Digital SLR?

[nngrendel]

I'd agree with the body, considering the great lighting in stadiums but the lens is a must

You need a 300mm lens (in general) to work pro events

I've tried, tried, tried, tried, tried to get press passes and only have done so ONCE

I agree. However if you are not seasoned and know your camera chances are your not going to pull shots off like this. Good long glass is essential to reach out and get personal during football games.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I agree. However if you are not seasoned and know your camera chances are your not going to pull shots off like this. Good long glass is essential to reach out and get personal during football games.

having a D3s / D4 banging out 11 frames per second... HELPS, lol it's amazing

 

[flynnibus]

shoot RAW, then you NEVER have to worry about WB because that is 100% recoverable in post.

Post = time. I don't take photos to suck more time away in my life. I take photos to remember life. Too often people who get hooked on the hobby forget not everyone who wants a camera in turn wants to be a hobbyist themselves. It's not a bad purchase to buy a camera and not be interested in being a hobbyist or pro. I capture images, and then go back later and process an image if I want to showcase it or pass it on to someone else. I shoot raw+jpg if I think there may be something to cherry pick later.. but I don't rely on raw as my mainstream simply because the images aren't usable without post-processing.

This all comes with experience, sure... setting yourself up on modes helps when you don't know what you're doing but you just get used to the time of day etc and go from there. Experience makes everything

The camera is still faster than you. And when you swing the camera up from the hip for some spontaneous moment... I don't have the time to go through all three dimensions to get that candid shot. Sure when I'm setup, I've taken various test shots to get things honed in where I want them for the desired shot I'm going for. But that's only part of the time. Life isn't staged and preset. Hobbyists need to let off the ego from mastering shooting manual. I'm more impressed with your shot, not how effort you went through to get it. Besides, if manual was king, why on earth are people paying so much for all these camera gizmos? Give us a manual focus, manual ring, super ISO performance and the ego photogs could have their super camera.

As for capturing life... getty and reuters guys on the sidelines, aren't shooting in auto...

Sideline sports photographers aren't exactly your typical scenario, don't you agree? Nevermind they aren't shooting from the hip either... And they get the shot through brute force numbers of shooters so they can be in the right place at the right time.

The point of all this is - there is no crime in not using the technology in the camera you PAID for and not all of life is about extreme hobby shooting nor is hobby shooting even viable all the time. Hobbyist should stop looking down on people who aren't as into it as much as they are.

 

[ddbowdoin]

Post = time. I don't take photos to suck more time away in my life. I take photos to remember life. Too often people who get hooked on the hobby forget not everyone who wants a camera in turn wants to be a hobbyist themselves. It's not a bad purchase to buy a camera and not be interested in being a hobbyist or pro. I capture images, and then go back later and process an image if I want to showcase it or pass it on to someone else. I shoot raw+jpg if I think there may be something to cherry pick later.. but I don't rely on raw as my mainstream simply because the images aren't usable without post-processing.



The camera is still faster than you. And when you swing the camera up from the hip for some spontaneous moment... I don't have the time to go through all three dimensions to get that candid shot. Sure when I'm setup, I've taken various test shots to get things honed in where I want them for the desired shot I'm going for. But that's only part of the time. Life isn't staged and preset. Hobbyists need to let off the ego from mastering shooting manual. I'm more impressed with your shot, not how effort you went through to get it. Besides, if manual was king, why on earth are people paying so much for all these camera gizmos? Give us a manual focus, manual ring, super ISO performance and the ego photogs could have their super camera.




Sideline sports photographers aren't exactly your typical scenario, don't you agree? Nevermind they aren't shooting from the hip either... And they get the shot through brute force numbers of shooters so they can be in the right place at the right time.

The point of all this is - there is no crime in not using the technology in the camera you PAID for and not all of life is about extreme hobby shooting nor is hobby shooting even viable all the time. Hobbyist should stop looking down on people who aren't as into it as much as they are.

we have that, it's called a Leica but it's expensive so 99% of people have likely never even heard of that brand nevermind actually use it.

why do they have the feature? to cater to people who think simply buying something makes them better or produces better results.

As for speed, I mean... when you have your camera on it's not like all of the settings are set at zero... it's not like I walk around with 24000 ISO sitting on camera with f22 at 1/40th.

I guess I just learned how to quickly toggle my bars, but I also have the camera generally set before I walk into any scenario.

shooting JPEG with a DLSR is like having a ferarri with a Yugo engine

 

[nngrendel]

Hobbyist should stop looking down on people who aren't as into it as much as they are.

I want to quote the OP's question.

Are digital SLR's easy to pick up and learn how to use or is it better to stick with a point and shoot if you've never used an SLR before?​

This is all about should someone with no SLR experience invest in a SLR. I was not looking down on the OP at all. We were only trying to state that if you have no interest in learning photography at a greater level then why spend the extra $$ on one? A point and shoot in full auto will give you great results. I just read a TR with someone with a point and shoot and the shots were fantastic.

Are SLR's easy to learn. Well to some maybe. To someone who has no experience? More than likely not. That has been my only reason for posting what I have posted. It hasn't been to look down on anyone.

 

[stlbobby]

Hobbyist should stop looking down on people who aren't as into it as much as they are.

I don't think anyone here was looking down on anyone else. We were all providing the OP with information to make an informed decision. One of the main points was that it will take time to learn to use a DSLR to it's full potential, and most likely a few extra costs that aren't always considered in the initial purchase price, and if the OP isn't interested in investing the time and money to fully utilize a DSLR she might be better off with a nice point and shoot.

