Point and shoots have their roles, for sure. I played around with a neighbor's Sony T7 over the holidays and I was amazed at the physical size of the camera and the output quality. They're great for keeping in your pocket, which is somewhere an SLR will probably never go.
The distinction between P+S and DSLR is becoming increasingly irrelevant.
I was recently in the market for a $1000 walkabout kit and fully intended to buy the 'point and shoot' R1 over the Rebel (350D). Both had APS-size sensors; both had excellent lenses (available), and both happily shot at ISO800. But in the end, size was an issue - so I bought the much smaller DSLR!
I lost the ability to shoot silently, but I gained the ability to change lenses - and attract dust. My main problem with the Canon is actually that it's too small.
With a collection of Canon lenses already in the bag, another factor in it's favour (apart from its pocketable size!) is that the 350D came free with the '136mm f1.2' I'd always promised myself, as well as a 200mm/1.8-slaying '216mm f2' and a rather useful 112-480mm f4-f5.6 zoom with IS and really sharp 'corners'.
Luvwine wrote:
I don't know. I guess I will be the contrarian. While currently, SLR's have huge advantages over point and shoots, there is no reason why the technological barriers cannot be overcome and the speed issues and other problems with point and shoots eliminated. A case in point is the new Sony 10 megapixel point and shoot. Heck, it uses an APS-C size sensor (same as 20D) and a Zeiss lens. It produces wonderful images and since it is light and has no mirror slap, it can be handheld at slower shutter speeds. I have a friend who has one, is a pro photographer (has images in galleries) and uses the Sony as much or more than his new Nikon D200! He likes the lightness and the image quality. He is the first to admit its weaknesses such as speed (very slow--no sports applications) but he raves about the detail, contrast, quality of the lens, etc. He also claims it won't sell well since it is around $1,000 and is not at DSLR, but it may be a harbinger of things to come. Time will tell.
As barriers are overcome with point and shoots, the same barriers will be overcome with dSLRs -- they will continue to make advancements in noise reduction, autofocus speed, image clarity, and continuous drive with SLRs as they will do with point and shoots. The bar for SLRs doesn't stay static so that the bar for point and shoots gains on it. Both bars are moving at a steady pace. As long as companies can make money from people looking to buy professional equipment, they will never make a consumer point and shoot designed to take the place of a professional SLR.
GOVols wrote:
You are correct about more than just speed.
But it appears that the technology in the P+S's are moving at a faster rate than the DSLR's. They do not compare today, I am simply suggesting that is it possible , in the near future, that they could compete head to head?
Never!, Its like comparing a Toyota Corolla to a Mercedes SL65. Both can be used to drive to work but only the SL65 will get you there faster and in style.
I know theres 8MP P&S cameras out there close to $800, but a $350 used 3.3MP Canon D30 will blow it away with its image quality any day.
