Beginner lens question

[LauraBean]

I currently have a Canon S3 IS, advanced point and shoot with 12x zoom. I am pondering a DSLR and wondering what zoom lens I would want that would compare to the fabulous zooming ability I have on my current camera. But I don't understand the numbers!

My camera manual says this about the lens specs:

6.0 (W) - 72.0 (T) mm
(35mm film equivalent: 36 - 432 mm)
f/2.7 (W) - f/3.5 (T)

When looking at lenses for DSLRs, are they giving the 35mm film equivalent? So that even a 75-300 zoom would be not quite what I have now?

Sorry to be so clueless! Feel free to send me to some web site where I can do my own reading and figure this out.

[tomkat]

Hello!

Last June, I upgraded from the S3 to the 30D. My zoom lens is a 70-300. The thing is, it's been so long since I've used my S3 that I don't remember how much it zooms compared to my 30D!

But, according to this place, it looks like the 75-300 is equivalent to a 120-480 which means it zooms more. But, of course, it won't zoom back in as far as the S3.

Hope that helps. I'm not very good with all that, so someone more knowledgeable may pop in with better info! I can say, though, that you'll love having an SLR. It took me a bit to get used to using the viewfinder, but it's been so worth it!

[B-Jo]

Hi Laura! Like Katina, I upgraded from the S3 to the 30D last June. I was so afraid that I would miss the zoom capabilities of the S3, but honestly, I don't. I have the 75-300 and use it when I need telephoto zoom. But, most of the time my 50 mm stays on my camera.

The picture quality is so much better with an SLR and it's just easier to work with a good camera. You won't regret upgrading for one moment.

[Jen D]

Thought I would add that I LOVE my Canon 30D! So addictive!!

[katrinak]

Hi there!

Just wanted to chime in that I too love my 30D! I rarely use my telephoto lens sticking with either my 50mm or my wide angle.

You'll love an upgrade

[LauraBean]

Enablers! All of you! :-) We'll see what dh says. I'm reading reviews, pondering the 40D (maybe too much money!) and the very new Canon Xsi. I want to get something I won't outgrow right away (just got the S3 a year ago and now realize I really should have gone to a DSLR--live and learn), but it's all so expensive.

Thanks for all input!

[tomkat]

(just got the S3 a year ago and now realize I really should have gone to a DSLR--live and learn)

Brenda and I did the same exact thing! We bought the S3 in June 06 and in June 07 we bought our 30Ds. We didn't think we wanted an DSLR until we'd had our S3 for a few months. Then we knew we'd made a mistake.

Brenda & her husband did some research and really liked the 30D, but she said she wasn't going to spring for it yet. My husband & I went to just "look". Yeah right! Before the night was over, Brenda & I had new cameras!

I can't imagine outgrowing the 30D myself. But never say never, I guess.

Can't wait to see what you end up with!

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

Umm . . . I can't imagine outgrowing my Nikon D80 either . . . but then I saw Heidi's thread about the D300.

I literally have to take different routes through town to avoid the camera stores. lol

[katrinak]

Originally Posted by LauraBean

Enablers! All of you! :-) We'll see what dh says. I'm reading reviews, pondering the 40D (maybe too much money!) and the very new Canon Xsi. I want to get something I won't outgrow right away (just got the S3 a year ago and now realize I really should have gone to a DSLR--live and learn), but it's all so expensive.

Thanks for all input!

Go for the 40D over the Xsi IMHO

[katrinak]

Originally Posted by TomKat

I can't imagine outgrowing the 30D myself. But never say never, I guess.

full frame...that's what I'm eyeing now

[LauraBean]

Originally Posted by katrinak

Go for the 40D over the Xsi IMHO

OK by me--it's just money--but my husband will want an explanation for what I'm getting for that extra $400. Am I that much less likely to outgrow the 40D?

[HeidiKnight]

LOL at Cassie. I think you'll be fine for several years. I have had my D70 for between 4 and 5 years. And that was back in the 6.2 megapixel days. I imagine I'll keep the 300 even longer. But you can count on the technology getting better every year - it's a fact of life and unavoidable. Even next year's model will be obsolete some day.

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

That's looking on the bright side, Heidi. I should just hold out for a year when I'm NOT doing 50 things at once and then I can justify the expense.

[tomkat]

Oh no, full frame! I can't even go there! I just paid my camera off a couple of weeks ago, and I'm basking in the glow of actually "owning" my camera. Now, I'm on a mission to get my Mac paid off.

[katrinak]

Originally Posted by LauraBean

OK by me--it's just money--but my husband will want an explanation for what I'm getting for that extra $400. Am I that much less likely to outgrow the 40D?

I'll dig out a comparison for you but the $400 is going to buy you a few "grades" better camera, faster camera, quieter motor, more solid build and feel, and in general you will be higher on the camera ladder and that can't be bad now can it??!!

[B-Jo]

I've heard there are benefits to a camera with a crop factor versus a full frame...Can't think of a single one, but I have heard that. That's what I choose to believe, so don't confuse me with the facts! LOL! Just kidding!

[Jen D]

I played with the 40D and my thought was that there wasn't enough of an upgrade to justify the cost.

I'm with katrinak, my next camera.... way down the line = ) will be a full-frame.

[connieg]

For us newbies looking into buying SLR's, what is full frame?

[bluelemur01]

I totally want a full frame dSLR, too!

Connie: On most digital SLR cameras, the sensor is smaller than a piece of film on the corresponding film camera. "Most" film cameras use a 35mm negative, although some cameras, like large or medium format, have negatives that are HUGE by comparison, much larger than 35mm!

On the cameras with larger negatives and/or sensors, more information is captured. This means that you can often get amazingly more detail, and blow the pictures up much larger than with a camera with the smaller negative/sensor. Famous photographers like Ansel Adams, who is renowned for his fabulous detail in his photos, used larger format cameras.

So many digital photogs would LOVE to have a "full frame" sensor, which has a sensor that is the same size as a 35mm film negative. That way we could get more detail in our photos! However, those digital full-frames are new and extremely pricey!

Here's an article I found: http://photo.net/oped/bobatkins/full_frame.html


But someday...when prices drop and they're more commonplace...I'll be getting one too!
Jenifer