 

[flynnibus]

I agree if you are shooting a wedding and something happens and you need to hurry and get a shot of something that is unexpected then by all means flip over to Auto to capture it. However nothing that happened in Disney during our trip required me to do so. I also use Shutter or Aperture Priority more than I use full manual. So those are a form of Automatic but you still have more control than letting a piece of equipment make all the decisions for you

Like I said - you are massaging the image to where you want it to be. Not that the camera is incapable, but like a manual transmission vs an automatic in a car.. the transmission can't know your intentions before you give the input.. so many people still like manual transmissions. Auto isn't just a 'throw it in the middle' for all settings. The cameras will do quite well except for where the camera can't read your mind or the future.. so besides estimating motion or manipulations you want, they do pretty well. I'd still argue most people would have a hard time beating the computer if they meter their shot right. Like you said, you use priority modes, which are exactly the same thing except one dimension put in your hands. It's not like the camera is any better at estimating the companion setting in priority vs another mode.. simply you took one variable out and put it in your control. The soccer mom throwing it in sport mode and burst mode is largely on the same page as you shooting in shutter priority mode. Can you do better? Yes. Is the person throwing their money away? No.

I would also think most of here that use SLR's are not after to capture run of the mill images. I take pictures to capture something beautiful that I enjoy looking back at again and again. This doesnt make me wrong or you wrong. As I said before its just my opinion. Its how I want to shoot my images and the reason I spent $$ on doing so. But I must add its not all equipment. If your looking to buy a high end camera to take average pictures save the $$ is what I am saying.

But don't forget there is a limit to what people are willing to invest.. in both TIME and money in getting a result. And often, a compromise is more then enough for most. That's what makes them the bulk, and the 'best' the minority/extreme.

Many people still buy cameras to 'just take pictures' - and that shouldn't be discouraged.

 

[nngrendel]

Like I said - you are massaging the image to where you want it to be. Not that the camera is incapable, but like a manual transmission vs an automatic in a car.. the transmission can't know your intentions before you give the input.. so many people still like manual transmissions. Auto isn't just a 'throw it in the middle' for all settings. The cameras will do quite well except for where the camera can't read your mind or the future.. so besides estimating motion or manipulations you want, they do pretty well. I'd still argue most people would have a hard time beating the computer if they meter their shot right. Like you said, you use priority modes, which are exactly the same thing except one dimension put in your hands. It's not like the camera is any better at estimating the companion setting in priority vs another mode.. simply you took one variable out and put it in your control. The soccer mom throwing it in sport mode and burst mode is largely on the same page as you shooting in shutter priority mode. Can you do better? Yes. Is the person throwing their money away? No.



But don't forget there is a limit to what people are willing to invest.. in both TIME and money in getting a result. And often, a compromise is more then enough for most. That's what makes them the bulk, and the 'best' the minority/extreme.

Many people still buy cameras to 'just take pictures' - and that shouldn't be discouraged.

Like I said - you are massaging the image to where you want it to be. Not that the camera is incapable, but like a manual transmission vs an automatic in a car.. the transmission can't know your intentions before you give the input.. so many people still like manual transmissions. Auto isn't just a 'throw it in the middle' for all settings. The cameras will do quite well except for where the camera can't read your mind or the future.. so besides estimating motion or manipulations you want, they do pretty well. I'd still argue most people would have a hard time beating the computer if they meter their shot right. Like you said, you use priority modes, which are exactly the same thing except one dimension put in your hands. It's not like the camera is any better at estimating the companion setting in priority vs another mode.. simply you took one variable out and put it in your control. The soccer mom throwing it in sport mode and burst mode is largely on the same page as you shooting in shutter priority mode. Can you do better? Yes. Is the person throwing their money away? No.



But don't forget there is a limit to what people are willing to invest.. in both TIME and money in getting a result. And often, a compromise is more then enough for most. That's what makes them the bulk, and the 'best' the minority/extreme.

Many people still buy cameras to 'just take pictures' - and that shouldn't be discouraged.

I agree with some of what your saying. However, I was just giving my opinion on what I would do. Again my statements are not there to make you wrong and me right. Its just what I would do if I did not have intentions of learning how to use the camera.

I also drive a Manual transmission truck so maybe thats where I get it from.

 

[flynnibus]

I also drive a Manual transmission truck so maybe thats where I get it from.

me too Just saying there is room for both casual and hobbyists and people shouldn't poo on or dissuade people those who don't aspire to be a tinkerer. The comments in the thread about DSLR's becoming a commitment is the best advice IMO.

My wife swore up and down she wanted one - which I tried to discourage because I knew she was more of a 'just works' type. But all the other moms had them and used them for the sports stuff and a limited P&S wasn't cutting it for in the gym, or trying to see across the horse ring.

I'm the one messing with the WB to deal with all the mixed light sources in the gym.. where she just wants to spray and pray.

Could her images and mine be better? No doubt. Does it fit our needs and willingness to invest? So far so good

These could be critiqued extensively.. but they captured what I wanted

 

[flynnibus]

we have that, it's called a Leica but it's expensive so 99% of people have likely never even heard of that brand nevermind actually use it.

Yes, but that is expensive for other reasons. The feature set aspired to listed in my prior post isn't leading the market. Heck, it's not even a contested part of the market. Convenience is a feature even in high end cameras. People buy a body because it shoots better VIDEO.. how's that for brain twister on a DSLR people are buying because they aspire for amazing stills..

People often buy more than they need - mainly from an idea that 'the best' is best for everyone, or the idea they made their dollars work the best. Me... my car has 400+hp not because it was the best, but because it was gonna be hellva fun