File :-(, x, )
So like.. getting a new cam. Anonymous
In a little over 1 week.
Right now I've got the Canon S2IS (which is a digital still, with manual functions.. 0cm macro..)
I'll be upgrading to the 400D

what kinda things will I be able to do with the 400D that I currently can't with the s2is?
(this photo was shot with the s2is)
EXIF data available. Clickhereto show/hide.
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot S2 ISCamera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS2 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/2.7Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2007:04:02 21:54:53Exposure Time1/400 secF-Numberf/2.7Lens Aperturef/2.7Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length6.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width640Image Height840RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceManualScene Capture TypeStandard
>> Alzo
Ugh, just looking at the heavily photo shopped picture, I'd say not much. What's that saying again? "It doesn't take a good camera to take good pictures, but a good photography?" Or something along those lines. I'd say push the limits of your s2 before stepping up.
>> Anonymous
>>39981
I think one could get that without shopping with the S2. I know one can with the S3, with the exception of the border.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Here's one with .. fairly no photoshopping applied at all :]
.. most of my photos require some post work, some more than others.
I feel this is due to the fact that a lot come out rather flat (even on high contrast settings)
So a little tweak here and there fixes a few things.

I do think I've pushed the limits of the S2 long enough since I've been using it constantly for over a year... (taken 6000+ photos with it)

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot S2 ISCamera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS2 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/2.7Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2007:03:24 23:16:36Exposure Time1/125 secF-Numberf/2.7Lens Aperturef/2.7Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length6.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width775Image Height800RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceManualScene Capture TypeStandard
>> ac
>>39977
Things you'll be able to do now:
1. Take pictures *really fast*. Instant on, no shutter lag, 3fps.
2. Take pictures in much lower light, especially once you get a decent lens. The 400D has a great ISO400, a decent ISO800, and a usable ISO1600. I shoot at 400 most of the time, unless I'm in bright sunlight or am taking a shot that can't tolerate even a hint of noise. If you like shooting in low-light situations, I'd recommend picking up a fast prime. Canon's 50mm f/1.8, for instance, is mad swift and pretty much their cheapest lens (at about $75). Though the problem with that is that you're stuck in one focal length, and an annoying mild telephoto at that.
3. Frame through actual glass, which makes manually focusing a hell of a lot more pleasant than looking at an LCD. I didn't believe this until I actually did it.
4. Shrink your depth of field. Much bigger sensor = Much smaller depth of field possible.

What you'll be giving up:
1. Unless you pop for a macro lens, kiss your extreme close focusing ability goodbye
2. Same goes for your huge zoom range. I only know of one lens that has the mad zoom range of a superzoom P&S like the S2IS, and that's on Nikon.
3. "Video? What's that? We only do still here, son"
4. Say goodbye to stealthy ninja-like quiet shutters, say hello to a big-honkin' mirror going kaCLACK followed by a metal focal-plane shutter going clatter followed by the big-honkin' mirror going kaCLACK again as it comes back down.
5. Want your IS back? Be prepared for a wallet-raep.
6. Did you like framing on your LCD sometimes? Yeah, no more of that. If you don't want to use the viewfinder, best you can do is take a picture and view it on the LCD, reframe, repeat.
>> ac
Also, as a counterpoint to Alzo, I quite like both of these pictures you posted.
>> Anonymous
>>40023

Most of the "downsides" you listed are not particularly crippling (aside from the ridiculous cost associated with macro lenses, I hear you there). They're just inherant factors in SLR photography. Shooting video with a still camera is silly. If you want to shoot video, get a video camera. A cheapass camcorder will run you about $250.

I actually jumped a tiny little bit when I realised that many new point-and-shoots don't even have rangefinders. Unless your camera has IS (which admittedly is becoming more common on smaller cameras), getting a sharply focussed shot with a point-and-shoot is a bitch. It's simply much less stable to hold a camera two feet from your face than it is to frame up with your eye to the viewfinder. That's the great power of SLRs: you look right out through the lens you have mounted, so you see precisely what the camera does while still maintaning the stability of having the camera near to your eye. The situation changes with the longer telephotos, of course.

Got to play with a Sigma 300-800mm yesterday. Whew.
>> ac
>>40053
Hey, downsides that are fundamental to SLR photography are still downsides. I agree that they're not crippling, and I'd never go back to a non-SLR permanently, but they're still things he and/or she might want to know.

