Between SLRs & Point and Shoot

[Heavenly Stones]

Looking for help/recommendations for buying a new camera. I am an amateur photographer but take tons of pictures. I currently have a Fuji F31 which I love. But I need a camera with a much greater zoom.

The problem is that SLRs scare me and cost $$$$$. So I've been looking at a bunch of cameras that fall between the two groups like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K and the Fujifilm Finepix S8100fd.

However, many people have told me I will regret it if I don't get an SLR. Are they right? Would greatly appreciate any and all help.

Thanks!

 

[bugaboo]

I'm one of those people who regrets it. I have a Canon S3 IS, and it's a great camera, with 10X optical zoom, and I really enjoy using it, but I'm dying to upgrade! I think it just depends on how much use and enjoyment you will get out of it and what type of photos you enjoy taking.

 

[DanC922]

Greater zoom isn't actually an advantage of a DSLR. Most point and shoots actually have a greater zoom range and further zoom than most DSLR lenses, especially kit lenses. The primary advantage of DSLRs is the image quality, as well as faster shutter speed, more settings to control in general, interchangeable lenses, more accessories, and greater durability in general.

There are DSLR lenses that can 'zoom' (telephoto and supertelephoto lenses) very far, and there are lenses with a large zoom range, but the supertelephoto lenses are usually more expensive and the greater the zoom range, the lower the quality of image because it requires the light to pass through more glass in a lens.

For example... My Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 lens is less than 3x zoom according to point and shoot standards, but it has fantastic image quality, and the f/2.8 aperture gives great depth of field and low light shooting. My Canon 50mm f/1.8 has no zoom at all, but that means there's less glass for light to go through, which gives fantastic sharpness, depth of field, and low light shooting.

 

[Auntie]

Looking for help/recommendations for buying a new camera. I am an amateur photographer but take tons of pictures. I currently have a Fuji F31 which I love. But I need a camera with a much greater zoom.

The problem is that SLRs scare me and cost $$$$$. So I've been looking at a bunch of cameras that fall between the two groups like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K and the Fujifilm Finepix S8100fd.

However, many people have told me I will regret it if I don't get an SLR. Are they right? Would greatly appreciate any and all help.

Thanks!

This is coming from a person who knows absolutely zero about cameras, and I came to this forum to learn about them, but on Friday, 5-30-08, I bought the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K. So far, I love it!

If you set it in the "auto intelligent mode", it is a point and shoot, and so easy to use that even I could figure out how to use it.

Fairly expensive, about $400.00 at Walmart, total with tax and a 2GB memory card. But you can do so much with it, and the zoom is so fantastic, I don't regret buying it. I've only used it in the auto mode, but I plan on using some manual settings sometime in the future.

Like I said, I know zero about cameras, so this is a first for me. I went to epinions.com and read their reviews. I was looking for a camera with excellent zoom, and easy to use. The FZ18 seemed to fit the bill for me.

Not knowing a thing about cameras, I was terrified to even turn it on, lol. I spent Friday and Saturday reading the 147 page manual, which did nothing but completely confuse me and give me a headache. I told my hubby, I need a "cameras for dummies" book. At my hubby's insistance, I turned the camera on today. Lo and behold, it was so intuitive, I was able to easily take pics and upload them to my PC with no problems at all.

What I'm about to say is getting beyond what I know, but there seems to be no compression of the pictures. When you upload the pics to your PC, each pic is a huge file size, like 3MB or more. So I will have to do some adjustments to account for that.

I'm wondering if I should have gotten the Canon S5. But with that you have to buy as an extra the rechargable battery and the battery charger. The FZ18 is a little more camera than I need, but costs no more than the Canon S5. So I think I'll stick with it.

Hope this helps.

