Go on, convince me!
I'm in a new country with fantastic scenery, and I might just go touring a bit. My PowerShot S70 frustrates me most often in bad light, when I'm jealous of a good SLR's lower noise at 1600 ISO than my camera at 400.
As always, the most prohibitive thing would be the bulk. Picture going on a cycle tour across Switzerland. Do you take your compact PowerShot, or your SLR? Or you go skiing... or you go for a casual walk by the side of the lake, not really intending to take pictures, but throw your camera in your bag (or over your shoulder) just in case? Or a social gathering or company holiday party... or or or...?
6 responses so far ↓
1 Francois Malan // Tue Jan 27 15:25:27 2009
I can go into excruciating details here, but I'd rather not.
I notice that you often take photos with your cell phone, so even your S70 seems to be too often left behind. (Bulk / hassle related reasons?)
So you want good optical performance in a small package? I assume in-use ergonomics and battery life are therefore less important, as there is always a tradeoff.
The smallest and lightest big-sensor camera you can buy is the pseudo-SLR Panasonic G1. You'll appreciate its open and innovative micro-4/3 mount. If you want ever better performace you should consider the larger (but still light) Canon 1000D.
I have a big and clunky (but nice to use) Nikon D80 which I even lugged all the way to the top of Kilimanjaro. But it's not something I'd recommend unless you're fanatic about quality.
I recently added a Panasonic LX-3 to my kit. It's about the size and weight of the S70 but sports a f/2.0 stabilised wide angle lens and nicer sensor. But it won't challenge a SLR like the G1 does.
Go check the reviews on dpreview and - important - go handle them in a shop before you decide.
2 Werner // Tue Jan 27 16:18:36 2009
I am no camera buff, but what about that Sigma DP1? Compact with the sensor?
3 Hugo // Wed Jan 28 00:27:43 2009
I'll have to look into these models before I'll have much of an opinion. (e.g. I've never heard of a Sigma DP1 before. I took a quick look though...)
Things I hate: these SLR-wannabe's that have a small LCD display (or something) inside the eye-piece. Horrors! (Lag for sport photography.)
Yes, I sometimes walk by something on the way to work, or on the way back, and kick myself for not having my camera, then I whip out the cellphone. Who am I to then complain about not having a decent SLR?
What I'm looking for: nice lenses, nice sensor, nice depth-of-view separation. Or whatever it's called, I gotta go to bed, can't look up the right words right now. (I.e. the ability to do a decent "Portrait mode". But y'all know what I mean already.) And of course, that very nice feel of the camera clicking in your hands...
So I still wonder: "How often will I take my camera with me? How often will I make prints where I'll appreciate the quality? Who's going to look at these anyway...?" (Though I'll probably start up a photo wall again.)
Thanks for the input guys! I'll continue pondering the possibilities, and look into some of the suggestions above later.
4 Francois Malan // Wed Jan 28 19:07:23 2009
The Sigma DP1 is a big NO-NO with a capital N! It's very interesting from a technological perspective, and I applaud Sigma for trying something innovative. However it's pretty useless as a photographic tool. Zoom, good auto-focus and snappy operation are crucial to make a camera versatile. The DP1 fails at being something you can live with, except if you only take photographs is very controlled conditions.
Hugo: you want all the nice things without any trade-offs, as we all do. However, there is no camera I know of which can satisfy all those needs.
The Panasonic G1 has an electronic viewfinder, but it's not LCD, which means it's better. It might even be better than some of the cheaper optical viewfinders. No, I don't work for Panasonic, but I can really recommend the LX3 for it's excellent design and innovative specifications. And I can recommend the Canon 1000D and 450D as very well executed entry-level DSLRs. The Nikon D60 is also nice, but getting a little bit dated.
You won't get great depth-of-field or zoom with the LX3. And the G1 has an EVF. And the 1000D is too big for your pocket.
Good luck!
5 Hugo // Wed Jan 28 22:38:45 2009
Thanks! I'll start by carrying around my S70 more often. If I can manage that, I might be able to buy a DSLR without letting it go to waste. (That would not only make friends jealous, but angry as well, for letting it go to waste.)
What also counts in Canon's favour is that I know their DSLRs as well. (My mother was big into photography in the 90's. And I was big into understanding her equipment on the technological level.)
If I do go in the DSLR direction, I'll check out dpreview to weigh up that which I might be missing by going too "entry level".
Much appreciated!
6 Hugo // Sat Feb 21 13:52:24 2009
I'm going to go get myself a Canon EOS 450D.
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