How many own both a DSLR and P&S and use the P&S often?

[FlipsidE]

I'm curious. How many people own both a DSLR and a P&S and use their P&S frequently?

FlipsidE

[tim]

I tried my A70 a few weeks ago in a pub, and man the photos were pretty horrible compared with what the 300D or 20D will do with the 550EX. You don't realise how good those cameras are until you try cameras that aren't so good.

[HJMinard]

I have a G1 that has basically become my wife's camera, although I use it on occasion.

[DocFrankenstein]

Same here...

I wasted 800 bucks on S1 IS when it came out... I should've gotten 17-40L

*kicks himself*

[CyberDyneSystems]

I have an S-400 for a "pocket Camera" .. even though it's with me all the time,.. I hardly ever use it.

[CoolToolGuy]

I keep my G3 in the car, and use it if I need a shot and don't have my DSLR with me.

Have Fun,

[swoop1156]

I have my Sony T3 in a carry-case attached to me at all times except when in uniform. I use it all the time to catch odd little things out here in Okinawa withought lugging the Kiss everyplace.

If I am going shooting intentionally one day, I'll for sure pack the Canon.

[Radtech1]

I had been very happy with my Elan7, then I bought a cheap Kodak P&S strictly for EBay - easier than scanning. I liked it so much that I bought an Olympus Camedia C-50. It was their highest end P&S that they made. It had most of the functions as an SLR (Aperture and shutter speed control, etc) but they could only be accessed by drilling down through menus. I thought "well this is ridiculous" and less than a month later I got the 10D. Been very happy with it ever since, though I am saving for a 1Ds Mk III (Or perhaps, IV, by the time I get the $$$!) In the meantime, I am thinking of getting a ProShot 1 just for when the 10D is too bulky, but I am worried that every time I use it, I would be wanting my SLR.

Rad

[PacAce]

I have a G3 but my wife uses that almost exclusively. I am trying to get myself another P&S camera, though, since I can't always take my DSLR with me. I was thinking maybe the new SD500 or SD00 just announced by Canon.

[thomascanty]

I have a Canon S330 and an Olympus C-8080WZ. The S330 lives in my glove compartment, so it's always near me, but I don't really use it much. I use the Olympus just as much as my DSLRs. I'm just not sure if it really qualifies as a P&S, though.

[Littlenose]

Ixus400 comes with me most places... as it's easier to carry on the bike [also not too fussed about falling off with the ixus... it's already survived one wheelie crash]...
The Ixus gives some decent pics, but i'm enjoying the challenge of getting the hang of the dSLR. And a small side issue of the ixus being out of commission for a few weeks while i get a new LCD for it... fell out my pocket and killed the back light :o

[OceanRider]

I had a S50 Canon and sold it prior to getting my 20D. Stupidest thing I ever did.

The S50 in my opinion, took better pictures HANDS DOWN than my 20D and I REALLY miss the ability to carry it around where ever I go ----cant do that with a 20 D!.

Mind you, the lack of zoom (only a 3x optical) and lack of speed drive 1 per sec) and small flash, was a pain but that thing could go anywhere and just hide in my pocket. I definitnatly plan to buy another P&S some time in future to live with me in my pocket 24-7 as this big 20D is a real pain. Not to mention the pain of cleaning sensors and the big backpack of extras needed to follow the 20D around. Sometimes all you need is a good picture and nothing else and a good P&S like S50 did the trick. It was a 5 mega pix so blow-ups were a breeeze.

The little flash on it made indoor close shots PERFECT, no overpowering there!! I compare my S50 to the 20D al the time and I hate to say it that the P&S rules.

but hey just my 2 cents.

Cheers

[FlipsidE]

Well, I've been wantin to discuss this subject, but I wanted to get an idea of what other photogs thought before I brought up my side of things. I apologize in advance as I have a feeling this one is gonna be a long read.

I prefer posed shots or shots that I take time to set up. I'm not big into candids, but I have been quite happy with some of the candids I've been able to get. I'm not one to take pictures to record events. I prefer the more artistic side of photography.

So, let's say that I put my S30 in my glove box in my car and leave it there. I have no problems with doing that, at all. Well, I head over to my grandparents' place to eat dinner one night and, as happens often, my dad, my grandfather, my brother-in-law, and I all end up playing frisbee outside. So, my niece wanders out into the yard with us and is nice enough to pick up a frisbee that didn't quite make it all the way to someone one time. She carries it over to someone else (whoever that may be) and gives it back.

