Decisions, indecisions...

[feral]

I have a Canon S5iS which although it is a fairly good camera, it is still a point & shoot. It is also discontinued so there is that as well.

My objective is to upgrade but I am unable to get past first base.

1. I'm an average photographer which takes slightly imaginative point & shoot pictures.
2. I do not walk around all day with a camera slung 'round the neck looking for photo op's.
3. The Canon when it first came out was over $500, but got just under $500 when purchased in 2007. I went on Central Australia trip and was disappointed in the results. Was the camera really worth it?
4. I work for a printing firm. I have had a stint at Quality Control and it sent me bonkers. I'm so critical, I look at images everyday and assess the quality of such.

Here is a sample of my point & shoot and the flaws I see.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee290/discovery099/CaitlynPortraitwatermarked.jpg

Now for this pic, all I see is not quite sharp enough, distortion, and the red flaring down the right side(left) arm. The white bands on the T shirt are not sharp and red flaring again.

I am looking at upgrading but I am torn between alot of dollars (Canon 60D with L lens or similar brand/spec and is it all worth it considering all I am is an average pic taker.

I just cannot get my head around it.:(

[tailslide]

Hi Lyndon,

I too started with the Canon S5iS as my first digital camera after my Canon A1 and all my FD lenses were stolen...

At the time decent digital SLRs were still out of my price range and went for the point and shoot. It looked ok in the shop but after a couple of weeks using the Canon S5iS I was disappointed with the results. And the extemely slow shutter response annoyed me.

I now have a Canon 500D with 17-40 f4L and 70-200 f4L lenses, this package is a vast improvement. The week after I bought the 500D the 550D was announced... Not to worry, I'm still happy with the unit.

I didn't get any kit lenses with the 500D as I knew that I would not be satisfied with these having had a play with a friend's Canon and their kit lenses.

My vote is go for it. The S5iS will just continue to annoy you.

Ron

[LSD_AUTOMOTIVE]

I can see what you mean about the white/red flare. The image does appear soft on my screen as well. The white on the hat appears more 'true' than that on the sleeve :(

My only suggestion with upgrading (I'm certainly a novice in terms of photography) would be to consider waiting for the boxing day/stocktake sales and see if you can get a good deal. I have a Nikon L100 and Harvey Norman was asking $500 for it last year when we purchased it. We paid $289 with bag and SD card in the sales after a bit of haggling at JB HiFi. Ebay may also be another option as those who received a new camera for Christmas attempt to offload old ones (if you're happy to take second hand)

[abaddonxi]

Any DSLR is going to be better than most point-and-shoots just for the better quality lenses.

DWI have the cheapest DSLRs at under $600 with or without kit lenses. A 50mm lens - super fast, sharp, light, compact, all around lovely and image quality that matches $1000+ zooms is all of $85.

Seems to me that the thinking goes, 'I'm buying a p&s, it's almost disposable. I'm buying a DSLR, it's a major investment. But if it's the same dollars.

Canon Digital SLR Cameras | Browse our range of Canon Digital SLR Cameras (http://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/store/browse.asp?idCategory=20&brand=2)

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lenses (http://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/store/product.asp?idProduct=63)

[tailslide]

Any DSLR is going to be better than most point-and-shoots just for the better quality lenses.

DWI have the cheapest DSLRs at under $600 with or without kit lenses. A 50mm lens - super fast, sharp, light, compact, all around lovely and image quality that matches $1000+ zooms is all of $85.

Yes, DWI is as good as any. In fact today I just placed an order for a 50mm 1.4 USM and some extension tubes, 12mm and 25mm. Santa is coming early:D.

One of the down sides of a DSLR is the options are almost endless, not that I am complaining here:eek:.

Ron

[C0L0N3L]

Concidered the G12?

My friend works at camera house, and we played around with the p7000 (nikon equivelant.) It's a pretty good camera, surprisingly sharp and pretty good metering.

My opinion would be unless you know/learn how to take photos technically, you won't benefit from an slr because it will be in auto or P mode, which I think something like the G12 would do a better job, as well as being cheaper, lighter and compact.

I'm pretty sure the G12 supports RAW too so that will allow you more control over your colours.

[feral]

Hi Lyndon,

At the time decent digital SLRs were still out of my price range and went for the point and shoot. It looked ok in the shop but after a couple of weeks using the Canon S5iS I was disappointed with the results. And the extremely slow shutter response annoyed me.

I now have a Canon 500D with 17-40 f4L and 70-200 f4L lenses, this package is a vast improvement. The week after I bought the 500D the 550D was announced... Not to worry, I'm still happy with the unit.

I didn't get any kit lenses with the 500D as I knew that I would not be satisfied with these having had a play with a friend's Canon and their kit lenses.

My vote is go for it. The S5iS will just continue to annoy you.

Ron

Thanks Ron. It is most likely the reason I don't use the S5is as I know what the end results will be.


Any DSLR is going to be better than most point-and-shoots just for the better quality lenses.

DWI have the cheapest DSLRs at under $600 with or without kit lenses. A 50mm lens - super fast, sharp, light, compact, all around lovely and image quality that matches $1000+ zooms is all of $85.

