Should I get a DSLR?

[designs by krista]

Oh I just don't know ~ the camera I have now is what they call a prosumer(I think) it is a Panasonic FZ30 - 8mp, 12x zoom. But I am wanting a Canon 30D. It may be for a silly reason, but I have some books on photography ~ like Understanding Exposure ~ and although my camera has a manual mode, evidently it doesn't have the full range that a DSLR does. Oh yeah, and with a DSLR is there a lens which would allow for indoor shots without flash? That would clench the deal for me if there is. So tell me all the advantages of a DSLR compared to what I have.

[PeggyC]

There are lenses to get those low-light indoor shots without a flash and here is a review of one:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=300

I really can't help you decide about the DSLR but I can only tell you that if you are frustrated with your current camera, you may very well be ready to step up into the SLR's. I have a 20D and the step up from my Sony 717 prosumer was pretty impressive. Now I can have those sports, fast action, bird pictures I wanted... if only I had more money for lenses!!

[Lauren]

Your reason was exactly the reason I upgraded. I came from a film SLR to digital and was always frustrated by the reduced manual control. Although I have the XT which I preferred over the 30D. I go on about it enough though so I won't here unless you really want me to.

BTW the 85mm linked above is an amazing lens, but I would actually recommend the 1.8 version over it due to the high price and slow focusing of the 1.2 version. Or if you do need that extra bit of light, the 50mm 1.4. Having said that, the 50mm 1.8 is a bargain to test the waters with - $75 and the picture quality is a LOT better than the price would suggest. Any of these lenses will allow you to do low-light, as well as the camera itself since it operates well at high ISO - I'm comfortable pushing my XT up to 1600 if I know I'll be able to expose it correctly, it regularly sits in the 400-800 range.

[LDesjardin]

Probably if you are asking yourself this question, you are needing more from your camera. That may mean you need to learn your own camera better, get all you can from it. But if you feel your current camera is truly limiting what you can do, it's probably time to move up to a DSLR. I have a Canon Digital Rebel and I looovvve it. I have the 50mm f1.8 lens that will allow me to shoot indoors without flash. There are plenty of other lenses that will allow this too. I also have the kit lens and a 55-200mm lens that helps me get in close enough at zoos, playground, etc. I really love my camera. I'm planning on getting another lens soon. I just can't decide if it will be a macro lens or a long prime lens.

[designs by krista]

OOOh yeah ~ I forgot about higher ISO settings, but are the pictures noisy? Because when I go with a higher ISO on my camera now they are quite noisy.

The option of so many lenses may prove to be very expensive for me:( To me that is a big drawback ~ expensive lenses. Because I would want a really good zoom ~ being used to 12x (that's what I truly love about the camera I have now) I am totally lost when it comes to lenses.

[Shelly]

I LOVE my DSLR and it's wasn't TOO much more that my old Kodak easyshare. I only have 2 lenses, the kit lens and one I got off e-bay for really cheap (50mm 1.8). It ended up being and all manual lens which I didn't know at the time, but it has forced me to learn to use it and some of my best pictures are with it! I want to get a good zoom, but that will have to wait awhile! I am happy with the lenses that I have for now.

Oh, I got a nikon D50.

[SteinwaysMom/DebraTope]

I have 2 probs my regular digital and I wondered if a DSLR would solve them:

1) I have a hard time focusing - I shoot pictures of my rabbit and even though I have an LCD screen it's hard to see if it's in focus - it seems like hit and miss.

2) I need to take a picture w/o it pausing, taking the picture and then pausing again while it writes to disk.

I have an external flash but it would be great to not have to use it for indoor shots. But right now I mostly shoot kids and animals so I can't afford to not use it.

[Shelly]

I am new to the DSLR, but I am pretty sure it would solve all those problems.

I can just snap, snap, snap with no delay and get great shots still.

On mine, you can't use the LCD to frame the shot you have to use the view finder thing and you can use autofocus and manual depending on how you choose and the foces capablilties are incredible.

I can use mine inside without a flash in manual in it takes great shots, I am just not so good with the manual mode inside yet, I am still learning...but I know it's possible.

[Lauren]

The high ISO on particularly the Canon dSLRs is amazing. The photo on this layout (http://www.laurenbarden.com/scrap/2006/06/layout_new_suit.html) of mine was taken at ISO 1600 and only the background needed a very slight run through a noise reduction program - but that was more me being fussy as I wanted it silky than it being unusable.

