Diving into Digital

[PricklyPete]

Photography has been my hobby for a long time, and I have stayed away from digital cameras for a while now (since I have some really nice 35mm SLR equipment with lots of great lenses).

Well, I'm not quite ready to give up my 35mm SLR to Digital for my "hobby photography", but I am ready to make the jump for regular P&S stuff. I used a friends Canon (I believe the model was SD320 or so...it was a 3.2 MP camera). It was so convenient and the prints I got at Walgreens for 29 cents were great for snapshots.

Anyway, I am now shopping for a camera. I want to spend under $500 for sure...the less the better.

I have always stuck with Canon stuff for my SLR equipment (love the L lenses), but for a point and shoot...I am not brand loyal. Just fiddling with a few at the local store, I really liked the Sony DSC-V1 and DSC-W1. I've also heard good things about the Canon A80 (can't seem to find this anywhere) and a few others.

I would really like a 5MP camera and some degree of manual control...although this will mainly be used for snapshots...not intending to replace SLR at all at this point.

Any opinions or good/bad experiences with certain cameras you think fit my criteria would be great.

Thanks.

 

[richardycc]

if you have a lot of canon lenses already, just spend a lot more and get the digital rebel body.

 

[NakaNaka]

I don't think you can go wrong with a Canon. I have the S200, which I boguht a couple of years ago. It's 2 megapixels. Not big enough now-a-days but it still works. My next camera will be a Canon, probably 4MP. Once you get up there, I don;t think you need more than that unless you are a professional. My gf has the S400 (i think) and the prints come out huge and nice.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: richardycc
if you have a lot of canon lenses already, just spend a lot more and get the digital rebel body.

I don't want an SLR...I'm looking for a small P&S camera. If I want to shoot with a large SLR, I will still stick with my Canon Equipment. I am still not sold on Digital at that level (where I will be making very large enlargements, etc.).

 

[UnoSigmaPi]

Ever think about the digital rebel. I know it's more then what you said you wanted to spend, but you alright have all the lens, it goes fully manual, and I believe it's 6.1 megapixels too. Just a thought.

Edit: Sorry! I guess someone already mentioned this idea. So nevermind.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: richardycc
if you have a lot of canon lenses already, just spend a lot more and get the digital rebel body.

I don't want an SLR...I'm looking for a small P&S camera. If I want to shoot with a large SLR, I will still stick with my Canon Equipment. I am still not sold on Digital at that level (where I will be making very large enlargements, etc.).

heh, you should be. today's technology is quite amazing.

 

[Sid59]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp - there you go. you can narrow down your search by features and features and features.

I have the Sony DSC-V1 and i love it. I too am a "hobby photographer". I mainly got the DSC-V1 over the W1 because of the manual controls, night shot /mode, and APerture and Shutter Priority.

 

[edro]

Stick with Canon. I was a Canon loyalist, and swayed over to a Fuji... then regretted it, so I upgraded to a Digital Rebel, and I again, love Canon.

Get an S1 or an A80.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: richardycc
if you have a lot of canon lenses already, just spend a lot more and get the digital rebel body.

I don't want an SLR...I'm looking for a small P&S camera. If I want to shoot with a large SLR, I will still stick with my Canon Equipment. I am still not sold on Digital at that level (where I will be making very large enlargements, etc.).

heh, you should be. today's technology is quite amazing.

I have yet to see enlargements from High End Digital SLRs that match the quality I can get from a well done enlargement (either through very high resolution scanning or optical) using a sharp film stock like Provia 100F or similar.

In a couple of years, I'm sure I'll start seeing this, but not at the current top of the line, and certainly not at a 6.3 MP digital Rebel camera.

Once I can get the features I have in my EOS-3 camera with the resolution I want (at least 12 MP) at the a reasonable price ($1200), then I will buy into a Digital SLR. Until then, I will stick with scanning my slides or having them professionally enlarged.

 

[quentinterintino]

I am in the same boat, have a nice canon slr w/ lenses - but wanted a compact point and shoot. I picked up an SD110 (3.2 MP) 2 weeks ago w/ a 256 flash card for circa 260 bucks. It's a great small camera and takes fantastic pictures.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Sid59
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp - there you go. you can narrow down your search by features and features and features.

I have the Sony DSC-V1 and i love it. I too am a "hobby photographer". I mainly got the DSC-V1 over the W1 because of the manual controls, night shot /mode, and APerture and Shutter Priority.

