Cameras: Why I decided not to get a DSLR

17 years ago

Not that I think everyone's all that interested in why I decided not to get a DSLR....... But I thought maybe someone else might be in a similar position. Or maybe you just like reading about cameras. I do. :-)

I have a Panasonic FZ5 that I love. It's four years old and is what's called a "bridge camera." I guess these are considered to be a bridge between point-and-shoots and DSLRs. I've been wishing for manual focus and other manual settings, plus more pixels to give me the option to print bigger than 11x14. So I started saving up for a DSLR. I figured it would cost about $1,000 plus the price of a couple of decent lenses.

I have several 35mm SLRs in my closet, and know the drill. I considered (and still do, in a way) SLRs/DSLRs to be the ultimate camera. I began to think like my dad when he talked about buying his "last car." He lived to be 90, and I believe he ended up buying four or five "last" cars. The DSLR, I figured, would be my last camera. I had a Nikon D90 in mind, but wanted to look at what was out there. I was excited about this, and happily embarked on some research.

As I got deeper into looking at these cameras and lenses, I realized that in order to duplicate what the current generation of bridge cameras offer, I'd need a wide angle lens, a 50mm 1.8, a couple of good zooms, and a macro. This quickly added up to way more than I wanted to spend. Also, I started remembering how heavy lenses can be, and how tiresome it was to lug them around, even in my youth. Worse, I thought about all the shots I'd miss while I was busy changing lenses. (And, living on a dusty dirt road as I do, lens changing could be hazardous to the camera.) I've been using super-zoom digital cameras since 2000, and I'm spoiled.

In the end, I decided to scrap my DSLR plans and get the next generation of Panasonic bridge cameras when it comes out later this year. It has everything I want and will cost under $400. And I'm fairly certain it won't be my last one. I might even get a second camera this year, something different. Now that I've decided not to get the DSLR, I'm feeling positively affluent. :-)

Susan

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Comments (5)

joan_mn
17 years ago
That's why I like having something like the Canon Powershot SX10. It has x20 optical zoom, but is small and light weight. Sometimes, I don't feel like carrying the Rebel and the big lens around all day.
You will take great pics no matter what camera you have!
Joan
mylab123
17 years ago
We decided to upgrade and after my husband did a whole lot of research, he decided that for the two of us who are NOT pros, the Panasonic FZ28 would do the trick. We camp in the middle of wilderness a lot and love to capture wildlife both in animals and in flowering plants and scenes of nature. We are on what we refer to as a "reasonable budget". ;)

We went to order and there are none to be had!! The 'replacement' for this camera will be released in late Sept or early Oct - the Panasonic FZ35 for around the same price only it has a digital movie camera within it. Is this the one you are thinking about getting?

That "same price" is what we have been reading, the buzz on "camera" pages. I hope this is true - it sounds like a really great deal to us.

We also have two Canon 35mm with all the goodies in a closet in those huge, heavy, bulky cases that held everything stuck in a closet. They were so heavy and bulky - I'm glad to be done with them although they really did take wonderful pics.We were advised to hold onto them as they will be valuable "antiques" in no time *LOL*

I love the digitals, lightweight, fast and easy with no more processing charges for prints since you can do it yourself.

Have a ball with your new camera and let us know how you like it!
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alisande
Original Author
17 years ago
Joan, thank you for the vote of confidence!

Mylab, YES, the FZ35 is the one I'm planning to buy. Although Amazon and others are taking pre-orders ($399.99), I'm guessing the price will drop some time between launch and Christmas.

My son bought an FZ28 for his girlfriend for Christmas last year, and paid $319, I think. It was launched at $399.99. (It's a great camera!) I don't want to be obsessive about price, though, because there's always a danger of overplaying the waiting game. And these days camera models come and go so rapidly.

On the Panasonic Talk forum at DPReview, a lot of people rave about the lx3 for superior performance in low light, among other things. It lacks the features of the FZ28/35, but complements them. I would consider getting both, but the lx3 price has shot up to around $600. I don't know what they were before, but it wasn't that high. Maybe this means Panasonic is coming out with a replacement for that one, too.

I've read a couple of stellar reviews of the FZ35, which has been released in the UK as FZ38. We must compare notes after we get our cameras!
ronf_gw
17 years ago
I know just what you mean, Susan.
Back in the olden days when the the Earth was young, the rocks were soft, and I had a film camera I had an SLR and loved it. As I eased into digital photography I started with a simple Kodak point and shoot. A year and a half ago I thought it was time to upgrade and figured the only thing I'd really be happy with was a DSLR. But, after exhaustive research I bought an 8 mpeg Canon Powershot. I've been very happy with it. I can't think of a single time when I've felt that I've missed a shot because it's not an SLR. (Perhaps that just shows my lack of skills and imagination as a photographer) The Canon has lots of zoom and macro capabilities, too. I love it.

Ron
caflowerluver
17 years ago
I know how you feel. I did the same thing with film Canon cameras. I started out with a used Rangefinder Canonet in the late 1970s. Then I moved up to a used AE-1, used T70, and finally ended up with a Pro A-1 that had been completely overhauled. Of course I bought all the different lenses, macro and tele. I use to lug around 2 big camera bags with all the lenses and filters and don't forget the tripods. Now it all sits in a cabinet unused. DH says I should sell them but who is buying film cameras nowadays?

I thought my Nikon Coolpix 8800 would be my last camera ever. It had a film camera range 35 - 350 mm, Image Stabilizer, TTL view finder, 10x optical zoom, Exposure Modes Bulb, Manual, Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority, ISO 50-400 ranges, Exposure Metering and at 8meg I could get great macro shots. Everything I was use to in an SLR except for the changable lenses. The front does have threads for filters. I paid more for that camera then I have for any camera before. I had a heart attack when I bought it. LOL

Now it is getting to the point of being old technology and it is only 5 years old. As a matter of fact I am beginning to have technical problems with it. When I hit off it won't shut off, I have to pull the battery. I sure and heck am not going to get it repaired. It would cost more then a new camera. That taught me valuable lesson about digital cameras. I will never buy the latest and never paid a ridiculous amount for one. At least I can use my film SLRs forever, or at least as long as they sell film. Not so with digital cameras. They are throw away technology.
Clare

Cameras: Why I decided not to get a DSLR

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Cameras: Why I decided not to get a DSLR

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joan_mn

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