(And incidentally, my old superzoom P&S digital camera took better video than my digital video camera. Higher res at the same frame rate, although limited by the card rather than having a big-ass digital tape to record to. That's the one thing I miss about that camera)
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
ac, thanks :]
You seem to know both cameras quite well.
... I will really miss the awesome macro feature the S2 has, but I suppose I can eventually get a half decent macro lens (about 220 bucks I hear?)
About the inability on taking stealth shots (the noisy CLICKCLACK).. I was never good at those anyway, people always seem to notice me; and I get this odd "WTF IS THAT DUDE DOING??" stare. Haha :D
As for not taking very long videos, not really a problem since I've taken 4 videos out of 6000 photos.
I think all the 'minor' shortcomings the SLR may appear to have can be easily defeated by kickass lenses.

One more question though, do you think the 400D is a good choice? How do the other cameras (around the same pricetag) fare?

Have another photo :]
(cam i gave to my gf, ixus65.. won in in a photocomp, yay!)

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot S2 ISCamera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS2 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/2.7Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2007:03:12 22:09:38Exposure Time1/15 secF-Numberf/2.7Lens Aperturef/2.7Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length6.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width657Image Height844RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceManualScene Capture TypeStandard
>> ac
>>40066
The key for stealth with the S2IS is to make sure you're pointed in a different direction from the lens. The flip-swivel LCD is awesome for that. With an SLR, you'll have to use techniques like taking pictures of someone, then keeping the camera held up when they move out of your field of view. I do this sometimes. Take a picture, person looks at you a little creeped out, then you just want for them to move away and don't move the camera. They'll assume that you were trying to take a picture of something else behind them and they were messing up your shot. ;)

I only do this with strangers. Everyone who knows me has just sort of learned to accept that I'm gonna be Annoying Picture Guy everywhere I go.

But yeah, all the minor annoyances of switching to an SLR are more than made up for by the advantages in the lens and sensor.

The 400D's a good choice. That's actually the SLR that I've got, so I'm a bit biased. I've played around with the Nikon D40 and the Sony Alpha A100 and really preferred the interface on the 400D.

But as always, your mileage may vary. Go down to your local Best Buy or Best Buy analogue and try out the SLRs there. The other cameras in the same price range are going to be about the same. Anyone who tells you that, for instance, the equivalently-priced Nikon is obviously better than the Canon is trying to sell you a Nikon--and vice versa.
>> Anonymous
>>40053
The SxIS series has a diopter-adjustable LCD in the viewfinder that shows exactly what the lens sees, like an SLR. The upside is more information available in the viewfinder; the downside is that it has some lag.
>> Anonymous
>>40075
Hmm, thing is.. I can get really good deals on anything from Canon. (gf works there)
Pretty much everything is half price (or almost).
Which is why I was also considering the 30D, but I doubt I'll need anything better than the 400 (since I'm no pro).

Just finished another shoot with my gf under some pretty low light settings... So I can't wait to get my hands on the 400 :D

Have another one!
>> Anonymous
>>40101
If you can afford the 30D, go with it. You'll thank yourself later. The 400D is a great body, excellent for if you're just getting a sense of SLR photography, but the 30D has everything the 400D has and then some. This means you'll have a new toy to play with, and once you get a hang of the basics you can continue to expand your skills without dropping another chunk of cash on a new body. If you'd rather save the money, then the 400D is where you want to be, and it might leave you some cash for another lens. Personally, I'd love to have the 30D (I shoot with a 350D) but because they all use the EF mount, I'm just going to collect lenses until I can afford a 5D. Full frame image sensors are sex and a half.

On that note, if you're buying lenses and have any intention of eventually stepping up to a 5D or a 1Ds (or any of Canon's midrange cameras five years down the road, they'll all be full-frame eventually), don't get EF-S mount lenses. They're the ones tuned to the smaller image sensor in most digital SLRs and aren't compatible with the full-frame models.
>> ac
>>40101
Then I think you should get yourself a Canon.

Also, you should post some pictures of this girlfriend of yours.
>> ac
>>40117
I don't think I agree with this. I think he'd be a lot better off buying the 400D and then spending the delta-money between the 400D and the 30D on good glass.

What does the 30D really give you over the 400D other than a faster rate of fire and like $400 less in your wallet?
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>40138
"Also, you should post some pictures of this girlfriend of yours."

here's one of the last 'shoot' (which is pretty much me taking photos of her in our apartment, haha)


I kinda agree though.. from what I've seen and heard I don't think I can fully take advantage of the 30D or 5D (or higher) .. YET.
Maybe in a few years, 400D should hopefully last me a while. :]

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>> Sam
     File :-(, x)
got me a 400d acuple weeks ago i love it

i have been playing with flash and long exp

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>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>40143
nice

i envy you for getting to play around with one already :D
here's another of the gf
she's my only model so far, haha

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