DSLR v. not

[swampthing]

Question for you, for inside 50 yard shots at posibally moving game, what are the advantages of a dslr. What is it about thier pic quality makes them better? sharper, less motion blur, more light gathering???

[Killdeer]

The main advantage is in the ability to interchange lenses. You can switch from a telephoto, for its foreshortening effects and getting close-ups of more distant animals, to a wide-angle, faster lens for your panning shots at moving game (or kids).

Some cameras might give you most of that without the bulk and expense of extra lenses, plus the futz time spent deciding your strategy and changing them out. DSLRs are pretty bulky, and you might decide that you don't want the hassle of carrying it, and miss any shots altogether because you didn't have that little snapper in your coat pocket.

I have put off getting a DSLR for years, making do with a Canon point-and-shoot. I will get one, eventually, because I have three very cool lenses to use on one. But check out the pics that Elksong posted, taken with a Canon SX30IS. This camera appears to be the same size as my EOS film cameras, but all that lens capability is contained in the body.

My own little camera, a Canon G9, is much smaller, but does not have the same zoom capability as this other one. Shop around, learn about what you really need the camera to do, and you will be amazed at what is out there to pick from.

Killdeer

[Snakeeater]

The main difference between the point and shoot/idiot cameras and their DSLR cousins, in my experience, is how fast they can take pictures. I have a Canon SX20IS and I haven't seen anything that the DSLR does that it can't do except for how many pictures it can take per second. The DSLR is about 2x faster. This means that if you set it for multiple shots you get more chances of getting the image you want of the animal you are photographing.

[684Kevin]

I use both but tend to grab my compact point and shoot Panasonic DMC-ZS5.  Leica lense and great optical zoom.    This camera will fit in my shirt pocket and doesnt clutter/fill up my fanny pack like the SLR.  It is actually smaller than my range finder.  Plus I have dropped/knocked off a SLR from a tree stand, big $$ and a pain in the #?@ to get fixed.  I cannot tell any difference in the photos I take from the SLR unless it is almost dark.  The only advantages I can see is the SLR can gather more light just from the larger surface area of lense and if taking really long range photos it tend to be steadier in the hand. My compact is with me everytime I hunt whether I bring the SLR or not.  It never take it out of the the fanny pack/pocket.

[swampthing]

How about zooming in on pics with your computer. I take pics with my P&S and then when I view them on the computer they look great, but, when I zoom them in the small sensor rears it's ugly head, does this get any better with dslr pics.? Meaning: take a pic, insert mem card in comp. view pics, then zoom in. I get to about 25% zoom or so before I notice the digital/pixel blocks in the pics. Is that any better with a dslr?

[hawk22]

The difference isn't really the camera.  DSLR's use interchangeable lenses and the LENS is what makes the photos better.  Using a high quality lens with my nikon dslr will every time take better photos than any point and shoot out there.  That being said I do have an olympus point and shoot that I keep in my pocket for snap shots but if I want photos that are going to be print worthy I take out the dslr.  The biggest thing with a dslr is knowing how to use it.  If you have no clue how to use it than it is nothing more than an oversized point and shoot.

[swampthing]

I do get that, but, if you take out your card, put it on the computer and zoom in on it, dslr pic, how much can you zoom in before it quality suffers?

[hawk22]

It depends on how you have the camera set.  For example, on nikon's you have several sizes of images from small jpeg sized images all the way to RAW or uncompressed images.  RAW will give you the most to work with.  You can also change the quality of the images.  If you're planning on doing some editing, cropping, or make some large prints you should have your camera set on the highest image quality and largest size image that your computer's editing software can handle.

[swampthing]

With everything set as you say, maxed out, can zoom in and achieve, say over a 50mm lens, 100mm or more equivelant?

[Snakeeater]

swampthing,

Two things to keep in mind are:

1. Set your camera to use the highest resolution possible (the most pixels)and this will help you avoid the pixilation when you zoom in. This is what hawk22 was talking about.

2. Never use digital zoom to get closer to a subject. Digital zoom is just like when you zoom in on your computer. If you use digital zoom when taking a picture you will wind up with less pixels in the final image. Use the physical zoom instead and you will wind up with the large number of pixels that you want.

Hope this helps,

Larry

[swampthing]

So would it be safe to say that I would need about 200mm for 50yard shots?

[Camo Bowman]

Swampthing,
I have some experience with photography. If you are using a DSLR, without knowing what model you may be using, I have to refer to generalities. The sensor size in your camera will determine what the image will be when using a 200mm lens. If you have a higher range camera that has  what is called a "Full size" sensor, you will get the same image that you would get by using a 35mm film camera. But chances are that you are using a camera that has what is called a "C sized" sensor. This is the sensor size used on most Canon DSLRs in the affordable range, let's say; like the 60D down through the T1s and so forth. The image size, in these cameras, has a "multiplication factor" of 1.6x. That means that the image that you will get if you are using a 200mm lens is going to be equal to a "normal" 320mm lens on a 35mm film camera. At 50 yds, you will get an image that you will be able to crop, using most "PhotoShop" type programs, to the point where you may well, be able to see the whiskers on a deer. You may even see the moister on his/her nose. Of course, how proficient you are with the camera will be a determining factor with regard to the overall clarity of the image, too. Available light will also have a large effect on the outcome. Another subject is the number of pixels in your sensor. Let's say an older 8 megapixel camera  such as the Canon 20D is not going to make the same image as say the new Canon T3 Rebel or the 60D. Those cameras are 18 megapixel sensor cameras which will allow you to crop way down and still get an image that is very recognizable. I hope this helps.

[swampthing]

Yes indeed, and thank you. Been shooting my new DSLR for a while, DX format. So getting first hand experience with it. I've found that with my 14mp's I can zoom/crop in a little more than half way or so on the computer monitor before I start to see the squares. Good stuff, but no huge difference there copared to a P/and/S camera. Now the large "prints" thats another story.
Thanks again.

[wapiti1997]

The big difference of being able to focus on what you want to in a forested setting instead of what the camera wants to is huge comparing a p/s to a dslr.


If all you want are web sized photos, no real difference between the two..

[JL]

I own 4 or 5 Nikon DSLR's, various lens, external flashes, ect. I also own a Canon G9 amoung other cameras, camcorders, ect.

The DSLR's take the best pic's because the size of the sensor used. Look at it this way, the larger the sensor, the larger the individual pixel within the sensor. The larger the pixel, the more light sensitive the pixel. The more sensitive the pixel, the better the reproduction when it captures a image. Lens quality and camera functions (method of compression, metering, OS, ect) plays a large role in overall image quality also. They work hand in hand with the sensor to store the image on the memory card.

With that said, the SX line of cameras that Canon offer's would be a good fit for the outdoors-person, in my opinion. They have a strong optical zoom rating, silent shutter release and record great quality video with the puch of a dedicated button on the back of the body. The zoom is also functional during video recording (a big plus). I'm going to add a SX series camera to my mix of equipment at some point. Most likely the SX30 after the prices come down a bit.

All in all, pick a camera you will keep with you and use. The best camera in the world does you no good when it's sitting on the seat of your truck when you need it...

JL

[centaur]

Yet another curve ball to throw in; consider the 4thirds system. Many of the advantages of a DSLR, but in a more compact size, yet with a sensor close to or the same as a DSLR. My camera that goes in my hunting pack is usually my Canon G11, however.

[swampthing]

Yeah, I looked at them, but they were not all that much more compact than a SLR. G11's a good cam, if you want to go even smaler, Canon's S95 has the same sensor as the G series, but has a much faster f2 lens on it for better low light performance.