How long did it take to realize you should have bought an SLR?

[Stefan A]

For me, within a month of owning my S2 AND reading these forums, I wish I just bought an SLR.

[nwyman]

my aims and goals changed - the more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. I still like the S2 for a walk-around camera, and don't regret buying it.

Nancy

[rkleaman]

Stefan,
Some 45 years ago in York, PA, I bought a Kodak Retina IV and all the accessories that were offered at the time. The Retina has been all over the world with me and still takes fantastic pictures. I have a Canon A95 which takes excellent pictures but for quality and resolution, I prefer the old Retina.

R. Leaman

[Diminished29]

If I had to do over again I would've just saved up and bought a used DRebel off of Keh.com for about $450, and accompanied it with a used 50mm f/1.8 ($70) 18-55 kit lens ($70) and Sigma 70-300 DG APO Macro to start out ($200). The total being around $800, however with this cheap 3 lens combo, I'd be able to do nearly all kinds of shooting, except I'd be hurting in sports, basketball probably being the only candidate, but I'd have to be close to the action.

I thought a DSLR would be far to hard to start out with so, I decided settling for the A610 was a better choice, and although I'm not upset, As I've taken many great photos with my A610, there have also been many shots that I've missed because I didn't have an SLR with either the high ISOs or the nice zoom to capture that nature shot.

I have found, however with many people more than willing to help you on these forums and if your determined enough the learning curve for starting out isn't as scary as some make it out to be.

Just my $0.02

[BullittMan]

As of right now I can't justify myself buying a dSLR. My skills and my wallet have not expanded enough to go that route anytime soon haha. However, it does get annoying sometimes having such a noisy small sensor, and limited exposure times and f-stop. Overall my 620 does a good job and allows me to take 80-90% of the shots I'd like to. Someday I'd love to get into shooting the moon and lightning, but that ain't gonna happen with this thing!

[snowrdr]

Originally Posted by BullittMan

As of right now I can't justify myself buying a dSLR. My skills and my wallet have not expanded enough to go that route anytime soon haha.

I'm in the same boat, still trying to learn as much as I can by shooting manual all the time.

But... A friend of mine let me hold and fire off a few shots with his Canon 1DmkII
Oh man! I'm still shakin'

[Rob612]

Always had SLR, then DSLR, the P&S came in later.

[scott1120]

I signed up for a photography course -- to make what skills I already knew better. So I went out and bought an S1 (all I could afford at the moment). Soon after joining this forum, I realized that this camera was not going to do a lot of cool stuff like a DSLR. I have since realized that I am going to use the S1 to learn everything I can, then I will think about getting a DSLR.

BTW, I do own a very old (20 years+) Minolta SLR.

[TMR Design]

I wish I had gotten a DSLR and not a point and shoot. I love my A620 but really feel the need for the DSLR.

[picturecrazy]

Started out way long ago with film SLR.
Took a break from it. Then digital came into play and got a cheap HP camera.
Then the Canon A40, which i still use today- it's such a fantastic camera!! Espcially with the underwater case!

Then I started missing SLR, so after a 8 year break, got the 20D.
I still miss spending half my life in the darkroom though....

[blacksmurf]

I used a Canon A80 for about a year, then a G6 for a year, then I bought my first DSLR - an XT/350D. The A80 is sold, I hold the G6 with the XT/350D.

[Moppie]

Originally Posted by TMR Design

I wish I had gotten a DSLR and not a point and shoot. I love my A620 but really feel the need for the DSLR.

Except that the A620 is not a point and shoot, it has just as many creative modes as the 20D does.



I started off not being able to afford an SLR, in the days when the 10D was still just a rumour.
I got an A40 because it offered similar levels of exposure control to an SLR, 1/3 stop adjustments, single focus point etc.
When it was stolen I went out and bought an A80 with little, thought about an SLR, it was still more money than I wished to invest.

Now I really want an SLR, and sort of wish I had stretched a little more and got one instead of the A80.
But, the more I use friends and families 20Ds (its scary how many 20D owners I know who will let me use thier kit) the more Im glad I got the A80, and the less my burning need for a good SLR becomes.
It makes me realise just what a great camera the Canon A series are, and just how capable they are.
The only advantage a 20D or similar spec SLR offers is in speed, image quality under harsh and unusualy conditions and well as better flash control.
I want one purly for the better flash control and the low noise at high ISO, as well as a slightly better dynamic range.
But I know I would still carry and use my A80, there are simply times when its compact size and unobtrusivness, as well as the flip out LCD make it a far better choice than an SLR, no matter how "technicaly" better the SLR might be.

[dissembled]

There really only 3 advantages I can think of buying an SLR instead of a P & S.

1. ability to buy fast lens. (f1.4-f1.8)
of course the only reason to own a fast lens is to induce background blur which i WUV.
2. better image quality
3. faster shutter speeds/smaller aperture settings
(better for outdoor shooting)

I mean... that's all I could think of really.
The most important in that list IMO is the ability to screw on fast lens. More focusing/creative options.

But is that reason enough to spend XXXX hundred more dollars for an SLR?
That, I'm not too sure.

[2006sky]

The more I get to know about DSLR, the less interested I want to switch to DSLR. The bulky DSLR and its lens just stop my intention to get one. I enjoy the freedom of small camera. And in fact, the non DSLR DC are just getting better and better. Most important, it is the people not the camera that decide the quality of your picture. If one really good at photography, he/she can shoot great picture even with a small compact camera.

[lostdoggy]

When Canon introduce the 1st sub $1000 DSLR!!!