That sets the stage for such a great shot! Something simple, but something that could really make for a good picture and maybe even end up wall worthy. So, she starts heading toward my brother-in-law (her dad) with frisbee in hand. Do I have time to run all the way out to my car, grab my S30, run back, and snap the shot before the moment is over? No. Am I going to carry around my S30 in my pocket while playing? No...too big for my jeans pockets and would be a bit uncomfortable swinging around in one of the lower cargo pockets on shorts. If I'm going to be actively playing a sport/game where I could end up diving to catch the frisbee, am I going to have over $1000 worth of camera gear slung around my shoulder or neck? No.

So, let's say that I'm at the beach with a very beautiful girl. Just hangin out, talkin, relaxin, and we decide to talk a walk through the downtown area of the beach. Of course, I'm not gonna grab my DReb and carry it along with me on my shoulder when there's a chance that I might be steppin into smoky clubs or could be bumped hard by someone walking past me. But, once again, I can't take my S30 with me because it's a bit too big. And, when you are a half mile to a mile away from your car, runnin back to get your cam is out of the question. But, if I do find a great place where I could get her to pose for a shot, then why waste the opportunity?

Now, if my sis and brother-in-law bring my niece over to my grandparents' place knowing that I'm going to be trying to get some good portraits of her, then of course I'll make sure to bring my DReb and set up my flash bracket and everything. If that beautiful girl I'm at the beach with allows me to do a photoshoot at the end of a pier one early morning, then there's no way I'm gonna leave the DReb at home.

But, for those times when having a hand free to carry a cam around is not an option (playing frisbee for example) and for those times when carrying a cam of any kind around on your wrist or on your neck would be more of a hindrance than a help (like when going into smoky bars to play pool after a walk around), then I see a pocket P&S as something that would end up being a blessing. I gotta say, the SD200 is begining to look very good! I think I might sell my S30 to my grandfather (who I think would love to go digital if he found an inexpensive way to get into it) and buy an SD200 to carry around in my pocket to my grandparents' place or to the beach.

Anyway, any opinions would be great and thanks for stickin around for the read!

FlipsidE

[Avalonthas]

like the saying "Once you go black you never go back".....well once i got my black 20D, i never went back to my silver P&S lol.

[OceanRider]

hey flipside, that looks like the perfect carry around camera...except for the mega pixels...3.2 is a little small but the size of the camera is perfect!

[FlipsidE]

OceanRider,

Seems the SD300 is a 4MP cam and probably about the same size as the SD200. But, I plan to put my pocket P&S through a lot of abuse, so I don't know if I can justify the extra $150.

FlipsidE

[KevC]

I take my S230 to parties. I don't have an external flash, and the parties I go to I wouldn't really wanna lug around my camera :)

[viknijjar]

i sold my 20D and my L lenses and bought a DMC-LC1...and couldn't be happier! to each his own i guess...but don't worry i still have an slr...a k1000 with a nice 50f1.8

[mikesd]

I work in a municipal park dept. so I keep a Pro1 with me at all times. Carrying my 10D would not be very pratical.

[thunderstang]

i have an s60 and but plan on getting a dslr soon

[FlyingPete]

My wife often complains about the quality of images our G3 produces, funny, it was fine until we got a 20D...

[FlipsidE]

My wife often complains about the quality of images our G3 produces, funny, it was fine until we got a 20D...

I guess the question I have to ask myself when faced with this situation is...would I rather have an image that's not quite as good as with my DRebel, or would I rather have no image at all?

FlipsidE

[Steve Parr]

I've got my 300D, and I've got an Olympus P&S.

The Olympus gets frequent use when we're out and about, and it's not practical to carry the 300D.

Driving around, though, I always have the DLSR in the van, ready to go...

Steve

[FlipsidE]

Am I the only one that thinks anything less than the 1D series is just too fragile to lug around everywhere? This is one big reason that I want an inexpensive P&S. That way, I put it in my pocket, throw it in the back seat, throw it in the center console, etc. w/out worrying about it getting damaged.

While I am convinced that even my DRebel is more durable than I once thought, I still believe that the 300D, 10D, and 20D are all too fragile to just be lugged around.

That's just me though.

FlipsidE

[thomascanty]

Am I the only one that thinks anything less than the 1D series is just too fragile to lug around everywhere?

