Alternatives to an SLR?

[yhelothar]

Yeah, I really had no intention of going down these debate, and it is really moot anyways, since there are no 200+ MP APS cameras out there. What I was really trying to say was that you couldn't crop in on an image from a 15MP APS camera to make up the zoom difference between it and a SX30, without giving up resolution. What you give up in resolution may or may not matter, of course, depending on your final use of that image.

Back the OP's question. The G11/G12 are good cameras if you don't need/care about the superzoom capabilities. Many pros use them for underwater portraits because they are have a relatively cheap housing, have good IQ and have many of the same features/options as DSLRs. My father-in-law is a master craftsman photographer and uses a G11 as his fun camera when he doesn't want to carry around his Rebel (also a fun camera, he doesn't like using his work cameras for non-work).

I don't really wanna go down this debate either. How you use the camera matters a helluva lot more than anything. SX30is is a very capable camera that can certainly take very nice pictures.

But for me, I find it difficult to choose the SX30IS over a superzoom DSLR that costs the same.

I cooked up a few comparison shots of the crop DSLR vs a fully zoomed in SX30IS. For the crop DSLR shots, I took sample photos of the Tamron/Sigma 18-200mm @ 200mm, and I cropped it to 1/2.3" using a sensor comparison chart as a template.

Here are the results:

Canon SX30IS uncropped.

Cropped DSLR shots essentially at 42x zoom.

At a perfect sensor crop(42x), the SX30IS seems to come out ahead a bit, probably due to the cheap superzoom not close to being able to outresolve the sensor. Also the sample photos I was able to find for the DSLR isn't too good for demonstrating detail. The flower shot has really narrow DOF(another feature of larger sensors), and thus the tip of the flower is out of focus.

I'm sure at 30-35x, the DSLR would match the SX30 in quality, especially when posted on facebook or at standard flickr viewing size.

But at 1-20x, which is 90%+ of your shots, the DSLR would blow away the SX30is in sharpness, color accuracy, DOF, contrast, low light photography

 

[Zorba]

One more good reason to have a non-SLR camera with good zoom, is that many concerts and sporting events do not allow "professional cameras," which they define by any camera with a removable lens.

astroidea: I completely agree that SLRs (and bigger sensors in general) have better IQ than P&S cameras like the SX30. But there are times when the pros of a non-SLR outweigh the cons. I was really just trying to say that once you start cropping a SLR image to increase the zoom you will have a lower resolution than the super zooms, which for must situations probably wouldn't matter at all.

 

[corkyg]

Again, Zorba speaks logically. I am going to say again - it is not a question of choosing a megazoom over a DSLR. I am about to take off by air on an 11 day trip. Here is where I put my SX30IS - in the center compartment of my laptop case - my one and only carry on.

There's no way at all I can fit my EOS 5D in that space let alone my 70-200mm lens. It is not an either or argument. It is simply, I have both, but only the SX30IS can make the trip.

 

[sixone]

FYI for SX30 owners (or anyone thinking about it):

CHDK beta is available: http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=5900.0
Check your firmware version first. 1.00H is out, but doesn't work with other versions -yet. If you don't see yours, keep checking back, probably won't take long.

If you haven't used CHDK before, start here: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

There's a lunar eclipse coming up on the 20th/21st of this month, so the intervalometer will come in pretty handy.

 

[ElFenix]

FYI for SX30 owners (or anyone thinking about it):

CHDK beta is available: http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=5900.0

If you haven't used CHDK before, start here: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

There's a lunar eclipse coming up on the 20th/21st of this month, so the intervalometer will come in pretty handy.

sometimes i want to buy a canon compact just for chdk. wish there was something like it for the lx3. an a650is is still fairly expensive on ebay, though

 

[alkemyst]

WTF with idiots linking to megapics directly. Link to a thumbnail...

The A650IS is not worth trying to find, everyone wants WAY too much for them and now the G series has surpassed all the pros and cons.

Mine was stolen when I was burglarized a year or so ago....it was a great camera.

 

[speedy2]

WTF with idiots linking to megapics directly. Link to a thumbnail...

This. My gosh, I'm seeing this more and more. You think people would know not to do this by now unless they are a complete noob to the internet.

 

[alkemyst]

freaking sux if you are on a mobile and just want to comment.

 

[yhelothar]

This. My gosh, I'm seeing this more and more. You think people would know not to do this by now unless they are a complete noob to the internet.

rofl.. AT forums automatically resizes who friggen cares. Upgrade your internet since it takes about 5 seconds to load for me.

 

[alkemyst]

you have people on mobile devices, also not everyone can get even 1Mbps speeds.

 

[corkyg]

And, I am presently travelling - at St. Barts in Caribbean, and linked by satellite. Multi MP pictures are just plain inconsiderate at 50 cents a minute. BTW - the SX30 IS is performing beautifully and meeting all requirements and expectations.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

s95 HERE WE COME!!!

The SX30 is just too big as with others. The s95 is easily stuffable in my pocket. If I want zoom I'll just lug my DSLR and a 55-250 zoom.