Yeah...I"m thinking the DSC-V1 is the better camera. From what I have read, it seems to produce some very nice. low noise, sharp pics. It is also nice that they give me the option of TIFF photos...although I would prefer the RAW format. The only cons I could see with that camera were:
1) non-AA batteries...not always great for the P&S camera...but not the end of the world. It is nice to be wherever in the world and be able to buy some quick AA to keep the camera going
2) the 1.5" LCD seemed small after seeing the 2.5" on the DSC-W1.
3) I liked the wider range of the lense...especially on the wide angle end.

With the DSC-W1, I really liked the packaging. It also seemed to have all the features I wanted in a P&S. The LCD is to die for and will definitely make you think twice about ever using the viewfinder. Things that I didn't like:
1) I didn't like that it didn't have as much manual control (Av, etc.) or white-balance adjustments.
2) I don't like the fact that it I've seen people complain that the photos tend toward blurry in default modes (people blame it on the anti-noise algorithm used).
3) The range of the lense is fine, but I am not huge on the fact that the widest setting is not all that wide.


Arghhh...I'll have to do some more comparison shoppting. Both of the Sony camera's seemed surprisingly value oriented in comparison to Nikon and Canon offerings.

 

[Pixelated]

Stick with Canon.

Try this one, it just got a great review.

Also if you want to go real small, try the canon s400/410/500.

Good luck.

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
I have yet to see enlargements from High End Digital SLRs that match the quality I can get from a well done enlargement (either through very high resolution scanning or optical) using a sharp film stock like Provia 100F or similar.

In a couple of years, I'm sure I'll start seeing this, but not at the current top of the line, and certainly not at a 6.3 MP digital Rebel camera.

Once I can get the features I have in my EOS-3 camera with the resolution I want (at least 12 MP) at the a reasonable price ($1200), then I will buy into a Digital SLR. Until then, I will stick with scanning my slides or having them professionally enlarged.

Actually, current digital technology competes very well with 35mm film. The Canon 6.3MP CMOS sensor can out-resolve 35mm film in many circumstances. Current testing puts good 35mm film on par with a 6mp digital sensor. 12mp (what you are looking for) competes relatively well with medium format film, so I doubt you need that kind of resolution to match your current results.

However, use ISO 400 and above and a 10D, Rebel or a d70 should easily surpass 35mm film of equivalent sensitivity. While actual resolution may be very slightly less, digital produces a much cleaner image, which means enlargements should look better in digital. Of course, this may not hold for some specific types of photography such as landscape, where absolute resolution may be a more important factor than the amount of grain/noise.

Here is a site with some relevant information.

Luminous Landscapes

 

[phreakah]

i :heart: my A75

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Pixelated
Stick with Canon.

Try this one, it just got a great review.

Also if you want to go real small, try the canon s400/410/500.

Good luck.

Thanks. I will have to take a look at the S60 next time I run to the store for some comparison shopping. It did seem to get a good review...especially for picture quality. I'm not huge on the fact that they seem to say the Auto-focus is slow. That is one thing I noticed on the Sony's...very fast focusing.

I wasn't as impressed with the S500 as I wanted to be...that was one of the first I looked at as I like the size and the fact that it was a Canon. It just didn't seemed to be a bit long in the teeth compared to other models...maybe I should check it out again.

 

[PricklyPete]

I don't fully understand Canon's marketing.

The S500, SD110, etc. seem to be their small form factor cameras.

The Digital Rebel, 10D, etc. are their SLRs.

What is the difference in the markets they are going for with the A series (A60, A75, etc.) and the S series (S60, etc.)?

 

[Kelemvor]

If you can hold off for a month, there's a new DX7590 (I think that's the number) coming out that has insane features. I wish I wouldn't have bought my camera a coupel months ago or I'd get this one.
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=2797&pq-locale=en_US

And don't be scared off because of the brand. Some people can't get over the fact that just because a company starts out making iffy equipment, doesn't mean they don't improve dramatically over time. It's an upgrade to the DX6490. Do some searching online and you'll see rave reviews about it and the new one from anyone that's gotten their hand son one already.

 

[Trey22]

Here's a vot for the A80... I absolutely love my camera.

 

[shenaniganz]

I love my Oly C-750, but it's pretty big. Pretty much everything can be set up manual (but you have to scroll through menus to get there, would be nicer with more knobs and buttons--oh well) but you can also use it as a P&S. I love the 10x zoom which wasn't available on any Canon when I bought mine or else I probably would have gone Canon. Just my $.02.

