Not an enthusiast or pro: still worth it to buy an expensive camera? DSLR?

Question

I was thinking about picking up a Canon Digital Rebel XT. I love the high quality pictures and the ability to take pictures really quickly one after the other.

Answer 1

Another good choice is the Pentax K100D. It's about $500 with a lens and is compatible with hundreds of Pentax lenses and at 6.1 megapixels it will take as good a picture as you need (My canon is a 6.3 MP and I can blow images up to 16X20). It takes great pictures and has anti shake technology built in that works really good. I have a Canon Rebel D (300D) and would stick with Canon because I have several lenses, but if I were starting out I would buy the Pentax. It's not much more money than a good point and shoot and will give you the flexibility to do more if you decide to. Check it out here.

http://www2.butterflyphoto.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=K100D&cm_mmc=Yahoo-_-Pentax-_-Digital%20SLR-_-K100D

Answer 2

The best things about a DSLR are the sensor and the lenses Sensor: The sensor is the part that gathers the light and renders it into a usable image. A bigger sensor is like having a bigger engine, it can do the same things a little engine can do plus more. The sensor on a point & shoot camera is really tiny, often no more than 25 square mm. The sensor on something like the Rebel is 330 square mm, more than 12 times the size. This allows each pixel in the sensor to be bigger, drastically reducing noise in the picture. Now, ,sure, you can take a pic at ISO 100 and say "look, no noise". Now compare two pics of a white wall or the blue sky at ISO 1600, the DSLR will win every time. Lenses: Sure they cost but you have the option of swapping out lenses. DSLRs have options that point & shoots don't have. DSLRs have lenses that have huge apertures, letting in a lot more light. Their lenses can also go a lot smaller as well. Most P&S stop at f/8 (some at f/11) while a lot of basic DSLR lenses go all the way to f/22, great for really bright shots. A DSLR provides a lot more flexibility. DSLRs excel at taking low-light pictures with high-quality output that a point and shoot can't match. There's nothing wrong with a P&S as long as you keep your expectations low. Higher expectations require a DSLR.

Answer 3

This is an interesting question.

If you think you shall never have the photography bug, and you just want sharp, clear pictures by pressing the button, then I would get a higher end point & shoot. One of the Canon Powershots, perhaps. There are several reasons for this: The menu will be less complicated. You won't be paying for features you won't use. Lighter and more compact. Some have Image Stabilization and long zoom lenses. But the biggest reason is this:
DSLR images need post processing to reach their potential. You will find this process tedious and time-consuming, especially if you have little interest in photography as an art. This work is built in in the P&S camera's programming. So you will get sharp, saturated pictures without having to put any extra elbow grease into them.

There is at least one reason to get a DSLR, though. Their high ISO performance is much better than a digicam. (Although that is improving in digicams, it still doesn't equal that of a DSLR.) If you do lots of low-light photography, that would be a major consideration.

You will need to read the camera manual, though, to get the best out of whatever camera you choose. Digicams are more complicated than film, and you need some basic camera knowledge to get the most from your pictures. So learn about White Balance and ISO, and know when you need to take control of these two important features.

Good luck!

Answer 4

But if you're neither an enthusiast or pro, and only take shots once in a while, why spend that much money for a camera?

I think a nice point and shoot with a good zoom lens would be all you need. Just my 2 cents worth...

Answer 5

Yes, if you care about quality and getting the picture you want. Looking directly through the lens is the best way to determine how you want the image to finally appear.

It is also good for learning about photography.