DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Challenge Suggestions >> Challenge for non slr users
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 48, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 07/17/2005 09:40:50 PM · #1
Just wondering if the dp challenge could run a challenge or two for non digital slr users. I have seen, obviously, that Canon EOS Digital Rebel Slrs usually are the ones who command the entire board when it comes to pictures. We know these camers take overall better pictures, but it leaves the rest of us in the dust. Anybody else agree, disagree?
 07/17/2005 09:43:29 PM · #2
Personally, I disagree. I've seen some amazing photos taken with some pretty "non amazing" cameras. There are many photographers here who could smoke most of us EOS-toting amateurs with whatever camera they happened to have in their hand.
 07/17/2005 09:45:18 PM · #3
Originally posted by ladymonarda:
I have seen, obviously, that Canon EOS Digital Rebel Slrs usually are the ones who command the entire board when it comes to pictures.


lol
 07/17/2005 09:45:27 PM · #4
I think what you are seeing is a correlation rather than a causation effect. People have won here with 1mp cameras, Joey Lawrence comes to mind. It's not so much the equipment as the photographer. More serious enthusiasts outgrow the limits of most P-and-S cameras and upgrade so they have complete control over their aperture, shutter, focus, and exposure compensation values.

A lesser photographer who doesn't understand camera techniques will still produce inferior images even with the best equipment.

Edit: typo

Message edited by author 2005-07-17 22:31:48.
 07/17/2005 09:45:52 PM · #5
Yeah, it's the person behind the camera, right?
Check out some of the top photog's here on DPC (JoeyLawrence, BradP come to mind)--they're not shooting with $2,000 cams.

edit:
LOL A1275 beat me to it!

Message edited by author 2005-07-17 21:49:43.
 07/17/2005 09:55:18 PM · #6
Well, could you say if I should give up? Is my eye blind? Are my images anything at all, or are they truly part of those inferior photo buffs who will produce inferior images even with the best equipment. You can e mail me privately. I will take your extreme criticism as to whether I really don't have the eye.
A lesser photographer who doesn't understand camera techniques will still produce inferior images even with the best equipement. [/quote]
 07/17/2005 09:56:08 PM · #7
My top scoring images are still the ones taken with my non-slr camera, while with my slr I feel the quality of my shots is improving, I still havent been able to outsore my point and click camera. My top image was over 6.7, not bad for a non-slr.
 07/17/2005 09:58:54 PM · #8
you should check out the top ranking pictures with cameras like Canon Powershot G5
 07/17/2005 10:01:11 PM · #9
Another way to think about this issue:

Take a look at the "generic" portfolio for the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II (16.7 megapixel DSLR, 26 owners):

Not one ribbon, much less a blue.

Take a look at the "generic" portolio for the Canon Powershot S60 (5 megapixel P&S, 31 owners):

Has a blue ribbon.

Two things to learn here:
1. Owning a super-expensive camera does not make you a ribbon-winning photographer, and;
2. Canon rules.

(Let's not discuss the complicated and mind-boggling statistical mathematics I used to obtain result #2, it would just confuse everyone)

;-)

Message edited by author 2005-07-17 22:02:50.
 07/17/2005 10:03:29 PM · #10
Originally posted by bobdaveant:
My top image was over 6.7, not bad for a non-slr.


While I agree the photographer is the most important factor, I do think equipment plays a role. I think the statement, "not bad for a non-slr" makes that point as well.

As has also been said, as people get better, they get better equipment...hence, in a fair amount of cases, the higher scoring photographers have digital SLRs.

edit: What I think would be more fun would be a beginner's challenge a couple times a year.

Message edited by author 2005-07-17 22:04:08.
 07/17/2005 10:05:30 PM · #11
I have an SLR and a consumer camera and prefer using the consumer most of the time because I hate bringing a case full of lens everywhere. Yes I can do things with my SLR that I can't do with my prosumer, but I'd never even think of using the camera as an excuse. You have to know the limitations of your camera and shoot accordingly.

Also, my shot in the sports challenge is doing very well and I think a lot of people will be surprised to find out it was not taken with an SLR.

