confused...S3 IS ..Rebel XTI

[zingo]

Hello again!
I posted yesterday.. this link http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=215504

regading the S3IS, so I went to BB today to buy it. :D The guy told me that if I was going to spend that kind of money, (339.00) that he would recommend me to go to SLR Rebel XTI for 799.oo.:rolleyes:
He said the the quality was soo much better and he showed me how fast it reacted and such. The camera I have now is a A70.

I doubt that I will learn all this manual stuff. I can hope. I am afraid I cant learn the SLR camera, even thought it seemed to have lots of auto stuff too.

Is it THAT big difference? For an amateur?
Does anyone know the difference in quality between the A70 and the S3 IS?

Well I was so sure this afternoon and now I am confused.

Any input?

Zingo

[casaaviocar]

It really depends what you want to haul around, and how much you are worried about the utmost quality in photos. For an SLR to match the capability of the S3 you would be carrying 3 or 4 lenses, and some of which would be quite large and heavy. The S3 give you amazing capability in a small package that can easily be carried pretty much anywhere. An SLRs quality will be better than the compact, but excellent photos can be taken with a compact, it just takes a little more planning. I think most people would be very happy with the photos they will take with an S3. I have an S2 to compliment my SLR and I am very happy with the photos I take with it.

[strmrdr]

Iv been going thru the same thought process and I think i'm going to get the s3 to do everything the s3 will do id need to spend $1200-$1500 it would do it at a higher quality level but when you consider that the s3 costs about the same as 1 good lens for the slr it is a lot of bang for the buck.
$399 is high you can get it $330-$350 online.

Also the slr wont do movies so if that is important add a $400 entry level camcorder into the mix.

[AirBrontosaurus]

I used to work at a retail chain like that. Not only does $800 look better than $400 on your sales numbers, but they get commission off of the replacement plan that they were going to pitch to you, and since the XTi costs so much more, they would stand to make a good $10-20 more (in paycheck) than if they sold the S3. Trust me. That guy cared nothing about you or what you needed a camera for. The simple fact that he recommended a DSLR over a P&S without knowing anything about your needs is proof enough.

How do I know this? I used to do it all the time :oops:.

[spur]

My son has a digital rebel. When I got my S3 he loved it so much he went out and got one. He still has the Rebel and uses it. When he goes out to have fun he takes the S3. It's with him all the time, the Rebel sits at home.

[chansh]

I doubt that I will learn all this manual stuff. I can hope. I am afraid I cant learn the SLR camera, even thought it seemed to have lots of auto stuff too.



With that I rest my case. Don't get the DSLR. You will get better out of camera photos with the S3 IS. With a DSLR you will need to do some PP to make the picture POP, that's because a DLSR will do little or no in camera PP.

[Stefan A]

I can't believe a best buy employee said that. If it was , say, a $50 difference, then it makes sense. But at over twice the amount - not including anything more than the kit lens, that guy was only thinking about himself. I would much rather sell an S3IS than to risk confusing and losing a customer.

Stefan

[nwyman]

I can believe it. When BB first opened, I thought it was like Disneyland - I wandered the aisles in wonder. And the sales people were helpful and knowledgeable.
After a year or so, this changed dramatically. Even in vacuum cleaner filter sales, I've had them give me information that was just plain wrong. And they lied in the process, saying that the salesman's mother had one. She couldn't possibly have, because the informaton was incorrect. I played along for awhile, to see how far they'd go with this line, and they went as far as they could. I don't shop there anymore, unless I absolutely have to . And I make sure I know what I'm looking for before I go in.

[dhbailey]

I know what nwyman is saying, but I still shop there -- but like him/her I go in knowing as much as I can before asking any questions, and then it's only a game to see what sort of lies the salespeople will try to foist off on me. Occasionally they fool me and I speak to one who a) doesn't own what I'm trying to buy, and b) has actually read the manual and knows that they're talking about.

I can't find any place that isn't like that, though, except my local camera store and they don't like Canons very much. They can always order what I might want, but at prices way above what I think is reasonable, and those orders are must-purchase orders. They're not willing to get something in just for me to try it out.

