Is It Sooooo Important To Be Part Of The EOS Club ?????

[Duke107]

I tell you I have been torn by this decision. Be content with my G2, buy a Drebel or buy a 10D? I started off thinking I'll buy a Drebel but have read and read post here trying to determine if I will regret it, many say no and lots say yes, more confusion. Now My G2 has served me very well and I really love the cam, I really don't know if spending all the cash will make me happy or is this just a perpetual thing with photography (always want better)? I can afford to buy a 10D this afternoon if I wanted but I'm not like that, I need to know that is the right thing to do as I work hard for my money like most. Anyway, I guess what I really want to know is there going to be a serious differance in the photagraphy that I do for the most part (people in the family setting) or will I not want to take that out of the house because its delicate and little more cumbersome? If so than G2 may be all I need and I should be happy with what I have. If most say ya than off I go with the Visa if not well hmmm..... what filters can I find hmmm......

[CyberDyneSystems]

Duke.. your question is a tricky one to answer..

All I can say is my own experience,...

I got a 10D SPECIFICALLY for the purpose of using it for stuff OTHER than the standard familly snapshots. I wanted a wildlife camera.

That said.. owning an SLR has opened a lot of new aspects of photogrphy for me that I never would have explored.

[Pekka]

Perhaps the best way I can answer this is to ask you visit http://photography-on-the.net/gallery/index.php?groupid=1 and see how my G1 gallery differs from EOS camera galleries. To me EOS is about instinct, reaction, movement, action, people and capturing a moment in available light handheld. G1-5 is more about still, calm, set up, tripod and classic style photography.

[Duke107]

Wow Thanks guys for your input, I really got the big boys out on that one. Pekka I looked at your fantastic photos and yes I agree there is more stage work with a G cam, I have learned to set the stage so to speak so I may have time to focus, sometimes with my 9 month old daughter that is simply making her laugh to get a great photo in the setting she is in. I know I would love the 10D but I guess I will have to get use to carrying a little more bulk around, I can do that. I have been told not to sell my G cam for times when its a little more practical so I won't, it's worth more to me than anyone will ever be willing to pay for it.

CyberDyneSystems, I think I'm not being fair to myself to say that's all I will use the cam for is family shots as just recently I was up north for the week with some very good friends, I had my G2 and my friend had his drebel with several lenses, we each took multiple shots of a spectacular moon, mine were ok and his ended up being fantastic (exactly what we were trying to capture) so I missed out. Point is If I had a better cam for that purpose than I guess you migrate in your photography too.

[Belmondo]

In some respects the P&S really forces you to be a photographer, and that's ironic when you really think about it. The truth is, you absolutely must take more time to plan, compose, and execute your shot. Also, you are obliged to live within the limitations of your hardware, and that's a lot more challenging than most will admit. An SLR user has the luxury of interchangeable lenses and other bits and pieces that simply aren't available for the typical compact camera.

It's mind boggling to see some of the work done by really talented people with a G1-5. It's actually quite humbling to someone like me that has spent an amount in the last year equal to what a darned good used car would cost. (Unfortuantely, I haven't found anyone selling talent yet.)

[Andy_T]

Duke,

I have similar requirements as you ... capturing my 16 month old son when he's up to something really cute again while at the same time hiding the camera from him or at least convincing him that the camera is daddy's toy and not his.

I absolutely love my G2 and am very happy with it ... but I'll definitely get a 10D and 1.4/50 just for family shots, because
- I love to get available light photos, and the G2 is not particularly good at that. Using an external bounce flash certainly helps, but is normally a bit cumbersome for family photographs
- I definitely hate the time the G2 takes to focus and actually take the picture. I normally have to take every photo at least 3 times until I get the exact expression I want, because my son closes his eyes, turns his head or else in the time between me pressing the button and the camera actually taking the photo.
- Taking these 3 shots also takes a while, because of the 5 - 7 seconds the G2 takes to write the (RAW) image to the microdrive. In this time I normally have to surrender the lens cap to my son in order to keep him from trying to snatch the camera away from me. Talk about candid photos :lol:

So if you are experiencing the same unhappyness about the otherwise great camera, then you might find the upgrade to a DSLR worthwile.

Another important feature is the limited DOF you can get with a DSLR. This certainly greatly helps you to refine the artistic expression of your photographs. That's important for me, as well, but maybe not primarily for family snapshots.

Best regards,
Andy

[Ronin]

I'm a recently converted G2 to 300D man myself...and I have to say that the above statements are correct. The G2 is about preperation...tripod and set-up while the 300D is about speed and action. There's no comparison in focus times...the 300D does it in a fraction of the time it takes a G2 to give you the "green square" and not to mention the flexiblity a DSLR gives you.

If you've got the cash, go for it. You won't regret it. Pick up a 50mm f1.8 lens while you're at it and...well, if you've got another $550US after that...a 70-200L f4.0.

[DocFrankenstein]

It's a personal decision. First I got S1 IS and played around with it for 3 months. It is an EXCELLENT camera.

But then I felt that I wasn't truly satisfied with it. No manual focus, lens which won't allow you shallow DOF, no manual focus, bad low light performance...

So I got the rebel kit. Don't regret it for a moment. I use it for "artsy" photos, tourist trips and usually take the time to set up the shot, find out the DOF and highlight the elements that I want.

I didn't sell the S1... because it's a small (compared to rebel) point and shoot, my beloved family members take it with them to parties and such.

To me EOS is about instinct, reaction, movement, action, people and capturing a moment in available light handheld. G1-5 is more about still, calm, set up, tripod and classic style photography.
I am totally against this statement. Looks like you're saying that EOS is a point and shoot and Gn is a "pro" cam.

I got my rebel and I've never mounted S1 on a tripod since. EOS offers more features and it's the one that gets to sit the tripod.

I do agree though that you can capture action much faster with EOS...