Quote:
Originally Posted by The Monkey
So true, Abe.
My concern about a dSLR is just that it will be too hard to use for a newb like me. But I tend to learn fast and my wife is pretty decent with a camera. The image stabilization is a concern, though. How much of a problem is shake with the current crop of entry-level dSLRs? And how much faster are they in terms of recovery time, because this will be important. Finally, as I understand it the dSLRs perform better in low light, true?
poor, poor wallet.
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DSLR's are actually quite easy to use, IMHO. I've only been messing with cameras at all for a year, and the D50 is actually easier to use than my previous Polaroid PDC5070(the worst camera ever made
) and Minolta Z1
Reason being, all the switches on a DSLR respond properly, especially in manual modes, mine of choice being Aperture Priority- one also isn't requred to be tethered to a menu driven system. Command dials allow ISO, quality, white balance, exposure, and some other functions by simply holding an appropriate button and spinning a wheel, which couldn't be easier, unless the camera knew what I was thinking(now wouldn't that be nice, LOL?). The use of such a camera tends to get less in the way of the creative eye of the person tabking the shot. Since there's no LCD screen or motorized zooming, there's alot less battery drain (the D50 and most newer Nikons/Canons perfom excellently in this regard). Image stabilization has to be added to most DSLR's currently on the market; the exception is the Minolta Maxxum 5D/7D, which contain CCD-anti shake, meaning all lenses used with those camera bodies get the benefits of anti shake, but lenses like the 18-200 VR are a bit better in this regard- they cost more, but are said to work a little better and faster. Of course, I have yet to use one, so I'm probably talking out of my arse
My technique on combating camera shake is to hold the camera properly, brace it if possible, and use it wide open whenever I can, to get in as much light as I can.
If your shutter speed exceeds the motor drive framrate of any SLR, digtal or not, then there is no lag. Cameras like the Rebel XT's 3 fps and D50's 2.5 are exactly that, as long as your shutter speed isnt super slow. recovery time is practically instintaneous, aside from flash charge lag, but that's minimal, and as long as you shy away from using an asssist illuminator to combat red eye, the flash works faster with better results most of the time. It usually depends on the performance of the lens, but yes, most of the time an SLR will perform better in low light, especially if one uses something like a fixed focus 50mm f1.8, which has an aperture so large that low light(but shallow), non flash, sharp low light exposures should be a very good possibility. Most of this info is explained in better detail at
www.kenrockwell.com, and of course I could be wrong about a few things, but I hope the info helps!
,
Abe
