Trying to decide between DSLR and high quality Point and shoot.?

Question

I know that a person's "shooting" situation determines the camera and lens combo needed. The problem is that I really can't afford a lot of equipment right now but do want to good quality photos.

The situation I am most concerned with is taking photographs during wilderness camping trips. These will be backpacking trips of several days at a time. Light levels will vary from low ligt in heavy dense woodlands to bright sunshine without a speck of shade to be found.

I had a Panasonic DMC-FZ20 for a couple of years and now kick myself for getting rid of it. http://howto.netmorale.com/viewtopic.php?t=303

Looking on ebay and reading literally hundreds of reviews have left me pretty confused to say the least.

Do you have a favorite point and shoot or DSLR that is under $600??

Answer 1

Given the situation you're describing, I would tend to go with a point and shoot for several reasons.

1. More compact and lighter. When backpaking, you need to watch both. Which leads to --

2. Easier access. Since a point and shoot is generally going to be smaller, you can get at it more easily when you have it stowed away.

3. Less expensive. If you damage it beyond repair, you won't be out a lot of money if you have to replace it.

4. Lower battery drain. You will probably get more shots from your batteries with a point and shoot than you will with a DSLR. Even so, you will need to take several spare batteries with you since there aren't too many places in the wilderness where you can recharge your batteries.

As far as a favorite, there are so many good cameras available it's hard to make a recommendation. I have shot Nikons for years so when I went from film to digital, I went with Nikon. Nikon have several good entry level point and shoots as well as a good entry level DSLR.

Folks complain that Canon and Nikon get recommended more than the other cameras out there. That's because there are more Canon and Nikon uses than the others, and we tend to be loyal to our cameras. Figure out what features you need and see which camera best meets those needs. If you're not sure, go to you local camera store and see what they've got. They will be glad to help you select the right camera.

Answer 2

I read all the other answers...and you got some good advise.

But there's one point to consider that I didn't see above:
Given your budget, if you go with a D-SLR you're going to be buying a "kit" lens. Which means a relatively low quality, inexpensive one.

I'd suggest that you go to a real camera store and just hold two comparable lenses in your hand - one a "kit" variety, the other a "pro" quality. The weight of the lens, the material it's made of ... everything about the differences will be immediately apparent.

Kit lenses are not necessarily "bad." They're just manufactured to meet a specific price point ... and that means they can't possibly be made with the best materials and workmanship.

Some so-called D-SLR kits don't even include the manufacturer's lens at all. They put their own "house-brand" lens on a name brand camera in order to hit a lower price point than their competition.

My point is: As a general rule, the quality of the lens that's built in to any Canon or Nikon, top-of-the-line point and shoot lens is better - higher quality glass, less distortion, better workmanship, etc.

For the money, I'd go with something like the Canon S5is. I already own the S3is and it's great! Compact, IS, outstanding video (you can't get that in any D-SLR!), 12X true optical zoom.

And it'll fit nicely into your pocket or backpack!

Answer 3

If you want the best versatility, go for a DSLR. I made the mistake of spending $430 for a really nice Canon 10mp point-and-shoot. Not even two months later, I moved up to a DSLR, because point-and-shoots usually have high noise, extreme shutter lag, and not enough manual controls. It's shutter lag was 4 seconds. If you've never tried a DSLR, you'll be blown away at all of its features. But when reviewing them, don't get stuck on the specs. Use it yourself, and see how it feels.
Some DSLR's right in the range of $600 are, Nikon D40, Pentax K100d, and I think, the Olympus E-410.
If you don't want a DSLR, you might look into the Sony H9, or Canon S5 IS.

Answer 4

You and I have the same problems, wanting to upgrade without spending more than we can afford. The one advantage of point and shoot is that most of them are easily carried with you; you do not have to pack lenses along and they often fit easily into a pocket. That said they lack versatility and I have found that many of them simply do not have a fast enough lens and/or the lens is not flexible enough for varying light situations.

