Powershot S2IS or EOS-300/350D ?

[mike j]

Hi all,
I'm looking to replace my faulty Canon SLR camera with a digital equivalent.

I already have an IXUS400 so have the benefit of a good quality, compact digital point-and-shoot camera.

I was originally going to go straight for a Canon EOS 300D or 350D so I could use my existing SLR lenses with it, but I've just noticed the new Powershot S2IS camera and the 12x optical zoom really appeals to me, as I often find that the 3x my IXUS offers me just isn't enough.

My question is...as I'm looking for a suitable replacement for an SLR camera, would the 5MP S2IS be suitable, or (zoom aside) would I not see enough of an improvement, picture-quality wise, over my (4MP) IXUS400 ?

I do like the idea of not having to carry around different lenses, but I don't want to sacrifice picture quality. (I love those great depth-of-field type shoots that you can achieve with an SLR) The ability to shoot good quality movies is also appealing, but not essential.

Any input or advice appreciated.

[weemannie]

It depends on the size of prints you require. Larger prints will benefit from the extra pixels.
From my limited experience of P&S cameras, there is a problem controlling DOF. My wife has a Canon A85 and cannot get the shallow DOF sometimes wanted.
I know its a hassle to carry round all the gear associated with a DSLR I wouldn't swap mine for love or money. :)

[Jon]

If you don't get enough control over DoF in your IXUS, you won't see it with the S2 IS except, maybe, at the really long end. The lenses are about the same focal length at the wide end, and the short lenses used in the P&S digitals have a large (deep) depth of field.

[zipart]

if you are looking to replace your canon slr with a point and shoot equivalent, i think you will be very disappointed. the quality just isn't there. i suggest you look seriously at the drebel or the 20d. when going digital you need to look at what you want to do with those photos. if you are just going to email them to grandma, then a small compact will do.
also keep in mind, the more megepixels the better when it comes to quality. if you want to zoom in and crop, the extra pixels are important. my sons both have digital elphs. they like their cameras but find with the lower pixels do not do well in low light and the quality is not anywhere near my 10d. their photos stay on their computers or are used in emails.
also, your lenses from your canon slr will probably work on a canon digital slr. mine did. although, since i got the 10d, i replaced my lenses with a 28-135, and 70-300 DO.

zip

[mike j]

Thanks for your comments everyone.

zipart - I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and presume that your comment "if you are just going to email them to grandma, then a small compact will do." wasn't meant to be patronising !

If you re-read my post, you'll notice that I already have an IXUS400 'P&S' and was basically trying to establish whether the S2IS, with it's 5MP and huge optical zoom, would be a good SLR-substitute.

From the comments above, it looks like it isn't, so I probably won't go down that route as I don't need another P&S camera.

I can also only presume that your sons have very old IXUS/ELPH digicams (1-2MP?) because at 4MP, my IXUS400 takes huge, good quality photos that are ideal for zooming and cropping without any noticeable picture quality loss. It also works perfectly well in low light conditions too - I'm surprised you didn't get shot down in flames for some of those comments on this board !

;)

[Andrew Pratt]

I sold my S1 IS to goto the Digital Rebel and I haven't regretted it at all. There's so many positives to the SLR over the S1 above and beyond the obvious image quality factors like speed and flexibility. The S1 took some decent pictures but the rebel has so much more potential. I'll likely buy a small P&S again in the future to take to events I don't want to take the rebel to but I don't see ever going back to a compact for my main camera.