 

[Throckmorton]

Why hasn't anybody mentioned the "travel zoom" compact cameras? Good quality with good lighting and 12x zoom and fits in your pocket = win. No need to even stick it in a laptop bag.

 

[Sp12]

Actually, I use a Samsung HZ30W and it's awesome for traveling.

Only complaint is the lack of raw/GPS/terrible high-iso performance. Great otherwise (AF, IS, Movie mode, snappiness, battery life).

 

[Muse]

s95 HERE WE COME!!!

The SX30 is just too big as with others. The s95 is easily stuffable in my pocket. If I want zoom I'll just lug my DSLR and a 55-250 zoom.

My Pentax K-x with DA 18-250mm is 14x and hell of versatile, no lens changing necessary. It has it all but it is not small and it is not light! Great high ISO performance, and I seldom miss a shot. However, it's not something I want to take everywhere, and as noted, some places they won't let you use it.

 

[alkemyst]

My Pentax K-x with DA 18-250mm is 14x and hell of versatile, no lens changing necessary. It has it all but it is not small and it is not light! Great high ISO performance, and I seldom miss a shot. However, it's not something I want to take everywhere, and as noted, some places they won't let you use it.

If you can't take it with you then you are missing a lot of shots.

My brother is a pro level photog. He kayaks and mountain bikes. He found himself needing a G series (and SD sometimes) even though he has thousands tied up in dSLR gear.

If they ever find out how to get a good bokah with a compact cam, the dSLR world is doomed.

 

[Muse]

If you can't take it with you then you are missing a lot of shots.

Yeah, I'm finding myself taking my old P&S with me oftentimes even though it's a minimum 7 seconds between shots, it's better than nothing. I dove into this thread because I know I'd like to have another digicam. This thread amazes me. IMO, it's a great thread.

 

[yhelothar]

My Pentax K-x with DA 18-250mm is 14x and hell of versatile, no lens changing necessary. It has it all but it is not small and it is not light! Great high ISO performance, and I seldom miss a shot. However, it's not something I want to take everywhere, and as noted, some places they won't let you use it.

Neither is the SX30is.

 

[Lee Saxon]

Forget about anything with a 2/3" or smaller sensor. As if the tiny photosites weren't problem enough, they crank the JPEG compression up to insane levels so they can advertise higher numbers of pictures per megabyte.

I don't even like the 4/3" cameras because you just can't get a wide enough FoV.

Sony NEX with the 24x16mm sensor and RAW is the way to go. Closer than I expected to (but still quite far from) the IQ of my D3. Super tiny and yet, at least in the case of the metal NEX5, quite sturdy. This from a guy who has destroyed two pro-level Nikon lenses in the last year.

 

[sixone]

CHDK beta now available for versions 1.00E, 1.00H, and 1.00L.
http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=5900.0

Just in time for the eclipse. woot!

 

[Zorba]

Forget about anything with a 2/3" or smaller sensor. As if the tiny photosites weren't problem enough, they crank the JPEG compression up to insane levels so they can advertise higher numbers of pictures per megabyte.

If you don't like the in camera image processing and jpeg compression, get a canon + CHDK and shoot in RAW.

I personally haven't noticed canon P&S over compressing their jpegs. I've compared RAW processed to jpegs and the jpeg produced by the camera (largest/superfine) and there isn't a heck of a lot of difference in the final product. Of course there are a lot of other reasons to shoot RAW, but I don't think jpeg compression is necessarily one of them.

 

[IronWing]

If you don't like the in camera image processing and jpeg compression, get a canon + CHDK and shoot in RAW.

I personally haven't noticed canon P&S over compressing their jpegs. I've compared RAW processed to jpegs and the jpeg produced by the camera (largest/superfine) and there isn't a heck of a lot of difference in the final product. Of course there are a lot of other reasons to shoot RAW, but I don't think jpeg compression is necessarily one of them.

I did. I use a G9 at work, exclusively in jpeg large/superfine mode. When I took test shots with the G12, the first thing I noticed was excessive compression in large/fine mode relative to the output of the G9. I was very disappointed with the G12 for this reason along. In all other ways I like the camera. If I was a raw shooter I probably would have bought it but I don't feel like dinking with every single image.

 

[Zorba]

I did. I use a G9 at work, exclusively in jpeg large/superfine mode. When I took test shots with the G12, the first thing I noticed was excessive compression in large/fine mode relative to the output of the G9. I was very disappointed with the G12 for this reason along. In all other ways I like the camera. If I was a raw shooter I probably would have bought it but I don't feel like dinking with every single image.

Maybe it is a newer problem. My father-in-law is a RAW shooter and has a G11, so maybe we'll do some comparisons at Christmas

 

[lykaon78]

I hate to steer the thread back to the OP but... so lets say I don't want anything bigger than the Cannon S95, I would mind a little more optical zoom, and I'm a cheapskate.

What are my alternatives?

 

[greenwar]

I hate to steer the thread back to the OP but... so lets say I don't want anything bigger than the Cannon S95, I would mind a little more optical zoom, and I'm a cheapskate.

What are my alternatives?

I am eying the Panasonic LX5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 ...

Another alternative but too pricey is the GF1 with the penny 20mm F1.7 pancake lens.