Is a new SLR worth it?

Forums › Digital Imaging › Is a new SLR worth it?

Evinta

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#106838 1-Aug-2012 10:05

Im just wondering for curiousity stake, i have a canon eos 1000D and owned it for serveral years. Hasn't failed me yet, however since its only 10mp im starting to wonder if i should upgrade.

So should i upgrade? Im thinking of the 600D because my old point and shoot canon powershot had a screen like that and it was down right useful, also the 1000D doesn't have filming ability and im starting to find i need that and its troublesome not having a car/license to drive and have to carry around two cameras with one of them needing AA batteries to record when the other just needs a few hours charging.

Thing is yeah should i upgrade now or just keep using my current eos?

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#665216 1-Aug-2012 10:13

I just got a 650D with 135 STM Lens. It has some nice features over the 600D particularly in regards to the video side of things.

polglase

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#665225 1-Aug-2012 10:27

Where did you get it, mine has been on order for a month...

timmmay

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#665247 1-Aug-2012 10:47

Marketers love megapixels, but they're rarely helpful. If you go from 10MP to say 18MP you have more pixels, but they're small, and they have more noise per pixel. Your prints and web sized images will look much the same.

Newer sensors do have less noise though. Full frame 35mm sensors have less noise than crop body sensors because they're larger and capture more light.

I would suggest you only upgrade if your camera doesn't do something you need it to, if you need better high iso performance, or if you want a new toy. I'm a professional photographer, I use two Nikon D700 cameras, they're a four year old design but they still create great images.

clicknz

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#665252 1-Aug-2012 10:51

Ah, the question that we all have to face.... should I upgrade my digital device?
It sounds like you've got a fairly good reason to change (but I personally think that you won't need any more than 10 mp) in wanting one device for stills and video.
If you have a selection of EOS lenses it's probably smart to get a new camera body, otherwise there are some very nice compact mirrorless cameras that are great for stills & video. Or if shooting video wasn't too critical you could stick with your 1000D & get one of the fancy smartphones which shoot pretty good video if held steady.

Cheers,
Mike

Photographer/Videographer clickmedia.nz

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#665253 1-Aug-2012 10:51

if you want a 600D + sigma 12-250mm superzoom PM me, i'm thinking of going full frame

rhysb

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#665256 1-Aug-2012 10:54

polglase: Where did you get it, mine has been on order for a month...

I got it from Expert Infotech http://einfo.co.nz/shop/canon-eos-650d-kit-18135-stm-lens-kit-p-26253.html

Evinta

118 posts

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#665264 1-Aug-2012 11:01

clicknz: Ah, the question that we all have to face.... should I upgrade my digital device?
It sounds like you've got a fairly good reason to change (but I personally think that you won't need any more than 10 mp) in wanting one device for stills and video.
If you have a selection of EOS lenses it's probably smart to get a new camera body, otherwise there are some very nice compact mirrorless cameras that are great for stills & video. Or if shooting video wasn't too critical you could stick with your 1000D & get one of the fancy smartphones which shoot pretty good video if held steady.

Well one of the problems with the 1000D is that it doesn't seem to shoot at 300ppi which i need for printing, unless there is a work around.

I have two efs eos lenses with a selection of filters. I just need film to shoot random things and hmm that could be a interesting way to convince myself to get a new iPhone, i have a entry level android and i have been wanting a iphone lol.

Edit: Timmay im still learning to use it on manual lol, this is my first SLR and i brought it before a trip to australia, takes really nice photos except most are in full auto.

I would buy it now but i have to save up for it if i decided to.

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timmmay

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#665265 1-Aug-2012 11:05

ppi is just a number embedded in the jpeg or raw, it's meaningless. You can change it to 1 or 1 million, it makes no difference unless your printer or print firm is clueless. This is a common misconception.

Just go into photoshop, choose resize image, turn off resample, and set the PPI to whatever you want. If you shoot RAW then you just change the ppi in your raw converter.

Based on what you've said I suggest you need to increase your knowledge of your existing equipment and digital photography and processing in general. A new camera won't help with what you've mentioned, other than letting you shoot video, which is another learning curve for you.

