Advice : DSLR or PnS

[hgled]

Hi All,
Need advice on the subject as my current cam is giving some problem, hence, need to buy a replacement cam.

I am thinking of DSLR (first investment for me) or stay with PnS cams.

My application will be mostly, family photos shooting, both indoor and outdoor.

Any advice/comment are welcome

 

[calebk]

Can't your current camera be repaired? Even if it's out of warranty, a repair is usually cheaper than a replacement camera.

 

[Wzierbovsky]

What is more important to ya?

- Convenience? ==> Choose P&S
- Weight / portability? ==> Choose P&S
- Image quality? ==> Chose DSLR
- Expandability + opportunities to learn? ==> Choose DSLR

Cost wise; a high-end P&S with good feature range nearly = a budget entry-level DSLR + kit lens.

 

[hgled]

Can't your current camera be repaired? Even if it's out of warranty, a repair is usually cheaper than a replacement camera.

Yes, but I really dun know is it worth it as I bought the PnS cam at cheap price

 

[zcf]

Can't your current camera be repaired? Even if it's out of warranty, a repair is usually cheaper than a replacement camera.

sometime the repair cost could be close to a new camera cost :sweat:

 

[hgled]

sometime the repair cost could be close to a new camera cost :sweat:

Yeah, not so sure on the repair cost.

 

[hgled]

PnS Cam in my mind : Fuji F100fd or Canon 860IS

DSLR : Olympus E420 or E520

So, still unsure for family photo, I should invest on DSLR

 

[calebk]

The start up cost and upgrade cost for a DSLR is steep. Ask yourself if you want to commit to that. No doubt SLRs have better image quality, but the trade off is price.

That being said, SLRs also have a learning curve. Don't expect to make great images when you start off. I started off on film and the first few rolls were crap. It takes some time to get used to the camera.

If you're just looking for a simple P&S, the Fuji is great for pictures in dim light. Ditto the Canon, so either way you can't go wrong. If I'm not mistaken, the Fuji is slightly cheaper.

 

[lifepursuer]

Will you be printing your family shots, i suppose so but if only gonna print 4R sizes. A compact pns will suffice. Get dslr if you want more control in your shots and if you be post processing on the images very often

 

[ericp]

Lines are getting blurred between a decent P&S and lower end DSLR. I've read that the Nikon D40 kit is around $688, and you can probably buy it second hand for less than that. I do know that my current DSLR, which is 5 years old and still going strong, is worth less than $500 today ... but it's given me stellar service and continues to (it's a Fuji S2Pro).

But I digress ... my personal take is that you will need both for different situations. DSLR (maybe a D40 kit with a shoe mounted flash like SB-400) for the times when image quality is more important than portability (family gatherings, dinners), and a P&S for "just take it along for a few snapshots" moments.

Even for the latter, do your research and choose carefully ... I reckon more often than not, photo opportunities are in less than ideal light conditions, so all those wonderful beautifully lit beach pictures with blue skies in reviews will not show the limitations of the P&S in poor light. I have a Sony T20, a generation newer than my old Fuji F10, and the latter is the camera I bring everywhere, it's much better in challenging light conditions.

 

[checkers]

Hi All,
Need advice on the subject as my current cam is giving some problem, hence, need to buy a replacement cam.

I am thinking of DSLR (first investment for me) or stay with PnS cams.

My application will be mostly, family photos shooting, both indoor and outdoor.

Any advice/comment are welcome

If you have the budget, DSLR. Get ready 2K at least

 

[hgled]

Thank everyone for the advises

I will probably for an entry level DSLR camera (Nikon or Olympus) depend on my feel after holding the camera. After, train up my beginner DSLR skills to look at how good I have taken a picture on family portraits.

 

[hgled]

Hi guys,

If I want to shoot family portraits photo with Olympus E420 or E520, will the 14-42 mm kit len be good enough (including Wide angle)?

Or, I should go for the E420 with pancake len as I like the light weight?

 

[alternatve]

Hi guys,

If I want to shoot family portraits photo with Olympus E420 or E520, will the 14-42 mm kit len be good enough (including Wide angle)?

Or, I should go for the E420 with pancake len as I like the light weight?

A "family" DSLR is better off coupled to a standard zoom, lest you feel tied down to a single focal length.

Samuel

 

[hgled]

A "family" DSLR is better off coupled to a standard zoom, lest you feel tied down to a single focal length.

Samuel

Thank you

 

[hgled]

To all Olympus E series users, I have a last question, can the 25mm pancake len be able to mount on the E520?

 

[hgled]

Look like the Pentax K200D is one of the best deal in COMEX , but, no live view and heavier than Oly E series....sigh

 

[mactigasuku]

A better place to put yr Oly queries is here ...

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=94

IMHO if all you want is to take "good" family pics, stick with a higher end PnS. dSLR, if cheap tends to give much worse jpg quality out of camera. And the cheaper ones tend to come with fairly "limited" lens or lesser quality lens.

It definitely takes more skill to take better pics with a dSLR than a good PnS. PnS also tends to be more durable. if you dun intend to carry/purchase more than one lens, then forget a dSLR also. dSLR are also more bulky, esp if you carry an external flash. The inbuilt flash tends to be worse than a good PnS flash, too.

My point - stick with a good PnS if you have no intention to be serious into photography.