[nathanm]

Based on Jared's post I would go with point and shoot.  A DSLR sounds like it would be a nice 'toy' that would go under-utilized.  Believe me, I've been there.  Don't blow a whole ton of money on a DSLR, the P&S will be great and your wife will probably be glad you didn't spend a ton of money.  If you've got a good eye you will take good photos.  It's difficult to tell what kind of camera took a given shot, but it's easy to tell if the photographer has got the goods or not.  I have my own biases as well regarding formats, but in the end it's kind of a wash.

[SET Man]

....If you've got a good eye you will take good photos.  It's difficult to tell what kind of camera took a given shot, but it's easy to tell if the photographer has got the goods or not.  I have my own biases as well regarding formats, but in the end it's kind of a wash.

Hey!

   Well put there Nathan.

Take care,
Buddy

[Goosepond]

Unless you're committed to a DSLR, it's going to be a PITA. 

It big and heavy and you have to change lenses and worry about dust and the cost, etc.

But if you're into controlling the parameters of the shot and experimenting with all those settings and not putting it into Auto and letting the camera make all the decisions, then there's nothing like it.

Gene

[Don_S]

Am I missing something on the nomenclature?  I see the DSLR and point-and-shoots as the extremes of the digital camera offerings. I don't see any discussion of what I have.

I bought in the middle, a Sony DSC-H5.  It does not fit in my pocket and the lens is not interchangeable.  It is in between on size and weight. But it does have a 12X optical zoom (Carl Zeiss lens) which I absolutely love.  It lets me frame pictures the way I want. It also has a macro feature. The 3" viewing screen is great. Built in flash with several modes. I have been impressed with the picture quality and ease of use. It has some neat features which I never learned to use.  I primarily use it as a point-zoom to frame- shoot.

Several companies have similar models and they tend to have higher quality optics than the point-and-shoots. They may offer different modes for calculating exposures--not sure on that feature.  One Nikon model has a much larger optical zoom range (at least 20X--it might be 24X). That is a feature I put a premium on and would look for in my next camera.  Try several at a local store. I bought my camera at Circuit City but Best Buy had the same brands. The Sony felt right in my hand even though the store associate was pushing the Olympus.

Good luck.

[rahimlee54]

All good points, I think I'll go over to the big box and just try some in hand.  Should I try the camera shop or a big box cool for this?

[JohnR]

Good thinking - nothing like hefting a 600g "big and heavy" DSLR in person to find out for yourself what a brick it really is.

[Wind Chaser]

Good thinking - nothing like hefting a 600g "big and heavy" DSLR in person to find out for yourself what a brick it really is.

At first it doesn't feel so bad; but it tends to get heavy after a while when your out and about or hiking deep into the bush - especially with a long lens.  That's another reason why a prefer a few carefully selected primes.

[JohnR]

At first it doesn't feel so bad; but it tends to get heavy after a while when your out and about or hiking deep into the bush - especially with a long lens.

Which is why I said, in as I recall my first post in this thread, stick with the (light weight) kit lens... get a lightweight DSLR kit with one lens and be happy with it - the DSLR kit will be fast and responsive and give great images. And plenty of room to grow as a photographer if that's what you want to do. Plus, it won't end up in the landfill in 3 years time either, it will be a good camera that will last years longer and believe it or not, maintain some resale value as well. (Well, that's Nikon, I can't speak for other brands )

[PhilNYC]

My camera finally died and we are going on vacation in a few weeks, should I pony up the dough for the DSLR or just get a decent P&S camera and keep going?  I am a really big fan of buying higher quality once and holding it for a good amount of time, but I am not sure if I would get my money's worth from a DSLR.  I would probably use the camera about once a month is that frequently enough to get a nice camera or would a P&S do in that situation.  The wife has basically mandated this and I am between the Canon T1i or the Nikon counterpart.  Thoughts or suggestions are appreciated, I'd like to get a DSLR but not sure if it would be the best move for my needs.

Thanks
Jared

A lot of it depends on what kind of photography you will be doing, as well as how you will be using the photos. 

If you're just taking shots at family/friend gatherings, "I was here" shots on vacation, etc, a point and shoot would work out fine. 

If you are looking to be creative, want to print your photos larger than 5x3, like taking shots of beautiful scenery or objects or portraits, etc, a DSLR is likely what you're looking for.  I'd also say that if you take photos of sporting events (for me, it was taking shots of my kids playing soccer), then a DSLR with a great/long zoom lens is really the only way to get those kinds of shots.

And yes, there is a wide range of quality within point and shoots...cameras like the Canon G11 or Panasonic LX3 that have very good image quality and lots of manual controls...that are probably good enough for most people.

[zybar]

A lot of it depends on what kind of photography you will be doing, as well as how you will be using the photos. 

If you're just taking shots at family/friend gatherings, "I was here" shots on vacation, etc, a point and shoot would work out fine. 

If you are looking to be creative, want to print your photos larger than 5x3, like taking shots of beautiful scenery or objects or portraits, etc, a DSLR is likely what you're looking for.  I'd also say that if you take photos of sporting events (for me, it was taking shots of my kids playing soccer), then a DSLR with a great/long zoom lens is really the only way to get those kinds of shots.

