SLR or Compact ?? Olympus or Canon ?????????

[Juiceloose]

Hi folks,

I'm looking to buy my first digital camera. I currently have a Canon EOS 300 with Canon wide angle and telephoto lenses. Whilst I'm happy with the camera I can't really be bothered to carry the kit around with me all of the time.

I rarely take pictures of people but do take a lot of landscape shots etc. when on holiday. I also attend airshows and take pictures of aircraft on the ground and also in flight during a display.

Will a compact digital camera be able to take a picture of a plane in flight without blurring the image or will I need to buy a digital SLR such as the EOS300D ?

If a compact will cope with aircraft shots I have narrowed it down to 3:

Canon G6
Canon S70 (like the wide angle lense for landscapes)
Olympus 770 (long zoom lense for airshows)

Any advice as to whether to stick with digital SLR or which of the three compacts would best suit my needs would be very gratefully appreciated.

Many thanks,

Steve.

[Ivor_Monkey]

www.dpreview.com does excellent comparisons.

[Juiceloose]

Ivor,

Thanks for the link.

Having compared all three they look fairly similar apart from pixels being substantially lower and the zoom substantially longer on the Olympus.

Would I notice a far worse picture quality on the Olympus due to lower pixel count ??

Can a compact cope with snapping fast moving aircraft ??

Thanks again.

Steve.

[Smiffy 2]

Sorry to butt in but have you considered the Panasonic FZ20?
Recent review on Steves digicams rated it the closest you can get to digital SLR quality in a "compact".
I purchased one about 2 months ago and find the picture quality is superb thanks to the Leica 12 x zoom lens, and shopping around on the internet found my local Jessops store willing to price match down to £349.00 from their advertised £449.00!!
There aren't many reviews on the camera yet because it is such a new model but what there are, are well worth tracking down.
Another nice thing about this camera (which would obviously help in your aerial photography) is that shutter lag is minimal.
Very good low light capabilities as well.
Apologies if I confuse the issue but would recommend you take a look at the price.
Rob

[Juiceloose]

Rob,

Thanks for the information.

I will read the review on Steves digicams and add it to my shortlist.

I note your comment about shutterlag. Given that I have never used a diital camera, do most compacts generally suffer from shutter lag ??

Cheers,

Steve.

[Smiffy 2]

Steve
shutter lag is one of the biggest problems with digital compacts. I bought a Fuji earlier this year which had a brilliant lens and the picture quality was superb but the dreaded lag was my reason for changing. Some cameras are better than others where this is concerned, but they will all suffer from it to a certain degree.
I didn't want to make the same mistake twice and to be honest Panasonic wasn't a name that even entered my head when I was looking for a replacement for the Fuji, I too was thinking Canon, Olympus, Nikon etc.
I find a good source of reviews is a visit to www.internetcamerasdirect.co.uk which will not only give a good indication of discounted prices, but will also give links to reviews from other independant sources.
I find Steves digicams particularly good for reviews and there is a link to another review site (can't remember their name ) and this is as good a place as any to start your homework.
With regard purchasing the camera I will always try to use my local Jessops branch if possible. They do operate a "price match" system and I do feel a little more comfortable purchasing locally should I get any problems at some future date.
I would like to update to a digital SLR at sometime in the future (when the prices become more realistic) but at the moment I find this Panasonic to be superb.
The 12 x zoom as I mentioned really gets you close to the action, Leica lenses are one of the best lenses out there, and the menu functions are easily understood for a numpty like me!
So read the reviews, check how they report on "shutter lag" and also DO NOT BUY A DIGITAL CAMERA WITHOUT AN AUTOFOCUS ASSIST LAMP!!!
Another area that the Fuji was let down was it's lack of the above and low light focusing was terrible. I couldn't use it at either a party or a firework display that I attended because of this, where my wife's cheapy Samsung was snapping away merrily.
Hope this helps mate
Rob

[Juiceloose]

Rob,

Thank you for the quick response.

I really do fancy a fairly compact digital with reasonable pixel count and good zoom capabilities primarily for the ease of carrying it around in my pocket.

