Weekend Open Forum: Do you use a dedicated camera?

Shawn Knight

Posts: 15,240   +192
Staff member

One of my passions outside of computer hardware and gadgets is photography. I picked up my first DSLR camera in 2005 and upgraded to a nicer model a few years later before deciding to sell the kit and invest in a micro four thirds system last year.

I’m far from what would be considered a professional but I do have a true respect for the art and strive to get better each time I go out. Furthermore, I think that photos are an important way for us to capture memories and share them with friends and family later in life.

open forum camera dslr

The situation I’ve noticed in the past few years is that people are relying on low quality cell phone cameras as their primary (and perhaps only) method of snapping photos. While I’m a firm believer that the best camera is the one you have with you, I also don’t understand why someone would want to remember timeless events like a graduation, wedding or family vacation with grainy, low-quality mobile phone pictures.

With this week’s Open Forum, we’d like to know if you have a dedicated camera (film or digital) or if you rely on your mobile phone camera for all of your photography needs.

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I currently use an old (some what old) Sony DSC HX1 super zoom camera. It does everything I need with great zoom and great macro abilities. Id love to get a good DSLR. But I would have to buy multiple lens to do the same things as my current camera. Granted a DSLR would be better in every single way, the simplicity on the all in one camera is hard to get rid of.

With that said, phone cameras are "fun" but should only be used as a last resort.

Also, instagram is the devil. Oh, good for you...you took a picture of yourself or food and added a sun washed stupid filter! Thats art! NOT.
 
Yup, right now its a Sony Cybershot point and shoot but I was thinking of picking up a cheaper DSLR, a Canon Rebel or something.
 
If I'm going to an event where I do plan on taking pictures, I bring a Lumix point-and-shoot with me. I'm far from being a professional or even an enthusiast, I care enough about picture quality and lighting that the difference between the casual flat graininess of a cellphone camera and the sharp, time-frozen clarity of a dedicated unit really irks me.

Plus, I don't want to blow through my cellphone battery taking dozens of pictures and hoping it'll last through the afternoon, evening, and night.
 
I agree with the first guest post in that I despise Instagram, specifically for the same reasons. Adding a lame filter to your photo only makes it worse. And the sad thing is, I'm seeing a lot of amateur photographers taking the same route and their customers seem to love it. Ugh...
 
I do really like nice quality photos, and subsequently crappy photos bother me. I'd try to use a DSLR every time but sometimes it's a lot less convenient. Small point and shoot cameras are usually decent under good lighting and a steady hand. A DSLR is sometimes too bulky, and too slow to setup for small casual things.
 
I'm probably what you would classify as a hobbyist photographer. I use a Nikon D80 (DSLR) along with an assortment of lenses (standard zoom, telephoto, macro, and a nifty-fifty) along with a tripod with a quick release head (probably the best purchase you can make if you are into landscapes). Sadly I only use one filter (a real one, not that instagram bs) on a frequent basis (a very strong neutral density filter for flowing water shots). I've been meaning to expand to a set of graduated neutral density filters but they are quite expensive.

I've gone to shooting exclusively in RAW and edit in Lightroom. (Before I was using Paint.NET, which sadly doesn't have raw support.) Another software I have frequently used is autostitch. (2-d panorama maker)


I have a DA profile (http://leif-h.deviantart.com/) although I have a back log of pictures I haven't added.
 
I have access to a better camera but for the most part my Galaxy S II works just fine. Especially after the ICS update.
 
I guess I am older as I agree that camera phones and even point and shoots leave a lot to be desired. I started with 35mm as a kid, acquired a D50 digital 7 years back and have recently decided to upgrade to a D5100 with several new lenses. Photography is a great hobby and like the author I am just an amateur and cameras are another toy like computers that you can contiually upgrade and have fun with.
 
I usually use a Nikon D50 DSLR I have an assortment of lenses but normally use the 28-200mm Tamron which I find very versatile and useful in most situations, The D50 is kind of dated but it still takes great pictures, the only real disadvantage is that it doesn't support SDHC so it is limited to 2gb cards, but it has the auto-focus motor in the body which allows for a much wider selection of lenses, especially aftermarket ones, where as newer low to mid range Nikon DSLRs no longer have the motor in the body and require special lenses with their own internal motor to use the autofocus feature, only the high-end models still have the body motor.

