Thinking of upgrading from a SX40 to DSLR, have a question

The question is, have much difference will I see in terms of IQ? I know all the other benefits of a DSLR, but unless there is an appreciable IQ difference, I may stick with what I have. Overall, I am not dissatisfied with the pics I am turning out, I am quite satisfied. Just want to know if a larger sensor will give me enough improvement to spend the money.

Just to let you know what I shoot.....nature, landscapes, people.

I am looking at the T3i with the 18 - 135 kit lens. I would eventually invest in better lenses, but monetarily wise need to start with an affordable set-up. I already have a Canon 430EX II speedlite that I use with the SX40.

Any opinions/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

I have several point and shoots, including an SX30, and just bought the T3i, so I will give you my take on the subject. I am purely an amateur and learning, and like you was happy with my other cameras, but the T3i has opened up new horizons for me, even thought I have not used it a lot so far. There is a lot to learn in my case, but between this place, youtube, and google, there is a plethora of info and help available. I thought my S95 was good for low light situations, but this T3i knocks it out of the park, I love it! Like I say, I am new to it, but in NO way do I regret the move, I am in love with the T3i, and am very excited about using it.

barn9 wrote in post #15896732
I have several point and shoots, including an SX30, and just bought the T3i, so I will give you my take on the subject. I am purely an amateur and learning, and like you was happy with my other cameras, but the T3i has opened up new horizons for me, even thought I have not used it a lot so far. There is a lot to learn in my case, but between this place, youtube, and google, there is a plethora of info and help available. I thought my S95 was good for low light situations, but this T3i knocks it out of the park, I love it! Like I say, I am new to it, but in NO way do I regret the move, I am in love with the T3i, and am very excited about using it.

What lens are you using??? That's my biggest dilemma.

I went from an SX20 to a T2i.

The DOF control is the first and immediate thing you will notice. Shallower DOF for subject isolation even with the kit lens is superior to the SX series.

Usable ISO is also greatly improved. You can shoot at higher ISOs and get cleaner images than you can with the SX series.

If you shoot your SX40 and a T3i side by side in the daytime at ISO 100 taking snapshots with wide DOF, you might not notice much difference between them on a typical shot. But the differences start adding up very quickly once you get in lower light, want shallower DOF, have scenes with bigger difference in the highlights and shadows, changing camera settings quickly, etc. Picture quality between the two does show very quickly then.

Shooting with my SX20 I knew I was ready for a DSLR. I think you will quickly appreciate the T3i. You may initially feel constricted by the focal length not being as convenient as the SX40, but that will change as you understand lens selection and such.

Be prepared for the drop in your satisfaction with your number of "keepers" at first. It's part of the learning curve, just like with your SX

A lot of it rests on what sort of improvements you are looking for and what you are wanting to do with your images. If you're happy with the results you're getting and only planning to share your images on FB or digitally with friends/family, it might be better to spend that money on getting to new places to take pictures. However, if you're looking to really learn how to take great pictures and how to control the results of your shooting then moving to an SLR is the way to go.

For the longest time after I bought my first DSLR, I still held on to my old G9 and even bought an S95 when they came out to have a more pocketable solution. However, while those cameras gave good results they just weren't even comparable to the results I got out of the 40D and a Tamron 18-270...and the gulf just got larger when I spent for better lenses.

I found that there was a lot more to shooting with a DSLR than there was to shooting with my old, P&S units; and the improvement was definitely not there "overnight". I had to learn a lot more about the exposure settings and metering settings, etc and learn to pay a lot more attention to focal length and framing before the changes (and advantages) of an SLR were apparent. So, if you do make the switch, make it with the realistic expectation that your initial images are not going match the results you've been getting up to that point with the SX; however, you will notice the difference once you're really nailed things down with the SLR.

As far as making that switch goes, the T3i ought to be a fine jumping off point. The 18-135 is a fine enough lens for getting your feet wet, too; you'll find that it lets you get a significantly wider angle than the SX40 does, but you'll also find that it won't let you frame things nearly as tight at the telephoto end of things. That is one of the drawbacks to moving up to an SLR; the cost of lenses that let you shoot things that are farther away gets high, quickly.

sharod wrote in post #15896524
The question is, have much difference will I see in terms of IQ? I know all the other benefits of a DSLR, but unless there is an appreciable IQ difference, I may stick with what I have. Overall, I am not dissatisfied with the pics I am turning out, I am quite satisfied. Just want to know if a larger sensor will give me enough improvement to spend the money.