However, given your comments about shutter lag, I'm now beginning to wonder whether it would be better to forget size and just invest in the Canon 300D SLR to go with the Canon lenses that I already have.

Decisions, decisions !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again for your help and comments.

Steve.

[Smiffy 2]

Steve
don't give up on the idea of a compact all together mate.
Shutter lag is getting better as newer models come out and as I said in an earlier post, some models suffer much less than others.
Just a point to note

[Johndm]

Originally Posted by Juiceloose

Hi folks,
I rarely take pictures of people but do take a lot of landscape shots etc. when on holiday. I also attend airshows and take pictures of aircraft on the ground and also in flight during a display.

Will a compact digital camera be able to take a picture of a plane in flight without blurring the image or will I need to buy a digital SLR such as the EOS300D ?
Steve.

Skip the toy camera, go for the SLR..

You say your main subjects are landscapes and aircraft....mine too!
I looked long and hard at the compacts, but landscapes need high pixels for good detail, aircraft need good glass and no shutter lag which compacts all suffer from badly.

As you have some Canon lenses already, these will go on a 300D no probs.
If you are used to an 'analogue' SLR, you will be deeply disapointed with compact results. Would you get rid of a 32" widescreen TV for a 12" 'compact'....I think not!

If you want to be convinced, look here..

http://www.airliners.net/search/phot...nct_entry=true

All taken with a 300D and 'kit' lens, and an affordable Canon 75-300 USM

No contest with a compact.........they take snaps...SLR will take pictures.

[witters]

I agree entirely with Johndm. Compacts are for snaps and DSLR take photos.

Also, good as the FZ-20 is, don't expect to put it in your pocket.

[Juiceloose]

Thanks John (great aircaft photographs) and Witters.

Will go with the 300D for main photographs.

Still want a compact to stick in my pocket for those quick and easy shots. Think the Canon S70 is the most compact of those in my original shortlist.

Any views ??

Cheers,

Steve.

[Johndm]

Originally Posted by Juiceloose

Thanks John (great aircaft photographs) and Witters.

Will go with the 300D for main photographs.

Still want a compact to stick in my pocket for those quick and easy shots. Think the Canon S70 is the most compact of those in my original shortlist.

Any views ??

Cheers,

Steve.

Good choice with the 300D...you will not be disapointed..

Don't know much about the compacts, but impulse bought my 12 year old son a Canon A400 for Christmas. Not bad for a 'snappy' and only just over £100.

I noticed though that the A400 takes squarer pictures, presumably to fit better on a TV or computer monitor??? whereas my 300D produces picture sized pictures if you get my drift?

Thanks for the comment on my aircraft pics, I try and put a link up whenever somone wants to see what a DSLR can do....and it bumps my hit count when all you nice people take a look from time to time..

Just got a 100-400L lens for Chrimbo, so hope to get some better/sharper shots in 2005. Persuaded the missus to go to an airshow on the second day of our holiday next spring in Chino California..............now I just need to pick up a Canon 28-70mm L USM Lens f2.8 to get those landscape shots at the Grand Canyon..

[seany]

You've made the right choice with the 300D, and you'll be making the right choice if you go for the S70 for the compact.

Originally Posted by Smiffy 2

Steve
don't give up on the idea of a compact all together mate.
Shutter lag is getting better as newer models come out and as I said in an earlier post, some models suffer much less than others.
Just a point to note

My xmas pressy, olympus c 60, the shutter lag is unnoticeable.

[Mark Grant]

Originally Posted by Juiceloose

Thanks John (great aircaft photographs) and Witters.

Will go with the 300D for main photographs.

Still want a compact to stick in my pocket for those quick and easy shots. Think the Canon S70 is the most compact of those in my original shortlist.

Any views ??

Cheers,

Steve.

Hello Steve,

300D is a great choice for the price

If you are not in a hurry for a DSLR, maybe buy the S70 compact now for snapshots, and wait and see what happens with the 300D a month or so after the rebate offers finish


Mark.