QUOTE(darthbaboon @ Jan 16 2008, 09:25 AM)
1) Accurate optical viewfinder - S3 doesn't. Whatever you see on your electronic viewfinder or LCD is actually a delayed liveview.
When I adjust shuttle speed/apperture/iso, the changes are reflected directly on the S3 LCD. Thus I know if I've got the ISO too low or adjusted the shuttle speed too fast and can compensate before taking the shot. I tried varying this on the D40x... there are no changes visible on the viewfinder. Many of my shots end up too dark/too bright and I have to take several (trial and error) before finally getting one right.
Do you guys have a certain sixth sense or experience that tells you what shuttle/iso/apperture to use for what occasion?
ahh. well there's always an indicator that tells you whether it's alright.
sometimes the indicator could be a little off, then you bump up the exposure a little.
QUOTE(darthbaboon @ Jan 16 2008, 09:25 AM)
2) Image quality - The sensor size of a dSLR is much bigger than S3. Thus the ability to capture a wider range of colors & tones.
This doesn't really matter for me right now since my objective is primarily to capture photos for 4R and just enjoyment. Correct me if I'm wrong but I doubt the differences can be so great that it's noticable with the naked eye (unless you post two identical photos by prosumer & D40 side by side).
Well yeah, i use 6MP prosumer and now 8MP DSLR.
the thing is like it or not your 10MP will snap better quality picture.
if i print out my prosumer vs my DSLR shots (both shoot same thing) no one will know which is from which either, but the thing is there's a quality there that you'll know to treasure eventually.
QUOTE(darthbaboon @ Jan 16 2008, 09:25 AM)
3) Burst mode - The slowest of the dSLR selling in the market today can do 3fps, S3 is 1.5fps/2.3fps (based on dpreview.com).
This is for fast shots/sports/continuous shooting I presume? Not really used atm for group photos, posed-photoshoots and scenery.
yes. he's just stating one of the advantages. See, sometimes you're shooting a flower and there's a bee coming. burst mode helps right?

hoping to get nice shot. can spam.
QUOTE(darthbaboon @ Jan 16 2008, 09:25 AM)
4) Hotshoe - The S3 don't have it thus can't mount an external flash. And thus can't shoot beyond 20ft in low light condition.
Night shots are really bad for the S3. How much is an external flash btw?
cheap Nissin's cost like less than RM 500. Sunpaks have some at around RM 500 - 600. I'm not sure about Nikon range of speedlites but Canon's 580EX II comes to a little more than RM 1.5k. so again, depends on how far you're willing to go with the flash unit.
They're very useful.
QUOTE(darthbaboon @ Jan 16 2008, 09:25 AM)
5) AF speed - The worst SLR can AF in less than 0.5 sec. While S3 usually takes 0.5-1 sec to lock on.
I don't notice the difference.
ahh. takes a while. my S7000's focusing takes quite a while.
QUOTE(darthbaboon @ Jan 16 2008, 09:25 AM)
6) Shutter range - SLR is 30 - 1/4000 sec. While S3 is 15 - 1/3200 sec.
At 1/4000 or even 1/3200 sec unless the background is very bright otherwise the photo will turn out dark anyways so hardly/seldom use.
yup. that's the purpose. to snap at lowest ISO + faster exposure on bright sunny day.
again, he's just highlighting the advantages you have.
QUOTE(darthbaboon @ Jan 16 2008, 09:25 AM)
7) Instant response - SLR power up almost instantly (0.2 sec average), S3 around 1-2 sec.
An improvement of course, but I find the 1-2 sec sufficient since it takes me that long to bring up the camera and start looking at the subject anyways.
Yeah. fast power up is always good. the only set-back with the fast power up DSLR is that if it was using the wrong lens - useless also. LOL.
well anyway, Scorgio is just highlighting the advantages.
come join us this weekend for the gathering! It's a good opportunity to learn.