DSLR: Image quality questions - DPChallenge Forums

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

04/02/2005 07:49:13 AM · #1

I have now a prosumer camera wich is good but not enough. I already know that a DSLR have more possibilty, more image quality, less noise etc. My questions is: In everyday shooting, taking pictures of our son in everything-auto-mode, will the difference in picture quality be at least noticeable? thanks

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

04/02/2005 08:18:28 AM · #2

Almost certainly not, you have plenty of megapixels on your cam. In fact, for everyday use you'll probably do better witht he small, versatile zoom camera you have, is my opinion.

Robt.

jab119

04/02/2005 08:43:55 AM · #3

I agree with Robt. For casual shooting most prosumer camers give you a great image right out of the camera and you dont need to do a lot of adjusting.

But a DSLR will give you a lot more flexibilty, but when you are chasing kids around sometimes a DSLR can be a hassel to deal with.

this could be an endless argument, but it will really boil down to what you want to lug around for quick pics of the kids

James

deapee

Kodak V803

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/02/2005 08:50:06 AM · #4

Originally posted by bear_music:

you have plenty of megapixels on your cam.

It's not all about megapixels -- it's about quality of the sensor. DSLR's do tend to have better sensors than prosumers. I don't know much about your camera, but I would say yes, the DSLR would produce a better quality image even if it's a 6.3 MP compared to your 7.1.

Not to mention, it makes it a ton easier to look through your viewfinder and see exactly what's there and not some image on a super small monitor. Shutter lag, the quickness you can take another shot, all that makes the DSLR much better IMO. Atop all that is that you will have much more control over your settings. If you shutter speed isn't fast enough, bump the ISO with the twist of a button or change your aperture with the twist of a button.

longlivenyhc

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Canon

04/02/2005 09:10:50 AM · #5

Originally posted by deapee:

Originally posted by bear_music:
you have plenty of megapixels on your cam.

It's not all about megapixels -- it's about quality of the sensor. DSLR's do tend to have better sensors than prosumers. I don't know much about your camera, but I would say yes, the DSLR would produce a better quality image even if it's a 6.3 MP compared to your 7.1.

Not to mention, it makes it a ton easier to look through your viewfinder and see exactly what's there and not some image on a super small monitor. Shutter lag, the quickness you can take another shot, all that makes the DSLR much better IMO. Atop all that is that you will have much more control over your settings. If you shutter speed isn't fast enough, bump the ISO with the twist of a button or change your aperture with the twist of a button.

also with the bumping of the ISO, you will get less noise with a bigger sensor than with most prosumers. the shutter lag is what sold me on getting a dSLR.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/02/2005 08:37:23 PM · #6

Thanks all. I think I may rephrase my questions. What I wanted to know is: Will i get the same picture quality difference between a DSLR like the 350D and my DSC-V3 for everyday shooting than the difference I know I'll get for set-up, landscape, etc.

also a Bump for night people...

deapee

Kodak V803

04/02/2005 08:39:33 PM · #7

Of course you'll get a better image. The question still seems the same as the original. A DSLR gives you much more control over your settings, how you shoot, how much you can progress, and other things -- image quality might be negligable at even a 5x7, but I can assure you that you have a greater chance of missing that one shot with your sony than you would with the 350 xt...it's just that much more versatile.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/02/2005 09:01:36 PM · #8

2 words: Shutter Lag

Message edited by author 2005-04-02 21:01:48.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

04/02/2005 09:11:39 PM · #9

The image quality between a Prosumer cam and a DSLR is astonishing. I know I was amazed when I made the switch.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/02/2005 09:19:12 PM · #10

I have three words for you: "Depth of Field" and two more "wide aperture".

The prosumer P&S cameras get outstanding depth of field for a wide aperture. Without using flash, you can use F2.8, or F2.0 (like the G6 has) and still get enough in focus. With a dSLR, you will have really shallow DOF in indoor lighting. When you are not using DOF artistically, then it's much more useful to get that deep DOF. Which is one reason I bought a prosumer P&S AFTER I bought a dSLR to replace my broken G2.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/02/2005 09:33:08 PM · #11

Image quality....

I have taken some images of great quality with my old Sony F717 which I have not been able to imitate with a DSLR. These images were sharp, with great contrast and had a sort of gritty quality to them, which appeared quite characteristic of that particular camera and lens.

The DSLR produces a different kind of image, which appears much smoother and slicker overall. Despite this attribute, the variables, especially tonally, are much greater. Many DSLRs do not have a spot-meter like the F717 and the F828 but a 9% patial meter. As a result, certain creative exposures cannot be achieved as consistenly and as precisely with these beasts.

