p&s ' suck after using a sLSR - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

12/20/2005 08:54:52 AM · #1

Last night at work Santa came in for a while. One of my coworkers wanted a photo of a customer's child, herself and Santa. I was handed some HP point and shoot....OMG, the delay from pushing the shutter button until the flash and exposures, well, felt like a lifetime. I was about to check and see if the camera was even on!

Once you get use to the immediacy of a dSLR, one cannot go back.

benhur

Canon EOS-40D

12/20/2005 09:06:57 AM · #2

Totally agree with you there Prof, it was the best move I made - I have still got a lot to learn but it is so much easier to learn with a dSLR.

UNTITLED

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II for Canon

12/20/2005 09:13:03 AM · #3

You can't compare a P&S to a dSLR, but newer and higher end P&S don't have that kind of lag.

glad2badad

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic

12/20/2005 09:19:06 AM · #4

Originally posted by pekesty:

You can't compare a P&S to a dSLR, but newer and higher end P&S don't have that kind of lag.

Hooray! Someone sticking up for the P&S users of the world! Thank you. Felt like I was being lumped into one massive group where really, not all P&S cameras are the same. Until I can afford a DSLR I'm stuck with this "suck"y P&S (which I'm quite happy with - thank you). ;^)

12/20/2005 10:04:08 AM · #5

I have a DSLR and a P&S and use both. I think you just had a bad camera and you'll probably piss a lot of people off generalizing like that.

I don't feel any loss when using my S2 over my Rebel, other then a few pounds lighter. In fact there are some things the S2 does better then the Rebel.

oOWonderBreadOo

Canon EOS-5D

12/20/2005 11:13:10 AM · #6

many of these P&S cameras have settings and the users don't know how to turn off the lag. I had to do it for my dad...

Olympus 12-45mm f/4.0 Pro

12/20/2005 11:18:02 AM · #7

Originally posted by louddog:

Don't shoot any sports then do you?
I have had 2 p&s digital and 1 film camera and this particular HP was the slowest thing. perhaps there wa a little guy inside drawing the picture LOL

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

12/20/2005 11:21:15 AM · #8

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Don't shoot any sports then do you?
I have had 2 p&s digital and 1 film camera and this particular HP was the slowest thing. perhaps there wa a little guy inside drawing the picture LOL

I tend to agree with the Professor. At least when it comes to older P&S. Within two weeks of getting my Rebel, I sold my old Nikon 2500 on eBay as fast as I could. I thought I was going to keep it for times when I didn't want to cary the Rebel around, but it was so lousy that I couldn't stand it. If I ever get the cash, I may get one of the new Canon P&S to carry around, but I'm still hesitent to believe that I'd like it as much as a DSLR.

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

12/20/2005 11:22:01 AM · #9

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Once you get use to the immediacy of a dSLR, one cannot go back.

I had a Canon A40 and would definitely agree with you...that being said, I'd like to think that the new ones don't have the "guy drawing the picture" lag that my A40 had.

The difference of going from the 300d to the 1d was about the same. The 300d still has an annoying lag that drove me nuts when I was shooting rodeo this summer. I can't wait to head back out into the dust with my 1d...it's instant gratification.

12/20/2005 11:25:18 AM · #10

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Originally posted by louddog:
I have a DSLR and a P&S and use both. I think you just had a bad camera and you'll probably piss a lot of people off generalizing like that.

I don't feel any loss when using my S2 over my Rebel, other then a few pounds lighter. In fact there are some things the S2 does better then the Rebel.

Don't shoot any sports then do you?
I have had 2 p&s digital and 1 film camera and this particular HP was the slowest thing. perhaps there wa a little guy inside drawing the picture LOL

fotomann_forever

12/20/2005 11:26:13 AM · #11

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Don't shoot any sports then do you?

I shoot auto races all the time with the Nikon 8700 (basically a dSLR styled P&S) all the time. Not too hard to hit a car at 100mph with it, just have to know how to use your equipment and learn not to blame the equipment.

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

12/20/2005 11:29:20 AM · #12

Look, let's face it...if your camera has shutter-lag you are much less likely to 'capture the moment'.

Alex Majoli is an exception...but he's inspired me enough to want to get a nice new p&s.

Are you guys arguing that you can deal with shutterlag while shooting sports, or that your cameras don't lag?

12/20/2005 11:30:52 AM · #13

And for the record, continuous shooting on my S2 is much better then on my 300D. It does other things better as well.

My point, some P&S cameras are crap, but some are very good. Your original post and title says all P&S cameras, not some.

You used an HP and said all P&S cameras suck. That is kind of like driving a Ford Escort and saying all American cars suck.

Rikki

Canon EOS-20D

12/20/2005 11:32:09 AM · #14

I agree that you can't compare the shutter lags in a dSLR and a P&S. However, I carry my p&S with me all the time. You never know when you can get a shot.

