Why is SLR better?

[Pugdaddy]

Is it all about the lenses or are there other factors involved? Please, go ahead, talk me into spending the big bucks.

[Mogwyth]

Faster, more control, better focusing, external flashes, better sensors and as you said lens.

Compared to the A75 (as you can see I have an A70), it's like chalk and cheese.

I am sure others will give you more eloquent and fuller answers.

[Moppie]

Do what ever you can to get your hands on one, beg, borrow, steal, even if its a $100 film SLR, and spend a day shooting with it.
You will soon realise its better, and "oh" how much better.

Forget about the extra speed, the huge leap in image quality, the massive range of lenses etc etc, and take note of one thing:

An SLR is an extension of your eye.

There is something about being able to see exactly what you are shooting directly through the same lens you are useing to take the photo.
It blocks out all outside interferance, and lets you focus (literaly and mentaly) on your subject with far more clarity.
Its hard to describe, you just have to try it, and spend a day getting into it.
Then it will comsume you with a passion you will never escape from :(

[Pugdaddy]

Better sensors, Mog? Please explain ( even though Moppie has already talked me into getting one. You knew it wasn't going to take much).

[Mogwyth]

Better sensors, Mog? Please explain ( even though Moppie has already talked me into getting one. You knew it wasn't going to take much).

As a rule DSLRs have bigger sensors with not just more photosites (pixels), but ones that produce less noise, resulting in cleaner images.

[Geeeyejo]

Going from my S1IS (which I happen to love) P&S to the 10D SLR has been an amazing step. The focus speed and accuracy (especially in low light) is incredible. It also feels like a "real" camera (which it is of course!) The variety of available lenses also increases your versatility. As said before sensor size will result in less noise (as well as usable ISO up to 3200)

[Pugdaddy]

OK. I'm buying one.

[kb244]

Also most SLR's focusing motors are in the lens itself not as a part of the camera, so focusing is very fast, the sensor is doing no work thus less power consumption, until that shutter flips open. All in all things are just more efficient and clear.

[Maureen Souza]

OMG.... I have gone the whole route...A-70, A-80, Pro Image 1...... but now I have sweetness in my hands with my 20D. Sometimes I don't even care if some of the shots don't come out perfect.....it is so much FUN and the lenses are a blast!!!

It's a good thing I have a serious job with a serious paycheck because I could get into serious financial trouble buying all these toys:lol:

Hope that helps talk you into it....

[Mogwyth]

OK. I'm buying one.

Welcome to the club.

I hope your wallet can withstand the pressure:lol::lol::lol:

[BoySpot]

Be aware, while the motors are in the lenses, the power still comes from the camera so you will still be consuming power. Don't let this distract, though, from the signficant benefit in picture quality you can achieve with the SLR.

[Pugdaddy]

Alright. Heres the real deal. I've been seriously thinking about getting a Pentax *ist DS. There. I said it. Please don't send me hate mail or kick me out of this forum. I really like it here.

The thing is I'm figuring I'm gonna spend about $1500 by the time I'm finished with getting a 1 mp card, a decent flash, a zoom lens, a remote, a bag, etc., etc., etc.. The camera kit is going for about 8 bills now (it just dropped about a hundred). Plus the guy at the shop is telling me that I can get used lenses that will fit this camera from way back when. I also like the idea of it being the smallest and lightest DSLR made.

So tell me what you think. Does it sound like a good idea?

[HJMinard]

I'm sure the Pentax is a fine camera. I think the biggest disadvantage ... similar to the Olympus DSLR's ... is the limited lens selection compared to Canon and Nikon.

[CRE@TE]

I bought a Rebel 300D today, man, it is a lot faster than my A75. Focus was faster and less lag time. I had a problem taking pictures with the A75. Most of my pictures would blur from my pressing the shutter. I'm thinking the thing was too light to keep steady. I've only taken a few with the Rebel so far, but, I have yet to get a blurry picture. I am very happy with choosing a DSLR.:lol: :lol:

[Mogwyth]

Well actually the new Canon 350D is lighter and more or less the same size.

Personally I would think about hanging on and having a look at it before getting the Pentax.

[Wildman]

Pugdaddy...

You're going to have to think outside the "just the camera" box. Base your decision on not just the capabilities of the camera. Lenses are the most important part of the system. I went with the Canon EOS 20D because I recognize that Canon offers the best selection of lenses. There are more lenses (Canon or other manufacturers') available for Canon EOS systems than anybody else's. Next year there will be a better body, but the lenses will go on for years.

The DSLR system isn't a cheap alternative. You have to figure out whether you want to take pictures or do photography. A single decent lens will cost more than many good digital point and shoot cameras.

Speed, control, and picture quality are all factors when moving to a DSLR. How much better it will be is up to you.

[rgravel]

The thing is I'm figuring I'm gonna spend about $1500 by the time I'm finished with getting a 1 mp card, a decent flash, a zoom lens, a remote, a bag, etc., etc., etc..

Before getting a flash, why not buy a prime lens instead. You still have the built-in flash when its absolutally necessary, and a 1.8 or 1.4 lens would allow no flash photography in low light in many cases. Besides, its cheaper than a quality flash.

