P&S vs DSLR - Does this argument make sense?

Alfred Molon wrote:

> In article <5hdoheF3jr9r5U11 RemoveThis @mid.individual.net>, Chris Malcolm says...
>
>
>>You must have a later model of Sony R1 than mine. If I wave my hand in
>>front of the lens the delay is very obvious in the display. However, I
>>don't think it's seriously longer than the mirror flap delay of an
>>SLR, because I find it just as easy (or difficult to catch
>>pre-focussed action shots as on my old film SLR. In fact all my
>>initial problems with action shots on my R1 were due to my believing
>>all the rude things said about the action delay problems here and in
>>other places. It was only when I realised shutter delay wasn't a
>>problem that I started getting the action shots I wanted.
>
>
> You are mixing together two different things, LCD display delay and
> shutter lag. We were only talking about live preview, not about shutter
> lag.
>
> It's true that the R1 is not a camera for action shots, because it will
> refuse to take the picture when you press the shutter. The engineer at
> Sony who designed this behaviour into the camera should get fired.

I imagine the only way for you to take a picture exactly (or as close to
as is humanly possible) to when the shutter button is pressed is to use
manual focus, otherwise the camera will try and get an AF lock first.
This is assuming several things: the camera isn't processing a previous
shot, the memory card isn't full (some won't trip the shutter if it's
full) and that the delay between what's happening in front of the lens
and display on the LCD and/or EVF doesn't make synching the two events
(action and shutter button pressing) unlikely.
 >> Stay informed about: P&S vs DSLR - Does this argument make sense? 

Henry Hank wrote:
> Alfred Molon wrote:
>
>>You have to compare same with same.
>>
>>A "crop 5" P&S has the DOF of a full frame camera at the same F-stop and
>>*same equivalent focal length*, i.e. F5.6 on a crop 5 P&S gives you the
>>same DOF as a full frame camera at F28.
>>
>>A crop 1.5 DLSR instead has at F5.6 the same DOF as a full frame camera
>>at F8.4.
>>
>>At F8.4 there is way less DOF than at F28.

I'm still unclear about this. If f/stop is not comparable at equivalent
focal length, I think ISO and dynamic range must be the bridge
accounting for any difference.

> So far, the only drawbacks to an SLDC (single-lens digital camera) vs D-SLR
> (both designs are P&S cameras, get it right people) seem to be: focus-delay
> time, some extra noise at higher ISOs ...and a deeper DOF.
....
> Deeper DOF can be and is an asset for many people...

Correct me if I'm wrong but the difference in DOF can be compensated by
increasing the ISO on a dSLR. SLDC's (P&S) typically have a good deal of
noise reduction built into the jpeg creation as well, I believe. Another
factor is dynamic range.


> That leaves me with only two drawbacks. Slower auto-focusing time,

I think the slower AF time is largely due to less light to work with.

> and more noise in higher ISOs.
> Both I can easily deal with by knowing their limitations
> and improving my own photography skills.

Yes, it's possible to take great photos with all sorts of limitations.
The limitations of a DSLR included.


> D-SLR owners just *LOVE* focusing on the negative aspects of life, don't they.

No, I'm aware of the tradeoffs. If I moved to large format, I'd only be
able to take photos with a tripod. You could underexpose the large
format image & push the development at high ISO but that wouldn't make
any sense... if that's what you want, just use a smaller camera. I
noticed the differences when moving from small digital to dSLR: it takes
some getting used to and there are definately trade-offs.


> Quiet operation ... so you can do candid photography...

Yep!

>
> No dust on sensor

You can get an 18-200 lens & never change it if you want, just as you
could set ISO to 800. But yeah, I never heard of a 24-400 lens.


> High-speed flash sync -- you can use flash on many SLDC cameras up to their
> highest shutter-speed. For example, your image of someone taking a jump-shot
> won't have blurred halos around them due to the ambient lights and the long time
> it takes for the D-SLR's focal-plane shutter to traverse the width of your
> sensor.

Yes, though some DSLRs have hybrid electronic shutters. I don't
understand your blurred halo example.


> No distortion of fast subjects -- focal-plane shutters in D-SLRS will distort
> the propositions and shapes of anything that moves during the use of high
> shutter speeds. It's just the nature of the focal-plane beast.

That's a pretty obscure one... I don't know.

> 100% accurate viewfinder -- Slow shutter motion-blur effects and DOF aperture
> effects are correctly relayed to the EVF. A true WYSIWYG preview.

Yes, I agree here, I miss that. Big bright optical viewfinders have
advantages too though. Of course you can get a pro model with a 100%
viewfinder.


> Convenience -- weight and volume... [and:] $

Oh yes, certainly.


> The plusses of owning an SLDC ****FAR**** ****FAR****
> ****FAR**** ****FAR**** ****FAR**** outweigh any drawbacks compared to owning
> and paying for a D-SLR.

It's a matter of priorities for each individual.

--
Paul Furman Photography
http://edgehill.net
Bay Natives Nursery
http://www.baynatives.com
 >> Stay informed about: P&S vs DSLR - Does this argument make sense?