Yet another help me choose thread

[fredhe12]

I've done the research and read as many reviews as I could find, including the camera thread in this forum.

I'm really stuck on the final choice - both are readily available at similar prices. Features are comparable with some differences.

I'm mainly going to use to shoot action (cycling, kids' sports, dancing, etc.) as well as family portraits and all around activities (bdays, theme parks, etc.).

Any opinions welcome. thanks.

 

[jpeyton]

A lowly Nikon D40 body ($250 used) and a Nikkor AF-S 55-200mm lens ($100 used) will blow the FZ28/SX10 out of the water when shooting any kind of action.

The disparity between a P&S camera and an entry-level DSLR for action photography is staggering, to say the least.

 

[fredhe12]

yeah, i know, i know. DSLR will blow it away P&S.

But a point and shoot is really more than enough for me and what I need.

 

[jpeyton]

I would have easily recommended the SX10 had you not mentioned your desire "mainly" to "shoot action".

Have you tried using continuous autofocus on a P&S camera? Have you tried testing the autofocus speed with it zoomed out to 300mm? Is that dancing going to be indoors, because the noise performance of a P&S camera is quite poor, and that built-in flash won't help at telephoto focal lengths.

Price obviously can't be an issue, since an entry level DSLR and telephoto lens can be picked up for around $350, roughly the same price as a SX10.

Size can't be an issue, since the SX10 is actually larger by volume and weight than a D40 body.

You mentioned cycling, and coincidentally, here are some sample D40 cycling images. An SX10/FZ28 will have problems keeping up.

EDIT: I apologize if I come off as preachy. The SX10 (and FZ28) are great all around cameras for what they are. But P&S cameras are simply not built for speed or action photography.

Their contrast-detect autofocus systems are designed for still subjects. Their small sensors paired with slow lenses means you have tons of depth-of-field; far too much to properly isolate a subject during action photography (you want to focus on the player, not the faces in the crowd behind them). The shutter lag and non-existent continuous shooting performance means you will miss capturing the moment without absolutely perfect timing.

 

[fredhe12]

Don't worry about being preachy, I do appreciate your feedback on this. Let's say we remove the "mainly" qualifier, and say I want to shoot some action along with all the other stuff? And, if it had to be between the two strictly, you'd recommend the SX10?

I will look into the combo you talked about. Those cycling pics are definitely impressive. In your opinion, what would be the ramp up time for someone with little SLR experience? Also, how would this setup perform with still subjects? I'm just afraid that the camera might be overkill for what I need, and that the ramp up might keep me from just picking it up and snapping pics casually.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[extra]

If you want to step up to an slr but don't want to worry about anything I'd get a rebel xs and try to get the tamron 18-270 lens.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: extra
If you want to step up to an slr but don't want to worry about anything I'd get a rebel xs and try to get the tamron 18-270 lens.

You forgot to mention the part about the Rebel XS/Tamron 18-270mm combo running about $1000. Just a tad bit more than $350.

Originally posted by: fredhe12
Don't worry about being preachy, I do appreciate your feedback on this. Let's say we remove the "mainly" qualifier, and say I want to shoot some action along with all the other stuff? And, if it had to be between the two strictly, you'd recommend the SX10?

I will look into the combo you talked about. Those cycling pics are definitely impressive. In your opinion, what would be the ramp up time for someone with little SLR experience? Also, how would this setup perform with still subjects? I'm just afraid that the camera might be overkill for what I need, and that the ramp up might keep me from just picking it up and snapping pics casually.

Thanks for all the help.

Between the two, yes I would go with the SX10.

There is no ramp-up. Entry-level models like the D40 are made to take snapshots right out of the box. If you don't want to mess with any settings, just turn the mode dial to "AUTO" and snap away; it's just like any P&S. The only big difference is that you're composing through the optical viewfinder, and can't use the LCD for composition (for action photography, this is actually a huge advantage).

For action, kids activities, anything with movement...you want a DSLR. I can't tell you how many times I've read about people upgrading to an entry-level DSLR when they found out their P&S couldn't handle taking pictures of their children's activities (children don't stand still for anything).

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: fredhe12
Don't worry about being preachy, I do appreciate your feedback on this. Let's say we remove the "mainly" qualifier, and say I want to shoot some action along with all the other stuff? And, if it had to be between the two strictly, you'd recommend the SX10?

I will look into the combo you talked about. Those cycling pics are definitely impressive. In your opinion, what would be the ramp up time for someone with little SLR experience? Also, how would this setup perform with still subjects? I'm just afraid that the camera might be overkill for what I need, and that the ramp up might keep me from just picking it up and snapping pics casually.