As far as shutter lag, it all depends on your P&S. My Canon S200, while "advanced" in its time, still is useful. However, I have since replaced it with an SD400. I still love my P&S as they are portable and easy to carry. Just check out one of my most faved images. this was taken with my S200. these Tarsier monkeys are quick and fast but I managed to take an image of it just before it leapt from my hand.

In as much as I love my 20D, I would probably not part with my P&S cameras ;)

Mattel Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera

12/20/2005 11:32:49 AM · #15

S2 has minimal lag. No lag if you are using manual and manual focus. With better continuous shooting I chose to use my S2 on the motocross shoot over my 300D.

kyebosh

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 80-200mm f/2.8L

12/20/2005 11:35:49 AM · #16

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
Once you get use to the immediacy of a dSLR, one cannot go back.

I had a Canon A40 and would definitely agree with you...that being said, I'd like to think that the new ones don't have the "guy drawing the picture" lag that my A40 had.

The difference of going from the 300d to the 1d was about the same. The 300d still has an annoying lag that drove me nuts when I was shooting rodeo this summer. I can't wait to head back out into the dust with my 1d...it's instant gratification.

My thoughts exactly, the 300D seems pretty slow now. Even the blackout time seems to take forever with it. I for one am not going back :-)

digitalknight

12/20/2005 11:55:34 AM · #17

I'm not sure you could find a slower lag time than the HP cameras. I had two, and the quality was great, but hope you're not trying to shoot anything urgent - the deer shot in my portfolio I had to hold the button down and the camera to my face for over 10 minutes watching them, because I knew I only had one shot.

Now I shoot half a CF card in the same time. It is mo' better.

fotomann_forever

12/20/2005 11:58:19 AM · #18

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Are you guys arguing that you can deal with shutterlag while shooting sports, or that your cameras don't lag?

I'm arguing that saying P&S's suck discourages those that can't afford dSLR's. Yes, the HP cams suck (anything HP sucks!) but don't make less equipped photogs feel inferior because they are using P&S cams. It's just hurtful for the art.

Just for the sake of saying it, the Nikon 8700 does have some lag, but it's not insurmountable. Catching "the moment" involves anticipation of the moment and knowing when your camera will fire. Having focus locked and ready will capture "the moment" everytime.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/20/2005 12:15:38 PM · #19

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

perhaps this thread needs a subtitle -For dSLR owners only-

There were several reasons that i upgraded from a p&s to a dSLR and this lag issue was one of them. In the beginning digital capture is just so cool you ignore it, then get used to it, and eventually despise it. I had forgotten how much i despised the lag, or perhaps a better way to express it is I had forgotten how good it is not to have lag!

I seriously doubt i'll discourage p&s use by this thread here on DPC ;)

And i'm not inferring that photogs that use p&s cams are inferior (you said that, not me) but the camera is a tool, and the dSLR is a much better tool for photography of all kinds (except maybe surepticious one) than a p&s cam.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

12/20/2005 12:19:38 PM · #20

My impression is that you get to trade-in complaints about shutter-lag for complaints about sensor dust ... I notice no overall decrease in carping ...

fotomann_forever

12/20/2005 12:23:27 PM · #21

Perhaps I should apologize for my remarks. It's just that I spend a considerable amount of time promoting photography as an affordable, fun hobby that doesn't requite the BEST of equipment to achieve beautiful results.

But, I do apologize.

Oh, and that sensor dust thing IS a killer ain't it :-P

MQuinn

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Zuiko Digital Zoom

12/20/2005 12:27:26 PM · #22

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Oh, and that sensor dust thing IS a killer ain't it :-P

Nope not really :)

12/20/2005 12:29:49 PM · #23

Originally posted by MQuinn:

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Oh, and that sensor dust thing IS a killer ain't it :-P

Nope not really :)

I agree, it's not been a problem for me. 11.7 months of useage with over 5600 shots and no dust.

Now that i've jinxed myself I'll be order pecpads.

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

12/20/2005 12:35:46 PM · #24

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Catching "the moment" involves anticipation of the moment and knowing when your camera will fire. Having focus locked and ready will capture "the moment" everytime.

Sorry, this is just not true. I would be the last to tell anyone that you need to have an SLR to do "real" photography, but there are great benefits to using an SLR system over the point and shoots. Shutter lag is a very real obstacle that can impede you from capturing the moment.

In sports photography, you can't have 'focus locked'...in fact, most pro DSLR's have predictive focus (so not only focusing nearly-instantly, but focusing with the action as it moves).

As for dust...meh...I haven't had any problems that would come close to outweighing the usefulness of an SLR.

But again, pinhole cameras to TLR's to SLR's to cellphones will all take photos. Certain tools are better for certain jobs, but fun can be had with all of the above photographic devices...

Message edited by author 2005-12-20 12:36:54.