Questions on cameras SLR DSLR or point and shoots

Ok I have a broken (shutter) and in storage Minolta x370 that I have taken great pictures with - two lenses both zoom and the standard 50mm http://www.amazon.com/Minolta-X-370-film-camera-lens/dp/B0013HOHM6?tag=dogpile-20

When I drove across country in 2006, I bought a Panasonic FZ7 which was 6mpx at the time. Just realized it can do fairly good video too. I have not tried to print pictures but was recently reading the quality is only good to 8x10 and that isn't big enough if I want to sell prints. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EBK3FW

I realize now cameras come with a lot more meg a pixels to get the same quality pictures I got with my x370 but they come with very high price tags.

I am looking at getting a new dslr for more meg a pixels or

Thoughts:

Continue playing with the features I have on the FZ7

and

getting a small point and shoot for now Olympus Stylus 7010 that is 12 mega pixels with 7x zoom and it can do video too http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Stylus-Digital-Stabilized-Silver/dp/B002HWRKR0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1273179437&sr=1-2

Save money for a larger mega pixel camera and hope they come down in price

In general. When you get over 5 megapixels, it stops being about the megapixels. The things to consider are lens quality, auto-focus quality, ISO range, high ISO noise handling.

The biggest complaints about high megapixel point-n-shoots is that the high ISO noise handling gets sacrificed to achieve the high megapixels. I think it was Canon which lowered the megapixel count in their latest offering to get better noise handling for the p-n-s line.

The advantage of a DSLR is its much bigger sensor with its much bigger pixels for better noise control, with the better quality lenses and better quality autofocus systems.

If you are looking for larger print sizes, megapixels will start to matter. 8x10 at 300 DPI is about 7 MP. How big a print are you looking for? At what DPI? 150-200 DPI can look quite good, depending on the use of the print.

Photographers are unique in that we tend to stick our nose on the image to determine "quality".

Proper viewing distance renders most determinations of image quality meaningless. For instance an 8x10 is best viewed at arm's length or about 30 inches. The larger the print the greater the appropriate viewing distance. A 24x30 inch print has a viewing distance of about 8 feet.

At these distances it is virtually impossible to tell the difference between 6 mpxl and 12 mpxl.

Further, the focus quality of image is also a factor. If there are large areas that are out of focus the pixelation becomes more apparent. An image that is in focus from corner to corner will appear to have better resolution because all of the pixels are arranged in detailed patterns. I have old B&W 35mm prints to 16x20 printed from Tri X negatives that are perfectly acceptable because the subject is tack sharp in focus. On the other hand I have 8x10 prints that are sadly un-acceptable because too much of the image is blurred.

Another thing to consider is the aspect ratio of the image. Most of the DSLRs use the traditional 35mm aspect ratio of 1.5 : 1 (the width is 1.5 times the height). If you print to traditional formats, ie 5x7, 8x10, 11x14 etc, you will have to crop about 20% of the image so a 12 mpxl image is effectively now only 8 mpxl.

Considering that the new "standard" print medium is 8.5x11 (provided by the average computer printer) an aspect ratio closer to 4 : 3 (aka 4/3) like that found in the Lieca or Olympus provides for virtually no cropping. That aspect ratio is also very close to that of a computer monitor.

Just another thing to consider when looking at pixel count.

I have a 16x20 hanging in a gallery now that was taken with an iPhone and a 24x30 that was shot with a 10 megapixel Leica D-Lux4

If you want to stay with the P&S Lumix and Canon make some very good cameras. I've read some really good things about the Canon S 90. I am using the Canon G10. It's one of those high MP cameras. The noise doesn't become a problem until it gets to extremes.

The Lumix LX3 is a highly regarded P&S. It's pretty much the Leica D Lux4 without the red dot, Leica software, and high price. It lacks the zoom you'd find on the Canon and other P&S.

I bought the Canon G10 because of the Macro. I am lusting over the Lumix GF1, but the G10 does as much as I need.


Remember, DSLR's are big and heavy compared to the P&S. The best camera is the one you have when you need it, and a DSLR can be too bulky for many occasions.

If you want interchangeable lens, the Micro 4/3 cameras might be the way to go. Lumix and Olympus are the brands that have gone heavy into the 4/3 standard. Lens selection is still small, and they are not cheap. If you are going to a party, would you rather have a DSLR around your neck or a Canon S90 in your pocket?

Read up on the cameras. Read reviews on sites like Amazon and dpreview. If you can, go pick up and play with the cameras at a real camera shop. It's hard to get a feel for a camera if it has those damn anti theft devices on them.