There are some usable big zooms out there, I don't use them myself since I don't need all that range, but I've heard good things about the Tamrons. If you pick right, you can use only one or two lenses. I only have two - my general zoom and a macro lens.

Focusing on a dSLR is a lot easier than a P&S, particularly if you choose the focus point because you're telling the camera exactly where to focus and it's easy to see if it's not. But you do have to be more careful if you're using a narrow depth-of-field as if you mis-focus even a tiny bit, you can miss the shot.

Also, the shutter lag is more or less zero. You'd only miss a shot because of speed if you're not quick enough to press the button. Even more so if you pre-focus, which I always do.

[PeggyC]

Does anyone have any photos they've taken with Canon 50mm f1.8 lens that we could see? Thanks!

[Shelly]

I don't have one with the cannon, but my water bottle and book shots were with a nikkon 50mm f1.8. I would imagine they would be about the same.

These shots were done at 800 ISO, f8, 1/160s

[Lauren]

I didn't keep the 50mm very long (didn't really need it) but I took this photo (http://www.laurenbarden.com/photos/uncategorized/sharpdressed.jpg) with it. Taken in the evening in a dimly lit room, no flash.

[designs by krista]

OOOOh I am this close to biting the bullet and ordering one:)

[pokeygirl5]

These are all photos with the 50mm 1.8 canon lens.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v631/pokeygirl5/1Year.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v631/pokeygirl5/10monthab.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v631/pokeygirl5/Addiehatinet.jpg

[LissaD]

OK I have got to have one..... the little girl, of course.... not the camera! Although my boys are pretty cute. LOL. What a cutie. I am saving my pennies and doing my research. I def. want to get a Canon, I love my Canon cameras. So someone mentioned they loved the XT over the 20D. Everyone I have talked to about the XT loves it, but I was just wondering.

[beaucat]

I have the Rebel XT and just got the 50mm 1.8 in the last month. I really like the new lense but am getting used to it (still reach up to adjust the lens - got used to the adjustable one LOL.)

Angela

[pokeygirl5]

I have the Rebel XT and just got the 50mm 1.8 in the last month. I really like the new lense but am getting used to it (still reach up to adjust the lens - got used to the adjustable one LOL.)

Angela
I remember doing this when I first got mine ;)

[Darcy Baldwin]

Oh gosh, you guys....you're making me sin. I'm am ENVIOUS of the discussion and the photos and COVET your cameras! LOL

[designs by krista]

Lauren, I've about decided to go with the XT over the 30D because of the price difference. So why do you prefer it over the 30D?

[Lauren]

Krista, I researched it a lot when I bought my XT as the 30D had just been released. There's SO much debate about which is better, but ultimately they have an almost identical sensor and it's difficult to tell their photos apart as Bob Atkins shows in his review of the XT (http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/digital_rebel_xt/). The 30D has a few extra features (none of which I miss) but the XT is smaller, lighter and less expensive - all more important to me. A lot of people say that the high ISO and auto-focus speed is better on the 30D, but I have never missed a (properly exposed) shot on the XT because of either of these. Also this is very much a personal thing, but I prefer the interface of the XT.

If you can hold out for a bit, everyone at the Canon forums I visit is expecting the XT's replacement to be announced next month in time for Photokina in September. Which will probably do one of two things - the XT will become even more a bargain or you'll want the newer one and wish you'd waited. This is why I bought my XT when I did - I'd already chosen it over the 20D but knew the 30D was going to be announced and wanted to see if it was worth the extra money. So I waited and it wasn't, I'd still much rather put the extra money in to a lens since it's ultimately what's going to give you the better photos - which is what I did, big time! The zoom lens I use cost me about 50% more than the XT kit did! LOL

[designs by krista]

Yeah I was reading that at dpreview ~ unfortunately patience is not a virtue that I have.

[designs by krista]

So does anybody have the external flash for the XT?

So I just placed my order ~ got the XT and also the 50mm 1.8 lense, went ahead and got the external flash ~ delivery tomorrow. I'll probably have lots of questions:)

[Darcy Baldwin]

Well, congratulations, Krista! I hope you enjoy it!

[Lauren]

Congrats Krista!!

To answer your question, I used to have an external flash (Sigma 500) but I've since gone natural/ambient light only, so I sold it. Only used it a couple times, but it was good. Did you get one that has a bounce/swivel head though? If not, I would check if you can return it for one that does - it's a feature you'll want to use a lot for flash, gives the best results.

[PeggyC]

Congrats Krista! I'm sure you are going to love it!