IQ makes me happy

I went browsing the other forums, for example the "small digital camera" area...just to see what kind of pics those guys are getting. What I noticed was some great looking composition, color and even bokeh (IMHO) but IQ and focus was quite iffy. I then looked back at a bunch of pics I took with my Sony P&S and - not so bad but still an issue. Why would soft focus for example be such a problem with the smaller cameras? Is it just a matter of inferior AF?

Regardless, I gotta say, I'm SO HAPPY I went the DSLR+glass route (50D+24-105L). It's not quite as convenient as the P&S but...Wow!!

It all depends on the camera, the circumstances and the shooter. But you can get some great shots from a P&S and even an iPhone really.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/​kidding.shtml

The couple things that come to mind immediately would be:

Technique: At the point that most people are using P&S cameras we don't really have our heads into the hows/whys of the image; so we lean on the camera a lot more to make decisions for the image, whereas once we get to moving up there's more thought and then skill development to the shots. I think you'd see a lot of the same type of comparison if you compared "Green Box" shots with an SLR with more thoughtful shots with user input.

Different amount of image data: P&S cameras generally have smaller sensors and smaller lenses / apertures. They're scaled to give the same, effective size but you still lose something; sort of like you can get a full-sized combat jet and a 1/32 scale model of the same jet. Both use a turbo fan engine and the model may have a thrust to weight ratio that mimics the full size plane; but the scale model will still top out at 125-175mph or so.

Yes, I have a friend with a G11. He sells his pictures regularly and has his work featured in many wine tasting rooms in the area (central coast, california). He has even done senior pictures, hahah....wish I could have been there for that. Would have been priceless to see the look on their faces when he rolls up with his G11 point and shoot, when they were probably expecting a 1D, 5D, 40D, 50D, etc. They were extremely happy with the results.

Prior to my first DSLR (Rebel XTi, which I owned before the 30d) I had a Sony Cybershot H5 superzoom. The INSTANT I started using the DSLR I was amazed at the IQ. Yes, getting used to DSLR format took time- but the things I was having issues with at first were likely things that would have been next to impossible to do with a P&S in the first place.

Now I'm kind of at the next crossroads --thinking about full frame. I am however excited about the Sigma 17-50mm OS lens and want to give it a try (and I really do like my 40D), my photography is currently at a standstill and I need to start making some money on the side (or save up for a long time) to get a 5Dmk2 and upgrade my APS-C lenses (all of which seem to cost a bit more.) Hoping that when I make the next step it will be a move forward for IQ as well. Obviously it won't be anything like the difference from P&S to Rebel though, that was huge.

I got very good IQ out of a cell phone camera. Obviously nothing I'd enlarge to ridiculous sizes and frame on the wall but I certainly wouldn't mind sharing with others on the cell phone. Some of my most enjoyable (not the best in technical terms) photos are from a 6MP Fuji point and shoot which produced shots that were more than sharp enough for many uses. The DSLR just allows higher ISOs to be used, better ergonomics while using a viewfinder and the AF capabilities when you need them. Otherwise the DSLR I use now at times produces images no better than a $200 point and shoot in good light (the point and shoot has macro capabilities built in while I have to pay a premium for macro too).

Everything can produce excellent results in 95% of situations, it's that 5% of the time we pay the premium for... unless you're a paid photographer.

You should see the IQ from the Leica X1. Nikon D300 sensor in a small body, basically. My friend has one and it's just amazing for a 'Point and Shoot'...

for me its the focus speed / accuracy and DoF control that makes DSLR's worth it. You just dont get close to the same control with any P&S. As well as this i love my ultrawide which again you dont get on compacts.

At normal sizes some compacts can give you great IQ. However zoom in just a bit and you can see the detail it captures is far less. However, this is only important dependant on what size you view things. At full screen size i would be able to tell the difference between my old fz28 and my 500D. With something like a g11 in good light i doubt i could.

Edit.
Oh yeah and high ISO ability. Another biggy for me.

MrWho wrote in post #10581710
Otherwise the DSLR I use now at times produces images no better than a $200 point and shoot in good light (the point and shoot has macro capabilities built in while I have to pay a premium for macro too).

You might be doing something wrong then. I had a recent shoot for a friend. Her aunt was there too and she followed me and took three times as many shots as I do. At times she even took over the shooting and brag about how awesome her pictures are when she viewed them on the little LCD. Later she upload them to the PC and still rave about them until she got a chance to see my pictures after I uploaded to the PC. She finally admit that there is a huge difference.

Point and Shoot can't match the color, contrast, sharpness, and creativity of the DSLR.

drive_75 wrote in post #10583198
You might be doing something wrong then. I had a recent shoot for a friend. Her aunt was there too and she followed me and took three times as many shots as I do. At times she even took over the shooting and brag about how awesome her pictures are when she viewed them on the little LCD. Later she upload them to the PC and still rave about them until she got a chance to see my pictures after I uploaded to the PC. She finally admit that there is a huge difference.

Point and Shoot can't match the color, contrast, sharpness, and creativity of the DSLR.

It all depends on subject. My point really just was it doesn't really matter what you use to get shots, a nearly 10 year old Kodak P&S won a local photo contest and that camera I don't think even has any manual modes on it. The DSLR is more of a specialty tool rather than a "requirement" to take good photos so really the P&S shouldn't be looked down upon and kicked out of the picture (no pun intended) just because it is what it is.