Seems to me that the thinking goes, 'I'm buying a p&s, it's almost disposable. I'm buying a DSLR, it's a major investment. But if it's the same dollars.

Canon Digital SLR Cameras | Browse our range of Canon Digital SLR Cameras (http://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/store/browse.asp?idCategory=20&brand=2)

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lenses (http://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/store/product.asp?idProduct=63)

I have been checking the site for some weeks now. The 60D has dropped by about $150 over the month :D There hasn't been any movement in the lens prices :twisted: Its still approx $1500 - $1800 question though :(


Considered the G12?

My friend works at camera house, and we played around with the p7000 (nikon equivalent.) It's a pretty good camera, surprisingly sharp and pretty good metering.

My opinion would be unless you know/learn how to take photos technically, you won't benefit from an slr because it will be in auto or P mode, which I think something like the G12 would do a better job, as well as being cheaper, lighter and compact.

I'm pretty sure the G12 supports RAW too so that will allow you more control over your colours.

I've installed RAW through CHDK and have yet to see results. Just have to find the right program to convert so the files can be read. But in regards to the G12 it is cheap photography compared to DSLR. I just thought it might be better to go one step further.

Even if I drop my specs down to a 550d, the price difference is only about $150(compared to 60D) but then I drop into the specs of the S5is.

Hence the indecision.

[DeanoH]

4. ............................... I'm so critical, I look at images everyday and assess the quality of such.....................
I am looking at upgrading but I am torn between alot of dollars (Canon 60D with L lens or similar brand/spec and is it all worth it considering all I am is an average pic taker.

I just cannot get my head around it.:(

Whether you have a $20 camera or a $2000 camera this won't change, but hopefully the quality of photo will. However much you budget you will always be able to spend more/or less, its a matter of deciding how much you want to spend and how much you can afford to spend. I usually end up somewhere in between. If new DWI looks good value and I think someone mentioned Camera House, they are really helpful and have good second hand gear as well. I bought my D70 there second hand and spent a bit over twice as much on a good lens. I reckon this is the way to go. Try and avoid kit lenses, they'll drive you nuts.

Deano:)

[abaddonxi]

When I was taught how to take pictures we were only allowed three lenses. The wide fify, the tight fifty, and the standard fifty. Wide fifty walk away, tight fifty walk closer. You didn't get to play with other lenses until you knew what you were doing with the basics.

Still my favourite, and better than any zoom that costs less that $2000.

[300+]

Now for this pic, all I see is not quite sharp enough, distortion, and the red flaring down the right side(left) arm. The white bands on the T shirt are not sharp and red flaring again.

I am looking at upgrading but I am torn between alot of dollars (Canon 60D with L lens or similar brand/spec and is it all worth it considering all I am is an average pic taker.

I just cannot get my head around it.:(

If your eye is good enough to spot those issues, and be bothered by them it seems you have two choices. The 60D with an L lens or poke yourself in the eyes with a sharp stick until they don't work well enough to spot the very minor issues in the photos.

A decent lens, such as an L will have much less chromatic abberation (the red flaring) and a good camera will let you shoot raw which gives you more ability to edit it out.

But you need to do the maths with the costs to see if you can justify it. For my money it was a good picture, but I don't spend my days critiquing printed material.

Cheers, Steve

[Timj]

I think the question should actually come down to why you took the photo in the first place. If it was to get a perfect photo with perfect light and structure then you need something better. If you took a photo to create a memory then I think the things you are complaining about are fairly irrelevant as that is a good photo.

A point and shoot just cannot take as technically good a photo as a DSLR, the lens and sensor are too small, don't allow enough light in and therefore need lots of processing in the camera to produce the photos. If you get good lenses for the DSLR then the gap will be even greater. With L glass on a 350D I can take beautiful photos but unless I get the subject and composition right they still don't mean much. And there are now much better cameras around.

One problem is though that a DSLR and L glass is a heavy package to carry around and you may miss some things that you would catch with a lighter, smaller point and shoot. 60D is a large camera, 550D is lighter and easier to use, full frame like 7D are really big if you are used to a point and shoot.

TimJ.

[C0L0N3L]

Timj, Same point I was trying to make.

feral, I understand the value for money thing. I was just trying to point out, that while good gear will give you sharper, more colourfull and contrasty images. But you shouldn't expect to use it like a point and shoot and expect the better images.

Not saying you will, you might already know aperture, iso etc.

Just my friend works at camera house.. and he has had people come in and buy a 5D MII and 24-70mm f2.8, and it they just leave it in auto. And the amount of people who buy a dslr then come back after 6months and ask him how to use it.

Don't take offence, I'm just letting you know what i've seen.

My recommendation if you want to stick with canon would be the 550D. I don't see the point of the 60D unless your into video in which case the swivel screen could be pretty handy.
50D would be a great option if you can find a cheap one. bit more ruggered, more comfortable to hold, better camera minus video.

Glass will depend on what your shooting but 24-70 2.8 would be an excelent starting point.

A flash would also be worth concidering.. I don't know if canon have one with a highspeed sync. But if they do it would certainly help out with the photo you posted.