Post Processing a must? (for 300D files)

[mxride]

Hello, Im brand new to the Forums. I have an S1IS , but would like to upgrade to a Rebel. I like to shoot Motocross pics and feel it would be much easier to track the bikes with an SLR. I tried the Rebel and the focus was much quicker than the S1IS.
My question is: I heard that the Rebel requires post processing to get vivid colors and sharpness, and that your better off with a high quality P & S if you do not want to spend time post processing. I usually shoot about 100 shots per race and dont want to do alot of post processing other than some cropping. Do you agree that the Rebel does not make a good point and shoot camera? Thanks for any help.

[Southswede]

You have heard wrong about the DRebel. It takes great pic's.

[rick barclay]

The Rebel is a fine point and shoot camera. Just shoot all your pictures as jpegs using the
camera's auto mode. It's pretty much fool proof and it willl allow you the versatility of changing between macro, telefoto, and points between.

[aam1234]

you can adjust the parameters of the 300D to make the pics sharp with vivid colors straight from the camera.

[S230]

Hello, Im brand new to the Forums. I have an S1IS , but would like to upgrade to a Rebel. I like to shoot Motocross pics and feel it would be much easier to track the bikes with an SLR. I tried the Rebel and the focus was much quicker than the S1IS.
My question is: I heard that the Rebel requires post processing to get vivid colors and sharpness, and that your better off with a high quality P & S if you do not want to spend time post processing. I usually shoot about 100 shots per race and dont want to do alot of post processing other than some cropping. Do you agree that the Rebel does not make a good point and shoot camera? Thanks for any help.
I agree 50%. This is because I have both the Digital Rebel and the Elph S230. The Elph S230 I mainly use for Point and Shoot and "Squeezing" into tight places. It still serves as an important camera for me. I had taken over 1300 photos within 4 hours using that camera alone!.
(I have two on me).
As for my Rebel, I too am beginning to use it but it has it's pro's and Cons. It is much bigger to carry around and sometimes when you go on short trips, you probably better to leave it at home. The pro is that it is much faster than the P&S (Depending on mode). On higher compression (low quality), you definitely get more than 5-8fps.
The Auto-mode is probably not good as the simple P&S camera but quality is better.
The P&S you can see with the viewfinder and get WYSIWYG but the Rebel (most SLR's), you need to look through the eyepiece. This is becuase of the mirror inside.
Personally when I do weddings, I use both camera at the same time. My Elph on my left hand and my Rebel on my right. My last wedding I've done so with film version of the Rebel and was amazing. People looked at me as much as looking at the groom and bride. :)
(Felt like Rambo for a bit.. hehe..:)

[CyberDyneSystems]

You'll get the best results by doing osme post processing.

But you can still get excellent results out of the Camera.

[Hellashot]

I have to post process all the images I take. My Drebel usually takes dark images but with PSE 3 I have no trouble making them look good. And I shoot RAW. Even when I shot JPG I had to use auto fixes to make them look proper.

[mxride]

Thanks for the info. Im feeling more secure that the DRebels the way to go.

[tim]

It's pretty much fool proof

I fear you're underestimating fools.

[FlyingPete]

I fear you're underestimating fools.

Yep, proven when I let someone else use my DSLR a few weeks ago for some important shots, it was even in 'Green Box' mode, lesson learnt, camera is not fool proof, they will still strive to find a way to screw things up.

[ron chappel]

I too would say to set the in camera parameters to the max and you'll do very well
but post proccessing will still improve things.
For example i have the sharpness on mine set to max but there is still worlds of difference when proper USM is added in post proccessing

[dhbailey]

Post processing will probably improve things, but since there is no real finite point at which anybody can truly say "That picture can't be made any better" the amount of post-processing (from absolutely none to spending hours per picture) is up to the photographer's taste.

It is entirely possible to get fantastic pictures right out of the camera, if you like the pictures as they come out of the camera.

Yes, you can post-process, but you shouldn't feel that you will have to. The camera will take great pictures without your intervention, as long as you practice, read the manual, practice, practice some more, and be willing to experiment while taking the pictures to get the results you will be happy with.

Remember, though, to only use the LCD screen to be sure you got the framing you want -- it really isn't that accurate as to the true quality (or lack thereof) of the pictures you see on it. You won't really know how good or bad your shots are until you view them on a computer monitor. And then realize that the larger size of a full-screen computer monitor can also make you think twice about the pictures you take, so be sure to view them somewhere near the 4x6 size you'll print them at.

The Rebel will allow you to get better shots than a P&S camera will allow provided you practice and get comfortable with all the new variables you can control.

Good luck!

[DocFrankenstein]

I have both.

The colours on the S1 IS out of the camera are significantly sharper and contrasty than those of the Drebel. S1's in camera processing is merciless.

But the overall quality and the ability to push/post process your photos in rebel is excellent and the overall quality is way better than that of S1.

Hope this helps

[mxride]

A few do agree that a high quality P & S will spit out better pictures than the D Rebel because they are processing more in the camera. ! am going to try the Rebel again and up the parameters but it sounds like if I do not want to spend a lot of time on the computer a higher quality P & S might be the way to go.

[mxride]

I too would say to set the in camera parameters to the max and you'll do very well
but post proccessing will still improve things.
For example i have the sharpness on mine set to max but there is still worlds of difference when proper USM is added in post proccessing
What is USM ?

