canon 350d or sony dsch5

[jerusalemman]

Hi, I am a noobie to photography although very enthusiastic, I am looking at buying a new camera, my price range is around $800-$1000 (aud). I am wondering if the simpler point and shoot sony (cheaper + no lense cost) can compete at all with the dslr from canon. I understand the limitations with the sony but am hoping to learn a bit about finding good shots first.

[coldrain]

A Sony H5 has a number of advantages:
Movie mode
Preview on LCD
Compact and light
Big focal range zoom lens
Cheap

The Canon S3 IS adds to those:
Great panorama sequence mode
LCD that can be swiveled into any direction


The 350D will be more expensive, if you take lenses into consideration. To get the same tele reach with image stabilization you are for instance looking at an extra 600USD for an EF 70-300 IS USM. And then you still need a lens for the wider focal range, but of course you can get the cheap kitlens for that. And then you still need a dedicated macro lens if you take the macro capabilities of a H5 and S3 IS into account.

So, what are the advantages of the 350D, when it misses the things mentioned above?

Better dynamic range and contrast with good lenses.
Less noise, even at low ISO settings.
A much more shallow depth of field possible, making blurry back and foregrounds around a subject possible.
Flexible with lenses, you can expand any way your wishes go.
Just all in all better image quality, especially with high quality lenses.

[jerusalemman]

Thanks for your input Coldrain, you have pushed me in the direction I was leaning. Now I am sure. Thanks again