever kind of camera a person uses they will get better pictures with it if they understand it's basic operation and capabilities.

Many new SLR owners are initially dissatisfied with their purchase, complaining that their old P&S takes better photos. The more expensive their SLR, the bigger the problem too, and it's not just buyers remorse, it's the SLR from what I understand. Especially if this new photographer is shooting raw.

Most P&S cameras have a lot of in camera image correction. Sharpening, color correction, etc. SLRs generally do not, especially in the upper ends, and anything that's available is turned off when shooting raw. Doesn't Nikon default sharpening to off on their SLRs?

The assumption is that you'll be doing all the image manipulation outside of the camera in something like Photoshop, especially with a RAW image. Something that a new SLR owner might not be prepared to do. Comparing the results of their shiny new $1000 SLR and their trusy $200 SLR can be disappointing as a result.

 

[allie5]

Many new SLR owners are initially dissatisfied with their purchase, complaining that their old P&S takes better photos. The more expensive their SLR, the bigger the problem too, and it's not just buyers remorse, it's the SLR from what I understand. Especially if this new photographer is shooting raw.

Most P&S cameras have a lot of in camera image correction. Sharpening, color correction, etc. SLRs generally do not, especially in the upper ends, and anything that's available is turned off when shooting raw. Doesn't Nikon default sharpening to off on their SLRs?

The assumption is that you'll be doing all the image manipulation outside of the camera in something like Photoshop, especially with a RAW image. Something that a new SLR owner might not be prepared to do. Comparing the results of their shiny new $1000 SLR and their trusy $200 SLR can be disappointing as a result.

I agree with this totally.

I posted a photo trip report (on another board) and I got probably a dozen PMs asking about my camera and how their cameras were rubbish and they wanted to replace it with a camera that took photos like mine.

Now I dont profess to be even that good - Id class myself as an enthusiastic amateur, keen to learn. I know my way round my camera and have a reasonable knowledge of P'shop which I suppose allows me to churn out some decent pics....but to get those decent ones, there will be a large chunk of ones that will be deleted instantly, and nearly all the keepers will have had at least a crop and a sharpen. If I were a novice, and I spent $1500 on a camera where the results were that patchy Id probably be upset too.

Many, many people dont grasp the fact its the person behind the camera that gets the results, not the camera. Ive seen truly spectacular results from compacts in the right hands, and conversely, Ive seen some disastrous pics from those with thousands of dollars worth of equipment.

It amazes me how people are being led to believe that spending that sort of money will "guarantee" fantastic pics.

A friend of mine recently found an advert for a Canon 5d in the local paper being sold for £750 inc 24-105L lens (in your money, thats about $1500!) He thought it was a misprint but rang anyway. Went to the house which was huge and the guy said he had been sold it (by a well known camera chain store)because it was a great camera but he hated it and his P&S took better pics. He assumed it was faulty. Friend bought it and there is nothing wrong with it and takes fantastic pictures - he got the bargain of the century!

 

[GatheringNoMoss]

The problem is that the camera companies are spending lots of money advertising the message that you get good pictures if you use an SLR. Who can blame people for buying one if that's what they're told?

regards,
/alan

Here, here on that comment. The only thing that seems to drive folks away from a DSLR decision is the size.

When the topic comes up, I try to steer it to the right tool for the job and forget the status symbol. Works about 50% of the time.

 

[dmccarty]

I love using my 50mm F1.4 in the parks but it's no good for impressing onlookers, especially if they don't know how to switch lenses.

I felt inadequate with just the D200 and the 50F1.4 compared to their big huge heavy camera bag they were lugging around... For about a split second.

I left my big huge heavy camera bag in the room.

My shoulder thanked me.

I do have to admit there has been quite a few times where I wished I had certain lense that was back in the room... But just taking the camera and one lense with maybe one more is a good balance of taking photos and family time. It can also be a good challange as well.

The lenses I used the most where the 50 F1.4 and the 24 F2.8. The 105 F2.8 was wished for a few times. Oh well, there is next trip.

Flash on the dark rides is more than annoying. We had a twit on Spaceship Earth flashing. It was my second time on the ride thankfully but it spoiled the wifes time. We really enjoyed SE but that fool with the flash really ruined the ride.

 

[rtphokie]

I posted a photo trip report (on another board) and I got probably a dozen PMs asking about my camera and how their cameras were rubbish and they wanted to replace it with a camera that took photos like mine.

Well now that you've piqued our interest, you have to share these photos. And where we can buy a camera just like yours.

 

[mikamah]

I was just in the world for the first time with my xti, and probably used auto mode or program mode about half the time. Other than that I usually use apperture priority. I haven't been able to spend as much time learning to use the other modes as much as I would like, and I figured auto would get the pic better than taking a chance on the manual settings. I am very happy with the pics I got. I used the 28/135 lens most of the time, and the 18/55 kit part of the time, and did carry the nifty fifty, and though I didn't think I would change lenses much I did change at night and tried some night shots. It was fun, but I didn't have as much time as I would like to really play with the camera and go out and shoot as I would have liked. I've got quite a few more years til the kid can go off on his own, and I can go off on my own.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Hope to see all you Auto users (and you "old dogs" too) over on The Learning Curve thread.

