Digital or dSLR??

[David_S]

OK here's the scoop. I'm sick of looking at camera's , reading reviews, etc etc. I'm ready to buy but I can't decide if I should go with a digital like the G6 or even the C-8080 or should I go with the digital rebel. I can get the rebel for around $700 which is about the same as the 8080. My problem is I won't have the money and don't want to have to spend more money on lenses anytime soon. I shoot mostly landscapes with a mix of family members and pets in action and an occasional wildlife shot. Nothing professional but on occasion I do like to print in larger sizes, 16x20 or even 20x30 if it's an exceptional shot. I have a few years digital experience and some time with an OM-1 so I know the basics but am not an expert by any means. Will the lens that comes with the rebel be sufficient for the type of photography I want to use it for? I think the quality with the drebel will be good enough that if I want a close up 8x10 I could probably crop it out. Size is an issue, the drebel is larger than what I was really looking for but if I can get by with out having to carry extra lenses I think it will be ok. I just don't want to buy the digital and wish I had stepped up to the dSLR but I don't want to drop $700 and then be disappointed and have to drop another $700 or so and carry around a large camera case with lenses. Anyone out there been in this situation?

[scottbergerphoto]

When you buy a DSLR, that is usually not the most expensive part of the adventure. You will need lenses that you will aquire over time. They can be pretty expensive especially if you buy high end L glass. You are commiting yourself to a product line of lenses, flashes ,etc. If photography is a passion go with a DSLR. If you want something to take the occasional snap shot or take on a trip, go with the G6. I own DSLR's and P&S's. That way I always have a camera with me even when I'm traveling light.
Scott

[Twist]

i was a P&S shooter for many years, I just switched to a Drebel. If size and cost is an issue to you, go with a P&S. Buying a $700 dSLR is just your inital investment. If you had one, you would find you will want to upgrade the lenses for longer reach or extra features.

The biggest change in my shooting is I just have to limit how often I take my camera out. If we are out being tourists I only carry my camera half the time. I use my wifes new P&S the other half of the time. But those times I am out, I am more about having fun and doing things and photography is just an after though.

Same as with what Scott said. Look into a G series or the A80s and above. I have seen some amazing shots on these forums with those cameras.

[karusel]

David_s, compact digital is the right thing for you, stop looking at DSLRs. I can say this, because I've been trying to convince my friend to sell his prehistoric digital HP and get himself a DSLR, a rebel, and he simply insists, that all he needs is a compact camera. After a while I understood what he meant.

DSLR's are very impractical, as they are big, obtrusive, heavy, you cannot get away unnoticed, if you have more than one lens, you basically *need* a bag that isn't cheap either, and so on. Majority of consumers cannot use them to their fullest, as they buy low quality glass, or they even stick with the kit lens. If you want to use it to its fullest you'll have to shovel lots of dollars right into your preferred camera shop. I know all this and I still shoot DSLR, because for me, that little extra in picture quality, physical feel, high ISO - low noise and reactive speed, high FPS and freedom of choice of lenses, plus RAW option, matters alot.

[PhotosGuy]

Here's a kit lens review that might help - I use it for "walking around" &, if you accept it's limitations, it should be OK for what you need:
http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/efs18-55/

OTOH, there's nothing wrong with a good P&S either. Just remember, if you do get bitten by the bug to shoot stuff that requires a good "special lens", you'll have go back to square one & buy a dSLR. ;-)

[Jim_T]

As others have said.. For a serious shooter, the cost of the lenses will easily exceed the cost of the body... A lens to a camera is the same as a speaker to a stereo. No matter how good the stereo is, if you scrimp on speakers the sound will suffer.

The only advantages a 300D has over a G6, are faster autofocus and much cleaner images at high ISOs 400+

On the other hand, the G6 is smaller, lighter and much easier to carry... It has fewer moving parts to fail and you won't have to contend with DSLR specific problems like dust on the sensor or dirty lens contacts.

[Wildman]

David...

I "second" what has already been said. There's a big difference between taking pictures and photography. This can (and most assuredly WILL) become an expensive hobby. A decent lens will cost more than a nice point and shoot camera... and nobody has only one lens.

The other side of the cost coin is that lenses are the most important and expensive part of a DSLR system and can be moved along to your next camera body. When you upgrade a point and shooter in a few years, you have to start all over from scratch and there's no resale value in a three year old digital camera. Good quality lenses hold their value very well as long as they're in good shape. Many SLR and DSLR users buy and sell lenses very frequently.

[David_S]

Thanks for all of the advise. I think I'll go with the digital since I definitely don't want to turn photography into a very expensive habit. Motorcycling with the GPS, radar detector, XM etc sucks up enough already. I love having the latest and greatest gadgets (within my budget) and would surely end up spending lots on $$ on lenses with a DSLR.

[smoothjazzgal]

I'm sorry I'm a little late in adding my two cents. It sounds to me like the G6 will be more than sufficient for what you want to do. I haven't played w/ a G6 yet, but I have a G5 that I used regularly for several months before going to DRebel. The G6 has 7.1 MP which would be sufficient for your larger-size prints. As far as picture quality goes, the G5 (as I'm sure the G6 is as well) is among the best in it's class and can give you well-above-average snapshots. The G5 even has a 2-frames-per-second burst/continuous shooting mode (not sure if G6 is faster or still the same) that would be adequate for shooting pets or family members in action. The DRebel is only a small step faster at 2.5 fps.

Since you are skittish about the much larger financial investment involved w/ DSLR and lenses (and the larger quantity of "stuff" to lug around), then I think the G6 might be the best choice for you based on the information given in your post.

[malcolmx]

go for the slr it wiil lead you to places a compact can never go imageswill be bigger and better