As for your eye, I think your problem is you are working to hard to take a picture to meet the challenge. Go out, have fun and take photos. If a photo looks good and happens to meet the challenge, submit. My $.02...
 07/17/2005 10:07:25 PM · #12
Originally posted by ladymonarda:
Well, could you say if I should give up? Is my eye blind? Are my images anything at all, or are they truly part of those inferior photo buffs who will produce inferior images even with the best equipment. You can e mail me privately. I will take your extreme criticism as to whether I really don't have the eye.
A lesser photographer who doesn't understand camera techniques will still produce inferior images even with the best equipement.
[/quote]
I would say definately don't give up. This could also be because I am just stubborn...but I notice your scores and rankings are similar to mine...and I just keep shooting!! I am having a blast learning new stuff with my little canon digital...to me there is always hope!
~~S
edit: clarification

Message edited by author 2005-07-17 22:08:16.
 07/17/2005 10:09:58 PM · #13
Originally posted by ladymonarda:
Well, could you say if I should give up? Is my eye blind? Are my images anything at all, or are they truly part of those inferior photo buffs who will produce inferior images even with the best equipment. You can e mail me privately. I will take your extreme criticism as to whether I really don't have the eye.
A lesser photographer who doesn't understand camera techniques will still produce inferior images even with the best equipement.

If you give up, you'll never know if you could have been good.

To be an average, amateur photographer and still post shots for DPC challenges takes GUTS. When I first saw DPC, my reaction was to find another site to post my stuff on. I instinctively realized that I sucked in comparison to some of the great photographers here. So what if you're pulling 4's? Learn and grow accordingly!

If you want to be good, surround yourself with others who already are, right?

Message edited by author 2005-07-17 22:12:45.
 07/17/2005 10:19:52 PM · #14
running with slippers and running with sneakers are different

Message edited by author 2005-07-19 06:43:53.
 07/17/2005 10:31:07 PM · #15
Originally posted by ladymonarda:
Well, could you say if I should give up? Is my eye blind? Are my images anything at all, or are they truly part of those inferior photo buffs who will produce inferior images even with the best equipment. You can e mail me privately. I will take your extreme criticism as to whether I really don't have the eye.


Oh dear, I was just making a generalization. I've just taken a quick look at your portfolio. I see that your challenge scores are in general improving, so that's a good thing, right? Many of them look specifically shot for the challenges. In general, and in my own humble opinion, I'd say your biggest weakness is composition rather than your eye.

Why not find a subject that you love, and then do a series or study of it? Think about subjects you'd like to see on your own wall. The best challenge entries are shots that both meet the challenge and also meet the "I'd hang it on the wall" test.

If you like taking pictures, don't let anything I say stop you or ruin it for you, please. My first challenge entry got hammered, so I sat back a bit and read the forums and started commenting on the work of others and found the commenting to be immensely helpful when taking my own shots. Then I found myself in the position of knowing what I wanted to do, but not being able to make my camera do it. Once my scores started improving and I won a contest (somewhere else) I upgraded my equipment so I could have more manual control. Now my scores are improving even more...perhaps someday I'll even win a ribbon...or maybe you'll beat me to it! Now I have a 7mp camera and still can't beat my highest score from the 2mp camera. So that's what I meant when I said a lesser photographer will still produce inferior images even with the best equipment. Until a few months ago, even if I had had a DSLR I still would have had to use the automatic button and been faced with the same technical flaws I hadn't learned how to correct yet....
 07/19/2005 06:13:32 AM · #16
All the generalizations incurr in severe mistakes, for all things in life. This is not different.

Yes, in some things dslr have some advantage. But for other things the non dslr have the advantage. For example in landscape photography the non-dslr have a big advantage: huge dof, because their smaller sensor. And I never seen a dslr owner complain in a landscape (or similar) challenge if he/her where beaten by a point and shoot camera. It makes the same sense that a non-dslr complain in a portrait contest because he/she can't isolate their subject as mutch as a dslr owner because less control of dof. This is nonsense. I know own a D70 and I used to own a Fuji S5000 and I do things with the D70 that I couldn't do with the S5000, but the overal qualaty of the shoots and my average score is about the same.