 

[Chewbacca]

After giving up 35mm film photography in 2001, I made the switch to point-and-shoot digicams. Point and shoots digicams are OK...until you REALIZE what you're missing. I couldn't take it anymore. I missed the control and versatility of an SLR. This year, I made the jump to a digital SLR and couldn't be more pleased. There's just SO MUCH more you can do with a dSLR. Be warned! If you do decide to get a dSLR, you might get "bitten" by the gotta-have-it bug! After purchasing my dSLR, I just HAD to get more lenses, a tripod, extra battery, camera bag, more powerful computer, etc, etc... This phenomena is contagious. Three of my friends ended up with this affliction. =)

 

[joanna1]

I had the ancestor of the Panasonic FZ18, the FZ8, and loved it. The colours were'nt so bright as on my previous camera, the KodakZ650, but you can always correct on the computer. The zoom worked wonderfully! I totally concur with Auntie on that, it was exceptionnal.
Unfortunately, it got stolen I think it would be a very safe by, and it is easy to use.

 

[MarkEvan]

There are plenty of good bridge cameras out there, that do give more control than point and shoots, however they are still pretty limited when compaired to SLR`s. I am not saying you should get an SLR mind, but rather work out how much you will use the camera, are you willing to learn how to use one properly etc.....if the answers to those types of questions are, lots and yes, then an SLR would be the better choice. You can get a good SLR for $570


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/457541-REG/Canon_236B001_EOS_Digital_Rebel_XTi.html



or $700


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/542463-REG/Nikon_25438_D60_SLR_Digital_Camera.html




There are other options as well such as the Canon 350D, Nikon D40/D40x.




Mark

 

[joanna1]

One advantage of the bridges of SLR's are their usability in various circumstances. You're far less conspicuous with a bridge, and it's easier to photograph people without looking like an offensive paparrazi - which means you can sometimes get more natural/interesting shots. If you are going to be doing a lot of scenery / outdoor photos - then why not look into an SLR. If it's going to be people in a non-professional setting, it's sometimes nice not to come accross as much "in yer face"...
I like my bridges because if I'm working in an mission trip/orphanage/camp/church setting or whatever, I can just take a few quality pics without making people feel like they're animals in a zoo.

 

[cristianna]

I can just take a few quality pics without making people feel like they're animals in a zoo.

I like that!

 

[MarkEvan]

Originally Posted by joanna1

I can just take a few quality pics without making people feel like they're animals in a zoo.
​

I like that!

True but Wesley did say that the world was his zoo.





Mark





Ehrm wait.....no he said the world was his parish.....never mind

 

[cristianna]

You're too funny Mark!

 

[joanna1]

True but Wesley did say that the world was his zoo.


Mark


Ehrm wait.....no he said the world was his parish.....never mind

I really wish I could afford a variety of cameras to fit all uses lol, but i'm not good with elaborate pieces - I like the fact I can just have one thing to carry around with my bridge. And I get stopped in the street as it is by people wanting me to take their picture because they think i'm a professional so I'd feel even more uneasy with something more visible!

 

[MarkEvan]

I really wish I could afford a variety of cameras to fit all uses lol, but i'm not good with elaborate pieces - I like the fact I can just have one thing to carry around with my bridge. And I get stopped in the street as it is by people wanting me to take their picture because they think i'm a professional so I'd feel even more uneasy with something more visible!

I know what you mean about just having the one camera instead of lenses, flash guns, filters etc. Its such a pain when you see this lovely scene that you think will make a great picture. So you stop, put the bag down, put the tripod up, get the camera out, spend 10 minutes debating with yourself which lens to use, spend 20 minutes fiddling about with the filter holder trying to attach it to the lens, then when youv`e put the camera on a tripod and looked through the viewfinder your first thought isn`t what a lovely picture this will be but.............Hey, when did it go dark




Mark

 

[Under_His_Shadow]

I get very sharp, clear, images with my Canon S3 IS even in "auto" or the various "scenes" settings, but it also has manual setting capability plus 12X zoom, a tilt monitor (which is VERY handy to have in situations where you want to hold the camera above your head or below your knees, etc. without standing on a ladder or lying on the ground, and still see exactly what will be in the final picture ).

It also takes excellent camcorder quality videos of up to an hour length by just pushing one button, on and off. The slightly upgraded/newer version is the S5 IS.

** My siggie pic. below, was taken with my S3 IS **