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I think the photos I used to take with my old Pentax MG were as good, if not better than the ones I take with a Canon EOS 300D.
Keep in mind that I didn't have a clue what I was doing with either of them.
I did like the manual controls on the pentax though, I feel a bit ovewhelmed by the EOS I think.
Some photographer mates of mine sort of "insisted" that I should buy it a couple of years ago. (One of them also insisted on fondling it right there on the street after I came out of the camera shop... kinky!)
Now I'm wondering if I did the right thing. Maybe a course might help? I did go to one, but it was too basic, even for me. Now I'm housebound for a while until I get better. Yep, I'm raving on again...

Are the bells and whistles over-rated, or is it just me that's over-rated ?

2007-11-14 20:04:59 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities Visual Arts Photography

8 answers

Some of the bells and whistles are there for marketing hype, while others are there for legitimate reasons.

Example - in camera sensor cleaner - I've had my DSLR for 3 years now and have had no problem with dirt on the sensor. Yet everyone seems to be jumping on the bandwagon. Modeling mode on an external flash - who uses that? No one that I know.

Do I really need 51 selectable focus points? Maybe...depends on the type of photography I'm going. How many years have we gotten away with only 1?

Does having 5 or 11 make things easier? It does for me.

I think that you need to look at the features and determine if what they offer will make your life easier. If they do, and it helps with your shooting, then it might be worth the upgrade. If not, then no need to upgrade. I've been shooting sports, weddings, portraits, nature, animals...you name it with an Nikon D50 and occassionally a Nikon N90s.

I've gotten great results with the D50, which is no longer made. I've learned the capabilities of the camera and I can make it sing and dance and get the shot that I need. Am I in a hurry to upgrade? Not really. The sensor gives me good low light, high ISO performance for a 6.1MP camera and I have a wide range of lenses to choose from. I've looked around and a D80 or D200 would not give me any real benefit, other than being able to crop deeper into the image if I needed to(they are 10MP...but if I do my job and get the composition right, then the cropping is a moot point).

What does interest me is the low light, high ISO performance of the D300. If after I see the high ISO test shots of this gear, and it can either hang with or exceed my D50 performance...then I'll think of upgrading. But that's the biggest issue for me right now. The higher MP doesn't really mean a thing, nor does the high FPS capability. I just don't really need it and I don't rapid fire shoot. I take nice, controlled, timed shots.

At this point, I'm more interested in upgrading and exapnding my lens collection. I'd liek a nice 70-200mm f/2.8 or a fast 300mm for weddings and nature shots.

After the long ramble, point is....it's more the photographer than the camera that creates a great image.

2007-11-15 05:17:39 · answer #1 · answered by gryphon1911 6 · 2 0

About a year ago I bought my first DSLR, it replaced my old (not gonna tell ya quite how old) 35mm SLR. There are some definite limitaions to the digital cam like keeping the sensor clean, but also some benefits....depending on the type of photography you're into being able to take hundreds of shots without having to stop to reload is an advantage. As for the bells and whistles --- a year into this new fangled camera and a few thousand pics later I pretty much use the full manual mode or aperture priority and occasionally change the focus point and or advance/retard the f.stop depending on the shot - or in other words I use it like I did my 35mm

2007-11-15 02:19:06 · answer #2 · answered by Dawg 5 · 1 0

I have the 300d and use it as a back up or hobby camera. I don't find it having any more "bells and whistles" than my old Minolta 7000. If you were comfortable with manual on your Pentax, why not use manual on your 300d? Digital is much like chromes in 35mm in the way it exposes. Canon has a great learning center on it's site and the eclecticacademy.com has inexpensive Photoshop/Elements etc courses.($20 USD for 6 week course)

Get well soon!

2007-11-14 22:09:59 · answer #3 · answered by Perki88 7 · 1 0

I shot Minolta SRT 101s for years--they were introduced in the early 1970s--a match needle exposure system and never heard of auto focus. Eventually they got stolen and I bought Canon A-1's, great camera, I still use them and guess what! I only use the "Program" setting those times I would carry my old Minoltas "preset". It takes me longer to fiddle with the buttons and menues on my digital than it does to use my A-1 in "Manual" mode. Bells and Whistles look good and sound good in the advertising copy; but a 200 page "User Guide"--give me a break.