I would like to move into DSLR but costs start around $900 for a basic system and significantly more for the better ones (I have always preferred Canonis SLR). For myself I am looking at possilby the Sony DH series (or that style), the only disadvantage is that they use a memory stick which can be more expensive. There are a couple of similar cameras on the market that I am also looking at as well that use more readliy available memory. This style is sort of "half-way" between the point and shoot, and DSLR, the lens is faster and a bit more felixble for varying lighting conditions. The main concern I have is difference in picture quality between the LCD display and the transfer to my computer which is the one thing that I will use to make my final decision.

Answer 5

I would always go for a DSLR. The lens quality is simply different from that of a Point and Shoot. And lens quality plays a great deal in the quality of the picture you take.

Of course having a DSLR also means you have to get more than one kind of lens. And since you mostly take pictures in camping grounds, it would be quite a burden to carry around a camera and several lenses.

If you really want to get the best of both worlds, I would suggest that you look into the Panasonic Lumix range of prosumer cameras. Yes, like the one you got rid. Sorry.

The good news is, if you're lucky, you can get a refurbished DSLR for less than $600. Try www.refurbdepot.com.

Answer 6

Oh my goodness, if you want something "more advanced", you really need to stay away from a Nikon Coolpix L xxx (the L range is their ultra basic toy category). The Nikon Coolpix L range are Nikon's most basic cameras (some of them even look like bridge cameras). Cameras such as the L120 and the L810 and L310 have a good zoom. They LOOK like a real camera, but they are ridiculously basic. They have no view finder, no hot shoe (so you can never attach a decent flash) and NO manual modes (only the auto scene modes) !!!! Without manual controls you are very VERY limited in what you can do, and very limited in how much you can learn from and grow with the camera. Without an external flash, you'll never get decent flash photo that don't have that "deer in the headlight" type look. If you're happy to forever stay on Auto, take simple little snapshots and let the camera decide what to do, then you'll probably be happy enough with it, especially if you intend to only take photos in excellent light conditions - they'll turn out quite well then. If you want to learn, improve and get creative, then this is not the right tool for you. You need something with more options and more controls. Look for a camera with manual modes (manual, aperture priority and shutter priority), a hot shoe and a viewfinder. Megapixels are NOT important. Stick with Canon, Nikon (check out the Coolpix P range), or perhaps Fujifilm or Panasonic. Bridge cameras will tend to give you better choices and have slightly larger sensors (which is the most important thing). It sounds like you really need to do some more research and learn how to read and understand the specifications page, otherwise you'll regret your choice very quickly.

Answer 7

My vote goes to the DSLR.

Although I think you'd be better off buying it from a real camera store (not one that sells cameras and 1,001 other things), that's your choice. At a real camera store you'll have someone who can answer your questions, solve problems, and offer intelligent advice. Try asking a question, or describing a problem, to a CSR in India or Taiwan. Good luck with that. A real camera store may even offer an hour or two of hands-on instruction.

Once you choose your camera, you should go to cameraarmor.com and bonicadive.com, look at the protective covers they offer and choose one you think best. The added protection against dust, dirt, water and bumping around in your bag will be well worth the extra $$$.

While you're at the camera store, buy a HAZE/UV filter or a Skylight filter for your new lens. The HAZE/UV filter removes atmospheric haze; the Skylight filter removes the bluish tint seen in shaded mountains or snow and in photos taken in open shade. More importantly, it protects the front element of your lens. One tree branch snapping back and scratching your lens or one acidic smudge or fingerprint and your lens is ruined. A circular polarizer filter is also good to have. It darkens a blue sky so white fluffy clouds really "pop" or just for the visual effect. Buy a lens cleaning cloth like one by Pentax or PhotoSilk.

A tripod would be a nice thing to have. You can check them out at the camera store.

Answer 8

My son is a hiker and will not carry a SLR because of the weight, size, and need to change lenses. Panasonic makes a small point and shoot with a 12X optical zoom for about $349 that he has researches and found very good.

