Regardless of the manufacturer you prefer, if you've been in the market for a new camera lately I'm sure you've had to sit down and ponder this question; point-and-shoot or DSLR? If you're living in the United States like I am right now, you've probably got a little tax reimbursement burning a hole in your pocket and would just LOVE to make it turn into a slick, shiny new camera that would make you the envy of all who know you. But the question still remains do you want small and convenient, or high quality with bulk?
The decision doesn't get any easier even if you've finally picked one or the other, cause then you have to pick which model, features, and yada-yada-yada. But today I want to focus on the pros and cons of that first over-arching question.
Is it all about size?
For many people it comes down to convenience. Though they can see that DSLR's just produce better looking photos, they're many times not as inclined to having to carry a large brick over their shoulder when they go out for a night with friends. Some do, but for a vast majority I'd say they want something that they can throw in their pocket and not worry about. With the advent of better and better technology the point-and-shoot cameras have definitely come a long way as far as quality, but their top feature is really the convenient size. And honestly, the cell phone companies wouldn't have all rushed to put cameras in their phones if people weren't enamored with the idea of small cameras that fit in pockets.
But what do you sacrifice for all this convenience? Primarily, you still sacrifice quality, and versatility. A DSLR, though large and somewhat ungainly, will always produce better photos due to the quality of the lens and the speed at which you can shoot. If you've ever tried taking photos of fast-moving objects with a
point-and-shoot you know the frustration. You half-press, hope it focused on something that will be in the same range as the moving object when it comes by, and then SNAP! you hope you got it. Then when you check, nope, missed it again.
Beyond the reaction time of the shutter the variety of lens options is something that makes a world of difference to your photos. A point-and-shoot camera has only one lens, and maybe it has some add-on prime lenses that increase wide-angle or zoom capabilities. But they're nothing to having a 70-200 f/2.8 hanging off your camera body in all it's beastly glory, and low-light versatility. This feature of DSLR's, alone, was enough to make me finally make the jump from the nicely advanced Fuji S7000 to the line of Canon Rebels a good number of years ago. I've never looked back since.
So when you're considering this question, the best things to consider are;
1. Do I want quality or convenience?
2. Do I want a lot of lens options, or an all-in-one?
3. Do I primarily shoot fast moving objects or snap shots of friends/family?
4. Am I just trying to be cool and hoping a big, fat, expensive camera around my neck with help?
With the answer to all of these questions in place, you should be able to make your way through the confusing world of camera consumership. But if you've got a burning wallet like I do these days, you may just want to forget the decision and get one of each. I mean, come on, you'll need a back-up just in case, right?
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