Shooting with the 10D, the 300D and the 20D has proven to be a much less predictable process in terms of the resulting images than shooting non-DSLRs. On the other hand, the sheer range of possible outcomes is far greater. This is excellent if you are thoroughly familiar with the camera. It does, however, take much more to master a DSLR to the same degree as it would take to master a Sony Fx.

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

04/02/2005 09:35:49 PM · #12

It's disturbing how many shots I missed waiting for my camera to turn on and with the 2 sec shuter lag of my Fuji S5000.

I find the image quality far greater with the better sensor in my DLSR, when handled right. In good hands a DSLR can do some brilliant things but I had a much easier time taking pictures with my prosumers. For me it's two separate stories and I find the latter more challenging and more interesting.

I'm getting faster, better, more agressive each and every day on Manuel and I enjoy playing around with the different lens choice. Leaning away from zoom a bit with a 50mm 1.8, is forcing me to compose in other ways and get tighter with my subjects.

I'm really proud of my pets entry and I don't think I could have done that with a prosumer. It's a nice crisp, low light shot with cool bokeh, something I've never been able to achieve with a prosumer.

coolhar

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

04/03/2005 12:06:09 AM · #13

Originally posted by nicklevy:

Buying a DSLR with the intention of using it in Auto mode is a waste of good money. If you're not satisified with your Sony get yourself a top level prosumer. I'd reccommend the Olympus C-8080 WZ for it's image quality, but there are many to choose from.
You will gain more in picture quality by investing time in learning how to use your camera to it's best than by spending more money than you need to on a camera that you can't use to it's maximum capability. And prosumers are easier to learn than DSLRs.

e301

04/03/2005 01:26:18 AM · #14

Having recently made the switch, I would have the 350 over any high-end pro-sumer I've tried or seen. It's metering in automatic mode is quite phenomenal, and as others have said, sheer quality of basic image from the CMOS is remarkable. There is no shutter lag whatsoever, of course, which is vital for those photos of the kids - my reason for buying it really was because my increasing tendency towards street photography made that rapidity of reaction imperative - and it switches on in no time at all - in fact, I suspect what it does is never switch off completely (it certainly reads a card when you insert one, whether 'on' or 'off').

E

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/03/2005 01:56:31 AM · #15

2 other words: High ISO

04/03/2005 09:14:26 AM · #16

Originally posted by coolhar:

Originally posted by nicklevy:
I have now a prosumer camera wich is good but not enough. I already know that a DSLR have more possibilty, more image quality, less noise etc. My questions is: In everyday shooting, taking pictures of our son in everything-auto-mode, will the difference in picture quality be at least noticeable? thanks

Buying a DSLR with the intention of using it in Auto mode is a waste of good money. If you're not satisified with your Sony get yourself a top level prosumer. I'd reccommend the Olympus C-8080 WZ for it's image quality, but there are many to choose from.
You will gain more in picture quality by investing time in learning how to use your camera to it's best than by spending more money than you need to on a camera that you can't use to it's maximum capability. And prosumers are easier to learn than DSLRs.

I personnally have no intention to use it on auto all the time. I will use it in manual mode whenever I'm using it for artistic purposes, but my girlfriend is going to use it to take pictures of our baby and I know she'll use it in auto mode. I just want to make sure that it will be just as much easy to use a DSLR in auto than to use a prosumer in auto and that we'll see the difference in image quality for this purpose too.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

04/03/2005 09:16:07 AM · #17

Thanks for all your advices doctornick. every word you wrote is a winner for it's signification potential :-D

pawdrix

Nikon D700

04/03/2005 10:33:21 AM · #18

Nick

I should add that the auto settings on my D70 aren't that great. I don't think Nikon put much focus on that side of the camera when it was designed.

I don't use them at all so I haven't bothered to see if they could be tweaked. Can't speak for the Canons.

PS Noticed in your profile that you like Jazz. Keep an eye out for Chris Potters(sax)latest release (more of a Jazz/ Funk thing but cool and very new). It should contain Wayne Krantz on guitar, who IMHO is the most original player alive. Both are Steely Dan alumnus. Arguably the best two players of their respective instruments. Cheers.

deapee

Kodak V803

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/03/2005 10:37:00 AM · #19

Originally posted by nicklevy:

Seriously...might want to teach her a thing or two...or just pass down the sony to her. Using it in auto mode defeats the purpose if she can't learn at least ISO and how it affects shutter speed. Then she can use it in P mode which will give her decent control.