[Heist]

i used to shoot some awesome stuff with my A80 (practically the same as your A70), but the time came that I wanted something better and more sophisticated. I was torn between spending a good chunk on the S3 or an entry level dSLR.

I ended up with the S3 for a few reasons:
-I'm not quite ready for a Dslr and then having lens envy (that's right, you have to go buy lenses and such to do different things)
-I have a lot to learn about photography
-The S3 will make a GREAT run-around camera in place of a DSLR when I do eventually purchase one
-I'm still knocking down a lot of CC debt, and it would be against my personal commitment of lowering my debt by buying some "toy" that's over $1,000 with accessories and such

since getting the S3, my pictures come out at least 20x better than i could have ever got with the A80... I'm saving about 3 minutes per photo when I work on something in photoshop... and to top it off, the S3 looks like a "real" camera... its black, has a big body, etc.

[3drcpilot]

For me it was the articulated LCD. Bang for the buck, it was the only choice.

As far as BB advise, well, it's called 'commission' and that bias information holds very little with me especially if the $'s are going up. The Internet gives one the power to search the sum of human knowledge, I use it. Then buy on it saving the sales tax for one thing. But then I have time, other may not. My 2cents

[krame]

I work for Best Buy(in the camera dept.), and I cant believe he tried to offer you the xti. Unless you gave him the impression that you wanted more from the camera that the xti would be able to give you. And about the commision thing, no sales person at Best Buy makes commision from sales, so that salesman that was offering you the xti could care less which one you bought since he wont make anymore money from selling you the more expensive xti.

[zingo]

Thank you all for your inputs. I haven't been able to come back... I got the S3...I now am going to search around here a bit.. because I got some little "problems" already:oops:

Thanks again!

[DanteCaspian]

Just got the S3 IS myself and glad I did not dish out the coin for an SLR. Using them in the past, I don't see (or as research indicates) huge advantages other then the "look more professional" image thing.
That being said, I can see myself getting one in a couple of years ;)

[bladepurveyor]

I had a Rebel and just purchased an S3Is...I love this camera...I do alot of set up type shots...and this does a great job...here's an example....

[RadAL]

I got my Rebel XT at Sears of all places...

[JulianL]

Forget Best Buy. Just order it online from B&H Photo (http://www.bhphoto.com). You'll save a bunch of money and they are very reputable.

[283CID]

I am a very new owner of a S3IS... from Best Buy in Portland, Oregon. Mine cost me $399.99. Wonderful camera. I bought it to replace my Dearly Beloved G-1. I don't see how it is possible to rationally compare a SLR to a S or G Canon.. they are just SO different. But, I'll sure as heck tell you **I** would never own 'only' a camera that did NOT have a swivelling LCD panel. Handiest little tool ever.

So far.. I love the S3... in spite of the knowledge that Every Man Will Fight To The Death To Defend That Which He Is Stuck With...

[regina_emmanuelle]

I ended up buying my S3 (now going on one week ago) from Amazon. I researched for days online making sure I got the best camera for me... for the same reasons you said.

I wanted something that I could carry around everywhere so I could really get some good practice shooting in. I've been going out alsmot every day trying to teach myself the ins and outs of the custom and manual settings... I'm learning... slowly but surely.

I'm so excited about some of my pictures. The quality is amazing! I've promised myself that when I get better and really know what I'm doing... I'm going in for the DSLR.

BTW, I got mine for $345.

i used to shoot some awesome stuff with my A80 (practically the same as your A70), but the time came that I wanted something better and more sophisticated. I was torn between spending a good chunk on the S3 or an entry level dSLR.

I ended up with the S3 for a few reasons:
-I'm not quite ready for a Dslr and then having lens envy (that's right, you have to go buy lenses and such to do different things)
-I have a lot to learn about photography
-The S3 will make a GREAT run-around camera in place of a DSLR when I do eventually purchase one
-I'm still knocking down a lot of CC debt, and it would be against my personal commitment of lowering my debt by buying some "toy" that's over $1,000 with accessories and such

since getting the S3, my pictures come out at least 20x better than i could have ever got with the A80... I'm saving about 3 minutes per photo when I work on something in photoshop... and to top it off, the S3 looks like a "real" camera... its black, has a big body, etc.