Should I bring a DSLR or point-and-click for a family holiday with a tour group?

Question

Weight is not an issue, but I can't bring a tripod. The concern is blurry pictures if I use the DSLR because both the person and the background would have to be in focus (aka large aperture number leading to a slow shutter speed) for family pics. Any tips will be appreciated =)

Answer 1

Compact cameras are great for getting everything in focus. In fact, their tiny sensors makes it almost impossible to achieve a shallow depth of field. Compact cameras also allow you to shoot video, and they draw less attention than a dSLR.
But with a dSLR you can crank up the ISO in low light situations and still use f8 to get everything in focus. And dSLR cameras are vastly better for action shots and low light situations, they provide better image quality (but you might not notice it unless you make large prints), and they let you take pictures with a shallow depth of field if you DO want a blurry backgrond. So compact cameras and dSLR cameras offer different advantages, but they can both provide massive depth of field at decent shutter speeds.
Either way, you'll also need to consider how much zoom you need/ are willing to carry around. (A point & shoot with 12x zoom is almost as bulky as a dSLR, without any of a dSLR's benefits.)
My wife and I are currently traveling around the world. We've been on the road for 6 months now and we're both avid photographers. We both use our own dSLR. My camera is a Nikon D200 with a pretty heavy Nikon17-55mm f/2.8 zoom lens. I also have a 50mm f/1.4 in my camera bag. My wife uses a Nikon D80 with an 18-135mm zoom lens. (Cheaper, lighter, more zoom.) In ADDITION to this, we carry around a tiny Panasonic point & shoot. In hind sight, the only thing we would have done differently is to get one of those waterproof Olympus compact cameras instead of the Panasonic. And if money is not a problem, that's what I'd recommend to you: get both.

Answer 2

Blurry pictures are not inherent with a DSLR. In fact, the lack of shutterlag and the heft of a DSLR should add stability in most situations. What you said about the aperture number (greater depth of field) is true, and the subsequent lower shutter speed that goes with it. BUT, with a DSLR, you have control over all elements of the camera, including ISO, shutter or aperture priority. With a point & shoot, all the basic exposure settings are the same, but they are hidden from you and often out of your control.

Last August, our extended family took a two week trip through China. We had three DSLRs and six compact digitals with us. Guess which pictures everyone wanted copies of? The DSLR photos, of course.

Don't regret lost opportunities - take the DSLR.

Answer 3

Bring the DSLR and raise the ISO to get the smaller aperture. The dSLR will do far, far better than a point and shoot even at a higher ISO, and you'll get higher quality photos. Most DSLRs do just fine at ISO 800, looking better than point and shoots at ISO 400.

Even if you can't bring a tripod, you can still practice good techniques to reduce blur. Brace yourself and the camera. I've used makeshift tripods, makeshift monopods to maintain steadiness, like throwing a towel over a table, putting the camera on that, and using that to help get sharp photos at slow shutter speeds. You can also brace the camera against a light pole or even, as I have done, used a public garbage can with my camera on top for night shots.

In any case, the dSLR will do much better and it should be your choice.

Answer 4

If weight is not an issue, than the DSLR will be your best bet. You will be able to put it on auto to get the same results that you would get from your point and shoot, but you will also have all your options of manual control of aperture and shutter speed to play with for special situations. Have a great trip!

Answer 5

In bright sunshine, both types will give you good pics.

But if you're shooting in low light (indoors), your DSLR will give you better pics because the noise will be lower.

Therefore I'd recommend the DSLR.

As for depth of field, you can use that smaller aperture if you boost the ISO to give you a proper exposure.

If your camera can do it, set it on AUTO ISO and you won't even have to think about it.

One more suggestion: if you don't already have one, invest in an external flash with a bounce head. You will find this will improve your indoor pix tremendously.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

DSLR. 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses with Image Stabilization. With the larger sensor of the DSLR and Noise Reduction engaged you can shoot at ISO 400 outdoors, guaranteeing sufficient depth of field if you shoot in Aperture Preferred mode. Indoors you can go to ISO 800 or even 1600 and still get quality 8x10's.

Enjoy your family holiday.

Answer 7

in case you want to ask that query, perchance you should take your element and shoot. somewhat, this is a once in a life-time adventure so why would not you're taking your fantastic photographic approaches with you? you imagine your D40 is cumbersome and heavy, attempt wearing round 2 D3's and 5 lenses, 2 of that are 3275g and four,620g each and each. this is what I carry even as i'm on task contained in the Caribbean, us of a, Africa or somewhat everywhere, were high quality images are substantial. Take the finished you've with you (the point and shoot can stay on your pocket too). once you're there, you'll see photographers capturing with cameras and lenses that outweigh your microwave oven. Take all of your lenses and a minimum of four or 5 4 gb playing cards. acquire all of your images each and each nighttime for your pc pc and when you're not any more taking it with you, purchase better playing cards. experts frequently shoot raw + common JPEG. The raw is later processed even as they get domicile and the JPEG files are used to edit (kind) the images so that you'll %. the finest of the finished and in basic terms procedure the raw files you want to procedure

Answer 8

Bring both cameras. You carry the DSLR and let others carry the compact. The DSLR for pictures and the compact for videos.

Answer 9

an SLR, or DSLR would be best, your quality will be better in the long run, and as for blurry pictures, if you have a reasonably fast camera, just take every picture twice, and hope for the best.

One of the best things to learn, from professional photographers, is take multiples of each shot. If you take a 100 pictures, you typically only hope for 600 of them to come out well.