Should I upgrade?

[scraggles]

I'm very new to photography, and I want to learn a lot more, but I feel right now that part of the problem is the camera I have. I have a Canon A80 and I see all these great pictures on the net, but rarely are any of them the low-end powershot series. I have had some pretty good pictures with this camera.

I know part of my problem is the lack of knowledge, and I am extremely willing to learn more. Willing enough to be looking into the new Canon Digital Rebel XT.

Money isn't the option. What I'm looking to know is, will it actually help to get a new camera? I know personally I will be more ambitious knowing the capabilities of the camera, more interchangable lenses and what not will inspire me more.

I'm also not sure of what kind of pictures I will be more into taking. I love taking pictures of the local buildings(Albany, New York) for starters, and my cat... so I guess it's an all around camera that I'm looking for at the moment. Would the digital XT be a good investment, or is there something more recommended?

[aliflack]

why don't you try getting a couple of photography books that can help you learn about composition, lighting etc to get the best out of the equipment you already have? Once you feel that you cannot progress any further with your A80, then that is the time to upgrade.

Some questions to ask yourself:
What features does the 350XT have that your current camera doesn't?
Will you use those features?

OTOH, if money is no problem, then yeah go and buy one!

[PeaPicker]

aliflack
How do you like the 28-135 IS

[Wildman]

I'd suggest you learn everything you can with your little point and shooter. Learn exposure setting, manual mode, etc. Once you master everything the A80 can do, and you feel like you've reached its limits, then, and only then, consider upgrading. Everything you learn is transferable to the DSLR. By the time you're ready to make the plunge, you'll be a lot more savy about what to buy and the camera bodies will be better, faster and cheaper.

DSLRs are expensive and decent lenses cost a lot. They are bulky. Even if/when you buy one, hang onto the old camera and keep it handy for those times when you don't feel like dragging the bigger camera out.

Great photos depend a lot more on the photographer than on the equipment. You're a self described beginner. Be patient and learn. Take a lot of pictures, read and practice. Most of all, remember it has to be fun and the quality of your pictures will improve with time.

[scraggles]

I'd suggest you learn everything you can with your little point and shooter. Learn exposure setting, manual mode, etc. Once you master everything the A80 can do, and you feel like you've reached its limits, then, and only then, consider upgrading. Everything you learn is transferable to the DSLR. By the time you're ready to make the plunge, you'll be a lot more savy about what to buy and the camera bodies will be better, faster and cheaper.

DSLRs are expensive and decent lenses cost a lot. They are bulky. Even if/when you buy one, hang onto the old camera and keep it handy for those times when you don't feel like dragging the bigger camera out.

Great photos depend a lot more on the photographer than on the equipment. You're a self described beginner. Be patient and learn. Take a lot of pictures, read and practice. Most of all, remember it has to be fun and the quality of your pictures will improve with time.

I do plan on learning more firsthand. I'm not going to be buying the new camera until may/june so I have some time to learn. That's another reason the money isn't an issue, because I'm saving up for whatever I do plan on getting. However, I'm in love with all canon cameras so I want to stick with them if I can.

[Andy_T]

Scraggles,

welcome to the forum!
You've come to the right place.

For me, the answer is not so clear-cut as it might seem to be for the other posters
... but as you know, opinions vary.

Just some thoughts:

(1)There are a lot of very good pictures taken with compact cameras (especially the Canon G series).
For examples, look at the profiles of the users SDOMMIN and Don_Ellis and take a look at their portfolios. Stunning work.
So yes, it depends more on the photographer than on the camera.

(2)However, with a DSLR like the DRebel or the DRebel XT, the learning curve will be steeper.
There are things you can do with a DSLR that you simply can't do very easy with a point-and-shoot. One example would be DOF control, when you take a portrait and the subject is sharp, but the background is pleasantly blurred and does not subtract you. Nearly impossible with the A80, pretty easy with a DRebel and a 75$ 50/1.8 lens.

(3)You will enjoy shooting with a DSLR more (no shutter lag, no waiting for the picture being written to CF card, fast AF, good low light capability...). This might make the difference between you putting the camera away after 5 pictures, or you continuing to shoot and learning something.

So my advice would be ... buy a good photography book and read itfirst. Take a look at some pictures you think are good and analyze what you like in them. Find out what kind of pictures you would like to take. Landscapes? Portraits? Macro? Fast-moving racecars? Close-up pictures of distant birds?
All this will tell you what equipment you would need to do it.
Read the posts on this forum here. There's a wealth of information available on what to do and what not to do.
Of course, it's good if 'money is not the issue', but be aware that you can easily spend $ 5,000 on an outfit and kick yourself later because you bought the wrong stuff. Better make your homework in advance.

I don't say that you shouldn't go out in two weeks and buy a nice DSLR (it's what I would do in your place), but you shouldn't expect the camera to make all the difference. It will help some, but the more important change would be the way in which you address photography.

Hope this helps :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

[Lesmac]

Concentrate on equipment and you'll take technically good photographs. Concentrate on seeing the light's magic colors and your images will stir the soul. - Jack Dykinga
That's one of my favourite quotes, and it applies over and over again.
My suggestion (for what it's worth), is to learn to take photographs, get to know composition, make mistakes, learn from them, make more mistakes.
You will find that your photography evolves, a better camera won't make you a better photographer, but it will allow you to develop your skills, once you have mastered the art of composition, exposure etc.then consider moving upwards.
And please don't get locked into equipment obsession, it won't help you take good images.

Regards

Les
http://lesmclean.photoblink.com/

[aliflack]

aliflack
How do you like the 28-135 IS

Lots!

Perhaps you should PM me to find out more so we don't go too far off topic...

[scraggles]

I can't extend my gratitude enough guys for the awesome replies. Thanks for not flaming me about being new to this.

I'm assuming, after reading through all these posts, that the answer to my question is 'Save up the money, get the camera.'

I'm a hands on learner. I love my little A80, but it makes taking photo's a brainless activity that my senile grandmother can handle. I'm going to learn everything I can, inside and out, then I should have the money for a camera than can handle all the things that my current one can't.

As for what I want to take pictures of? Everything. I have friends that see me browsing the pictures that various people have taken on the web, and they go "What the hell do you find to be so intriguing about those pictures? It's an Ant for crying out loud" or "Damn, that woman is like 200! She's hideous!"

My replies... "Look at the detail in that tiny bug... it's amazing" and "Yeah, maybe shes a few hundred years old, but... just look... for some reason this old lady doesn't scare us away because the photo captures her true beauty."

So as for what pictures I want to take, at this point I'm not 100% sure. I'll find out in time. I'm hoping, that someday, I can post photo's online and people will comment on how much they like them. If one person see's the picture and finds it to be beautiful, that's one more beautiful thing that person experienced.