PowerShot vs. SLR - Please read

[Khryss]

I have a Canon PowerShot S5 IS. I can't afford another camera at the moment. Can I still decent photos with this, as opposed to using an SLR camera? I mean could I still consider myself an amateur photographer using my Canon?

My question must sound ridiculous, but I would appreciate your opinions.

[Chip]

That camera won't hold you back. You can take very good photos, in a wide variety of situations, with it. Just practice and learn from the mistakes you'll make (like all of us do), and you'll improve with time.

As for being "amateur," unless you have paying clients, you're an amateur. I'm an amateur. Nothing to be ashamed of.

[sk66]

A camera is a tool....nothing more than a paintbrush to a painter....

You can be "pro" with your canon.

[Jmf3725]

Before I got my DSLR, I used point and shoot's with great success (still do occasionally) and I think you can achieve great results too, with a little practice and if you're patient enough.

Certain situations obviously will take more effort, but beautiful things can still be done. I'm a firm believer that it's not all about the camera, it's mostly the talent in the shooter, but the camera does help.

In the mean time, just save your pennies for a bigger and better toy and keep shooting.

[teaking]

They say the best camera is the one you have with you on the day

I have saw some great great pictures with 35mm disposable film camera's and Iphone cameras dont let the thought hold you back go have fun!#!!

[PnwGuy]

I agree with sk66. I don't know how long you've been shooting but I can tell you firsthand the first thing to concentrate on is not the equipment, but on the art of photography. Learn all you can about exposure, depth of field, composition, etc.

Once you digest all that you'll probably start realizing the "limitations" of your current camera and you'll know why you need to upgrade and what you should upgrade to. By that time you'll also know if you're going to stick with.

You can still take awesome shots with what you have if you have the knowledge, talent and skills. I started with that same camera. It can do some pretty cool stuff.

I was fortunate (or cursed) enough to be able to buy some decent equipment. It didn't help. I bought low-end DSLR equipment, then sold it and upgraded to the expensive stuff and still saw little improved results.

I wish I had waited until I had a better idea of what I was interested in and then I could have made better decisions on equipment. I should have spent more time focused on the technical end of photography and less time reviewing equipment for purchase.

One more tip...when you do start buying DSLR gear, keep the boxes and original packaging. It will help when you sell it.

[fletch]

You are all wrong. You can only really get good photos with a really big camera. With a powershot you may as well use a disposable camera, my E510 while an SLR is still terible at taking pictures. You need something really big, ideally a Hassleblad but a Nikon D3X may just be OK.

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by fletch

You are all wrong. You can only really get good photos with a really big camera. With a powershot you may as well use a disposable camera, my E510 while an SLR is still terible at taking pictures. You need something really big, ideally a Hassleblad but a Nikon D3X may just be OK.

Aw, come on, picking on the newbies?

Just use what you've got and don't worry about the rest.

[bobajob]

I started with a point and shoot after my 35mm SLR died on me, it was as old as the hills. I got great shots with the point and shoot. I bought a Fuji its a super zoom. 18x optical zoom. It works great for me. Though the manual settings can drive me insane at times. Saving up for DSLR body and glass. I have good quality glass still from my old 35mm SLR but that wont work and nobody wants to buy it. But hang in there, and enjoy the learning curve.

[milosh]

Just try to learn basics of photography, the exposure and composition primarily and don't worry about the equipment. Some of the best images were taken with not-high end cameras, you can find them everywhere. If you have good subjects and composition, you'll have good photos.
Here's a photostream from a Serbian photographer, they call him the phenomenon with an Ixus:
Flickr: Uros Petrovic's Photostream
They say that all his shots were taken with a Canon Ixus P&S. He even seems to be holding it in one picture.