Have any of you downgraded from DSLR and don't regret it?

I'm at that point again.

Seems I just enjoyed taking pictures of people and places more when I used a nice point and shoot with manual and automatic controls.

I'm thinking of ditching the T2i and lens and going back to point and shoot.

Maybe S-95.

I'm in a rut, and part of the problem is that not only am I struggling with exposure, sharpness and the like, but nobody (friends and family) likes it when I have my DSLR around. It doesn't matter where. They frown upon seeing it, literally moan out loud, and sometimes they complain about it.

Now, on the other hand, when someone pulls out a point and shoot they smile and love it. Everyone mugs for the camera.

I almost feel like the DSLR is a wall between my family, friends, and me.

Anyone else ever feel this way, and return to just using a point and shoot?

My mother (no longer alive) got rid of her SLR (back in the 90s--film) and went to a point and shoot and loved it...never looked back. She had been a professional photographer for many years, getting amazing results, but when she retired so did her darkroom, big camera, etc. and she just enjoyed taking photos of friends and family gathered around. I asked her about it and she was basically sick of photography, but not sick of taking pictures of her kids, grandkids, etc. She liked having photos of people.

I'm wondering if I would do the same and be satisfied.

Any thoughts?

I wish I could just grab the S-95 in addition to my dslr, but money is tight.


UPDATE: SEE last page (or my latest entry) for update.

Not a problem with me since I don't shoot people much if hardly at all

I still have 2 Canon Dslrs & too many lens,,,but seems like our old G 9 & Panny FZ 30 does most of the shooting ,,,Ron

tmwag wrote in post #12208295
Not a problem with me since I don't shoot people much if hardly at all

I don't follow.

If people aren't comfy around a DSLR...meaning they won't pose naturally...not sure if it's the camera or the photog making then uncomfortable..

I got a used S90 recently for like $225, so that is always an option. I couldn't have justified $400 in addition to keeping my DSLR, but $200-ish was doable. Yeah the video is only 480p instead of 720p, but it still looks great. If you were keeping the T2i, then you'd have less use for the HD vid in the compact.

After owning the S90 for a little while, I have mixed feelings about whether it could replace the DSLR. For general travel and family shots - yes. Landscapes and cityscapes - probably if you can shoot base ISO in RAW. For those professional looking portraits and action shots - No way. Anything that benefits from fast AF, zero shutter lag, good clean high ISO and BG blur, the DSLR will always have an advantage.

IN your case, Looking at your lens you have now, the 28-135, you have a f4-5.6 aperture. So moving to an f2-4.9 aperture gains you up to 2 stops of shutter speed. THat means you might be at ISO 400 and F2 on the S90/95 where you would be at ISO 1600 and F4 on the DSLR. That's not much of a low light advantage for the DSLR - at least at the wide end.

If I was looking at a true DSLR replacement, I would probably go with the Olympus XZ-1, Samsing TL500 or Panasonic LX5. Those have faster apertures at the long end, unlike the Canon S95. For example, the TL500 has a f1.8-2.4 zoom instead of F2-4.9. They also have hotshoes for flash as well as a few more advanced features. The S90/95 seems like a great DSLR companion to me, but not a total replacement.

Does the video on the S90 have continuous AF? That alone would make it better than the T2i video, IMO. (They have it on my A570 and often use that instead of the T2i -- it's really disappointing that they couldn't use that technology on the SLR.)

No continuous AF on either the S90 or S95. The DOF is generally deep enough that it doesn't matter, however.

Really? It seems like I have to adjust my focus constantly when I use my T2i. Maybe I need to learn more about it . . .

You do have to constantly focus on a dslr, but that's actually a good thing. It takes practice.

I'm certainly not disappointed with the T2i video. It's amazing.

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #12208239
I'm at that point again.

nobody (friends and family) likes it when I have my DSLR around. It doesn't matter where. They frown upon seeing it, literally moan out loud, and sometimes they complain about it.

Now, on the other hand, when someone pulls out a point and shoot they smile and love it. Everyone mugs for the camera.

I almost feel like the DSLR is a wall between my family, friends, and me.

I've had similar problems when I shoot weddings. After a while people get tired of the guy running around with the big ol' DSLR taking pictures. I've often thought about getting a really good P & S and trying to get more candid shots with it. I think if people thought that I wasn't taking pictures they'd be themselves. My problem is my best P & S is a Canon SD1200IS which I guess would be an OK camera to get close candids.

YankeeMom wrote in post #12208776
Really? It seems like I have to adjust my focus constantly when I use my T2i. Maybe I need to learn more about it . . .

I meant on the S90. It has roughly 3x as much DOF at a given aperture compared to a T2i.

I get that a lot with friends and my girlfriend. I took my T2i to a BBQ a few weeks ago and purposely brought only the 50mm f/1.8 just so it would be less obnoxious to non-photogs and it didn't make a difference. It doesn't help that I tend to bring my camera around a lot mainly because of my Project 365. Sometimes I wish I had a P&S just because of the compact size and weight but I haven't justified it yet.

IMO... if it's something you enjoy enough just keep doing it but if it is a bother to you. But nothing's wrong with a P&S either. Photography can be just as enjoyable with a P&S especially if you're creative.

I could never do such a thing as I have NEVER once seen a point that can do for me even a small fraction of what my DSLRs have done.

Now, that being said I dont think I would ever NOT have a point shoot. Sometimes you dont need/want/care about all the added advantages of a DSLR. Or you dont want to stand out. For those times I have a high quality point shoot.

I have both but my everyday walk around camera is my SD990, Even when I bring the DSLR I still have the 990 in my belt case. It never fails when I have the long lens on the DSLR I need something wider and I grab the 990.

Hans