alternatve
Senior Member
Just my two cents.
True, both types of cameras, both prosumers and SLRs can take good pictures, but so can camera phones and plastic cameras with plastic lenses. Why not then get a cheap, compact digital camera and snap away?
Here's why.
All compact digital cameras, consumer and prosumer alike, suffer from one basic defect of design, a small sensor size. While this makes the camera lighter as the lens of the camera doesn't have to zoom as far and can be smaller as well. But, image quality will not be as good as a DSLR, whether full frame or not. The sensor just can't absorb all that information, megapixels notwithstanding.
Also, controlling Depth of Field (DoF) is harder as a smaller sensor size drastically widens DoF. So if you want to focus on a selected spot instead of the whole area, you might find it impossible.
The lens on a Prosumer is rarely high end. It is after all, just a compact camera, abeit a high end one. Also, you get a wide range of choices for lenses to suit your style of photography. With a prosumer, you are limited to the lens your camera came with.
Functions of a Prosumer will still be poorer then a DSLR. Why would camera manufacturers want to handicap their DSLR sales with a prosumer that has just as good features? This are features that you would miss if you are serious about photography as a hobby.
You have more manual control on a DSLR. This means you are able to learn about the technical terms of photography as you take pictures.
To summerise,
If you are really serious about your hobby, do consider a DSLR. If you don't have the cash, consider a second hand model that is still miles better then your prosumer.
If you just need a camera for family shots and to mess around a bit, a prosumer or a simple compact is all you need.
Regards,
Samuel
True, both types of cameras, both prosumers and SLRs can take good pictures, but so can camera phones and plastic cameras with plastic lenses. Why not then get a cheap, compact digital camera and snap away?
Here's why.
All compact digital cameras, consumer and prosumer alike, suffer from one basic defect of design, a small sensor size. While this makes the camera lighter as the lens of the camera doesn't have to zoom as far and can be smaller as well. But, image quality will not be as good as a DSLR, whether full frame or not. The sensor just can't absorb all that information, megapixels notwithstanding.
Also, controlling Depth of Field (DoF) is harder as a smaller sensor size drastically widens DoF. So if you want to focus on a selected spot instead of the whole area, you might find it impossible.
The lens on a Prosumer is rarely high end. It is after all, just a compact camera, abeit a high end one. Also, you get a wide range of choices for lenses to suit your style of photography. With a prosumer, you are limited to the lens your camera came with.
Functions of a Prosumer will still be poorer then a DSLR. Why would camera manufacturers want to handicap their DSLR sales with a prosumer that has just as good features? This are features that you would miss if you are serious about photography as a hobby.
You have more manual control on a DSLR. This means you are able to learn about the technical terms of photography as you take pictures.
To summerise,
If you are really serious about your hobby, do consider a DSLR. If you don't have the cash, consider a second hand model that is still miles better then your prosumer.
If you just need a camera for family shots and to mess around a bit, a prosumer or a simple compact is all you need.
Regards,
Samuel
mg...and the screen cracked a bit.