Olympus C-750 (dcresource.com)

 

[Sid59]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: Sid59
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp - there you go. you can narrow down your search by features and features and features.

I have the Sony DSC-V1 and i love it. I too am a "hobby photographer". I mainly got the DSC-V1 over the W1 because of the manual controls, night shot /mode, and APerture and Shutter Priority.

Yeah...I"m thinking the DSC-V1 is the better camera. From what I have read, it seems to produce some very nice. low noise, sharp pics. It is also nice that they give me the option of TIFF photos...although I would prefer the RAW format. The only cons I could see with that camera were:
1) non-AA batteries...not always great for the P&S camera...but not the end of the world. It is nice to be wherever in the world and be able to buy some quick AA to keep the camera going
2) the 1.5" LCD seemed small after seeing the 2.5" on the DSC-W1.
3) I liked the wider range of the lense...especially on the wide angle end.

With the DSC-W1, I really liked the packaging. It also seemed to have all the features I wanted in a P&S. The LCD is to die for and will definitely make you think twice about ever using the viewfinder. Things that I didn't like:
1) I didn't like that it didn't have as much manual control (Av, etc.) or white-balance adjustments.
2) I don't like the fact that it I've seen people complain that the photos tend toward blurry in default modes (people blame it on the anti-noise algorithm used).
3) The range of the lense is fine, but I am not huge on the fact that the widest setting is not all that wide.


Arghhh...I'll have to do some more comparison shoppting. Both of the Sony camera's seemed surprisingly value oriented in comparison to Nikon and Canon offerings.

good points.

initially, i was worried about the battery issue and not being able to use my rechargables. But i bought into it and have 3 lithuium C batteries. It's nice to have them around and tell me how much time is left on the battery. Also, i just ordered the the AC adapter that recharges 2 batteries at a time and not worry about charging one battery inside the camera. This makes it very convienent.

I also wished the V1 had a larger LCD and shoot in RAW + JPEG mode. But that feature is often reserved for higher end cameras.

I sold off a Canon and Nikon PS cameras to get this Sony. I figured it was a wise invesment in a compact PS camera with advanced controls. It'll fit nicely into my package of cameras when i'm done.

All that is left for me to push for is a D70. It's lovely.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
I don't fully understand Canon's marketing.

The S500, SD110, etc. seem to be their small form factor cameras.

The Digital Rebel, 10D, etc. are their SLRs.

What is the difference in the markets they are going for with the A series (A60, A75, etc.) and the S series (S60, etc.)?

The way I look at it is that the A and S are for people who want some manual settings but not the bulk of the G or S1 or etc. A is a bit more plasticy and cheaper than the S, and no RAW.

 

[Ornery]

"With the DSC-W1, I really liked the packaging. It also seemed to have all the features I wanted in a P&S"

These little buggers don't fall into the category of "point & shoot" to me, unless you can literally POINT & SHOOT! The W1 doesn't have Sony's Hologram Auto Focus Assist, which is CRITICAL if you want the damn thing to perform well in dim light. We went through a couple P&S marvels, one of which was a solid $400.00, and we had to return it due to poor low light focusing problems. The V1 does have the Hologram Autofocus Assist, and it makes all the difference.

These cameras have to be P&S, because you certainly can't focus manually, using the VF or LCD. You just can't! You have to trust the camera to do it. Your LCD is used for nothing more than framing the shot, so get used to that.

 

[xEDIT409]

Seems like the s60 would be perfect for you.

 

[Sid59]

Originally posted by: Ornery
"With the DSC-W1, I really liked the packaging. It also seemed to have all the features I wanted in a P&S"

These little buggers don't fall into the category of "point & shoot" to me, unless you can literally POINT & SHOOT! The W1 doesn't have Sony's Hologram Auto Focus Assist, which is CRITICAL if you want the damn thing to perform well in dim light. We went through a couple P&S marvels, one of which was a solid $400.00, and we had to return it due to poor low light focusing problems. The V1 does have the Hologram Autofocus Assist, and it makes all the difference.

These cameras have to be P&S, because you certainly can't focus manually, using the VF or LCD. You just can't! You have to trust the camera to do it. Your LCD is used for nothing more than framing the shot, so get used to that.

there's a manual focus option on the V1. i've used it.

 

[Ornery]

It's useless to me, 'cause I can't see nuthin'. I totally trust the camera to do all the focusing automatically. As long as my subject is in the focus zone, I know I've got the shot. That's another thing. How long does it take to focus and adjust the exposure before it finally takes the shot? Some of the lower cost DCs are infuriating in that regard.