Compact v DSLR

[chriskey]

I have recently purchased a Canon EOS 500D and am currently disappointed with the picture quality compared to my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7. In the Landscape set zone, why does the Panasonic have a shutter speed of 1/400 but the Canon is 1/100 and the sharpness and colours with the Panasonic are much greater. This is my 1st post and as a new user to this site I would be grateful for any feedback you can give. I have tried to attach a photo with no luck!

[RichardTaylor]

Re posting.
Where are you trying to post from, like Flickr?

Re landscape mode.
P&S cameras have lots of depth of field (DOF or zone of sharpness) whilst SLRs do not unless the aperture is reduced. To get the same DOF the aperture may needs to be stopped down two stops on the SLR so the shutter speed would need to be increased 4 times to have the correct exposure in the same light.

See end of this post and post #3 in the series.
Exposure (2) ISO + Intro to Aperture

Re image quality.
P&S cameras tend to saturate the colours and apply a lot of sharpening to photographs.
DSLRs do not unless you tell it to (via camera menus) or do it when post processing the camera image.

DSLRS are capable of better images than P&S cameras, however to get the most out of them the photographer has to work at it and know how the camera and lens works, understand light, and know how to post process .

I shoot with both DSLR and a P&S cameras.

[chriskey]

I was just trying to upload it from Windows...it all seemed to be going well until I got that message at the end.

I set my Canon to 1/400 but the difference in sharpness was still greater on the P&S.

Thanks for your feedback, I will certainly try your advice.

Another thing that is really winding me up are the AF points. I know I've only had this camera a week and am only just starting to do it as a serious hobby but there is just so much to it. I have an old 35mm Minolta SLR but this Canon is so advanced and, as you say, it will take alot of practice to get it right.

I did get to the point of thinking of returning it but would you advise me to persevere with it and eventually my shots will improve and become better than with the P&S??

[RichardTaylor]

I havn't posted directly to this site (I use Flickr) so I cant help you there.

For "standard sun at your back landscapes etc" you wont notice a lot of difference and I think that for very close up a work P&S can be better than a DSLR with a standard lens.

However in anything but reasonably good conditions, a DSLR (with the correct lens) will run rings around a P&S. I'm talking about sport/action, capturing the moment (effectively no noticable shutter lag), low light (without a tripod) and very shallow DOF. The only real downside is cost.

As far as all the focus points go on the DSLR I mostly just use the centre focus point only, however I do change the focussing method depending on what I am shooting.

I went from film SLRs (Pentax in the 1960's, Minolta (SRT101) in the 70's, Canon in the 90's) and going to a digital SLR in 2006 was like coming back home.

Should you keep your DSLR - it all depends on how far you want to take your photography.

[Gaurav Prabhu]

First its better you read up articles here at DPS. Next would be your camera manual. A DSLR produces images which need post-processing(sharpening, saturation etc) whereas a compact camera produces images which can be used directly.

[chriskey]

So I should really persevere and not give in so easily? I am determined and eager to learn but get easily frustrated if I don't get the quality I'm used to with the Compact camera. And I will take all advice given...the more, the better, I have read some pointers on this site and will continue to read more.
Thanks so far for your feedback.

[Ambrosia76]

Maybe think of it this way-

In film days taking pics with a 35 MM camera took some know how in how to set the camera,compose the shot, develop it and print the film. A lot of knowledge and work but a great end result if you had patience. Much like the DSLRs of today.

A Polaroid camera only needed you to push the button and out popped the photo you wanted- instant gratification, very similar to point and shoot,all you need to do is push the button.

[Gaurav Prabhu]

Being patient will definitely help.

[gturner]

Have you read the manual of the 500D?
Do you understand why the camera arrives at certain settings in auto mode and that there is a constant relationship between the shutter speed, the ISO and the aperture.

Once you understand the technical basics, you will understand that you have a much wider range of tools to work with on the canon.

[dlambert]

You're getting some good advice here so far. Having upgraded from a Panasonic FZ-28 to a Canon 30D (and then to a 40D), I'll offer my impressions.

The first thing I did when I got the 30D was compare it to my Panny. I was a little disappointed to see that in places where I set up a good shot for the Panny, the 30D didn't really do a ton better. The more I used the 30D, though, the more I came to appreciate settings & scenarios where it did a fine job, and the Panny would have just been sucking wind. In other words, when you've got really favorable shooting conditions, a good P&S will, indeed give you results that are comparable to an entry-level DSLR. The DSLR, though, has the ability to keep producing decent results when the conditions are less ideal.

The DSLR also has more room to grow. If you get to a point where you want to upgrade a lens or add an external flash or whatever, the DSLR can handle this, where the P&S is pretty much maxxed-out when you open the box. Again, you might see this as a benefit or a drawback ("Why does it seem like I keep on buying camera equipment?").

Pay attention to some scenarios where your Panny struggles a bit -- if it's anything like mine, for instance, it didn't like to shoot anything from about ISO 400 up (it got super-noisy). Try your Canon in a setting like that and see if you don't see some improvement.

And by all means, keep studying that manual.