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

DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> point and shoot cameras
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 37, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 10/21/2005 10:09:53 AM · #1
Just curious if there is anyone else here who only has a point and shoot to work with? I feel like I'm all alone in this dept lol.
 10/21/2005 10:11:19 AM · #2
I wouldn't say that...

Check this out - //www.dpchallenge.com/camera.php
 10/21/2005 10:14:05 AM · #3
You're certainly not alone... :-)

There are more of us here than you might think!
 10/21/2005 10:16:09 AM · #4
No, you are not alone. We may be slightly disadvantaged when compared to the SLR's, we can hang our hats on convience. I always have my camera with me. It don't matter how much camera you have, it still all comes down to your skills. Be even more proud when you score well with your P&S. Check out Messerschmitt, he has some excellent shots done with a P&S.

Message edited by author 2005-10-21 10:16:57.
 10/21/2005 10:30:25 AM · #5
Cuts both ways. Disadvantage in blured backgrounds yeah but I believe P&S has an advantage in keeping everything in focus at a faster shutter speed (to do with the smaller sensor size I believe).

I use a P&S a fair bit for snaps & when I don't want to carry the SLR.
 10/21/2005 11:21:17 AM · #6
Originally posted by pekesty:
It don't matter how much camera you have, it still all comes down to your skills.


That's exactly it. Sure you may be limited to the types of shots you can take with a P&S, but that's doesn't mean you're limited to the quality of the shots you can take. Using my 3MP Canon S30, I recently placed 6th in the Pride challenge, amongst 6MP and up Canon and Nikon SLRS.

If you really want to see what can be done with P&S cameras, check out the camera link posted below by cpanaioti. Also, check out Joey's photos, especially the one's from his Olympus D-600L. He's won ribbons with this 1.3MP camera!

Skill is the key. The camera is just the tool to create your masterpiece :)
 10/21/2005 11:29:06 AM · #7
Originally posted by pekesty:
It don't matter how much camera you have, it still all comes down to your skills.


Now does anybody know where I can buy some of these skills?
 10/21/2005 11:56:49 AM · #8
Originally posted by pekesty:
Originally posted by pekesty:
It don't matter how much camera you have, it still all comes down to your skills.


Now does anybody know where I can buy some of these skills?


Yea sure? Sounds good but really? Same skill different cameras? Same result? Not too likely!
 10/21/2005 12:04:00 PM · #9
I have a point and shoot! I like it too, but I am wanting something now with more features. It takes pretty good pictures. I have been very happy with it. It is me that needs more skills.
 10/21/2005 12:08:30 PM · #10
Though I'm not very active on the site I am here for more than 2 years.
My dSRL came just 3 weeks ago. Before I was a P&S all the way. I understand your feelings.
Wide angle is the first 350D challenge. Not a great improvement I can say.
10/21/2005 12:09:48 PM · #11
Originally posted by azoychka:
Originally posted by pekesty:
Originally posted by pekesty:
It don't matter how much camera you have, it still all comes down to your skills.


Now does anybody know where I can buy some of these skills?


Yea sure? Sounds good but really? Same skill different cameras? Same result? Not too likely!


Not equating photo quality between P&S and SLR, but simply pointing out that those that are restricted by budget can still create great photography with what they have. Some pretty good photos have come from the round Quaker Oatmeal boxes with pinholes poked in them. The internet is filled with mediocre photos from camera snobs that can buy the latest and greatest.
 10/21/2005 12:11:57 PM · #12
What would really be helpful is to have a two photographs. One would be taken with a point and shoot camera and the second with a dSLR camera. All the variables would be the same-location, time (within minutes of each other), shutter speed, aperature, ISO, white balance, no post-processing. Once those two photographs are posted, everyone can pick "the best photograph". Would someone with both cameras volunteer?
 10/21/2005 12:14:04 PM · #13
that is a great idea!!!
 10/21/2005 12:20:09 PM · #14
WOW... That would be interesting to see...
 10/21/2005 12:29:20 PM · #15
Here's my camera. I manage to do pretty well with it.


But, after being to a GTG and doing lots of chimping with Joey while he was borrowing a fancy dSLR, I'd have to say that it is an extreme falsehood to say that, even for the purposes of DPC, SLR's have little advantage over point & shoots. I watched Joey get perfect focus on an eagle through a tightly gridded cage. No way in heck my P&S could come close to that. We were shooting a cat in low light & he was getting great shots, my camera couldn't handle the low light & I just got blurs & grain, even with my highest ISO setting & widest aperture. I won't even go into trying to get action shots.

I came away from that GTG knowing that dSLR users are actually at a huge advatage. Anybody telling you differently is spreading dSLR propaganda.


10/21/2005 12:36:53 PM · #16
Originally posted by Strikeslip:

I came away from that GTG knowing that dSLR users are actually at a huge advatage. Anybody telling you differently is spreading dSLR propaganda.

I have a dSRL now and I know you are prefectly right!
 10/21/2005 12:45:26 PM · #17
Originally posted by Strikeslip:
I watched Joey get perfect focus on an eagle through a tightly gridded cage. No way in heck my P&S could come close to that.

Nothing to do with dSLR. That was Joey using his special powers. Didn't you realise?
10/21/2005 12:49:45 PM · #18
How is this for comparison?

Probabily not the best pictures for this but for me, the real difference is when you print them out. By resizing here, I think you loose some details.

edit: (removed pictures)


Message edited by author 2005-10-23 16:51:03.
 10/21/2005 12:58:34 PM · #19
The Olympus is a dSLR?
 10/21/2005 01:38:22 PM · #20
You're not alone. I started out with a Pentax P&S and then moved onto a Rebel with about 5 or 6 lenses. I always had a love/hate relationship with the Rebel (most times more towards hate I'll admit) when I decided to go back to P&S but with more features than my Pentax. After trying out about 5 cameras (one I bought and returned twice) I ended up with my little $400 Panasonic FZ5. I am thrilled with my choice. For ME it's the best option. I did pull out the Rebel this past weekend and took two similar shots, the FZ was much better IMO. My last 5 or so challenges have been with it and I've gotten more comments, almost all positive than I did with probably my last 10 Rebel entries. I know it's not all about DPC results but for me the P&S is the way to go. I find I focus more on the shot than what button to push and if I have the camera set right. I've had tons printed and I cannot tell the difference. The Rebel is sitting in my closet probably going to be sold along with the lenses.
 10/21/2005 01:42:51 PM · #21
Aw c'mon guys... Please let me live in my fantasy world until I can afford to upgrade!!! LOL
 10/21/2005 01:43:24 PM · #22
Right now I have one entry each shot with my five year-old Olympus 2MP P&S and a Canon S1 IS 3MP middle-range camera in automatic mode.

Guess which one's scoring almost a full point higher ... : (

I shoot almost equal numbers with them -- I carry the Oly with me almost all the time, and use the Canon more when I'm on a "photo shoot" and not just taking pictures ...
 10/21/2005 01:55:56 PM · #23
//www.imaging-resource.com has all sorts of fixed comparisons of different cameras. For example here is a picture from a Nikon Coolpix 8700 at ISO 400 (warning: large image):
//www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/CP8700/FULLRES/CP87INI400.HTM

and the Nikon D50 SLR at ISO 400 (again, large image):
//www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/D50/FULLRES/D50INI0400.HTM

I don't know what his other settings were (shutter speed, aperature, etc.), but the exposure looks similar, so they are probably pretty close. Its obvious that the D50 has an advantage in noise levels under these conditions. Additionally, the D50 goes up to ISO 1600 and still has better noise levels than the Coolpix at ISO 400. Thus DSLRs DO have some benefit over P&S cameras. That being said, I don't think you will necessarily take better pictures -- that's more the photographer than anything else, as any ribbon winner with a P&S camera can attest. What you get with a DSLR is the ability to take good shots under a wider range of conditions (e.g. low light) and some creative shots (e.g. long exposures at f22) that you wouldn't be able to get with most P&S cameras.
 10/21/2005 02:15:53 PM · #24
Originally posted by mkalandros:
//www.imaging-resource.com has all sorts of fixed comparisons of different cameras. For example here is a picture from a Nikon Coolpix 8700 at ISO 400 (warning: large image):
//www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/CP8700/FULLRES/CP87INI400.HTM

and the Nikon D50 SLR at ISO 400 (again, large image):
//www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/D50/FULLRES/D50INI0400.HTM

I don't know what his other settings were (shutter speed, aperature, etc.), but the exposure looks similar, so they are probably pretty close. Its obvious that the D50 has an advantage in noise levels under these conditions. Additionally, the D50 goes up to ISO 1600 and still has better noise levels than the Coolpix at ISO 400. Thus DSLRs DO have some benefit over P&S cameras. That being said, I don't think you will necessarily take better pictures -- that's more the photographer than anything else, as any ribbon winner with a P&S camera can attest. What you get with a DSLR is the ability to take good shots under a wider range of conditions (e.g. low light) and some creative shots (e.g. long exposures at f22) that you wouldn't be able to get with most P&S cameras.


The photograph taken with the Coolpix 8700 should win a "bad" noise award.
 10/21/2005 03:05:35 PM · #25
Maryba,

You've got an 8700 -- what do you think of the its performance at ISO 400?

BTW, have you noticed any problems with the way the 8700 renders purples? My shots of purple objects tend to have a bluish tint to them. Not sure if its simply an imprecise white balance that shows up one this color in particular or what is going on.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 04/16/2024 06:30:52 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/16/2024 06:30:52 PM EDT.