This entry, probably, is not for those with high purchasing power, who could afford to buy any one of those expensive DSLRs — and the flashguns and all the fancy lenses — without feeling a pinch on their bottomlines.
This entry, perhaps, is for people like me, who could afford an entry level DSLR like the Canon EOS 450D or the Nikon D60 but not the the lenses (I would require a close-up lens, powerful telephoto lens, etc, which are more expensive than the camera).
What I’m trying to discuss here is the issue of finding a right balance between the need to have a DSLR set, with all the lenses, and the reality of not being able to afford them.
To upgrade or not to upgrade to DSLR
If you have been using point-and-click cameras for sometime, chances are, you had, at some point of your photographic life, wanted to upgrade to a DSLR because of the versatility and the high image quality it offers.
But still, despite the satisfaction of being able to shoot with a DSLR — and believe me, shooting while looking through the viewfinder provides much more satisfaction than shooting while looking at the LCD screen with the camera positioned at arms’ length — if all you have for a DSLR lens is the kit lens, you would still lament the camera’s limited zoom capability.
On the other hand, there are already good point-and-click cameras which offer superb telephoto capability, such as the upcoming Canon PowerShot SX1 IS, Canon PowerShot SX10 IS, Olympus SP-565UZ, Casio EX-FH20 — and I’m sure Nikon will soon come up with its own model — all offering 20x optical zoom with image stabilisation.
Not only that you will be able to zoom very close to the subject — something you won’t be able to do with your DSLR if you have limited funds to invest in telephoto lenses — you will also be able to shoot in wide-angle, a feature only recently introduced in super zoom point-and-click cameras.
And if you invest a little bit more, you’d get to buy a tele-converter where you can double the optical zoom or a wide-angle converter to increase the wide-angle capability, of these high-end point-and-click cameras.
So, what should it be?
So, should you buy an entry level DSLR or a high-end point-and-click camera? This has been my dilemma for already a couple of years now.
At some point, I was ready to upgrade to a DSLR but then, suddenly, as though coming from nowhere, camera manufacturers unleashed their super zoom point-and-click cameras, leaving me unable to decide on whether to proceed with the DSLR I had in mind.
This should work for me
My solution, at the moment, is this. My priority is a camera that has telephoto capability. Obviously, I won’t be able to afford that in a DSLR. So, I’m going to buy one of the 20x optical zoom cameras, most probably the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS.
Then, later on, I would buy a DSLR camera to get a real photo-taking satisfaction.
So instead of a DSLR plus all the bulky lenses, my photographic equipment would be a DSLR plus a super zoom point-and-click camera. Make sense? No?
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
How about a mixture of dSLR and PnS like Panasonic DMC-G1?
I think the G1 is not really a PnS camera but rather, a “DSLR” minus the mirror box — a “middle ground” of sort between DSLR and PnS.
If one already has a DSLR set (including all the lens he/she wants), having the smaller, lighter G1 as a second camera will be a good idea compared to an ordinary PnS because of the image quality (at least that’s what the review says) the G1 has to offer.
Just my 2 sen anyway..
I was in the same dilema trying to decide if I would go with the new entry DSLRs (Nikon D5000 or Canon T1I) or go with the megazoom cameras
In the end I went with the Canon SX1 Is. I am very pleased with my decision. Over the weekend I went to see the Blue Angle air show and was able to take amazing shots of the planes going 500+ mph with the camera hand-held. My friend and his mom now both want to get the camera as well.
I really appreciate your review here, but I do not understand the last paragraph of your closing statement. You say:
So instead of a DSLR plus all the bulky lenses, my photographic equipment would be a DSLR plus a super zoom point-and-click camera. Make sense? No?
And just before the above mention that you will eventual buy a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera.
I, Joseph say this to what you have said:
I understand that you like and will buy the Canon SX1 IS. And I myself will probably buy the same camera because it sounds exactly like what I’m looking for(and as I side note, I only shoot using the Swivel LCD display)I never shoot with my eye up to the eyepiece. But then, I’m a photojournalist/Fine Artist Photographer and I like to look at people places and things without a camera in my face. Camera is always at waist level or overhead. Thus any camera without a swivel LCD I would never buy and do not understand how any camera company would make a camera with a fixed LCD screen. Too Limiting. Yet the $6,000 dollar cannon and nikon cameras have fixed LCD screens. Ouch! Limitations Hurt too much.
