Upgrade dilemma

[snake]

I bought my first ever camera almost a year ago (fuji s100fs). It has a lot of similarities to a dslr and what I like most about this little camera is the live view, image stabilisation, and it lightness and ease of use, I can wander about all day and hardly know its there.
I am now giving a lot of thought to getting a proper dslr and am thinking about a Nikon D90 with maybe the bigma lens.
My dilemma is, how much of an improvement will a different camera and lens make to my pictures?
What I have found with wildlife photography is, you have to be quick or the subject has gone.
Will I be able to grab the camera and snatch a quick pic as easily as I can with the fuji or will the extra size and bulk be a hindrance?
My final thought is, if I am happy with the pictures I get from my fuji, do I really need to change?
The only image editing I do is a bit of cropping and sharpening in Picasa.
Maybe a good editing programme would be the way to go rather than a new camera.

Your thoughts?

[ellen h]

Wow snake with the images that you have posted in the past I thought you had a proper dslr!

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by ellen h

Wow snake with the images that you have posted in the past I thought you had a proper dslr!

As did I. Why the need for a proper DSLR if you can create images like this with a Fuji Snake?

[NJP87]

Originally Posted by snake

My final thought is, if I am happy with the pictures I get from my fuji, do I really need to change?

If your happy with your pics then i would stick with the camera you have.

I have a DSLR and can't get pics a good as yours

[Geoff F]

I would suggest that the main difference you will see with a 'proper' camera is when the conditions aren't at their best and you need to push up the ISO or want extra depth of field etc. Birds on the wing which need an extra fast shutter speed or very close macro shots are other examples.

But these all come at a cost, not just financial. You will find yourself lugging around several spare lenses (just in case . . .) plus a heavy tripod etc.

Remember, if you want to move on to the next stage, lenses are more important than the camera body so if you want to get into more extreme photography and get more 'keepers' that is the way to go. But it is going to be quite a bit leap and the expenses never stop.

[Meta menardi]

I never miss one of your posts because your pics are always so clear. I think (and I mean I think, not I know) that you may find yourself working hard to get the same quality, not enjoying carting the camera and kit, to get back to what you do now. After that, you may get much better shots.

I get the impression you are very mobile over a day out. I take my small camera for most days, I get the DSLR out to Go And Take Some Photos.

[ron1863]

Cracking image Snake, if you are really interested in photography then you won't regret the move up to a DSLR.

[Phoebe]

Originally Posted by ellen h

Wow snake with the images that you have posted in the past I thought you had a proper dslr!

Originally Posted by NickCantle

As did I. Why the need for a proper DSLR if you can create images like this with a Fuji Snake?

I too thought you had a DSLR, your photos are so clear, I am amazed at your photography. I was told when I first came on this site that if you have an 'eye' you can take good photo whatever the camera, I wish I had your eye! If you do upgrade I will be waiting in anticipation to see your photos