Do you need DSLR to become photographer

[superkiev]

Dear Seniors
Newbie here,

Right now I kind of into photography, the problem is budget
Well, I not trying to be a professional, but at least enough to showcase my photo.

So with my limited budget, I am contemplating to buy a superzoom camera, (Nikon P520 come into mind).
Because you don't need extra lenses to zoom in zoom out
I kind of need advice from seniors here.

Is superzoom camera has the same quality as DSLR?

Thank you all in advance

 

[Octarine]

Is superzoom camera has the same quality as DSLR?

No.
And to answer your question in the subject: No as well.

 

[catchlights]

many people took notice about Mod ekin's photos is when he still using a coolpix camera.
and He shot most of the photos with D70 in this thread,
To Punggol, With Love

Check out Mod Ortega's thread,[ortega] A mobilephone photo a day


I think you can understand what makes a photo stands out from the rest, after seeing these two threads.
there far more many such examples.

 

[blueskye168]

No, not unless one insist to equipped with a DSLR to become a photographer:nono:...

Ranging for mobile phone camera to a simple PnS=point and shoot camera will do...:thumbsup:...

Well, as to believe it or not, you'll have to look around CS...especially those Photo Sections...

 

[Cozer]

many people took notice about Mod ekin's photos is when he still using a coolpix camera.
and He shot most of the photos with D70 in this thread,
To Punggol, With Love

Check out Mod Ortega's thread,[ortega] A mobilephone photo a day


I think you can understand what makes a photo stands out from the rest, after seeing these two threads.
there far more many such examples.

Totally agree. (The Best Camera Is The One That’s With You)

 

[dennisc]

DSLR pic quality wins by a long shot vs superzooms though manufacturers may claim using the same chip ie: Digic 5 - I own both.

 

[nightwolf75]

Dear Seniors
Newbie here,

Right now I kind of into photography, the problem is budget
Well, I not trying to be a professional, but at least enough to showcase my photo.

So with my limited budget, I am contemplating to buy a superzoom camera, (Nikon P520 come into mind).
Because you don't need extra lenses to zoom in zoom out
I kind of need advice from seniors here.

Is superzoom camera has the same quality as DSLR?

Thank you all in advance

i think the better question is are you going to do pro-bono or paid gigs? if pro-bono for friends or company, IMO so long as you can give some pics to your friends/company, no one actually cares very much what you use. if you are doing paid gigs... god help you if you turn up at a client's event in a prosumer zoom camera... they can pay you $10 for the event (just look at the people asking for services in CS...), but you better turn up in a $10k camera with all the accessories to rival Cathay. ;p

 

[Chillibomber]

I think it is more important to find out for yourself the type of photo you like to take. Then it becomes clearer the type of equipment that can help you do it, and their trade-offs (size, price, image quality, versality ...etc). In general, superzoom comes with smaller sensor size. If so the image quality and low light performance would not be as good as an entry-level DSLR. If you are picking up photography generally, a used entry level DSLR and kit lens is really great. After that, you can go for more specialised gears

 

[daredevil123]

Do you need DSLR to become photographer>

No. You don't need a DSLR to be a photographer.

Is superzoom camera has the same quality as DSLR?

No. Quality is very different.

 

[edutilos-]

A "photographer" is just a name.

At the end of the day, a camera is just a tool. Everyone has different demands on what they want out of their hobby. A superzoom small sensor camera at present will not have DSLR quality. Some people can live with that, some people can't. The main reason why I switched to DSLR is really because no superzooms offer the wide perspective that I love so dearly. 90% of my photographs at shot at 10mm (before APS-C crop). Obviously using a superzoom camera where the widest focal length is always going to be around 20 mm IIRC won't cut it.

There are also superzoom lenses - there are a whole bunch of 18-200, 18-250, 18-270 that can be mounted on DSLR, these are quite close to superzoom small sensor cameras.

By the way, some very good macro shooters deliberately use small sensor camera. F/5.6 on a superzoom camera will give greater depth of field compared to F/5.6 on a camera with larger sensor. You have to understand the tool to determine what tool you require. Just like a carpenter has so many ways to build a stool. He can use basic tools, he can use expensive high-tech ones.. At the end of the day it all depends on what kind of stool he wants to build. Photography is not that different in that sense.

