DSLR vs Point and Shoot Camera

 

I finally did it.

I have been actively avoiding getting a DSLR camera for the past 5 years for two reasons:

•the cost

•fear of the learning curve required to use it

My birthday is next week and the best gift I could ask for is the health, happiness and well being of my family and friends and all my extended Hypernoodle pals!  There was nothing else I really wanted and couldn't even think of anything when my husband asked me if I had a specific gift in mind...that is until channel surfing late one night... (side note: anyone who knows me knows of my late-night infomercial addiction!)

I stopped channel surfing dead in my tracks on QVC.  They were having a "Today's Special Value" on the new Canon EOS Rebel T5.  This is the newest entry level "DSLR for Dummies" model that included a standard 18-55mm lens AND a 75-300mm Zoom lens with free shipping!  Not only did it come with TWO lenses, it came with a camera strap, a carrying case, instructional DVD and Photoshop Elements.

I couldn't resist.  Ordered it on the spot.  Happy Birthday to me~ lol.  Why, you ask?

Because in my efforts to avoid getting a DSLR camera the past 5 years, I have purchased 3 point and shoot cameras that were marketed as "DSLR-like".  I am here to tell ya...they are NOT (DSLR-like).

Each one didn't do something like a real DSLR camera would so I tried to upgrade to a "better" point and shoot and just ended up spending MORE money with a different point and shoot.  I spent $175 on the first camera, $260 on the second camera and $225 on the 3rd camera.  Not to mention the iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy S4 cameras on the cell phones I've had in the last 5 years!  This is about $850.00 in cameras!!   Cameras that were "fine" but not DSLR cameras.  I got my new Canon EOS Rebel T5 for $549.00 with TWO lenses AND Photoshop Elements--so in the end, I wasted 5 years and about $300 bucks!  Ugh!  (side note: I don't think QVC has this package any longer at this price.  They do have a similar one that is comparable for about $40 more)

I've always been afraid of the lenses on DSLR cameras...using them, knowing what they're for, changing them, having to spend more $ to get the "right one"...you name it.  I liked the "automatic" functions of the point and shoot cameras and I thought upgrading to a point and shoot that had a "Manual" mode like a DSLR would provide me the same benefits...I was wrong.  

Now, point and shoots are great cameras.  They have taken on many advancements in the last few years--even the cameras that are on our smart phones nowadays are pretty advanced.  I got great results with my point and shoots after LOTS of editing.  That was the part that was killing me...hours and hours of editing.  

Taking pictures had become my LEAST favorite part of my shop and blogging process.  It is safe to say that I completely dreaded it.  Running around like a crazy woman waiting for a decently lit day with good natural light was tiring.  And even when I had good natural light, 

I still had to edit the crud out the the pictures to get rid of shadows, darkness, adjust the exposure and correct the coloring.  As much time as I spent editing, I think I got quite good at it.  I got quite a few compliments on my pictures, but they still "bugged" me.  Most were grainy and still not crisp.  Plus the TIME I spent editing them was ridiculous!  It was taking away from time I could have spent doing something else.

So let's see what the difference is, eh? As they say, the proof is in the pudding!

These pictures are SOOC--(which means Straight out of the Camera)  With absolutely NO editing whatsoever.  Both pictures were taken in Manual Mode  with the same f-stop, aperture and ISO settings with a diffuser behind the objects.  (Diffusers "tame" the direct sunlight coming in your window or from your light source so it won't be so harsh and cause shadows).  Take a look at the massive difference:

HELLLLLLOOOOOOOOOO!!  I mean, really?

Now...before you get too excited, I must let you know...

You can most likely take some exceptional "every day" type of pictures right out of the box with this Canon EOS Rebel T5.  It is an entry level model and designed to be super user friendly with the "auto" setting selected.
HOWEVER, The "auto" setting isn't going to cut it for these blog/product kinds of pictures though. 
It has taken me a full week and 1/2 of reading my Canon EOS manual, watching the instructional video numerous times and countless online tutorials/videos to know how to operate and use the functions on the Canon DSLR camera on the "Manual" setting (which is the setting I took these pictures in).  There was indeed a learning curve where I had to get to the point where I understood:

•f-stops

•aperture

•ISO

•shutter speed

•lens usage

Once you understand these things, your DSLR, in Manual Mode, will allow you to completely customize your settings based on the light you have available at the time you are taking pics.

The point and shoot I was using also has a "Manual Mode"--so I set it to the same settings as the Canon DSLR...doesn't seem the same does it?  I mean, this was the picture I got!  How can there be such a difference? #1 the LENS and #2 the SENSOR in each camera.  The difference in the image quality is astounding to me.

Here's another example:

Remember...these pics are straight out the camera with absolutely NO editing!

A few things to note:

•Yes, the Canon EOS Rebel T5 images are "bigger"--this is the fabulous lens.  I could have changed the lens setting to adjust the size, but I left it in the pre-set mode because the point and shoot lens in not adjustable and was in its standard (and only) setting.  Both pictures are taken from the EXACT same vantage point, seconds apart.

•Notice the diffuser I used behind my objects?  In the background of the Canon picture it is blurred--  This is on purpose.  The Manual Aperture mode I was allowed to set can bring the focus to the item in the foreground of the picture if you so choose-- and not to everything in the view of your lens.  In the point and shoot pic, you can see the diffuser...which is something I didn't want!  You can see the diffuser difference in the previous thread picture too!

•You would think looking at these pics that they were taken on different days because the point and shoot pic is SOOOOO dark!  But I promise you, they weren't!  The shutter speed that the Canon DSLR allows me to set lets more light into the lens when taking the picture!  Amaze-balls!

Here's yet another example:

Again, these pics are straight out the camera with NO editing.

Here, I also could have adjusted the Canon lens, but left it in the pre-setting to show you the image quality you get when no lens adjustments have been made.

Not only is the color quality of the Canon picture leaps and bounds above the point and shoot, the image is sharp and CRISP.  The light the DSLR allows into the lens also makes the picture more true in color right out of the gate without the darkness the point and shoot shows.

Both sets of pics from both cameras still need editing.  Major difference is: the editing from the Canon EOS Rebel T5 will be very minor.  The editing on the point and shoot pic will be massive!  I'll need considerably more time and effort to get the point and shoot images to a "presentable picture" status.  Sadly, even after the point and shoot pics are drastically edited, the image quality, color and crispness will still not be up to the standard of the DSLR pics!

If you're wondering, I did take the 1st pic in this post with my point and shoot camera (obviously couldn't take a pic of the Canon with the Canon - hee hee hee!) And yes, I had to edit the bejeezus out of it to get it to look like that and it still has shadows.  To be fair though, I didn't use the diffuser in that pic.  Nevertheless, it's still not crisp--there's quite a bit of "noise" in it!

thump...thump...thump...hear that?  That's the sound of me kicking myself for waiting so long to get a DSLR camera.

I still have a lot of learning to do, but if this is what I can do after a week of intense, hard-core learning, I'm encouraged and excited!  Bear with me through my continued learning process, I'll do my best to help you all learn some basics as they become more and more familiar to me!

Have you made the leap into a DSLR from a point and shoot?  What was your experience?  I'd love to hear from ya!

Happy Sewing (and picture taking!)
 Hypernoodle♥