Re: Buying digital cameras - basic vs high end cameraWayne wrote:
>>> Plenty of inexpensive P&S cameras with manual overrides and zooms
>>> are available that take great pictures. If you are a average/casual
>>> user it doesn't make sense to spend the extra money to purchase a
>>> DSLR today only to become the not so latest and greatest tomorrow.
>>> That is unless you want to impress your neighbors.
>
>> I don't believe this is true at all.
>
> It may not be true for all, but it is obviously true for most.
>
> We don't choose between a low end and a high end camera for any of the
> reasons that have been stated.
On the contrary, I'm sure many of the reasons that have been stated
drive many decisions. (I'm certainly not claiming *all* though!)
> It is certainly not because the low end "picture lacks sharpness and
> contrast, has poor color, and is generally disappointing." Obviously
> false, the $200 point&shoots are pretty amazing. Perhaps not so
> versatile in A mode, but capable. If all we will ever use is the Auto A
> mode, then it is versatile enough for us.
Contrast and color, in particular, are not the faults; the cheaper the
camera, the more those two are likely to be pumped up in fact!
One could stay in A mode (probably P mode actually) and still want
faster autofocus and faster general responsiveness, though.
> It is not because of life expectency before it wears out. Shouldnt be a
> problem, especially not for a less serious photographer using it less.
From listening to friends and personal experience, the P&S seem to last
1-5 years before they die.
> It is not because it may become obsolete, any will, but it still should do
> everything in ten years that it does now. We all know people still quite
> happy with 1 or 2 megapixels because they never print anything. 3 or 4
> megapixels will print 4x6 inches, and 6 or 8 megapixels will print 8x10
> inches. Few of us have any use for more megapixels. But if you need more,
> you should buy more.
I have 5 8x10 prints from 2MP images framed on the walls. I've put them
in stacks of photos to show people who print from medium format film in
the darkroom, too, and nobody has complained about lack of resolution.
(But I'm not claiming *every* 2MP image will print a decent 8x10; just
that it's surprising what you can get away with sometimes.)
> The reason to choose higher price is to get more features and options,
> presumably because we expect to use them. It is of course wasted if you
> wont use them, at least now and then. Interchangeable lens is the biggest
> option, which requires a DSLR. Many see this as essential, but most
> others dont even know what it is. Most have no concept of photography
> except "this button turns it on, and this button is the shutter". And it
> works for them. But if you want and need features, then you buy
> features.
>
> Even in DSLR, there is low end and high end. Differences are still about
> features. What will the camera do? More experienced photographers will
> use more of those options, and less experienced photographers will not.
> The camera features will not do it for you. Those people that instead
> always leave it in A Auto mode dont need much in features.
You could call them "features", but there are performance issues as
well. Fast lenses. Fast autofocus. Autofocus tracking of moving
subjects. Fast repeat rate.
> We should buy the camera with the features to do what we want it to do.
> It is mostly about us.
Always true of any tool, of course.