Expensive (Canon?!) SLRs versus old lumix bridge?!

[macro junkie]

Originally Posted by gfilmsuk

Does the kit matter? Check out what this guy snaps on a cell-phone!
cameraphone pics - a set on Flickr

yes it does..lets see if that guy can do this on his phone

[GME]

Originally Posted by macro junkie

yes it does..lets see if that guy can do this on his phone

What a cool shot - I'm guessing he won't be able to!

[HowlinWolf]

Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit

Thats strange HW! I've just been looking at your five photographs in the Gallery. Were they shot with a DSLR?

TBR.

Er, yes.

HW

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by macro junkie

yes it does..lets see if that guy can do this on his phone

Awwww....
cameraphones aren't that bad you know.
I took this a year ago on my beat-up phone,
(click thumbnail and THEN the image to get it original size)


and my fiancee has got an incredibly snazzy new camera phone this year - she's taking some stunning images with it!

TBR

[Kyoshi]

Hello all,
I have just brought a new camera recently and considered a bridge camera until I compared them in the shop side by side. I even talked the bloke into letting me go outside with it ( although I had to leave my mrs as insurance )
I have got to admit the bridge cameras were very good and if my budget had been lower I would have got one. But the assistant spoiled me and got the Canon 450 out and there was no contest especially when he put the Tamron macro lens on.
I think another good discussion would be the cost of lenses for example Tamron and Sigma versus Canon and Nikon, is there a noticeable difference between lenses and makes versus cost.
I think overall though we do pay more for cameras/lenses because of the name of products which is probably why cameras that don't have the Canon/Nikon badge go out of their way to give us more for our money.

Neil

[Blackdog]

Originally Posted by glsammy

To be honest I've never seen anyone look down one someone using any type of camera, nor would I put up with it if I did. We've all got the right to use whatever equipment we wish, the fact someone is using a compact rather than a DSLR is of no concern to me nor should it be to anyone else.
I appreciate I'm currently in a privileged position of being able to invest some of my hard earned money in expensive equipment, hopefully to give me more pleasure in the results I get.
I'm very mindful though that many users aren't in that position.
I hope our contributions on this site aren't regarded in any way as elitist. I try and give encouragement to all users, whatever equipment they use.

Very well said Graham. I'm sure there are a few WAB members who would echo your sentiments.
I have been fortunate recently to be able to buy some really good kit, but I hope by using it out and about I am not considered to be some kind of snob. I would be horrified if people got the impression I was investing in kit just to impress others, absolutely not the case at all.
Rant over

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Blackdog

Very well said Graham. I'm sure there are a few WAB members who would echo your sentiments.
I have been fortunate recently to be able to buy some really good kit, but I hope by using it out and about I am not considered to be some kind of snob. I would be horrified if people got the impression I was investing in kit just to impress others, absolutely not the case at all.
Rant over

Its like everything in life Blackdog.
There are some people who buy expensive kit just to be able to boast about it (but probably not taking the time and enjoyment to really learn about it and get the best out of it - obviously in some cases?!) and there are others who don't.
I am sure most WAB members fall into the latter bracket, but it does frustrate me when I scan smiths for a half decent photography magazine, and they all are seemingly stuffed with DSLR this and DSLR that, £1000 lens here and £1000 lens there, RAW this and RAW that - bit offputting really.
I've started to get "Outdoor photography" regularly now, as it seems the best of a bad bunch... and helps with the learning process with my old bridge.

[PMG]

Its easy - you buy what you can afford and then find out how to get the best out of it - imho - all cameras have an operating range and conditions where they shine. The non dslrs can be excellent at close range - my early Gallery were taken with Fuji Fine Pix and I was limited to what bird shots I could get (didn't stop me trying!) Then I moved onto a Nikon Cool-Pix and a lot of my mid Gallery pics (including views) were taken with it. On a previous web site I was complimented by quite a few photographers for getting the best out of the camera I had and being the most improved photographer!!

Since then - and here's the bittersweet bit - my father died and a little money became available - so I did what I have always wanted to and bought Canon equipment (I'm just about to take delivery of a new 500 prime!) I have waited 55 years for this and I won't be staggering around with it for show - have a look at my Gallery - the later pages are a cross section of 100-400 pump for bird pics, 400 prime (and a borrowed 500!) Sigma 105 for insects and still the old Nikon Cool-pix for fungi and flowers in close up!

Its a crying shame my dad isn;t here to see what I'm producing now ..........

Better equipment gives you the opportunity to do better and we all have to learn - photographers are not born you know! Some people 'see' things better than others but photography is an art - its something you and the camera do together and hopefully other folk appreciate the results..........

Cracking robin pic by the way TBR!!

Pauline

[pressld2]

Excellent post Pauline, although sorry to hear about your dad.

I agree with others that every type of camera has its place: Bridge cameras, DSLRs, compacts, large format or phone cameras all have their strengths and their limitations. I do think that a DSLR has more strengths and fewer limitations but it’s still not perfect for every situation. And that flexibility comes with the downside of having so much kit to lug around.

Whenever I'm out with my camera and pass another photographer we invariably check out each other's kit. A bit sad I suppose, but true. And being reserved in the way most Brits are, we tend to do it a bit covertly with surreptitious glances, rather than just striding up and saying "I'll show you mine if you show me yours!" I think maybe these sidelong glances could possibly be misinterpreted as "looking down" on someone but I honestly don't believe it's intended that way.

With my D70 I did occasionally feel a bit of an inferiority complex when faced with someone toting the latest model and a lens that cost more than my car, but I think that was just me being a bit pathetic rather than any “attitude” from the other person.

Recently some of that “British reserve” has started to fall away and I keep finding myself falling onto conversation with complete strangers just because of our common interest in wildlife and photography. Which is great because we’ve all got so much we can learn from each other, just like here on WAB!

Dave P.

[PMG]

Originally Posted by pressld2

Excellent post Pauline, although sorry to hear about your dad.

I agree with others that every type of camera has its place: Bridge cameras, DSLRs, compacts, large format or phone cameras all have their strengths and their limitations. I do think that a DSLR has more strengths and fewer limitations but it’s still not perfect for every situation. And that flexibility comes with the downside of having so much kit to lug around.

Whenever I'm out with my camera and pass another photographer we invariably check out each other's kit. A bit sad I suppose, but true. And being reserved in the way most Brits are, we tend to do it a bit covertly with surreptitious glances, rather than just striding up and saying "I'll show you mine if you show me yours!" I think maybe these sidelong glances could possibly be misinterpreted as "looking down" on someone but I honestly don't believe it's intended that way.

With my D70 I did occasionally feel a bit of an inferiority complex when faced with someone toting the latest model and a lens that cost more than my car, but I think that was just me being a bit pathetic rather than any “attitude” from the other person.

Recently some of that “British reserve” has started to fall away and I keep finding myself falling onto conversation with complete strangers just because of our common interest in wildlife and photography. Which is great because we’ve all got so much we can learn from each other, just like here on WAB!

Dave P.

Thanks DaveP!

I'm finding less and less reserve with folks - perhaps its that people recognise me at work - but the other day I went to the Flash in my own time with the 400 and lugged it about (for nothing at all as it turned out!) and no-one was a bit reserved - I got asked was it the Hubble Telescope by sev dog walkers! And other photographers (with smaller lenses) were openly curious - three of them asked to heft it and see how heavy it was - funny how nervous it makes you feel when someone lifts your equipment

A phonecall this morning has confirmed that my new 500 is going in the post today - so I shall be hanging by a thread tomorrow waiting for the carrier and Saturday is my day off so I can go and play I know sad innit?!

Pauline