So to summarize my post, what do you want? Do you understand the difference between a superzoom camera and a DSLR camera? What you want needs to be answered by yourself, the difference between small sensor and large sensor camera.. The internet is awash and drowning in information on this part. When you understand the difference, and you know what you want, you will know what to buy. Cheers.

 

[intrance]

Dear Seniors
Newbie here,

Right now I kind of into photography, the problem is budget
Well, I not trying to be a professional, but at least enough to showcase my photo.

...

Where do you want to showcase ur photos?

 

[zaren]

what's your budget?

 

[lewissac]

Watch the youtube links below and ask yourself, do you need DSLR to become photographer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh6zr3wKRV0 - Zack Arias
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX76k-chflo - Chase Jarvis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VS3C183G8g - Philip Bloom

 

[SkyStrike]

Watch the youtube links below and ask yourself, do you need DSLR to become photographer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh6zr3wKRV0 - Zack Arias
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX76k-chflo - Chase Jarvis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VS3C183G8g - Philip Bloom

I was also just about to share the same series

This is the whole listing from Digital Rev. "Cheap Camera, Pro Photog"
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7ECB90D96DF59DE5

 

[lewissac]

I was also just about to share the same series

This is the whole listing from Digital Rev. "Cheap Camera, Pro Photog"
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7ECB90D96DF59DE5

Yup. To me this series did inspired me that cheapo camera shoot much more easier than what a DLSR can do.

 

[superkiev]

wow..thank you so much for the answers.
All are good advice. After reading all the advice I think I won't go for DSLR.
I am not trying to be professional, my showcase probably just for personal satisfaction.
Anyway...thanks for the utube link. very inspiring.
Hope to learn more from seniors here

 

[Shizuma]

you can try inexpensive 2nd hand DSLR canon 550d around $300-400 and kit lenses to have a hands on understanding of photography.

just remember to venture out of the automated zones for technical skill building
and foster creative vision

 

[Anson]

To me this series did inspired me that cheapo camera shoot much more easier than what a DLSR can do.

Actually a dslr is easier to shoot than a "cheapo camera", only that the latter force you to be more creative to get a similar effect.

 

[rhino123]

Some of the superzoom (Sony RX10, Fujifilm XS-1) do have IQ that are close to APS-C sensor sized DSLR. But their pricing would not be too cheap (start off price), however, no matter how you look at it, the overall price is still cheaper in a sense (camera body + good telelens would cost alot more than the superzoom RX10 and XS-1). Anyway, like what other had said, you don't really need a DSLR to be a professional, I mean, there is a Nat-Geo photographer who uses the Nokia 1020 to shoot heaps of landscape and wildlife shots.

However, it certainly do help if a not-that-well-known or startup photographer to have the correct tools to get them started... when I say correct tools, I mean, proper camera (large sensor preferred). Why? Not all photographers started off with the same or matching skills as some of the members in this forum. It certainly would compensate their lack of skills with good equipment that took excellent pic right out of their camera, and they could crop these pictures to one that suit their clients. In a sense, they could take photos like machinegun, step up their ISO to allow for faster shutter speed and yet had a more controlled noise level, etc. With time and practice, these new photographers could improve with their skills and techniques and finally could achieve the same or similar results as some of the members here in CS with lousier camera or start-up camera... even mobile phone cameras.

So in summary, yes... it is not needed for a professional photographer to need a DSLR to capture all the beautiful things we had seen. However, it would certainly help if you have a good camera when you start off your photography journey. And I would advise those who aspire to become a skillful professional photographer (but still not there yet), to invest in a good DSLR (can be APS-C, FF or MF) and a couple of good lenses first... it will definitely help you alot.

 

[OoStarDustoO]

Same questions:

Do i need a good badminton racquet to be a badminton player?
Do i need good swimming gears to be a swimmer?
Do i need a good table tennis bat to be a table tennis player?

No you do not need a DSLR to be a photographer, but you do need good equipment, or at least one with manual setting to familiarise yourself with some of the fundamentals.

Many say it's the person behind the lens that counts, but what if this person remains the same, but one shoot with a camera phone and another one with full frame DSLR and lens.

It is reasonably safe to assume that the photos taken using a DSLR will be better.