 

[rtphokie]

Hope to see all you Auto users (and you "old dogs" too) over on The Learning Curve thread.

Here's the link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1794070

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Here's the link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1794070

Hey, thanks!

 

[Groucho]

I have to agree with Gdad, I think DSLR in auto will blow away most any PnS in auto mode. How many people do you ever hear complaining about their DSLRs? It happens but it's fairly rare - even with some of the pretty iffy kit lenses that are out there. On the other hand - how many are happy with their PnS? How many threads do we see started where someone says "my camera's terrible in the dark", "slow shutter", "bad flash photos", "blurry", "grainy/noisy", etc, etc.

That being said - I still say, Program not Auto. Just as easy and no embarrassing flash popping up at the wrong time.

 

[El Nebuloso]

The worst example of this "camera as tourist bling" phenomenon is the women standing next to me waiting for the parade at AK who said "what a shame" when I took the lens off my SLR. "What a shame, your camera broke", she went on. "Uh, it's a detachable lens, I'm putting a longer one on" I replied. "Wow, you can do that?" she replied. She was holding a Nikon D80, on full auto mode of course.

I think it would have been really funny if you responded "OMG now what am I going to do!!! Can I borrow your camera for a minute?"... and then detached her lens

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

As my signature implies, it drives me bonkers when people start taking flash photos on the dark rides. I updated my sig after reading a few threads on the Theme Park Community board and finding a good number of dark-ride-with-flash photos and nobody seemed to mind. Heck, I even turn off the focus-confirmation beep and instant LCD review when taking pictures on a dark ride, so my camera isn't putting out any light. I have been known to yell out "no flash!" if I'm really worked up.

I also turn off my auto focus assist in addition to the LCD on the dark rides, and anywhere flash is not allowed because it can be perceived as a flash. I noticed this as well. I wonder though, if all the people who comment on how wonderful a photo taken on a dark ride using flash is, I wonder if they know that the poster used a flash? Not everyone has Iexif or Irfanview to check. I've seen many photos that so obviously used flash to get the shot. Sometimes it shows up in Iexif, sometimes not. Photobucket has done something to their site now, though so that if you resize your photos on their site, it blocks the exif info. Maybe the people who can read the exif info should point out to the poster that they used flash. (As in, "Did you realize your flash was used on this ride photo? Did you know it's not allowed?") Not attacking, but pointing out the obvious. I bet some of them don't even realize it. (Although I'm sure some just don't care.)

I bet that video was a real keeper! Good grief. Although with camcorders, I think even more people are ignorant of how to use them and what they're doing - the one time we saw the Lion King show at AK, the instant they said that videotaping was OK but please don't use a light, the woman behind me turned on her camcorder and started recording with her light on. She had no idea, I pointed it out and she had to fiddle for a couple minutes to figure out how to turn it off. I can have more sympathy for this as we use our camcorder rarely enough that I'd probably have to fumble a little to turn the lamp off too.

I think a problem for the P&S crowd is they probably don't know how to turn off their flash. They also probably shoot everything in Auto mode which usually overrides their ability to turn off the flash even if they want to. (In which case they should read the manual!) This is probably the same problem the camcorder people have. They need to learn how to use their equipment.

As for auto mode - if you just want to take quick photos, why not just use P (Program) mode? That's about as easy in terms of not needing to fiddle with settings. The main thing that Auto does vs P is pop up the flash automatically and on some cameras (cough, cough) it locks out lots of settings. It doesn't really make it easier to use, just more "dumbed down".

Or they should invest in faster glass, a tripod, and learning how to shoot w/out a flash.

 

[Groucho]

Maybe the people who can read the exif info should point out to the poster that they used flash. (As in, "Did you realize your flash was used on this ride photo? Did you know it's not allowed?") Not attacking, but pointing out the obvious. I bet some of them don't even realize it. (Although I'm sure some just don't care.)

You're welcome to point it out to the offenders; I can ruffle enough feathers without specifically accusing people of such things.

I think a problem for the P&S crowd is they probably don't know how to turn off their flash.

I'm positive about that. I've talked to friends who have no idea that the little lightning bolt icon means "flash". The cameras really are "point" and "shoot" for many people!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

You're welcome to point it out to the offenders; I can ruffle enough feathers without specifically accusing people of such things.

There were a couple of times that I almost did. But I didn't want to be seen as flaming. So I would ask, "Wow that's such a great shot of ____. How did you get that shot w/out a flash?" Most of the time they'll say they didn't use flash. But there are some that are really obvious. Some have said things like, "Oh I took it when the ride went down and all the lights came on."

I'm positive about that. I've talked to friends who have no idea that the little lightning bolt icon means "flash". The cameras really are "point" and "shoot" for many people!

Yep!