I want to upgrade, but what path should I take?

Posted by Arbib on August 4, 2009
Posted in: 1.

A typical scenario through the upgrade path:

OK, I'm pretty happy with my trust-worthy Point & Shoot, but I have noticed as I learn more, and my skills are improving, I want to explore more photographic challenges. I am finding that my Point & Shoot is showing its limitation in some areas.

Main points why you may need to upgrade:

  1. I’m starting to make larger prints for display and I am not getting the fine detail I want.
  2. I want to be able to use a wider lens than 28mm equivalent that is available on most point and shoot..save a few.
  3. I can’t shoot above ISO 200 without the noise level increasing to an unacceptable level in large prints.
  4. I can’t focus in low light areas and get acceptable focus. Or my camera can’t focus at all in low light.
  5. It takes too long to take a picture from the time I push on the shutter button, and the camera finally records the scene.
  6. It takes too long from picture to picture as the memory card saves the image.

These are some of the most common reasons you may need to upgrade to a DSLR or an Mirror-less Interchangeable Lens Camera. Now, the “DSLR” is the most common upgrade path, but there are others too.

  • A Digital Rangefinder (Leica M8/M8.2/M9, Epson RD-1s),
  • Micro 4/3 that takes interchangeable lenses, but it does not have an “optical”  viewfinder like a “DSLR” as standard equipment. It is more like a “Hybrid” Point & Shoot with DSLR like features.
  • Fuji is joining the APS-C mirrorless Camera with 2 offerings. Fuji X100 fixed 23mm f/2 (35), and Fuji X-S1 Pro with 18mm f/2, 35mm f/1.4, 60mm f/2.5 (28/53/90)
  • And Nikon is joining with 2, small sensor camera’s, BUT with Interchangeable lenses.
  • Canon is offering a large sensor fixed lens P/S (4/3 sensor in all practical purposes)

So, there are now a good variety of alternatives to pick from to replace your Medium to High end Point and Shoot

In the preceding Chapters (Tabs), I will get in more detail with basic camera controls witch both types of cameras have…save a few on some Point & Shoots. And while I explain these, I will point out differences that may exist and the advantages or disadvantages of each type.

This is a an ongoing work…So, if some of the chapters are empty, please standby, I am typing as fast as I can ;-)