2007-11-15 04:03:32 · answer #4 · answered by John T 6 · 1 0

Well Lizzie,
Yes, they are over-rated but make a good selling point and drive the cost up, the only yhting they dont come with is a set of inflatable boobs cuz we all know "sex" sells right?. anyway, the days of the workhorse is overwith, anyone with an older canon ae-1 or even older at-1, mino;ta srt101 or srt102 has more creative control over his camera than he does with the newer fangled focus stabilized camaeras. the newer camaeras dont allow you the ability to take infdinately open shutter shots on slow speed films late at light or use infrared film or even"mr"type films for doing e-ray specrtrometry research during the nighttime sky scenery. it is a true pity. I have one canon at-1 left over in my collection that is for sale, I normally keep two or three of each on hand and keep them repaired and in working order, I'll let this one go for sale for what I have in it which is $128.00, it's a fabulous camera but I have 3 more or them and it's the only one I have 4 of.,..............it is a real workhorse and will allow you to do whatever you want..........I used to have an entire collection of old kodak a-3s but they deteriorate over time and the leather bellows are just too expensive to replace.............That eos of your is a great camera too but you are limited with it ina few ways..............My old box cameras are cool box expensive to maintain and to take on the road plus they take up way topo much room, I may auction them off some time soon.
Nathan

2007-11-15 00:52:43 · answer #5 · answered by theoregonartist 6 · 1 0

IMO a definite "YES!" Although I still use film and will until its no longer available, I do keep up with the digital world. I often read the specs on different cameras and the ones with 15 or 20 different "scene modes" boggle my mind.

I've observed people with a DSLR fiddle for minutes before taking the shot. They weren't trying different angles or moving closer or farther away. They were fiddling with the camera controls. I even asked one fellow how long he'd owned his camera. "Two years" he replied.

Although I usually shoot in Aperture Preferred (I like lots of DOF and I know my lenses perform best at between f5.6 and f11) I occasionally haul out my all manual camera for a bit of nostalgia.

To each their own.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

2007-11-14 23:27:44 · answer #6 · answered by EDWIN 7 · 2 0

this is my angle

bells and whistles are great for speed and those technically troubled

for a skilled operator if they need speed they select the bells that are faster than they are or proform better or best for the ocassion and they know when to and when not to

for a skilled operator not needing speed its different in things like, lens selection, lighting, depth and shutter for the occasion.......maybe some flash

- example - cat shots, nothing fancy, just knowledge, 2 x 500w halogen lights, 35mm lens on 1.5 times cropped body, lights gelled to 5600k, camera at 5600k, manual control, 100iso,

read reflection off my palm, set exposure one stop over that, - like a grey card reading but i lost my cards years ago,

then i think - damm cat wont stay still, auto focus keeps stalling and making an annoying noise, - best I use manual me thinks i also want to have some tasty depth and "the blurry effect" - so i set the lens to F2.8, the shutter speed reads 125th - but thats to slow i know from shooting animals,

so i add 1 stop iso, thats 200iso now, then i can use 250th of a second,

then i "take the photos", really i prefer make the image

http://flickr.com/photos/martini2005/1918049116/

oh and i did "slide focus" - thats put it on manual and leave it, then to "focus" i slide myself back and forward with the moving subject to keep what i want sharp, learnt that bit at TV school

if you have exposure use the canon as a manual pentax - read the whote balance off white paper, read the exposure off mid grey, set WB or use auto WB, set apeture, set shutter, turn off everything auto but WB.........thats what i do

oh and lighting lighting lighting, , doesnt have to be fancy sometimes

another view if you havent seen them already

http://flickr.com/photos/martini2005/1918049106/

EDIT: yes the bell and whistles are over rated to sell more cameras......


a

2007-11-14 20:56:23 · answer #7 · answered by Antoni 7 · 1 0

When I moved from various arts and graphic design into digital photography, I sought out an online class for help.

I found a site that I rate as highly professional, well-known instructors from around the world, and a great member community who loves to learn and is willing to share.

You might want to check on http://www.betterphoto.com

I took The Fundamentals of Photography course with Jim Zuckerman—what a fantastic teacher who loves his work and loves teaching others.

Additionally, various instructors teach classes on specific cameras. Check this link:

http://www.betterphoto.com/online-photo-course-categories.asp?ai=88

Best wishes, and happy shooting!

2007-11-14 20:30:35 · answer #8 · answered by Ruth Boaz 6 · 1 0

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