Help!!!

[Tinkerbellmom33]

The Canon G7, A710 or go for it and get the rebel xt?

Dh is going on vacation with Ds and they are taking my S2 lS. Dh suggested we get another camera since I am taking the girls to Disney the same week they are away.
I'm feeling so confused after searching the web for a few weeks. Megapixels, zoom...which camera's is better in low light etc.. I've read reviews on "dp",
still clueless
What do you experts think? I feel like if I'm getting another camera, I should definitely upgrade a little. The megapixels are higher on these, but compared to my S2, the zooms are lower. Does it really matter?

 

[YEKCIM]

The Canon G7, A710 or go for it and get the rebel xt?

Dh is going on vacation with Ds and they are taking my S2 lS. Dh suggested we get another camera since I am taking the girls to Disney the same week they are away.
I'm feeling so confused after searching the web for a few weeks. Megapixels, zoom...which camera's is better in low light etc.. I've read reviews on "dp",
still clueless
What do you experts think? I feel like if I'm getting another camera, I should definitely upgrade a little. The megapixels are higher on these, but compared to my S2, the zooms are lower. Does it really matter?

I'm no expert, but I would suggest you search in the context of what you want a camera or camera system to do for you, as well as your anticipated budget. If you are looking for a camera that is more capable, and one you can grow with, by all means consider a DSLR, but do not limit your options to Canon. Nikon and Pentax also offer some good entry level models.

If, on the other hand, you are looking for a "do it all" camera, I would suggest a "bridge" camera, such as the S3-IS, the Sony H2 or H5, or the Fuji S6000fd. The Fuji, in particular, has a more useable zoom range (28-300mm in 35mm film equivalence) and good low light capability (relatively low noise high ISO); on the other hand it does not have stabilization and it is somewhat more bulky.

If you are looking for something more compact, there are good offerings from many different manufacturers.

If you can give some additional details as to what your anticipated uses and budget are, there are plenty of knowledgeable folks on these boards that can help.

~YEKCIM

 

[ktulu]

Go for the dslr, you can try mine out, first times free...

Then the OP's next thread will be "which lens to buy?"

 

[jann1033]

since you already have a large zoom i'd get some other feature you really want. ie if you like the manual/creative controls on your s2 and want to delve more into that side of photo taking, go for the rebel( i like my xt, it's a great camera that takes great photos, just get a good quality lens), if you want something smaller, get one of the others... just remember if you get a dslr the spending only begins with the body and first lens...so imo i would want to be committed to the hobby of photography before i bought what is really an investment.
I'm not even going to mention any other cameras, you said you read reviews, personally I've had it with those stupid camera wars threads and don't want to turn this into another

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

Thank you for your quick responses.
I am trying to stay around 6ish or less
I am definitely commited. It's been a hobby of mine for a few years now. I want to do more with it. That's why I'm leaning toward the rebel. I've been wanting a camera like this for a while but have been putting it off mostly due to the cost. BUT, it has come down in price so I figured, here's the opportunity! I don't mind the future investment.
Then I'm thinking, maybe I should wait for when I have a little more time to invest into really using that camera. The other two have a little higher zoom than some of the others and higher mp's, a nice compromise. I like that they are auto and manual. I need the camera within a month and I want to know the camera before we leave.
I have looked into the fuji, due to inspiration from your beautiful pictures yeckim! I was thinking about the fuji s6000, but thought it was almost the same as the S2, and I should get something a little different if we are going to have two cameras.
Too much info on the web makes it hard to choose! Does anyone here have any experience with the G7 or A710?

 

[YEKCIM]

Here's a comparison between the four non-DSLR's you mentioned (note that I substituted the S3 for the S2, which it replaces:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/com...000,canon_s3is,canon_g7,canon_a710is&show=all

Hope that will be of some help to you in comparing features. Some key differences between the S6000fd and the S3-IS are the zoom range, Fuji's better low light performance, and the S3's IS, which the Fuji does not have.

JMHO, but given the miniscule difference in price, I would take the S3 over the A710 in a heartbeat, just based on the zoom range. That said, I like the zoom range of the S6000fd much more. You sacrifice a little on the tele end, but gain, big-time on wide angle.

Incidentally, the S5200 is still available, at $250 online, but for $50 more you can get the S6000fd *or* the S3-IS.

~YEKCIM

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

Very cool! Thanks for your help! I'm going to do some research. I'll let you know how I do.

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

Finally checked them out! I've been painting a Disney mural for my youngest daughter's new room, very time consuming.
I saw the comparisons. Thank you so much for taking the time to do that. I think the A710 is out. I wasn't completely sold on that one anyway. I THINK that's the one I read where the indoor photo quality was so-so. I'm still debating on getting the Rebel. Both the S3 and s6000 look good. I already have the S2, I guess I'm just worrying about getting almost the same camera again. It probably is the best way to go.
Decisions, decisions...!
Thank you again for your help. I'll let you know what I decide to get.

 

[ukcatfan]

As you can get a DSLR with two lenses for just about the same $ as the G7, I personally would kick it out of the mix. BTW... I am talking about Pentax K110D with kit DA 18-55mm and DA 50-200mm that all together has a rebate up to ~$150 if I remember correctly. The G7 cannot even come close to having the IQ of a DSLR even though it is a great p&s. The only reason I would pick it is if the size of a DSLR is too much.

Kevin

 

[Steve's Girl]

You may need to think about how important zoom is to you. With a budget of $600, you will not be able to get a zoom with the xt. The Rebel will give you more in other areas, but you will have give up the zoom unless you expand your budget. Just something to think about.

 

[ukcatfan]

You may need to think about how important zoom is to you. With a budget of $600, you will not be able to get a zoom with the xt. The Rebel will give you more in other areas, but you will have give up the zoom unless you expand your budget. Just something to think about.

This is true for a Rebel XT, but not for a DSLR in general. At Adorama, the K110D with kit and 50-200mm after $150 rebate and est. shipping is $532. The 50-200mm is currently on backorder, but they are allowing it to be added to your order.

Kevin

 

[DueyDooDah]

I am definitely commited. It's been a hobby of mine for a few years now. I want to do more with it. That's why I'm leaning toward the rebel. I've been wanting a camera like this for a while but have been putting it off mostly due to the cost. BUT, it has come down in price so I figured, here's the opportunity! I don't mind the future investment.

It sounds like you've already decided a dSLR is the way to go, which appears also to be a good choice. Although I would lean toward the Rebel (I am a Canon owner), go try out the Pentax mentioned above. See if it fits your hands properly, See if the controls are easy to use. Compare it to the Rebel, then decide. You will be using this body for some time to come. And, you will have to stay with the manufacturer you choose once the lens buying begins. Make sure it feels right.

As for cost, we're all in debt. Come join the ranks.

 

[Groucho]

I would definitely say that if you're looking at high-end PnSs vs a DSLR, the DSLR wins every time, unless you really dread the idea of carrying multiple lenses, need something slightly smaller, or just can't spend the little bit extra for a DSLR. And if you really hate multiple lenses, you can always go for a single "walk-about" lens; you won't get the quality you'd get from multiple lenses but you'll probably still do better than most any PnS lens.

I have a graphic that I made up to show the sensor sizes in PnS cameras versus DSLRs - I will post it if you want (I've used it a few times but I don't want to bore the regulars with it over the over ) - suffice to say, the biggest PnS sensor is about 10x smaller than the usual DSLR sensor, which means that the DSLR will consistently produce sharper, more details photos and especially it will work much, much better in low light.

As always, don't be fooled by megapixels - a DSLR with 6mp beats the heck out of a PnS with 10mp.