Jaxson

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#665275 1-Aug-2012 11:21

Agree completely with Timmay there. The optics and how you take/compose the picture are probably far more important. As clickNZ says, 10MP should be fine for most things you want to do really. Up the Megapixel size and you'll get the same photo, just made up of smaller 'dots'. If that's a poor photo to start with, you just now have a higher resolution variant of that poor photo.

Video is a major point of difference, so yes if you need this. Otherwise as Timmay points out, still photo wise, you could probably milk more from your existing gear.

polglase

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#665281 1-Aug-2012 11:32

rhysb:
polglase: Where did you get it, mine has been on order for a month...

I got it from Expert Infotech http://einfo.co.nz/shop/canon-eos-650d-kit-18135-stm-lens-kit-p-26253.html

Thanks, I think I'll keep waiting... it is cheaper at inkpost and they buy through the local channel so it will have a local warranty - http://www.inkpost.co.nz/view/cameras-photography/d-slr/canon07/canon-eos-650d-18-135is-stm.php

surfisup1000

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#665285 1-Aug-2012 11:44

timmmay: Marketers love megapixels, but they're rarely helpful. If you go from 10MP to say 18MP you have more pixels, but they're small, and they have more noise per pixel. Your prints and web sized images will look much the same.

Newer sensors do have less noise though. Full frame 35mm sensors have less noise than crop body sensors because they're larger and capture more light.

I would suggest you only upgrade if your camera doesn't do something you need it to, if you need better high iso performance, or if you want a new toy. I'm a professional photographer, I use two Nikon D700 cameras, they're a four year old design but they still create great images.

Noise is of more importance than megapixels to me.

2 D700's? Why would you need 2?

Have you got a D800 yet? That is what I want but no one has them in stock.

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#665286 1-Aug-2012 11:48

timmmay: Marketers love megapixels, but they're rarely helpful. If you go from 10MP to say 18MP you have more pixels, but they're small, and they have more noise per pixel. Your prints and web sized images will look much the same.

Newer sensors do have less noise though. Full frame 35mm sensors have less noise than crop body sensors because they're larger and capture more light.

I would suggest you only upgrade if your camera doesn't do something you need it to, if you need better high iso performance, or if you want a new toy. I'm a professional photographer, I use two Nikon D700 cameras, they're a four year old design but they still create great images.

dear professional photographer,

can i ask you - if my 600D has say 18MP, if i shoot at 10MP will it give me better photos from what you're suggesting?

timmmay

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#665287 1-Aug-2012 11:48

surfisup1000: Noise is of more importance than megapixels to me.

2 D700's? Why would you need 2?

Have you got a D800 yet? That is what I want but no one has them in stock.

I'm a professional photographer, and cameras fail. I take no less than three cameras to a wedding, I've had two cameras fail together once during a ceremony. It's not unusual for cameras or lenses to get dropped, flashes to overheat, etc. I take 3 cameras, 5 lenses, 4 flashes, 4 battery packs, lots of spare batteries for camera and flash, studio strobe with a battery pack, 60GB or so of memory cards, torches so I can find gear in the dark, soft boxes and umbrellas, light stands, etc, etc.

timmmay

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#665293 1-Aug-2012 11:50

joker97: can i ask you - if my 600D has say 18MP, if i shoot at 10MP will it give me better photos from what you're suggesting?

That depends how you manage to shoot at 10MP - sRaw/mRaw? In general your noise will reduce, but image quality will go down very slightly due to the resampling involved. In practice image quality will be about the same for a given print size, unless the print is larger than say 8x12".

In general you shoot at the native resolution of your camera, and if you resize your image you only do it once in your workflow.

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#665295 1-Aug-2012 11:53

timmmay: ...

I'm a professional photographer, and cameras fail. I take no less than three cameras to a wedding, I've had two cameras fail together once during a ceremony. It's not unusual for cameras or lenses to get dropped, flashes to overheat, etc. I take 3 cameras, 5 lenses, 4 flashes, 4 battery packs, lots of spare batteries for camera and flash, studio strobe with a battery pack, 60GB or so of memory cards, torches so I can find gear in the dark, soft boxes and umbrellas, light stands, etc, etc.

I think you've just defined the term professional. If I ever get divorced and re-married I know who to call.

Did Eric Clapton really think she looked wonderful...or was it after the 15th outfit she tried on and he just wanted to get to the party and get a drink?

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