And yes, there is a wide range of quality within point and shoots...cameras like the Canon G11 or Panasonic LX3 that have very good image quality and lots of manual controls...that are probably good enough for most people.

I never could have taken these photos with a P&S due to distance and speed:












George

[adydula]

Hello,

I shoot professinally, weddings, protraits landscapes etc...and own many cameras. I also demo'd my SongTowers to Jared last year...

I cant tell you how many times people ask me what camera to buy, which lens to by, will this P&S be ok for me...

The P&S crowd seem to tolerate a lot of pain sometimes without even knowing why...most do put out ok pix, many just by pure luck!
There is also the cost. P&S are fairly cheap, but some of them approach the cost of a low end DSLR...

If you can afford it, buy a low end DSLR and a good all around lens. You dont have to change lens for 95% of what people do.

Point and shooters trying to take pix of their kids in a soccer game go out and buy a PS camera with a BIG ZOOM range and then cant take pix that are worth crap at 420mm and wonder why the the picture in the viewfinder is shaking all over the place...

My wife shoots with a point and shoot an Oly C5050Z, dont make this one anymore...only 5.1 mp and she does marvelous stills and abstracts...nothing moving, but she always tells me that her colors are not as good as mine with good glass on a DSLR...in this case its not the DSLR but the glass itself...and when she trys to take pix of the grandkids she is very frustrated becasue of the PS shutter lag...us see what you want press the shutter button and it lags ....you often get eyes that are closed, redeyes, and missed pix...If you have people just sit still then you can mitigate this, but how many people like having to sit still to take a pix...very unnatural...

Many times after not listening and buying the "nice' PS camera they come back and say .."dang it I should have listened"...

A entry level DSLR and an all around 'good' not not the BEST zoom lens can be had for abt $1K. For most people this will last for a LONG time...and they all have "P" modes or Programmed modes or what we call IDIOT mode so you can just start shooting and get decent pix...and you can play with all the other modes if you ever so desire...you can buy used as well for lots less!

Point and Shoots have their place...kind of like speakers and audio quipment..start out with low end stuff and move up...or it that pay me now or pay me later..

Example of a good entry level combo: Canon T1i with a entry level zoom. $699 from the A.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-T1i-Digital-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B001XURPQS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1282914788&sr=8-1


Better yet if you can swing it: THe same camera ONLY the body: $579...no lens, so you can see how cheap the "kit' lens is...we call this lens a plastic fantastic..works ok but dont drop it!

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-T1i-Digital-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B001XURPQS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1282914788&sr=8-1

Add this good all around Zoom, not entry level, not pro..just in that middle: 35-135 mm zom with Image Stabilization. ( I used this lens for several weddings and events).

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-28-135mm-3-5-5-6-Standard-Cameras/dp/B00006I53S/ref=sr_1_12?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1282915076&sr=1-12

Hope this helps, and yes even though I have several DSLRs I have several PS cameras...but I would never use them for taking pix i really want to be nice etc..they are more like a 'toy' to me,,fun to play with but not my baseline for sure..

ok nuff rambling..

All the best
Alex

[adydula]

Note: The links are for Canon gear, but Nikon and others have similar entry level DSLR's and lens...both are great...pick you poison..

Alex

[PhilNYC]

One more thought... For me personally, I'm finding that the camera on my smartphone (iPhone 3Gs) is sufficient for a lot of my casual photo-taking...the DSLR is then very much for specific photography that the camera-phone can't handle (sports, artistic shots).  I do also have a point and shoot...it is a weather-proof Pentax w60 that I use at the beach, ski mountain, swimming pool, or anywhere else where it might get wet (it can take pics underwater down to about 10ft). 

[Wind Chaser]

I think most people who buy a camera just want to take pictures...  they're not photogra-philes. 

If you're like most people who buy a stereo / something to play back music and you ask advice from an audiophile what to buy, he'll steer you into a different direction than 'Joe The Salesman' at the big box store...  And chances are very good you'll be quite satisfied with whatever 'Joe The Salesman' sells you because you just want to play back you favorite music while you are occupied with whatever task you have on the go.

Not so with the audiophile.  He'll drop everything, dim the lights and park his butt in the sweet spot and really listen as if it were some serious endeavor that requires his full attention. 

Two different approaches.  Same goes for cameras.

[adydula]

Hmmmm,

Wonder if I can bi-amp my DSLRs?? 

Have to agree with your coments in general wind.....

Alex

[JohnR]

The OP didn't ask what most people wanted, he asked for advice.

[Zero]

No word from Rahim yet.  There's lots of good info to mull over in this thread. 'Twould be interesting to see what direction he is leaning towards.

[Wind Chaser]

The OP didn't ask what most people wanted, he asked for advice.

Based on his statement that it he would probably 'use the camera about once a month' and 'that he'd 'like to get a DSLR but not sure if it would be the best move for my (his) needs', I'd say he falls into the catagory of most people... but I could be wrong.

If he is like most people, a good P&S will do him just fine.

[JohnR]

This is getting silly. If someone cares about results, then my advice to them is clear enough. Thx...

[Wind Chaser]

There's nothing wrong with diverse points of view.  The more perspective the better.