Confession

[Freddeh]

I must confess... I'm not a Canon camera user. Not yet anyway.

I'm still using a 'cheap' digital camera from Ricoh, the G3. It's not a really bad camera, but I'm still not able to get the most out of it. I would really love to get me a Canon EOS 350D, but for now it's not affordable for me, and besides that I wouldn't want to get a camera, when I can't even get 20 times less functionality out of a cheaper one...

I just decided I'd take my camera with me every day, so I can get to know the camera better. Could place me a step closer to the Canon I'd like to get...

[peterdoomen]

Just mention you have a "G3"... that's enough for membership at this forum ;-)

P.

[Freddeh]

To be honest, this is one of the better pictures I've gotten out of it. Maybe I'd post a few macro shots later on. Need to upload them first. Of course, an image like this can absolutely not beat the quality of a Canon image. But hey, a good photographer ca user a crappy camera to make a good picture right? ;)

http://www.vermanen.nl/images/tsjechie2005/images/16.jpg

[peterdoomen]

Better image quality can come from two sources:

1) better gear (such as a reflex camera instead of a point and shoot one)
2) becoming a better photographer.

Far too much people focus on 1) solely. Better gear is only useful if you also become a better photographer. Are you sure you know your point and shoot camera in and out? Then and only then you can drastically improve your pictures by upgrading material.

P.
PS. Nice picture BTW. So not all is lost even if you don't own a Canon ;-)

[Moppie]

1) better gear (such as a reflex camera instead of a point and shoot one)


Better could also include a good compact, you don't always have to make the step to an SLR.

[Curtis N]

Compact cameras have a leg up in the depth-of-field department. This is an advantage for macro work, group portraits, and landscape pictures. Minor focusing errors often go unnoticed. It's a disadvantage when you want to make your subject "pop" by blurring the background.

They have the ability to produce outstanding images if you feed them enough light. Outdoors is the best place for them. Their small flash, close to the lens, makes flash photography a frustrating experience.

Very often, people who upgrade to a DSLR get frustrated and complain that they made better pictures with their compact P&S. There's a lot to be said about learning the strengths and weaknesses of your equipment and working around your limitations. A compact camera, in skilled hands, will often make better pictures than a DSLR used by someone who hasn't taken the time to learn.

[Freddeh]

I've used my dad in law's 350D for a bunch of digital shots. The zoom is so much better than my G3's, to just name 1 of the pro's of a 350D over a G3. This was one of the major things that made me choose to go for an SLR over a compact.

Unfortunately, for now I still can't afford an SLR, but when the ship of money hits the sandbanks I'll be running off to the store :) For now I am stuck with a compact, and will keep using that to improve my techniques a bit more.

[jfrancho]

Some of my best flower closeups were made with my little Powershot S500. Before anything else, exposure and focus have to be right, from there it's all a matter of creative taste. Composition on the rolling stream shot is pretty good, but the exposure is a little dark. Deep forest lanscapes look good a little on the dark side, though. As far as making good pictures with a lesser camera, there are plenty of examples of people making great pictures with cheapa$$ Holgas. The 350D is only as good as the glass attached to the front, and the person behind the viewfinder. I can take some decent shots with my SLR, but it has taken a while. The key difference with an SLR is control.

[Freddeh]

Looking at the price paid for my G3, which was about €300 I think I should have been better off saving me €500 more and getting a 350D. But yeah, it's not like that.

I was just wondering. Is investing €25 in a large (140cm) tripod a good investment? Does a tripod really pay off in picture quality?

[Seefutlung]

But hey, a good photographer ca user a crappy camera to make a good picture right?

Right! Actually people make much more out of equipment then they ought too. Photographic skills, vision, technical knowledge et cetera is more important than equipment. Good equipment just makes getting a quality shot easier ...

As to your shot ... nothing seems sharp and it's a bit on the dark side. I think you were shooting at too slow of a shutter speed. Go back and shoot the stream again but this time with a tripod or ramp up the ISO for a faster shutter speed.

[Freddeh]

LOL... I'll be going to the Czech Republic this summer again. See if I can get my dad in law's tripod to go and try to shoot the stream again.

As for some other pics I promised:

http://members.lycos.nl/vermanennl/forums/041.jpg

http://members.lycos.nl/vermanennl/forums/042.jpg

http://members.lycos.nl/vermanennl/forums/043.jpg

http://members.lycos.nl/vermanennl/forums/044.jpg

http://members.lycos.nl/vermanennl/forums/045.jpg

http://members.lycos.nl/vermanennl/forums/046.jpg

*Pics could be still uploading if not all showing up. There's 6 of them...*

[jfrancho]

The shot of the preening Hyacinth looks great.

[Freddeh]

I don't really know a bunch about animals to be honest. I guess that will come when making more pictures of animals like butterflies and other little bugs and such. But with Hyacinth I assume you mean one of those butterfly pictures?

[jfrancho]

Hyacinth Macaw - largest species of hookbill, or parrots. Known as the "gentle giant" of parrots. Named for their blue coloration.

[Freddeh]

Ah right. Thanks for the info on that mate. I admit I did get a good shot of that. I had to shoot through the mesh to get a shot of it. Same mesh as you can see behind the Hyacinth.

Stupid thing is, I really like budgies, who are in a line related to those parrots, so maybe I should have known what parrot it was.