Just my 2 cents of course :)

[robertwgross]

Hell, I noticed a huge improvement in my photography when I got my first SLR camera, and that was in 1970 when they didn't even have any sensors.

---Bob Gross---

[Pugdaddy]

A much larger selection of lenses with Canon, huh? That makes sense. I just thought that Pentax has been around for so long and they have a good name as far as I know. It never dawned on me that they wouldn't have a large selection of lenses, especially since they advertise that their lenses from as far back as the 50's will fit this camera, though I doubt that you'd want to use one that old, but I may be mistaken.

Gravel. Thats an interesting point about buying a prime lens instead of a flash unit. I'm gonna have to look into that a little closer.

Mog. As far as hanging on to have a look at that new Rebel, I don't know if I can do it, man. My hands are shaking now. I'm jonesin' for that new cam. Know what I mean? Belmondo posted that pic of that lens that looks like my insulated coffee mug and I just about lost it. B&H was on my screen and Visa was in my hand. I said the serenity prayer and decided to head back to Dreview for a while.

[kb244]

The *Ist for some odd reason I noticed from various folks colored noise artifacts when doing long exposures, for 1500$ the price for the 20D isnt that much off, and you have a much larger lens selection, not just from canon but from Sigma, Tamron, etc that make lens for the Canon mount, they dont make as much lens for the pentax or say minolta mount, but make plenty for the Canon and Nikon Mounts. I just think for the pentax's price range, the 20D is a much better camera.

Besides one way I know that pentax is just a name now, is that their marketing has even gone to their heads , "Pentax Optio : Official Camera of the Internet" I mean how egocentric is that.

[Mogwyth]

Mog. As far as hanging on to have a look at that new Rebel, I don't know if I can do it, man. My hands are shaking now. I'm jonesin' for that new cam. Know what I mean? Belmondo posted that pic of that lens that looks like my insulated coffee mug and I just about lost it. B&H was on my screen and Visa was in my hand. I said the serenity prayer and decided to head back to Dreview for a while.

Know where you coming from, you want one, you've got the dosh, no time like the present. But it's a big investment and theres nothing worse than getting it wrong, so make sure your sure, with SLRs you buying into the system not just a cam.

[tim]

I jumped from an A70 to a 300D to a 20D over the space of about 4 months. I picked up my A70 again recently and oh my god it's horrible! It's slow, the pics are kinda crappy, you have much less control, it's *slow*, and it's just horrible to use! I'll never go back, you hear me, never, mu hahahaha! ;)

[griff2]

The quality of the electronics and sensors improves when you move up from p&s to SLR, but the big difference is in the optics. Even the best p&s cameras don't have optics anywhere near as good consumer grade SLR lenses.

[griff2]

Well, actually that's not quite true the Leica Digilux 1 (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/leica-digilux2-part1.shtml)does have a good lense, but is the exeption rather than the rule.

[DocFrankenstein]

Even the best p&s cameras don't have optics anywhere near as good consumer grade SLR lenses.
Not quite true. Consumer SLR lenses are pretty soft, like 35-80 ugghhh... while some PS offer excellent and fast lenses, because their image circle is way less than that of the film.

You need to keep in mind that you're buying the whole system. Be it canon, n***n or pentax. Things like lenses, accessories, flashes, cameras, battery grips, serice, the company's sensor technologies and latest developments.

Once you're tied up in it, it's real hard to change, cause you'd lose a big % of your money.

Why choose canon? Because they have the leading edge in sensor technology, AF technology and continue improve their cameras and releasing 2 new ones a year.

n1kon released a "pro" 4 mp sports DSLR, while canon had it for what? 3 years? and a 1D MkII with 8 mp for 6 months already.

Pentax *ist IMO competes with rebel and 10D, but it's hard to justify choosing it over the 20D or even the new rebel. Plus the image quality of pentax is not that good either - artifacts do show up.

There's no guarantee that next pentax's dslr is gonna have the flaws fixed. However, with canon you're gonna see the features from the pro cameras trickle down into prosumer dslrs.

Plus the guy at the shop is telling me that I can get used lenses that will fit this camera from way back when. I also like the idea of it being the smallest and lightest DSLR made.
With a 20$ adapter, you'll be able to use those manual lenses too.

Cool eh?

[MrChad]

A much larger selection of lenses with Canon, huh? That makes sense. I just thought that Pentax has been around for so long and they have a good name as far as I know. It never dawned on me that they wouldn't have a large selection of lenses, especially since they advertise that their lenses from as far back as the 50's will fit this camera, though I doubt that you'd want to use one that old, but I may be mistaken.

Gravel. Thats an interesting point about buying a prime lens instead of a flash unit. I'm gonna have to look into that a little closer.

Mog. As far as hanging on to have a look at that new Rebel, I don't know if I can do it, man. My hands are shaking now. I'm jonesin' for that new cam. Know what I mean? Belmondo posted that pic of that lens that looks like my insulated coffee mug and I just about lost it. B&H was on my screen and Visa was in my hand. I said the serenity prayer and decided to head back to Dreview for a while.


I was former Pentax manual SLR user, I had some lenses flash and gear. I switched to Canon for one reason....lens selection. If you like the *istDS look into the new soon to hit shelves Rebel XT (350D) DSLR.