I also have an old Nikon F3 film SLR (top of the line circa mid to late 80s) that gets used occasionally, as a mechanical advance manual-focus body it is far from high tech these days but it is made of solid aluminum and brass making it nearly bullet-proof (these were actually used by many combat photographers back in their day), it always works no matter what the conditions.
 
I own a Nikon D700. I Love that camera but I won't argue the usefulness of having a decent point and shoot, or even as a last resort the camera on my phone.
 
My first job was sales staff in a camera shop, way back in 1984. I learned all sorts about cameras and photography and my first big camera was a Canon AE1. I used to love developing photos myself - science and art combined - and disassembling and cleaning my gear. My first digital was a Minolta 7i. I currently have a Nikon D5100 + 16-85 and a Tamron 60 f/2 macro. I have tried working as a travel writer/photographer for Insight Guides based in Singapore but it didn't pay well. I do the occasional wedding for friends. I used to love photography but digital has killed that passion so now I'm more about enjoying a moment, rather than capturing it.
 
Posting as Guest since some things said on the internet can bite you in the *** in real life.

Yes, I use a Nikon D3100, and I absolutely love it. I'm no professional either, although I'm hoping to be, since Photography is probably a job you'd always have fun with.

Here's my small portfolio: http://photobucket.com/GiuseppeCantatore

Password is: techspot :for all the albums.
 
I guess I'm somewhere in the middle. If I know I'm going to an event that pictures would be a good way to remember (capture) the moment then I will bring our nicer point and shoot. For those times where a picture is worth a thousand words (spur of the moment) then the 8mp camera on my phone does a fine job. The camera app opens fast and can take the picture pretty quick as well (from power the screen on to picture being saved 4-5 seconds), that's faster then some of the dedicated point and shoot's I've seen out there. Since 8mp seems to be the growing (mobile) standard it's going to come down to the quality of the optics and shutter speeds that the manufactures put in their devices that would make a difference for practical/quality use.
 
I'm personally done with point and shoots. I bought a DSLR a couple of years ago and that's probably the best camera you could use for informal shoots, celebrations, etc. and then for everyday stuff the latest smartphones take better pictures than the last point and shoot I paid a few hundred dollars for just a few short years ago... and of course, it's on you all the time.
 
I just bought a Cybershot DSC-W630 and I'm glad I did... now I can save those moments in 16 Megapixel quality :D
 
I started with a old 120 film camera in the 60's, pretty much got out of photography until the early 80's. Had an old Canon AE-1 with a few lenses, got to where the shutter stopped working, moved onto a rebel. Started off with a whopping 1.3megapixel sony in the mid 90's, kept progressing to better & better digitals to the Pansonix FZ50. Made the switch to a Nikon D5000
a few years ago, prime, couple zooms, dedicated flash, ring flash, filters. Shoot everything raw, process in photoshop. To each his own, but I'd rather carry a real camera than a phone camera.
Packing 8+ megapixels in what amounts to a pinhole camera is just nuts without proper lighting. Too much noise.
 
Wow there's a lot of photographers here!
I'd guess that I'm even more of an amateur than most of you, with my Canon T1i and the two lenses that come with the kit. I've barely begun learning, but I do have a thing for nice quality pictures and some manual control, and point and shoots can't provide.
 
Photography is one of my favorite hobbies. I'll take my camera along with me If I think there will be a good chance of capturing something interesting. Even though I am as guilty as the next person of taking snapshots, especially on vacations, I really dislike that style of "photography". Given the chance, I will take the time to wait for the proper lighting and create an interesting composition. I use my camera mostly for landscapes and macros and I don't especially like taking photos of people.

I started out with film back in the 70's and used to develop and print color slides. As another poster said, the combination of chemistry and art is hard to resist. I owned several 35mm SLRs and eventually ended up with a Canon A-1, possibly the best enthusiast camera ever made. I have 8 lenses and many other accessories for this film workhorse.

I upgraded to digital with a Canon Rebel XT about 6 years ago and have never gone back to film, mostly because of the cost of developing. One thing I don't miss about film is the need to ration the number of shots you take. With digital you are free to "snap away" and experiment. I shoot everything in raw and use Paintshop Pro to process my images. It's almost like being in the dark room again but with the added benefit of an undo command.

