All pixels are not the same - Page 2

Jean Kelly · 04-22-2004, 12:07 AM

Thanks Mike, I went there earlier and got lost in the maze of info, I'll check again when my brain is clearer (if ever)!

Jean

Michele Rushworth · 04-22-2004, 12:45 AM

A note of caution on the Canon Digital Rebel: if it's the "EOS" model you're looking at, check and see if it comes with the spot metering function. My sister just bought one (she's a pro landscape photographer) but hers doesn't have spot metering. (She doesn't use that feature.)

I find that the spot metering function is essential for metering off of a subject's face when they're standing in front of sky, water or when the subject is dramatically lit in a dark room.

Mike McCarty · 04-22-2004, 09:00 AM

Quote:

I find that the spot metering function is essential for metering off of a subject's face when they're standing in front of sky, water or when the subject is dramatically lit in a dark room.

I completely agree with that Michele. I assumed all cameras of of that caliber would have that feature. I wouldn't want to conduct business without a spot meter.

Michele Rushworth · 04-22-2004, 09:46 AM

I should let you know that I don't have first hand experience with the Canon Digital Rebel EOS in this matter, though my sister (who is a professional landscape photographer) just bought one.

My sister's husband is also a photographer, and a real electronic gadget guy. He did all the camera research (on dpreview.com) when they bought their EOS. He told me that Canon put the spot metering on the next model up in price to give people a reason to upgrade. Otherwise all their customers would just get the EOS, if it had everything on it. I'm basing my comments about this model on what he told me.

He said that competitors to the Canon Digital Rebel EOS that do have spot metering are the Nikon D-1 and the Pentax "First D", though they are slightly more in price.

Another artist friend of mine is currently researching the Canon Digital Rebel EOS and just dowloaded the manual. She is specifically intererested in their different metering options. I'll let you know what she finds out.

When I tried out my sister's Canon Digital Rebel EOS I liked everything else about it: no shutter release delay, fast focusing time in low light, fast "motor drive" in taking lots of images in rapid succession, large image sensor for good quality, etc.

Garth Herrick · 04-22-2004, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michele Rushworth

My sister's husband is also a photographer, and a real electronic gadget guy. He did all the camera research (on dpreview.com) when they bought their EOS. He told me that Canon put the spot metering on the next model up in price to give people a reason to upgrade. Otherwise all their customers would just get the EOS, if it had everything on it. I'm basing my comments about this model on what he told me.

He said that competitors to the Canon Digital Rebel EOS that do have spot metering are the Nikon D-1 and the Pentax "First D", though they are slightly more in price.

Michele; All the Nikon digital SLR's have spot metering, including D70, D100, and D-1 series. On the D70 the spot metering is 1% of the frame through which ever focusing segment you have selected.

Elizabeth Schott · 04-22-2004, 01:06 PM

Michele I am not sure but I think the Canon EOS comes in a few models. Mine is a 300, and like most of the SLR type digitals, has three metering modes - like the SLR's, you need to set your preference for the one you prefer, I believe there is a default which is typical to most 35mm cameras.

Quote:

My old favorite film camera of choice has been my "used to be trusty" Canon A1. It's an ol' 1978 body....basically the same as an AE "Program" w/ a couple more bells and whistles.

Geary no one would know it here, but photography was my major interest when I did my post graduate work, and I have to tell you - do NOT by a high end digital with this mindset. That is what I did. After I had to re learn the SLR concepts since most of my cameras have had auto features, I then had to learn the "computer" in the body. Fortunately there is a good amount of help out there.

I am not sure where my camera falls in the ones mentioned here, but just a few thoughts.

The more expensive the camera, the more you will not find any reference to "mega" pixels, but you will learn about pixels per inch (something like that), I think this is what Mike is talking about, and he is right that most sales people have no idea what this means.

I think if you like your Canon film camera, you might consider a Canon digital, simply because your lens' will work with it, this is the same thought as a Nikon.

I think the lag on the shutter is not so much a function of the camera, but the memory card you are using. There are cards that function as "fast" flash cards if you want to fire off shots.

The auto focus (I have talked with Mike on this) on my camera is not a good thing because of what I am shooting. For the lens to be able to register the focal length it needs to see its subject, meaning it will flash if needed. If you are using more dramatic lighting for portraits, a flash is not a good thing, nor is it for documenting your work when finished. Mine is almost always on manual focus.

I think one of the greatest things about my Canon, is with the "flash" memory card, I am able to set the preferences to range on the white balance and exposure, meaning each shot gives me 9 images. I set the multiple shots with my time release option so it acts like a shutter release cord and keeps me from touching while shooting.

I am still trying to figure it all out, then add PhotoShop on Panther...

Beth

Mike McCarty · 04-22-2004, 04:20 PM

Jean et al,

I spoke to my camera salesman today about pixel size, this is what I comprehended before my brain seized.

Generally speaking, the fixed lens cameras like the coolpix 5400 that you have Jean, the new coolpix 8700, the Minolta Dimage A2, and similar non SLR types (also to include all the consumer point and shoot digitals) have a smaller, albeit sometimes more, pixel. The digital SLR's (digital camera, interchangeable lens, (single lens reflex - SLR)) such as the Olympus E-1, Nikon D models, Canon digital rebel etc. have larger sensors and have larger pixels. Larger pixels can contain more information and it is generally accepted that 6 mega pixels with the larger pixels is preferable to 8 mega pixels with the smaller pixels.

My on order Nikon D70 was shipped Tuesday and will arrive tomorrow! I am approaching digitalia.