DSLR or hybrid for newbie

woof woof said:
Most of this CSC won't focus in low light stuff is very possibly guff IMVHO :D

I've just tried my now rather old GF1 in a dark room, no light on, and it achieved focus lock 4 times out of 6 taking about 1.5 seconds to lock focus when it did. I then tried my 5D and 20D and neither achieved focus lock at all, not once. Granted by 5D and 20D are a bit old now but the GF1 is a bit old too.

Anyone thinking about a CSC of any make should try them for themselves and take what's said on internet forums with a pinch of salt as half the time it's said by people who've never used the kit :D
Click to expand...

I know you weren't including me in that comment Alan ;) but I've just read a general review of mirrorless CSC cameras just posted on DPReview, and I think they've tested most of them.

It's quite a good and honest round-up and worth a read for anyone wanting to know the pros and cons of mirrorless vs DSLR, including this quote:

"In general Mirrorless cameras cannot track moving subjects (specifically those moving towards or away from you) as well as DSLRs, if at all, and so are far less well suited to sports or other action photography. For the average target user of systems like this the most obvious consequence of the slow low-light focus and inability to keep up with movement comes when shooting even moderately active children indoors in anything but perfect light."

Which is I think, exactly what I said earlier in post #26. The full article is here http://www.dpreview.com/articles/0344780582/mirrorless-cameras-a-primer
 
Last edited:
For a good all-rounder for under £300 I bought a Fuji HS10 and I love it. OK it's not a DSLR competitor but for the money and huge diversity afforded by the 28mm-720mm lens you can't really go wrong. I use it mostly for macro shots and it performs beautifully. It obvously has it's limitations but you may start with this camera (which will satisfy you 90% of the time) and give you some time to discover which type of photography (i.e. subject & technique) that you lean towards. Then make an informed (through actual use) choice when (and if) you want step up to a true DSLR. Look at some pictures from this camera on the web - you'll be amazed. I've only just joined this site and haven't yet got my own pictures ready (that is to say sorted-out I'm afraid). I'm only a mediocre photographer myself but love taking pictures, especially as I live in Cumbria.
 
Well I now have Sony nex 5n in hand. Had a play with it inside taking pictures of daughter and wife with little light and its great.

Got daughter spinning around and it was brilliant. Compared it to the Panasonic tz and it light years better.
No lag when pressing shutter and no blur. Clear crisp pictures. Not uploaded yet, but am happy.

Appreciate its early days but so far so good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top