Need help with deciding on new camera, please

[Twingle]

In looking and researching even more photog sites, my brain is now officially fried. Could anyone tell me what the difference is between the Cannon Rebel XTi and the Cannon S3? Other than the fact that one is a dSLR and one is a point and shoot?

Thanks again!

 

[RBennett]

For a p&s, I would say around 6MP to 7MP at the max. That is not as easy to answer with a DSLR b/c there are different sensors available and much depends on the lens used, but I would say a rule of thumb for an entry level model with an APS-C sensor is around 10MP. Olympus uses a smaller sensor, so it may be closer to 8MP for them. You almost have to exaluate DSLRs on their own for this. Reviews always cover the IQ and ISO performance.

Kevin

Thanks Kevin SO much!!! So the Sony H9 that I'm looking at with a MP of 8.1 is probably too much you think? I noticed it comes with Super Steadyshot Image Stabilization and High Sensitivity Mode(ISO 3200) and to top it off Clear RAW NR (Noise Reduction). I appreciate your opinion on this!! I just really want a good camera that can help capture/create some memories for me and my family.

 

[ukcatfan]

In looking and researching even more photog sites, my brain is now officially fried. Could anyone tell me what the difference is between the Cannon Rebel XTi and the Cannon S3? Other than the fact that one is a dSLR and one is a point and shoot?

Thanks again!

The XTi is a DSLR where you pick the lens and the S3 is for those wanting near DSLR performance, but not that much commitment to the camera and the $$$ that goes with DSLRs. The S3 has a 12x lens attached that does not come off. Some of the big advantages of DSLRs is the low ligh performance, wider angle lenses available, and beter ISO performance. For example, the ISO 1600 on my K100D makes the ISO 400 on my S2 IS look like it is a toy. No p&s can match the ISO of a DSLR. Disadvantages od DSLRs are the $$$, size, weight, and amount of memory needed to shoot RAW. RAW is not required, but many use it.

Kevin

 

[ukcatfan]

Thanks Kevin SO much!!! So the Sony H9 that I'm looking at with a MP of 8.1 is probably too much you think? I noticed it comes with Super Steadyshot Image Stabilization and High Sensitivity Mode(ISO 3200) and to top it off Clear RAW NR (Noise Reduction). I appreciate your opinion on this!! I just really want a good camera that can help capture/create some memories for me and my family.

You will need to wait on some reviews for that one. It is too new for anyone to really know how it will do. I do not have high expectations of any RAW modes on a p&s. They are usually very slow to the point of one shot every five seconds or so. When they go overboard on the MPs, they sometimes have to go overboard with the noise reduction to compensate, so you end up with an image that has no true resolution gain over a 6MP or so. Sometimes they implement a high MP bad and it looks worse than a 6MP. I can already tell you that ISO 1600 and 3200 (possibly even 800) will most likely be worthless and just a marketing tool. You will probably have to wait a month or two to see how that model turns out.

Samsung announced a p&s with a APS-C sensor recently, but it is not a superzoom. I am looking forward to see if it performs anywhere near a DSLR that has that type sensor.

Kevin

 

[Groucho]

In looking and researching even more photog sites, my brain is now officially fried. Could anyone tell me what the difference is between the Cannon Rebel XTi and the Cannon S3? Other than the fact that one is a dSLR and one is a point and shoot?

Thanks again!

Lots of differences - the big one for image quality purposes is that the XTi has a sensor that's almost 15x as large. That means that it can record a much, much sharper photo and will work far better in low-light situations.

(BTW, it's Canon, not Cannon.)

 

[Twingle]

Whoops - excuse the double "n"!

Last question (maybe!), what is the approximate life span of a dSLR? I take around 3k photos a year, which is killing my point & shoot.

Thanks again!

 

[ukcatfan]

Whoops - excuse the double "n"!

Last question (maybe!), what is the approximate life span of a dSLR? I take around 3k photos a year, which is killing my point & shoot.

Thanks again!

With electronics these days, who really knows, but the shutter on a DSLR "should" be good for about 100K shots. So, that would be 33 years. Do I really think it would last that long... no way. There are people using old film SLRs that are that old or older, but they do not have as many things that can go wrong on them. I am hoping to get about five years out of my DSLR, but I might not make it that long in desire for a newer model! The important thing is to take care of your camera and it should last a long time. My first digital was an Olympus D460 that I got in 2001. I passed it down to my DF and he is still using it. He is not a regular user, but I had put around 10K shots on it before handing it over.

My Canon A70 and S1 IS both failed on me, but both were covered under the sensor recall, so Canon replaced them for free. The A70 with an A520 and the S1 with a S2. I think I was unlucky due to living in SW FL. The recall mainly affected cameras used in hot humid places. Well, SW FL = hot and humid. It made the LCD practically useless, but shots were still coming out good about 90% of the time. The bad shots had all kinds of horiz. bars in them.

Kevin

 

[jann1033]

some of the more expensive ie not entry level canon dslrs are rated for 100-300k shutter usage so i don't expect that many from my rebel xt but i've taken about 10,000 in the 8 or so months i've had it so i figure even if i get 4-5 yrs, i will have replaced the body by then anyway.
another difference in p&s type cameras is usually speed of taking consecutive shots, start up, shutter delay etc..daughter just won a kodak z710 and one review had the consecutive/continuous speed at 5.5 seconds... that's a "take a photo, have a cup of coffee ,take another one" speed or lack of speed more like it...my rebel has a 3 frames per second continuous speed( which is a snail compared to the new mark 111 that is like 20 frames per second or something similar)....course her's was freeeeeeeeee so i don't think she'd complain but just a for instance

 

[Twingle]

Okay, thanks again for all the info!

Hoping that I can get to the camera store this weekend to play.