I personally think smart phone cameras are nothing but expensive toys. The sensors are so small that there is virtually NO low light capability and don't even get start on using the flash. I really dislike using the flash on the XT but smartphone camera flashes are joke and I've been involved with their design.

Since phone cameras use small sensors, it's virtually impossible to get a good wide angle or selective focus because of the optics. The effective focal length range from short wide angle to long telephoto and the small apertures result in almost everything in the frame being in focus.

Point and shoots are OK, especially the high end ones and the 4/3rds ILCs are nearly as good and versatile as DSLRs.
 
I use my Nikon D5100 for most everything, and it goes everywhere with me. I shoot mainly with prime lenses (35mm f/1.8G; 50mm f/1.8G; and an 85mm f/1.8g), but my 35mm gets the most mileage out of those. I also have a Tamron 70-300 SP Di USD XLD VC that helps me get those pervy shots when I'm at the beach or spying on the neighbors (wink wink).

I'm looking to upgrade to the Nikon D600 if it ever comes out, but if not I may end up saving for the D800.

I've also got an Olympus OM-4Ti that I use for certain projects. It's rare that I need to use film, but as long as they make film, I'll always keep some on hand.
 
I'm looking to upgrade to the Nikon D600 if it ever comes out, but if not I may end up saving for the D800.
Here have some unsolicited advice. :) TL;DR: D7000 might be your next go-to DX camera.

The D7000 would be a fair DX to DX upgrade from the D5100. It's basically a D300s with better video, better metering and better noise control, while shooting slightly slower (6fps max vs the D300s's 8fps with the vertical grip). The D700 (if you're willing to buy used) is a better all around camera than the D800 in terms of absolute versatility; the later is basically a studio camera (and a really, REALLY good one at that), but both will let you take full advantage of your 50mm and 85mm in their full frame glory. Your tamron and your 35 will make you suffer in DX crop mode most likely on a full frame, and you use your 35 the most so that might be detrimental.

Can't make any comments about the D600 as it has yet to be announced.
 
I'm looking to upgrade to the Nikon D600 if it ever comes out, but if not I may end up saving for the D800.
Here have some unsolicited advice. :) TL;DR: D7000 might be your next go-to DX camera.

The D7000 would be a fair DX to DX upgrade from the D5100. It's basically a D300s with better video, better metering and better noise control, while shooting slightly slower (6fps max vs the D300s's 8fps with the vertical grip). The D700 (if you're willing to buy used) is a better all around camera than the D800 in terms of absolute versatility; the later is basically a studio camera (and a really, REALLY good one at that), but both will let you take full advantage of your 50mm and 85mm in their full frame glory. Your tamron and your 35 will make you suffer in DX crop mode most likely on a full frame, and you use your 35 the most so that might be detrimental.

Can't make any comments about the D600 as it has yet to be announced.

I hear you. If I stick with DX, I'll pick up a D7000, or whatever its successor turns out to be. If I end up buying a full frame camera, I'm still going to keep the D5100, as it performs brilliantly for such a low end camera, so lenses aren't really a major concern for me. Like you said, my 50mm and 85mm should get me started just fine. Lens shopping is one of my favorite things to do though, so I know I'll be declaring a Jihad on my checking account before the dust settles from my next camera purchase. :D
 
I use a DLSR (sony a580) with an assortment of lenses, a dedicated flash, tripot, filters, etc.

While I’m a firm believer that the best camera is the one you have with you, I also don’t understand why someone would want to remember timeless events like a graduation, wedding or family vacation with grainy, low-quality mobile phone pictures.

Couldn't agree more. Because of this, I'm looking to maybe buy a high-end compact (manual controls, fast lens, RAW). Or maybe if Nokia puts the camera from their PureView phone into one of their windows 8 phones, I will finally get a smartphone, since you have this along all the time.
 
Yeah, but I've abandoned DSLRs in favour of Micro Four Thirds, so no need for a separate point and shoot now either really, just one camera for everything.

With Nikon and Canon coming out with their own EVIL systems now I can't really see any reason to bother with a DSLR these days, unless you really are a high-end professional (most people who think they are aren't) and getting paid at least a five figure sum per shoot. Most of the EVIL bodies on the market are superior to entry-level SLRs like the 1100D/D3200 anyway.
 
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