I don't baby my equipment, though I do try to take care of it as best as possible. I've carted my whole rig around into some pretty remote and rugged areas without even giving it a second thought. About the only thing that would have me running for cover is rain, but I'm thinking about giving that plastic bag trick a try with the 10D since it's just a backup camera at this point...

[chris.bailey]

I carry my S50 around with me a lot more than I ever would one of the DSLRs and have a dinky little bag for it that goes over my shoulder or clips around the waist. Within the limitations of the lens, it takes great snapshots and is capable of a great photo. As recurs on this forum, its not what you have but how you use it, for the vast majority of the time.

[FlyingPete]

I guess the question I have to ask myself when faced with this situation is...would I rather have an image that's not quite as good as with my DRebel, or would I rather have no image at all?


That is ultimatly what it comes down to with us, there are places I will not take my 20D!

[zzpza]

i have a g5 and a 10d and use the g5 a lot. i do a lot of low light / night photography as well as using / making some 'wacky' camera mounts that could be potentially quite dangerous for the camera, so would rather loose the g5 than my 10d + lens. the fold out screen on the g5 also makes it soooo much easier to work with on a tripod when it's at an unusual angle. however, when it's really dark the max 15 second exposure on the g5 just can't cut it and i use the 10d with the timer release.

like the saying "Once you go black you never go back".....well once i got my black 20D, i never went back to my silver P&S lol.

i got my g5 from japan so it's black... then about six months after i got back they started selling the black one outside japan. grrr...

j.

[Claire]

Since I got my 300D I haven't used my IXUS 300 at all. The battery for that one doesn't last long (annoying as hell) and you have to hold it very steady or there will be motion blur. Not to mention you have to yell "don't move!" to people as there is shutter lag too. :( No wonder I stick to my 300D.

Still, I do keep it for those possible moments when I can't carry the DSLR with me. Like if I want to go to a pub/night out. The P&S APS camera goes with me during holidays as it's easy to carry and my folks can use it.

[Jon]

I got the A80 after I got my D60 specifically to carry around when I wasn't going to be able to carry the D60. It also fills in if I have extreme (wide or tele) lenses on the SLRs while I'm out. But it's a lot easier to use the A80 with the screen folded out than the 20D and 24-70 when I've got three excited dogs pulling different directions on their leashes.

[skyphix]

we have an A75 that my girlfriend uses, but we carry it where carrying my 300D+battery grip is too cumbersome, like on horseback rides or out to dinner.

Now I've got an older rangefinder 35mm camera that i'll be carrying with me.

[GPR1]

After an SLR I just can't get used to the shutter lag of a P&S.

Greg

[PJ Saine]

I'm curious. How many people own both a DSLR and a P&S and use their P&S frequently?

FlipsidE

My D20 is great when I want to think and shoot seriously.

But when I'm on a bike ride or just a walk somewhere, I slip my Optio S into an Altoids tin in my pocket and always have a camera handy.

FYI: 3MP Optio images - admittedly with some Photoshop contrast & sharpness enhancement - were reproduced well at 5x7 for a newspaper travel article on biking in Morrocco this past year.

PJ
www.pjsaine.com

[Chris1le]

I have a G3 and 10D. I tried using the G3 a couple months ago and became so frustrated with its slow focusing and shutter lag I dang near threw it against a wall. So to keep from destoying it I have not used the G3 in a while. ;)

[Ikinaa]

My First digital was an ixus 300 (now 3.5 years old)
Second was a Powershot G3 (now 1.5 years old)
Newest is the 20D (1.5 months old)

I use the Ixus every day, it's small, so I have it with me everything I go somewhere (work, etc)
I take the G3 with me when I want better quality but not the weight of the DSLR

And the rest of the time, I take the 20D (That's most of the time when I'm not at work)

So for 1.5 months now :
5% pictures with the Ixus300
5% pictures with the G3
90% pictures with the 20D

[Raj]

I am still in transition from P&S to DSLR so my count is still good on G3, actually I should not call G3 a P&S :-)

[René Damkot]

I have a 1Dmk2, an use a Rollei 35E for P&S does that count? :D I use the rollei far more often than I use my EOS1n or 5.... Quality-wise it is equal to the SLR's with my 35/2.0 attached... Only the 'guesstimation' of distances is a drawback in low light conditions, but it's nice and 'low profile'...
Also tells you whether you can still use a light meter ;)