Saturday, April 01, 2006
Noob: With the same lens, a more expensive DSLR camera can take better quality photos than a cheaper DSLR.
To a large degree this is false. Of course with the higher price the quality is bound to be better but, relatively speaking it is not that much better. Instead, what a more expensive DSLR offers is more features which allows the photographer more potential to get great photos. One good example is burst speed. The entry level Nikon D50 (S$1200) can shoot up to 2.5 frames per second (fps) whereas the top of the line D2X (S$7000) can shoot up to 8 fps. When shooting sports, the D2X has a higher chance of capturing a winning split section action or facial expression. Though of course it should be in the hands of someone experienced to fully harness the extra potential, as the more expensive DSLR has much more controls and settings to baffle the user.
Noob: The body of a DSLR is more important than the lens, so you should invest in a high end body.
This is definitely false. The lens is the key component of the camera. A fast lens (meaning one with large apertures) can let any DSLR take handheld photos in low light conditions without a flash. It can also create a very shallow depth of field to create a wonderful blurry effect in the background (this is called bokeh). No matter how high end your camera body is, it can never do that with a cheap lens. Also the camera body is mainly electronics, whereas the lens is mainly glass. Glass are precision objects and is difficult to manufacture unlike electronic circuits. So good lens comes at a premium because it is difficult to make.
Noob: I just want the lightest and smallest DSLR body.
Again this is not a good idea. When you are upgrading from a point-and-shoot camera, mobility is the first thing on your mind. But you should realize that almost all DSLRs have roughly the same dimensions, i.e. BIG. So its no point choosing a lighter/smaller one just based on this criterion. They are all not going to fit inside your pocket.
Noob: Megapixels are overrated!
Finally you are making some sense. To a large extent, the more megapixels (MP) a camera has does not mean its photos are nicer. BUT, and this is a very big but, more megapixels are very useful to have. Consider the case which I have a 8MP camera and the subject I am shooting only appears in about a quarter of the frame. So I crop the rest away and I am left with a 2MP shot of my subject. Now if I shoot the same thing with a 2MP camera, the subject which I am shooting will only have 0.5MP, which is severely under-detailed! Of course this problem won't arise if I frame my subject properly without having to do cropping afterwards. So in this sense, more MP is more forgiving of framing mistakes. Oh yah, always shoot at the highest resolution of a camera because it is the native resolution of the sensor. If you choose a lower resolution, the camera simply resizes it using its built-in algorithm. For better quality, I recommend resizing it in your computer instead.
Noob: Why is a DSLR good and why is it so expensive???
The main reason why a DSLR is good is because it has a large sensor. A digital camera works by letting light into the lens and then recording the image in a sensor at the other end of the lens. Almost all point-and-shoot (P&S) cameras are tiny and consequently their sensors are small as well. But a DSLR has a larger size and hence larger sensor which allows it to capture more data. Btw this doesn't mean more megapixels. More data means wonderful colors and less noise, which equates to better photos. Of course by this I mean that when you give a P&S and a DSLR camera to a professional to shoot a same scene with the same angle and settings, the photo from the DSLR will be nicer. This is the only way for a relatively apple to apple comparison. Other than large sensors there are other reasons such as flexibility to use different types of lenses, etc.
Other than the fact that a larger sensor costs more and DSLRs have mechanical parts in them which increases the production costs, DSLRs belong to a niche market. Not anyone will buy it as compared to a P&S camera. Buying one is an investment of sorts. So the manufacturers will take this opportunity to sell it at a premium. And its impossible for DSLR prices to match P&S prices because it will eat into the manufacturers own sales. Basic economic logic tells us that manufacturers want to sell to different markets and price differentiation is one way to do that. Remember, a DSLR is an investment, it will last you a long time if you are keen in photography.
Noob: But DSLRs do not have a live LCD for me to compose shots before I shoot!
Well firstly the Olympus E-330 DSLR and the upcoming Panasonic DSLR allows you to compose the photo before you actually press the shutter button and shoot, but lets face it. It looks damn funny to be holding a large camera at arms length to take photos. It only looks proper if you hold the big camera right onto your eye. No, it's no problem if you are wearing glasses. Anyway if you want the convenience of a LCD, just get a P&S instead.
Noob: Surely there are some cons about DSLRs...
Well of course. It is troublesome to change lenses. A lot of P&S and those super-zooms such as the Sony H1 has a large focal range. This means you can take wide shots and telephoto shots with the same fixed lens. Whereas for DSLRs, most of the time your lens will be either suited for wide shots or telephoto shots. So to switch between them, you have to change lenses. Besides the 2-3 minutes downtime needed to change lens, dust can potentially enter your camera when you are doing the changing. Dust will probably accumulate after maybe 6-12 months depending on your usage, but you can send it back to the service center for them to clean it for a nominal fee.
Another con is that sooner or later the BBB bug will infect you (depending on your level of enthusiasm). Most DSLR users will be tempted to Buy Buy Buy better (and more expensive) lenses, external flash, tripod, monopod, filters, more memory cards, dry cabinets, etc. There's simply no escaping it. You might think that you have self control but after using a DSLR for some time the bug will inevitably bite (hard). DSLR users are perfectionists. We want the best the equipment has to offer.
Noob: Thanks for all the info about DSLRs but I think I shall stick to a small digicam. :P
Well to each his own. If you are basically taking photos of friends or glamour shots of yourself to post on your blog, by all means get a teeny P&S. Like I said before, a DSLR is a niche item. It does not mean all your shots will automatically become masterpieces. You only buy it if you want the potential to take breathtaking shots. Otherwise save your money and use it to buy nicer clothes and makeup so that your self-portraits are nicer.