[mr.photoguy]

Hello, Im brand new to the Forums. I have an S1IS , but would like to upgrade to a Rebel. I like to shoot Motocross pics and feel it would be much easier to track the bikes with an SLR. I tried the Rebel and the focus was much quicker than the S1IS.
My question is: I heard that the Rebel requires post processing to get vivid colors and sharpness, and that your better off with a high quality P & S if you do not want to spend time post processing. I usually shoot about 100 shots per race and dont want to do alot of post processing other than some cropping. Do you agree that the Rebel does not make a good point and shoot camera? Thanks for any help.

I realized that with Digital photography, you can't be lazy.. You have to commit yourself.
If you are going to take the inital photo. You need to commit yourself to sit down in from of the computer and take the time to edit the photo to your desire.
Personally, I don't think p&S cam's are good for anything other than that.
I find the results with the 35mm .. film or digital. to be way better.

Same thing goes for film.. You have to commit yourself not only to composing the shot among other things, but also to the work in the darkroom.

[Jon, The Elder]

In this case - USM stands for Unsharpen Mask, a post processing function of Adobe PhotoShop.

[mxride]

In this case - USM stands for Unsharpen Mask, a post processing function of Adobe PhotoShop.I have Adobe Photo Shop Elements 2 but cant seem to find USM.
Is it called something else?

[johndm]

I have Adobe Photo Shop Elements 2 but cant seem to find USM.
Is it called something else?
Select filter from dropdown menu, go to sharpen then unsharp mask...that is USM ok

[snibbetsj]

It's under filters->sharpening->unsharp mask.


Play with the numbers to see what happens.

Many people (including me) use ~10,~80,0 apply that and then use 80-150,.9-1.4,0-1 and use the preview and apply when happy. You'll be amazed at how well that does. :)

Jeff

[markubig]

A few do agree that a high quality P & S will spit out better pictures than the D Rebel because they are processing more in the camera. ! am going to try the Rebel again and up the parameters but it sounds like if I do not want to spend a lot of time on the computer a higher quality P & S might be the way to go.
If you don't want to spend a lot of time post-processing, why don't you go with a Canon G-Series? The in-camera processing does a very nice job to give you sharp, colorful jpegs, and it also gives you the flexibility to shoot RAW and play in creative modes, if you feel like it.

[Citizensmith]

I had taken over 2300 photos within 4 hours using that camera alone!
So you are saying you managed to take a photo every 6 seconds (not including changing batteries, and flash cards) for 4 hours with a lil P&S. Me thinks you may be talking out your ass. Something that puts the rest of your post in a worse light.

[pcasciola]

So you are saying you managed to take a photo every 6 seconds (not including changing batteries, and flash cards) for 4 hours with a lil P&S. Me thinks you may be talking out your ass. Something that puts the rest of your post in a worse light.I'm not sure it's worth calling the guy a liar. There are plenty of P&S cameras that outperform many digital SLRs in terms of pure shooting speed. The Kyocera SL400R is one I've been looking at for a pocket camera. It can take 4MP shots at 3.5 fps until the card is full (no buffer limit), and at the lower resolution modes can easily fit 2,000 pictures on a single 1Gb card. That's well over 10,000 shots an hour, so what is so unbelievable about 2,300 in 4 hours?

[S230]

So you are saying you managed to take a photo every 6 seconds (not including changing batteries, and flash cards) for 4 hours with a lil P&S. Me thinks you may be talking out your ass. Something that puts the rest of your post in a worse light.
Typo.. I had 2 cameras on me. it's 1300 and it's also according to the counter that may be wrong. It's also the Counter I am referring to that is from start to end of day.
And yes, It's NOT all good for posting. At least half is good to look at.
It's still a very fast little camera and does it's job. I am not comparing quality to SLR. Many scenes I've used the continuous mode.

[FlyingPete]

So you are saying you managed to take a photo every 6 seconds (not including changing batteries, and flash cards) for 4 hours with a lil P&S. Me thinks you may be talking out your ass. Something that puts the rest of your post in a worse light.

I'd belive that is possible, I have done almost 500 (two 512MB cards to full) in two hours on a G3, I was shooting a band from the media pit, lot of rapid fire bursts to 'get the action'

[S230]

I'm not sure it's worth calling the guy a liar. There are plenty of P&S cameras that outperform many digital SLRs in terms of pure shooting speed. The Kyocera SL400R is one I've been looking at for a pocket camera. It can take 4MP shots at 3.5 fps until the card is full (no buffer limit), and at the lower resolution modes can easily fit 2,000 pictures on a single 1Gb card. That's well over 10,000 shots an hour, so what is so unbelievable about 2,300 in 4 hours?
Thanks for pointing important facts out. and I am glad that you had a cool head on this instead of call me something. :)
I's a typo on my part.
Btw, the S230 does heat up a lot after continuous use and battery begins to drain like crazy. I carried 4 on me and kept replacing quite often.
it's 1300 shots and it's according to the counter in the camera. Also, I am not taking at full resolution using continuous shots.
Thanks again. :)

[mxride]

If you don't want to spend a lot of time post-processing, why don't you go with a Canon G-Series? The in-camera processing does a very nice job to give you sharp, colorful jpegs, and it also gives you the flexibility to shoot RAW and play in creative modes, if you feel like it.I love the 7 point auto focus on the DRebel . Does any of the top of the line P & S focus as quick as the Rebel? When shooting motorcycles in mid air, the quick focusing of the Rebel is a big advantage.