ryaneverk2, that was the question I wanted to know about point & shoot digi-cams.

So you do have to hold down the shutter button abit before it shoots a pic.

Dosen't sound like it's a good system for action shoots.

Sounds like DSLRs are the way to go for action photography, correct?

 

Exactly... in my experience with point and shoot digital cameras (the popular ones that everyone seems to own nowadays ) are that they're slow to focus, and really require a couple seconds to get a picture. I remember for the past few years posing in family group pictures at parties and Christmas and such, and there will be 4-5 digital cameras taking pics, and each one the picture taker says "1,2,3" and then it's another 2 seconds as they hold the button and the camera FINALLY takes a picture. Seems to me that taking actions shots would be tough. Also, I've noticed that these cameras seem to be slow to navigate through the menus and switch between settings and such.

This article that Bob Ayers linked to earlier really covers all this and more in some good detail:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/2dig.htm

With the digital SLR, everything is lightning fast. I can be looking through the pics I've taken, skipping through them as fast as I can hit the button, then in an instant I can press the shutter button, it zooms, and bam takes a pic all in less than a second it seems. Then boom I can go right back to viewing the pics, and delete them or view them as quickly as I can press the buttons. The menus are very quick and nice, too. The auto zoom is very fast, and then it has all the features to really let you fine tune it that I haven't even gotten to yet. Not to mention the dslr's just take better pictures because their image sensors are huge compared to p/s cameras.

I really think if you read that article about p/s vs dslr cameras, and then read the article on the D50, you'll be hooked. In fact, I challenge you to do so and NOT get hooked! I think also that if you're used to using 35mm film cameras you're whole life, it will be a real tough adjustment to use a p/s and wait 3 seconds for the camera to focus and take a picture... the dslr will maintain that instant action, and that's what I like about them most, I think. Not to mention you can zoom like a real camera, with just a quick turn of the ring, instead of holding that little zoom button to the left or right.

 

ryaneverk2, thanks for the link. I've seen it before, but never read it through. Now I must.

If used 35mm cameras since the late 60's.

If you need someone to thoroughly test your D50..............

 

some of these digital slrs have a default setting for a extended time before the flash and pic taken.

Maybe check your camera for this default and set it to *immediate* instead of 2 second wait?

 

Oh I have no problem with my digital SLR... it's very, very quick. I was saying that that was one of my main complaints with the point and shoots.

 

In addition to a long start up time when you turn a "point and shoot" on, they also have what's called "shutter lag" which is very annoying. The DSLRs
come on instantly and shutter lag is virtually non existant. DSLRs will also
shoot in "RAW" format (in addition to JPG). With "RAW" format, your getting
all of the sensor data, not a compressed version that you get with JPG.
Since the "RAW" file has all the data, you have more capability in post processing your photos using Photoshop, or other post processing software (Nikon Capture) in my case. And another big advantage over 35mm SLRs, the film is cheaper!!!!

 

As I had a Pentax 35mm SLR with two very nice lenses I purchased a Pentax istDS digital with lens. The old lenses work great with the new camera, this was the deciding factor for my brand selection. As stated previously the size of the CCD being smaller than a 35 mm negative gives you in effect a bit (X 1.4?) longer lens. The menus on these cameras are extensive and can be tuned for your shooting preferences. One shutter setting is to lock the mirror up 2 seconds prior to exposure, this is typically for low light shots to reduce camera shake.

A point to be made; If you do not have the camera with you, you will not get the shot. There are many great digital pocket cameras out, usually the only limitation with these is the glass, objectives are smaller and gather a bit less light and you are limited to one lens. I find Digital cameras do much better in low light that even the fastest 35 mm films anyway.

 

How much does a roll of 35mm digital film cost?

 

watch out for Sierraben, Bob, he tried to "borrow" my D70 and telephotos a few weeks ago when I posted my Canadian wildlife pics. But I was smart this time, I wouldn't let him until he returns the other things he's borrowed: my lawnmower, my chainsaw, my boat, my F250, my girlfriend...

 

How much does a roll of 35mm digital film cost?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You chuckle,

I just paid $4.00 for a roll of 24.

yes Digital Film

 

The biggest issue with point and shoots, is the time it takes to charge the flash. If you have the flash enabled, there is typically a red light that will blink when the camera is turned on and after each pic is taken, and it will blink until the flash is charged. The point and shoot that I bought, at the time, was the fastest 'ready to shoot' camera on the market and at the highest res and quality, can, from pressing the on button, shoot and fully record two pictures and be ready to shoot the third in about 8 seconds... which isn't lightning fast but isn't exactly a slug either.

I like the point and shoot because, being the size of an inch thick credit card, I can put it in my pocket and take it anywhere... When my friend brings his DSLR, he brings a suitcase! I'm also a wannabe amatuer photographer so I am interested in the DSLR's and their flexibility, in terms of manual operation and lens choices.

 

You probably don't want the girlfriend back...

 

I have a P&S digital camera for the occasions when I don't want to haul the D70 around. This is usually when I'm someplace where I'd like to be a tad less conspicuous or I'm afraid of my camera getting ripped off or broken. That's why my D100 (which I sold earlier this year) did NOT go to Oktoberfest!!