Rebel XT vs. SD500 (please be gentle)

[@dam]

Hi guys. I recently replaced my Canon S400 with the SD500 in anticipation of an upcoming trip to Thailand. It was going to be the only camera my wife and I bring on the trip, but in order for me to be in a few shots I think I may buy two cameras. As long as I'm buying a 2nd camera, I thought it might be time to replace my 35 year old 35mm Minolta SRT-101 with a digital SLR. Specifically, I'm interested in the Rebel XT.

One of the things I really like about cameras like the SD500 is that they take great photos, yet are inconspicous until you pull it out of your pocket. I'm worried I won't take the DSLR anywhere just because it is so bulky, cumbersome, and, well, just plain tourist dorky. (Does anybody have any tips on keeping an SLR relativley concealed, yet accesible, when traveling?) I also think I'm going to be worried leaving a $1200 Camera/Lens/Card set up in my room if I do go somewhere without it. I know the Rebel XT will take better photos- particularly in low light. However, I was wondering if anybody who has both cameras might do me a favor and take a few side-by-side photos with these cameras so I can see just HOW different the end results would be. I really want a DSLR just for the control, creative options, and low-light capabilities. I'm just not sure if the end results are going to justify the expense and extra baggage. I realize that many consider it hearsay to compare an ultracompact P&S to a digital SLR, but size, cost and convenience are definitely important factors when traveling. The P&S in your hand will always take a better photo than a DSLR that is back in your room.

Thanks
-@dam

[TheObiJuan]

Having taken a vacation with dslr gear I would probably not do it again. If I did, I would take 1 lens, and maybe another prime. The weight, bulk, and etc, are annoying.
The small point and shoot cameras offer lots of dof, which is good for getting in focus images, usually sharp, bright and colorful pictures that make good prints, and are small.
If you get mugged, your out a few hundred, not a couple of grand.

The low light ability of the dslr is awesome, but sometimes the bad outweigh the bad.
For all other scenarios I would recommend the dslr.

[Balrog]

That said, if you want control and lowlight capabilities in a compact-ish package, look for the Fuji F11 - it's basically an F10 with manual controls. Not sure when it's going to be available in stores though...

[TheObiJuan]

That said, if you want control and lowlight capabilities in a compact-ish package, look for the Fuji F11 - it's basically an F10 with manual controls. Not sure when it's going to be available in stores though...

That's right, getting a noisy shot in the dark is better than no shot at all, like most point and shoot cameras would do.

[coldrain]

That said, if you want control and lowlight capabilities in a compact-ish package, look for the Fuji F11 - it's basically an F10 with manual controls. Not sure when it's going to be available in stores though...
Or the Fuji S56005200, which has a longer focal range, without adding too much bulk and having the same low light possibilities.
Of course, holiday photos usually are quite sunny... if that is the case, a canon S2 IS will have an even bigger focal range and about the same size, so if DSLR's are too big and cumbersome, do not forget the compact Ultra Zoom kind.
(Fuji S5200/5600, Canon Powershot S2 IS, Sony cybershot H1, Kodak P850, Panasonic FZ5)

I on the other hand was quite happy with my DSLR in greece, I chose quite carefully to keep the weight down and the quality up. But I did see the value of the S2 IS we bought for my friend.

[jamison55]

On my vacation to Ireland last year I left the DSLR at home and brought an Oly C5050. the f1.8 lens on the 5050 made it possible to get some pretty nice low light pics in those dark castles, and the rest of the pics turned out great too.

Having said that, however, on my next vacation (should I ever get one), I think I'll bring the XT + 1 zoom (probably buy a Sigma 18-125 for the purpose) and 1 fast prime (the 35 f2 is my fav on the XT). I find that the XT is not much larger than the 5050 was, and I can carry the kit I described in the same small bag I used to carry the 5050 in Ireland.

[@dam]

I bought the SD500 just because it was available at Costco. I haven't really opened it up though, so I still haven't ruled out exchanging it for the Fuji F10. I like how the F10 has better low light abilities, and how it has 2x the battery life, but I don't like

-XD
-No optical view finder
-not quite as good of daylight performance (though damn near as good)

If I could get the F11 with manual controls that would definitely tip me towards that camera instead. I hear they don't plan on selling it in the U.S. though.

[24Peter]

I realize you probably aren't looking for camera suggestions since you already bought an SD500, but for anyone else doing the P&S v. DSLR debate, take a look at this article:
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/panasonic_lumix_dmc-fz30_canon_eos-20d_camera_shootout/
I don't necessarily agree with all the author's findings/conclusions but the fact that someone would even consider comparing a high end point & shoot (in this case Panasonic's new FZ30) and a Canon 20D was enough to get me reading. I will say I had the FZ20 before I bought my XT and it was an awesome camera. Great image quality at low ISO's (the FZ-line's big Achilles Heel is noise at anything above 100 ISO), amazing optical image stabilization and a fast 12X zoom lens. The average person could not tell the difference in my 8.5X11 shots taken with the Panasonic and Rebel. The FZ30 is another huge leap forward IMO and for the price of a mid-range Canon lens, is a bargain. I think it would be a good option for a backup body/lens as well as a great vacation camera.

[coldrain]

We already had a chuckle about that article at the panasonic forum. The article is full of weird things, and why on earth he chose the 20D setup is beyond me. Just to make the price difference absurd is my guess. It is so badly written a "review", with so much wrong for a real comparison, that it has not much value.

No one has to be convinced of that for 600$ you get a lot of camera in the FZ30. But it is not capable of pictures close to what the DSLR's do, and even the FZ20 makes pictures comparable to the FZ30 anyway.

[ReF]

I'm worried I won't take the DSLR anywhere just because it is so bulky, cumbersome, and, well, just plain tourist dorky.

well, i guess it depends on how the individual feels about it. i will admit that i probably look like a tourist when i take out the DSLR, but this is how i see it: i'm on vacation at a new and hopefully beautiful place, and yes i want to enjoy it without the heavy bag on my shoulder but i'm "serious" about photography as well and want to bring home some really nice photos. sometimes i see people taking pictures with a cheap/limited camera, point and shoots, or camera phones and i think thats dorky because they are trying to get good photos with junky gear or equipment that simply isn't up to the task. to me thats like showing up at the batting cages with some random stick instead of a bat. if they don't really care about the quality or can't tell the difference anyways then it's all good. if they can't afford more then i can't blame them either, but if they know and can afford better or simply did not want to carry the gear with them and ended up with less than satisfactory results then there is no one else to blame. myself, i get frustrated when i have to use my girlfriends casio EX750. i'd rather not be in a beautiful place and spend time TRYING to get a satisfactory image with lesser cameras when i can take better pictures quicker and with much more control using a dslr. IMO it's a lot easier to get it right the first time than to go home and fret about the results. it's not like you can just go back and shoot your vacation photos again. if you are afraid of looking like a tourist then not wearing your large camera around your neck will help a lot - just keep it in your bag.

as for traveling light with a dslr, the sigma 18-200 seems to fit the bill.

[Zoinac]

Despite all the technical jargin that can make a descision more tough, or easy... if you ask me, if you feel dorky carrying an DSLR around. I don't think it's really the best pruchase. Looking liek a dorky tourist to me, is not a big deal.. your on vacation... not like you have to live with them.

Just my two bits though, so get what your comfortable with.

[astro]

Yup I just got an SD200 with a 1GB memory card for $183 :cool:
Good for carrying with me all the time, without looking dorky with my Pentax *ist DS dslr.