capt1fish
06-13-2006, 12:26 PM
I would like to preface that I’m an amateur photographer with experience limited only to a point and shoot. For the past month I have been researching for a new camera and reading the forums and reviews on this site. It has been a major help and I feel much more educated about digital cameras. Keep in mind as you make your suggestions… I read forums and helpful websites daily to speed up my education about photography.
Based on the research, it looks like an entry level dSLR, like the Canon Rebel XT kit, will suit my needs perfectly. However, I am looking for some professional opinions about the Rebel XT vs. ultra zoom point and shoots.
My major concern is the learning curve compared to a point and shoot. Will it take as little as a week (with serious tinkering) to learn how to correctly adjust the camera to snap adequate photos? Or is a month or more realistic? Or am I really over my head and should stick to an auto camera like a point and shoot?
Budget
* I was budgeting $800 or less. With the SLR, I was going to purchase the kit and rent lens from the local store as needed until I found the necessity to purchase. This would allow me to get comfortable with the endless options of lens.
Size
* Size does not matter for the purposes of this camera. I still have my point and shoot for convenience.
Features
*6-8 megapixels seems to be the range in the cameras I’m looking at.
* To begin with, a standard 3x-4x. I mainly take portrait type shots outdoors, so I control the environment the best I can. I will sometimes need the additional ultra zoom capability.
* Image quality is high on my list, 9-10. Some of the photos I’m shooting will end up in print magazines, which is the reason why I think I need to step up to a SLR.
* Snapping photos in Auto is so easy and it’s all I’ve ever known. But if I can maximize the image quality by manually controlling the settings, then I’ll do it.
General Usage
* Outdoor portraits (on stage, on the water, on their boat) of professional fishermen posing with their catch. Half of these images will be shot using a tripod.
*Some action photos of boating (zoom may be important here)
~Landscape shots
~personal use like social gatherings/family
~upcoming honeymoon vacation in New York City and cruise to Bermuda
* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not? Yes, some of the photos I take of these fishermen will end up in print publications/resume packages, etc.
*Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos? I will use the camera indoors at family or social functions. The only time I take low light photos is early morning fishing. Not as common as I like to shoot mid day with brighter light.
*Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos?
Some action shots of the fisherman landing their fish. This is where the burst shooting capabilities of SLR cameras seem so attractive to me.
Miscellaneous
*Are there particular brands you like or hate?
I like Canon due to the fact that my current Point and Shoot is a Canon brand. There seems to be a large group of people using Canon, therefore I’ll be able to get good feedback and accessories.
But I’m not brand specific as long as the camera meets my needs.
*Are there particular models you already have in mind?
Ultra Zooms:
~I really like the Sony R-1 but the burst shooting capability leaves much to be desired. Otherwise, that would be the camera I purchase.
~The Canon S3 IS doesn’t have a hot shoe for the times I’ll be shooting indoors. The red eye is annoying. I know it has an external slave flash, but that just seems cheap.
~The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 suffers from too much noise above ISO 200 for my liking. Zoom capability is awesome.
~No image stabilization on the Fuji 9000. Photo quality could be a little better
SLR:
~I’m a little nervous taking the plunge into SLR due to the manual controls. Cost of additional lens.
(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? (Wide Angle, Image Stabilization, Weatherproof, Hotshoe, Rotating LCD) These features would definitely allow me to be more creative in my photography. The hotshoe is important for the times I will be shooting indoors at social functions.
Here are some samples of what I normally shoot with my Point and Shoot
Based on the research, it looks like an entry level dSLR, like the Canon Rebel XT kit, will suit my needs perfectly. However, I am looking for some professional opinions about the Rebel XT vs. ultra zoom point and shoots.
My major concern is the learning curve compared to a point and shoot. Will it take as little as a week (with serious tinkering) to learn how to correctly adjust the camera to snap adequate photos? Or is a month or more realistic? Or am I really over my head and should stick to an auto camera like a point and shoot?
Budget
* I was budgeting $800 or less. With the SLR, I was going to purchase the kit and rent lens from the local store as needed until I found the necessity to purchase. This would allow me to get comfortable with the endless options of lens.
Size
* Size does not matter for the purposes of this camera. I still have my point and shoot for convenience.
Features
*6-8 megapixels seems to be the range in the cameras I’m looking at.
* To begin with, a standard 3x-4x. I mainly take portrait type shots outdoors, so I control the environment the best I can. I will sometimes need the additional ultra zoom capability.
* Image quality is high on my list, 9-10. Some of the photos I’m shooting will end up in print magazines, which is the reason why I think I need to step up to a SLR.
* Snapping photos in Auto is so easy and it’s all I’ve ever known. But if I can maximize the image quality by manually controlling the settings, then I’ll do it.
General Usage
* Outdoor portraits (on stage, on the water, on their boat) of professional fishermen posing with their catch. Half of these images will be shot using a tripod.
*Some action photos of boating (zoom may be important here)
~Landscape shots
~personal use like social gatherings/family
~upcoming honeymoon vacation in New York City and cruise to Bermuda
* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not? Yes, some of the photos I take of these fishermen will end up in print publications/resume packages, etc.
*Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos? I will use the camera indoors at family or social functions. The only time I take low light photos is early morning fishing. Not as common as I like to shoot mid day with brighter light.
*Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos?
Some action shots of the fisherman landing their fish. This is where the burst shooting capabilities of SLR cameras seem so attractive to me.
Miscellaneous
*Are there particular brands you like or hate?
I like Canon due to the fact that my current Point and Shoot is a Canon brand. There seems to be a large group of people using Canon, therefore I’ll be able to get good feedback and accessories.
But I’m not brand specific as long as the camera meets my needs.
*Are there particular models you already have in mind?
Ultra Zooms:
~I really like the Sony R-1 but the burst shooting capability leaves much to be desired. Otherwise, that would be the camera I purchase.
~The Canon S3 IS doesn’t have a hot shoe for the times I’ll be shooting indoors. The red eye is annoying. I know it has an external slave flash, but that just seems cheap.
~The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 suffers from too much noise above ISO 200 for my liking. Zoom capability is awesome.
~No image stabilization on the Fuji 9000. Photo quality could be a little better
SLR:
~I’m a little nervous taking the plunge into SLR due to the manual controls. Cost of additional lens.
(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? (Wide Angle, Image Stabilization, Weatherproof, Hotshoe, Rotating LCD) These features would definitely allow me to be more creative in my photography. The hotshoe is important for the times I will be shooting indoors at social functions.
Here are some samples of what I normally shoot with my Point and Shoot