Canon PowerShot SX40 HS -OR- Canon Rebel T3i with 18-55mm lens and 75-300mm lens

[hannahide]

I am upgrading from a Samsung WB600.

Here is what i want our of a camera:

• MAIN ISSUE - I have a good eye for composition but when I print out my pics or view them after I am always dissappointed with the sharpness of picture and lack of vivid color.
• I want clear, vivid shots of my kids.
• True to color pictures.
• I will use on hikes and on extended vacations (jungles, mountains, beaches, camping - a variety of locations).
• I also want to take some nice videos.

I am SOOOooo overwhelmed.
What is best?
I have at home a Canon PowerShot SX40 HS for the next few days to try out but the store also has the Canon Rebel DSLR.
Is the DSLR overkill for what I want?
Any advice or direction on where to look for advice would be helpful - I am a newbie here!!

 

[jedirunner]

Personal thoughts here, as I'm not as experienced as a great many here ...

I've owned the SX3 IS, SX30 IS, and SX50 IS. They're fantastic point and shoot cameras. They have great reach (zoom capabilities), and my daughter has put the SX50 to incredible use photographing birds. As long as she can compose her shot how she wants, she does really really well. However, (and this is a *big* however)... if she doesn't get the shot right, the quality is far inferior to what we get with the DSLR, and therefore doesn't have the fine detail to be able to zoom into the picture very much.

The DSLR is *fantastic* for quality. Let's face it, it's sensor size is far larger and it captures far more light than the tiny little sensor in the point & shoots. If you're willing to learn how to use your DSLR, you will get results that can far surpass what the point & shoot can give you. I have used the T2i, T3i, 7D before I settled on the 5D3 (not an option for everyone). The T2i and T3i were very capable and people get fantastic results out of them. Just for my hand size and the ergonomics, I prefer the larger body with its button layout.

I won't comment on the video portion, as my wife takes all the videos with her point and shoot ... I haven't gotten into DSLR video yet.

Anyway, in the end, I think the DSLR will give you better results overall. It won't have as much zoom as the SX40, but it will give far higher quality images, and only improves as your skill with it improves.



Kevin

 

[TCampbell]

A DSLR is simply a more capable camera all the way around -- if you can afford it, that's the way I'd ultimately go.

HOWEVER... you made comments about color accuracy. That's actually adjustable in a few ways on the camera and ALSO on the computer. It's even possible that you camera is being accurate but your monitor is not faithfully reproducing colors so they look wrong.

Cameras use something called "white balance" to provide accurate color. When you take a photo of something, what you see is actually the reflection of some light source off your subject. If that light source has a tint to the color, it will affect the color of your subject. Incandescent light bulbs (i.e. tungsten lights) will create a warm orangish color. Florescent may impart a green tint. The camera can compensate if it knows what the light source is. There are also a few ways to get perfect white balance even if you aren't sure what the "color temperature" of the light is. You can do this with ANY digital camera....

 

[hannahide]

I have played around A LOT with the settings on the camera in regards to sharpness, contrast, white balance, etc. and as well on my computer.

I am not very knowledagble on the details of cameras but as Kevin said above, if the sensor on a DSLR captures more light and Tim says you need light to provide accurate color - then the DSLR is the way to go to get crisper, sharp, true to color pictures...

Perhaps i will take a jaunt over to the DSLR forum and ask a few questions about them...are they hard to use, how is the video on them, etc.

Thanks for your time answering my questions - looks like things are pointing me to the DSLR - i am just a bit nervous that it is too complicated for me...