The most important piece of photographic equipment that you can own is a trained brain. Keep that in mind.
 07/19/2005 06:24:31 AM · #17
Personally I would like to see a challenge without DSLR cameras and I know I would find it very challenging to use my old 1.3 megapixel Fuji.

It would be a lot of fun and would be nice to see what everyone could achieve without the top end cameras, really it's not going to hurt to have a challenge like this.
 07/19/2005 06:27:21 AM · #18
The problem is, where do you draw the line? The Sony F828 is a point at shoot, as is the Nikon Coolpix 8700, both of which are top-end cameras in the P&S range. If you discount DSLRs you still leave these cameras, which still have some advantage over lesser cameras. There really is no threshold where it's totally fair.
 07/19/2005 06:28:27 AM · #19
i'd have to agree with that, coming from someone who had a rebel..its not what camera you have its how you use it :)

Originally posted by aboutimage:
Personally, I disagree. I've seen some amazing photos taken with some pretty "non amazing" cameras. There are many photographers here who could smoke most of us EOS-toting amateurs with whatever camera they happened to have in their hand.

07/19/2005 06:43:14 AM · #20
its like 2 similarly skilled racers. One drives a 2000bhp car while the other drives a 1000bhp car. Of coz the advantage is already in the hands of the better car.

Of course, ppl like Joey Lawrance exists. They are those who, with better equipment, could take more ribbons than he has now.
 07/19/2005 06:55:59 AM · #21
1st don't give up... It's all about the fun of it...

2nd - Go pick up this book, tons of great tips all in one place... //search.barnesandnoble.com/BookSearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=Mw5dXdqB28&isbn=0789480697&itm=1

3rd - Download the gimp, www.gimp.org - Very similar to photoshop.(free so it will save you $600) Search google for photoshop techniques on photography - photoshop tutorials are easy to convert for gimp... learn to us the unsharp mask first. there are several "special" techniques to sharpen your images...

4th - don't give up
 07/19/2005 07:48:44 AM · #22
I too believe that photographers can take amazing shots no matter what they have placed up to their eye.

On the other hand, the reason people buy DSLR's is to have more to change, and it certainly does show in their results. Otherwise, nobody would waste their time with those cameras.

Considering that there are 2-3 challenges a week, I could certainly see a beginners challenge now and again as well as a non-dslr challenge.

I have been reviewing the results from all the big cameras this week as well as the profiles of those who shoot those cameras. I find that most have their best results with lesser cameras.

I also reviewed the highest rated photos on the site. A few of them were shot a long time ago and were taken with somewhat weak cameras compared to what has been offered in 2004 or 2005 for P&S cameras. This is obviously subject to fewer voters back then too though.

I would love to see what would happen if some of the masters did agree to step down and use their backup P7S cameras. If for no other reason than showing what can be done with lesser equipment.

Some of the stuff here that has been shot already with p&s is stunning!
 07/19/2005 08:17:08 AM · #23
Originally posted by ladymonarda:
Well, could you say if I should give up? Is my eye blind? Are my images anything at all, or are they truly part of those inferior photo buffs who will produce inferior images even with the best equipment. You can e mail me privately. I will take your extreme criticism as to whether I really don't have the eye.
A lesser photographer who doesn't understand camera techniques will still produce inferior images even with the best equipement.
[/quote]

I would say DON'T give up, its not the equipment its the photographer, his/her eye and to get results here I would say direct DPC experience. It took me 31 challenges to get a ribbon and to be honest I never though I'd get one. I have three ribbons now, but its taken 72 challenges to get them. When I looked you had 8 challenges, so theres plenty of learning opportunity ahead ;-)


07/19/2005 08:17:48 AM · #24
Many of the Canon DLSR users who consistently produce high-ranking images also own non-DSLR cameras. There is a good chance that they still could put most of us to shame.
 07/19/2005 09:19:51 AM · #25
why not have several speed type challenges and base those on megapixels?
Only feature 0 to 2.4 megapixels in one challenge, and then 2.4 to 4 megapixels and so on or whatever the megapixel numbers could be. It would be interesting to see what each group could produce, and it just might challenge the notions that some people have. I think it would be fun to see some DLSR users dust off their smaller megapixel cameras and enter a challenge.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 08/11/2025 04:35:59 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/11/2025 04:35:59 PM EDT.