help with digital camera during vacation?

[Groucho]

it all depends on what lens and aperture you use with a dslr, yu could have the entire pic in fairly sharp focus or blur the background, but it's a matter of lens and aperture, not just the fact of using a dslr

I think the poster was saying that they wanted the background to be out of focus, which is very difficult to do with a point-n-shoot.

For the OP... the big question is "point-n-shoot or DSLR", after that, you can get the usual recommendations.

 

[Melissa_E]

it all depends on what lens and aperture you use with a dslr, yu could have the entire pic in fairly sharp focus or blur the background, but it's a matter of lens and aperture, not just the fact of using a dslr

I should have been more clear in my post, yes, that is what I meant, if I wanted to focus on one aspect of the shot vs. having everything in the shot clear.

 

[ukcatfan]

I forget if I used flash here, but I like how this came out.

I will try to solve the mystery. I looks like you can see the flash off the glass and the sign

 

[ukcatfan]

Here are some pictures that I took with my Sony H5. This is what I mean about shots that would look better with a DSLR vs. the high end P&S. Though I love my camera and can't afford an upgrade right now, there are times that I get upset my camera can't do what I want in each picture. The first picture shows this well. If I used a DSLR, the background would not have been as clear, something that I was aiming for in the tulips picture on the bottom.

You could also have backed up and used a longer focal length to make the DOF smaller. That does not work for every situation though.

Kevin

 

[Melissa_E]

I will try to solve the mystery. I looks like you can see the flash off the glass and the sign

I would say that, but there were loads of people using flash because the shark was coming around. So I'm not sure if it was me.

 

[MICKEY88]

I think the poster was saying that they wanted the background to be out of focus, which is very difficult to do with a point-n-shoot.

For the OP... the big question is "point-n-shoot or DSLR", after that, you can get the usual recommendations.

not as easy as with a dslr, but I wouldn't say very difficult either,

I understood the point, but it sounded like they were saying simply using a dslr would make that happen, I wanted it to be more clear for the OP

 

[ukcatfan]

I would say that, but there were loads of people using flash because the shark was coming around. So I'm not sure if it was me.

Check your EXIF to be positive of flash or not. It should be recorded there.

It is almost impossible to catch someone else's flash unless you are talking about something like Fantasmic. They are only active for a small fraction of a second. The spot where the flash shows in the frame also seems to indicate that it came from you.

Kevin

 

[AndrewWG]

I will try to solve the mystery. I looks like you can see the flash off the glass and the sign

You are right Kevin, the flash fired. Here is the EXIF.

Make = SONY
Model = DSC-H5
Orientation = top/left
X Resolution = 72
Y Resolution = 72
Resolution Unit = inch
Date Time = 2007-07-24 17:31:53
YCbCr Positioning = co-sited
Exif IFD Pointer = Offset: 215
Exposure Time = 1/2"
F Number = F2.8
Exposure Program = Manual
ISO Speed Ratings = 400
Exif Version = Version 2.21
Date Time Original = 2007-07-20 14:30:48
Date Time Digitized = 2007-07-20 14:30:48
Components Configuration = YCbcr
Compressed Bits Per Pixel = 8
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F2.83
Metering Mode = Spot
Light Source = Flash
Flash = Flash fired, compulsory flash mode, red-eye reduction mode, return light detected
Focal Length = 6mm