Too many people are spending too much money on these digital SLRs, getting them and then not knowing what to do with them. I shoot film and the best picture that I have taken was taken with a point and shoot film Olympus camera. The camera will do nothing to make your photograph good, brands are meaningless and good only for ego rubs - so get the little panasonic and have a good time.

Answer 9

About 4 years ago, I used a Kodak dx6490. IT was only 4MP with 10X optical zoom, but it was a great learning camera. It had an external flash connection, that I attached to a $40 quantaray flash on a 6 foot cable. This camera also had manual settings for exposure and shutter speed. Aside from the shutter lag, and no manual focus, it did pretty much what I wanted at the time. I havent looked, but there should be something similiar out today, with higher MP, maybe faster shutter speed, etc...

For $600, DSLR body and lens, you might be best off with ebay...

Answer 10

I am surprised that only one person even mentioned the Nikon D40, which is a wonderful camera, well within your budget. Stock answer alert:::

The Nikon D40 is a great little camera, very easy to use and quite reasonably priced. It has a few "consumer friendly" totally automatic modes that make it very easy to use - including a "Child Photo" mode - but still offers total photographic control when you are ready to take charge. It will get you in the Nikon family which is a great place to be. If you buy accessories and lenses, you will be able to use everything on any Nikon that you might upgrade to later on.

Check out Nikon's "Picturetown" promotion, where they handed out 200 D40's in Georgetown, SC. http://www.stunningnikon.com/picturetown/

Here are a few reviews, in case you have not read them yet. Be sure to note that they are several pages long and some of the reviews also have some sample images that you can look at.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/nikon_d40.html
http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3756/camera-test-nikon-d40.html
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/d40-recommendations.htm

I hate to see people slam the camera because it can't autofocus with older Nikon lenses. It is true that there is a "slight problem" with older Nikon lenses not autofocusing on the D40, but if you do not own a bag full of older lenses, it is not going to be a problem. It is barely a problem anyhow. If you check www.nikonusa.com for "AF-S" lenses, which are ALL 100% compatible with the D40, you will find 23 lenses, including 7 "VR" (vibration Reduction) lenses and one true macro lens with "VR". There are another 25-plus lenses in the current catalog that provide all functions except autofocus as well as many (possibly dozens) "out of print" lenses that will work just as well. In addition, although these lens will not autofocus, most of them will still give focus confirmation. From the D40 manual: "If the lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 of faster, the viewfinder focus indicator can be used to confirm whether the portion of the subject in the selected focus area is in focus. After positioning the subject in the active focus area, press the shutter release button halfway and rotate the lens focusing ring until the in-focus indicator is displayed." (See http://www.members.aol.com/swf08302/nikonafs.txt for a list of AF-S lenses or see http://www.nikonians.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=16715&forum=DCForumID201 for even more...)

The D40 only has 3 autofocus zones arranged horizontally at the center, 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. This might be considered a limitation, but realistically, most people will find this perfectly adequate, especially if you are moving up from a point and shoot with only a center zone.

There is no "Status LCD" on top of the camera, but Nikon chose to use the rear LCD for this information. This is actually a nice move, as the display is bigger than the top display and you aren't using the read LCD for anything BEFORE you take the picture anyway. This is not a step backwards and it actually makes sense to me.

You can get the D40 with the 18-55 kit lens at B&H Photo available through Yahoo! Shopping or at 1-800-622-4987) for $525 (June 2007). Add a Lexar Platinum (60X speed) card for $25 or 2 GB for $35. Or - get the D40 with 18-135 lens and 1 GB Lexar card for $750. This is a decent lens and it is very versatile. You will find it suitable for pretty much anything you want to do, other than really long telephoto shots. It will let you explore the range of focal lengths to decide where to start filling in your lens collection. If you don't want to buy any more lenses, this one will carry you through pretty much everything. B&H also have used D40's with the lens from $475.