Back to this article. again, thank you for writing it. But, you say you will just buy a Digital SLR and a super zoom point-and-click camera. So, are you going to buy a Digital SLR without buying any lenses for it, and then just keep it for the one day that you will buy a lens or a few lenses for it, all the while enjoy shooting with your Super zoom point-and-click camera? you then ask if this makes sense. and I must say, no, I do not understand the reason you would buy a D-SLR and the point and Click but not buy the Lenses at this time. Please elaborate on this detail. Or anyone can write me to comment and clear up my misunderstanding of this written detail. Thank you! My email address is mind_thoughts@yahoo.com . No spam please. Thank you!
Marius, it’s good that you like the camera because that would make snapshooting enjoyable.
Joseph, thank you for commenting. I should have added the phrase “a DSLR with kit lens” to the last sentence to make my point clearer.
What I want to say is this, instead of buying 1) a DSLR and 2) all the expensive lenses, I should instead buy 1) a DSLR with a kit lens and 2) a super zoom compact camera.
By the way, that is exactly what I’ve done… bought the SX1 IS in Dec 2008 and recently the Pentax K-7 with a 18-250mm lens. I’ve also added a super macro conversion lens to the SX1 IS.
I see. Great. This clarification is absolutely perfect. I just could not imagine what you meant. And now, I realize what you meant. Thank you Jaxon.
Just found your website, and am really enjoying it. This was exactly my debate this summer. I eventually settled on the Canon Powershot SX10. It is a fantastic camera and I am really glad I chose it, however, it definitely has limitations, and I already know that someday I will still want a DSLR. I’m glad I chose this camera, though because it is very easy to use and still has a lot of versatility, is much easier to carry around than a DSLR with a bunch of lenses, and I am definitely not ready to buy all the lenses I would need to have with a DSLR. I know that this camera will still see a lot of use when I eventually decide I’m ready to invest in an upgrade.
Hi Lisa, glad the hear you like your camera. I once owned a camera I didn’t like and knew how it was to be shooting with it.
Ya, the SX10 IS/SX1 IS are a useful camera and they remain useful even after upgrading. I still shoot with the SX1 IS, especially for macro shots as I already invest in a macro conversion lens for the SX1 IS.
In fact, I still shoot with my five-year-old Canon PowerShot G6. My other digital camera, the one I didn’t like, is gathering dust somewhere
Hi, thanks for this. This is EXACTLY the same dilemma I’m in now. I mainly take shots of my toddler/family/doggie/vacations and this decision is SO hard because the price difference b/n the (Canon G11 and an entry level SLR is so small. I rarely print larger than 5×7 and mostly post to online albums. I want a camera that has great quality pics but also has zoom capabilities. I’m afraid that if I buy an SLR, I’ll be limited in my zoom capabilities and will be forced to buy another lens (something I really don’t want to have to carry around).
Can you all help clear this big cloud for me?
I own an old Canon G camera, the G6, and still impressed with the pictures it takes till to date. I think the G11 will be a very good camera in terms of image quality and the articulating screen will be of big advantage for the type of pictures you are taking — toddler, family, vacation, etc — where you might need to take pictures at awkward angles, eg at the ground level.
The G11 is not a camera for action shots, however, because of its limited continuous shooting speed, which is at 1.1 frame per second, if remember it correctly.
If you choose a DSLR, then you may want to buy an “all-in-one” lens, with focal length of about 18-200mm, for instance, to cater for the need to zoom. But it’s going to be quite bulky.
If you are not ready for a DSLR yet, then the G11 will be a great “in the meantime” camera.
Most point and shoot camera owners will ultimately upgrade to a DSLR and having an extensive experience shooting with a point and shoot camera will help determine the type of DSLR one eventually ends up upgrading to.
Hey Guys,
I am new to this forum & a proud owner of Fujifilm S100FS , ( advanced bridge camera , Ultra precision 28-400 manual zoom lens , excellent photographic experience Dslr type , bit bulky ( 900gms. ) , Amazing low light capabilities, beautiful macros & look feel & quality of a mid range Dslr, some of the capabilities even matct to a high end dslr, & price tag of $600 , ( much less than a equivalent dslr ), to check the fotos visit Fuji S100fs /Flickr