Just to let you know what I shoot.....nature, landscapes, people.

I am looking at the T3i with the 18 - 135 kit lens. I would eventually invest in better lenses, but monetarily wise need to start with an affordable set-up. I already have a Canon 430EX II speedlite that I use with the SX40.

Any opinions/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

First.. if you're buying new get the T4i. New with the 18-55 kit lens they're the same price right now and you gain some really great features and a newer sensor with the T4i.

As far as image quality. Yes, there will be an increase in image quality. How much is subjective to the viewer. And the ability to add different lenses for different purposes will impact that as well... for example the ability to use a fast prime to get the ISO down in low light.

The one place you'll loose is in reach. You'd have to spend a lot to match the 840mm you have on your SX40.

If you are satisfied with your current IQ than there is no real reason to upgrade.

There are a bunch of great things about DSLR's. You are gaining a many times bigger sensor which will give you a few advantages. For me, the biggest two would be better performances in high ISO and a lot more creative control with DOF. Because you can control the depth of field(DOF), or how much of your image is in focus, you can create some images that are much more difficult to make on a small sensor camera.

Then you have the advantage of interchangeable lenses. SLR lenses come in all different shapes and sizes but here are some keys things that you need to consider when selecting lenses.

• Focal length: This is the magnification of the lens, bigger ranges provide great flexibility at the expense of other factors below. On the other hand, a prime lens(one which does not zoom) will typically provide better quality and reduced cost.
  
• Maximum Aperture: This is the maximum amount of light a lens can let in. Big apertures allow you shoot in lower light and with less DOF.
  
• Image Quality: There are lots of different types of image quality. Make sure you read some reviews to understand if the lens you want will work for your style of photography.
  
• AF Speed: The speed and accuracy in which you lens autofocuses can have a big impact on your pictures if your subjects ever move or you have limited time to compose a shot.
  
• IS: Image stabilization is especially helpful in telephoto lenses where even tiny shakes could cause your pictures to blur.
  
• Build quality: The durability of the lens may matter to you depending on how much abus your gear is subject to.
  
• Size, weight and cost: All of the above effect size, weight and cost. Compare the cost, weight and size of the 75-300mm and the 70-200 f/2.8 IS for an obvious demonstration of this.
  

The T3i will be a great buy for you. I started with a Rebel and I still use it from time to time. I used my kit lens for years.

Your biggest choice is what lens to buy, my advice wouldbe to look through your images and see what focal length range you usually shoot in, then select the kit lens that matches that range.

You can also buy kit lenses for a reasonable price on e-bay.

Wow, a lot to think about!

Am I satisifed with the pics out of my SX40, yes. But I feel that I have taken it about as far as I can. I want to go farther.

I would expect a learning curve with a DSLR. Not an issue. Heck, I had a learning curve going from the S3IS to the SX40. Really. But, I went out and shot, a lot. Now I have it down. I feel that I don't have anywhere to go with the 40, and I only want MORE.

My biggest grip with the SX40, shutter lag. I know, all P&S have this issue. The only way that I will get away from that is with a DSLR.

Oy, decisions, decisions!!!!!

sharod wrote in post #15896939
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My biggest grip with the SX40, shutter lag. I know, all P&S have this issue. The only way that I will get away from that is with a DSLR.

Oy, decisions, decisions!!!!!

One other thing that you don't really think about until it's there, is also AF speed...there's a night and day difference between most P&S and an SLR...even the "entry" level ones.

If you're looking to push your skills further, the SLR is definitely the way to go; just be patient with yourself as you go

sharod wrote in post #15896939
My biggest grip with the SX40, shutter lag. I know, all P&S have this issue. The only way that I will get away from that is with a DSLR.

Not necessarily. As already pointed out part of shutter lag can be the camera focusing. And there are some really slow focusing DSLR lenses out there that can make your DSLR feel really laggy. And I've used some point and shoots that have no noticeable lag.

sharod wrote in post #15896761
What lens are you using??? That's my biggest dilemma.

The Canon EFS 18-55 mm kit Lens mostly, also got a Canon 75-300mm when I bought it, but have only taken a couple test shots with it so far. May think about others in the future, I honestly don't know enough on the subject, and they are too expensive to make mistakes when buying.