Thanks for all the help.

Entry-level DSLR's come with a whole bunch of scene modes to help with the migration from P&S.

If size is an issue, a Panny FZ28 is significantly smaller and lighter than a Nikon D40 with a big zoom lens, like the Tamron 18-270.

Panny FZ28 - 14.7 oz, 4.6" x 3" x 3.5"
Nikon D40 - 18.4 oz, 4.9" x 3.5" x 2.5", Tamron 18-270 - 19.5 oz, 3.1" x 3.9"

 

[fredhe12]

This is all great stuff. The Panny is hard to find locally and I'm trying to make a decision today and purchase locally for some of my kids' activities tomorrow.

Canon sx10 seems like the choice if I go P&S, but you guys are making me seriously consider an entry-level SLR. The preset modes are helping to calm my fears about ramp up. I actually have a high technical aptitude, so long-term I'm confident I'll more than enjoy it. I just want that instant usability out of the box so to speak. I'm going to look at some of the options you guys have thrown out.

I'll be posting some more once I find what's available locally and hopefully get some more feedback. Thanks!

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: fredhe12
This is all great stuff. The Panny is hard to find locally and I'm trying to make a decision today and purchase locally for some of my kids' activities tomorrow.

Canon sx10 seems like the choice if I go P&S, but you guys are making me seriously consider an entry-level SLR. The preset modes are helping to calm my fears about ramp up. I actually have a high technical aptitude, so long-term I'm confident I'll more than enjoy it. I just want that instant usability out of the box so to speak. I'm going to look at some of the options you guys have thrown out.

I'll be posting some more once I find what's available locally and hopefully get some more feedback. Thanks!

Then you will have no problems whatsoever with a DSLR. If you use the scene modes, there's really only a couple of things you need to keep track of, and this should be easy for you.

 

[jpeyton]

One more thing to consider is real-world, usable resolution. I'm not talking about the number the manufacturer slaps on the box; if we were simply measuring megapixels, you would think the 10MP SX10/FZ28 would wipe the floor with the 6MP D40.

Resolution actually has far more to do with technique, lenses, ISO sensitivity, etc. Even at base ISO, the SX10 and FZ28 show some ISO noise, albiet not very much.

But what happens when you bump up the ISO (something people commonly do to use a faster shutter speed for action, or to capture images in low-light/indoor situations).

SX10 ISO400
FZ28 ISO400
D40 ISO400

If you zoom in on the fabric wheel to see the detail provided by each camera, you'll notice that even at a very modest ISO setting of 400, the entire resolution advantage of the 10MP cameras has been erased by noise reduction; the 6MP D40 has much more detail.

SX10 ISO1600
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://75.126.132.154/PRODS/FZ28/FULLRES/FZ28hSLI1600.JPG/l]
[l=D40 ISO1600]http://75.126.132.154/PRODS/ND40/FULLRES/ND40hSLI1600.JPG">FZ28 ISO1600</a>

At ISO 1600 (something you might use for indoor events like school plays and dances), the D40 embarrasses even the best P&S cameras on the market. And the D40 isn't even the best entry-level DSLR in regards to ISO sensitivity; the disparity would be even greater with a Canon Rebel XSi or Nikon D5000.

 

[fredhe12]

Okay, I have a friend at Sony that can get me great employee pricing.

Any thoughts on this one: Sony alpha DSLR - A200

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: fredhe12
Okay, I have a friend at Sony that can get me great employee pricing.

Any thoughts on this one: Sony alpha DSLR - A200

That's a great entry-level DSLR.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: fredhe12
Okay, I have a friend at Sony that can get me great employee pricing.

Any thoughts on this one: Sony alpha DSLR - A200

That's a great entry-level DSLR.

Ooooh... :thumbsup:

 

[jpeyton]

See if he can get you employee pricing on a telephoto lens too; a 55-200mm or 75-300mm would both be good options for taking action photos.

 

[fredhe12]

Okay, going to go with the Sony. I'll post once I have it. Thanks again everyone.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: fredhe12
Okay, I have a friend at Sony that can get me great employee pricing.

Any thoughts on this one: Sony alpha DSLR - A200

That's a great entry-level DSLR.

i'd pick that one over the A300 and A350

 

[fredhe12]

Quick update - went with A200 and I couldn't be happier with decision. I'm very impressed with the quality of my photos using the Auto and Sports settings. I can't wait to start experimenting with what this camera can do.

Thank you everyone for your feedback, especially jpeyton who took the time to actually give me advice I wasn't specifically looking for :thumbsup: