Give me reasons why I should keep my DSLR

[blacklight]

Hi,

since I started to shoot on film, my Canon 350D is gathering dust. The only thing that kept me so far from selling it is that I would get about 500$ less for it as I payed, which kinda sucks, but that's life. So what do you think, should I bite the dust and sell that thing or are there any reason why would you keep it?

P.S. Oh if only I'd discovered this forum before I got it :bang:

 

[dagabel]

Why don't you keep it and dedicate it to a specific style of photography that you might not shoot with your rangefinder, e.g., macro or indoor studio work with different lighting setups - something where digital feedback could be an advantage?

Duane

 

[Diggin99]

I am in the same situation, got a Nikon D50 and it now is rarely used. I don't regret getting it, it has actually partly paid for itself (I have sold a few picts I took from it to a local historic organization). In trying out digital SLR I at least discovered that its not my cup of tea. I keep the DSLR in case any more jobs come up that really I can do quickly with it and earn some cash. (We are not talking weddings or other pro work here, just the odd quick grab that someone needs of a local event, tree, building etc). I also have a P&S that I carry for getting ebay shots, or if I am on the way to work and wish I had SOME kind of camera with me.

Don't know it this helps but these are the main resaons I keep my D50 around. Like you said, price drops quickly. On the flip side I could see selling the D50 before it gets WAY old, so buy maybe a wide angle lens (a 25/4 P Leica M mount CV lens comes to mind!)


Nancy

 

[Bryce]

Digital slrs are useful as:
1) a poloroid back/ exposure meter... especially for very technical shots involving flash.

2) a film scanner with the addition of a bellows/ slide and negative copier

3) a snapshooter for web images

I'm keeping mine.

 

[RayPA]

Why don't you keep it and dedicate it to a specific style of photography that you might not shoot with your rangefinder, e.g., macro or indoor studio work with different lighting setups - something where digital feedback could be an advantage?

Duane

Good advice, and the reason I have a DSLR. I love shooting film, but shooting sports and macro work is much easier with a SLR. And, sports and event shooting, where you generally need to shoot a lot, is much easier with digital. It's "horses for courses." And an RF is perfect for candids and street shooting. Despite the endless Flickr "street" groups that prove otherwise, I wouldn't take my DSLR street shooting. 🙂


.

 

[ywenz]

Because it's capable of shooting awesome pics like these..

http://jamiestoker.wordpress.com/2007/06/16/getting-there/

 

[blacklight]

Good advise, but - I dislike macro, I don't shoot sports, I certainly don't do weddings or other events and studio work is also not my cup of tea 🙂 The only reason that came to my mind was to keep it as a cheaper alternative for shooting on vacation, where the cost of all the films could get pretty high, but now I'm not sure even about that..

.. so it seems like I have no use for it right now, but - I could get about 600$ for it. This is not THAT much. Should I give up the option to shoot digital for that money?

Why don't you keep it and dedicate it to a specific style of photography that you might not shoot with your rangefinder, e.g., macro or indoor studio work with different lighting setups - something where digital feedback could be an advantage?

Duane

 

[blacklight]

Because it's capable of shooting awesome pics like these..

http://jamiestoker.wordpress.com/2007/06/16/getting-there/

Nice pictures indeed, though I have no 28/1.8, in fact I have no other than kit lens, sold both other I had 🙂

 

[J J Kapsberger]

Because it's capable of shooting awesome pics like these..

http://jamiestoker.wordpress.com/2007/06/16/getting-there/

Thank you, Ywenz. A DSLR can do anything a Leica or other rangefinder can (yes, it can discretely take sharp, well-exposed and well-composed photos in a wide variety of lighting situations of human subjects who weren't at all intimidated by the camera). Photographic success is a product of the photographer's skill, not of his or her camera body type. I'm relatively new to this forum but already I'm bloody sick of the numerous threads trashing DSLRs. Those starting and joining in on such threads are indulging mostly in pure snobbery.

If you can afford to keep your DSLR, Blacklight, do so. It can prove a valuable photographic tool.

[BTW, I don't own a DLSR]

 

[einolu]

to take nice pictures of your film cameras with ;-)

but really, it is a fine camera, and nice for family events and stuff that

 

[Steve Bellayr]

If you want to send an image immediately via the internet. Obviously, it would be better taking pictures of items you want to sell. A week ago someone I knew had their digitial go bad. I had them bring the digital card to my home and I photographed the boy in cap & gown that night. And, of course, taking photos that you don't want to keep.

 

[nikon_sam]

I would keep it...who knows...in 3 or 4 months it could be a collector's item...
The kids can take it to school for "Show n Tell"...
Paperweight??? Doorstop???
You know I'm kidding...right???
Fill it with catnip...new cat toy!!!
Sorry about that one...I'm not helping am I???

 

[colinh]

Are you sure you could get $600 for it? If so, sell it quick 🙂

Then wait a while and see if there are any pics you would prefer to have a DSLR for.

Maybe you have ASA 50 slide film loaded and would like to take B&W pics at night, maybe you want to take pics of your kiddies playing football - and don't want to spend $100 on film and development, only to find that not a single frame is focused and that your 35 or 50 mm lens wasn't quite long enough.

If you *only* want to take street pics with it and only use HP5 or Tri-X, then you might as well get rid of it, while it's still worth that much... You could always get a Nikon later 🙂

colin

 

[mervynyan]

It is a workhorse, good for business and for everything else that RFF can't do. such as studio and flash.

I would skip high-end FSLRs, I am very impressed by Nikon F6 but can't justify the non-digital aspect these days.

I have Olympus E-1 plus 4 lenses, I'd pickup new E-3 sometime next year after it becomes widely available and the price drop to sensible range. It is a wonderful system, SLR has its place.

 

[Kin Lau]

Get the EF35/2 or Sigma 30/1.4, set the iso to 1600 and go shoot a few gigs of CF's.

If you still don't get the hang of it, sell it and move on.

 

[venchka]

Good idea

Good idea

Get the EF35/2 or Sigma 30/1.4, set the iso to 1600 and go shoot a few gigs of CF's.

If you still don't get the hang of it, sell it and move on.

That makes a whole lot of sense. The 350D isn't too big like the sports shooter toys. The Canon 35/2.0 is small for an SLR lens and not terribly expensive. My only question: Does the 350D actually produce useful images at 1600? I ask because I have no clue. Not trying to start anything negative.

 

[xabi]

That makes a whole lot of sense. The 350D isn't too big like the sports shooter toys. The Canon 35/2.0 is small for an SLR lens and not terribly expensive. My only question: Does the 350D actually produce useful images at 1600? I ask because I have no clue. Not trying to start anything negative.

In my experience, DSLR performs much better at high ISO than films, though others might disagree.

 

[ywenz]

That makes a whole lot of sense. The 350D isn't too big like the sports shooter toys. The Canon 35/2.0 is small for an SLR lens and not terribly expensive. My only question: Does the 350D actually produce useful images at 1600? I ask because I have no clue. Not trying to start anything negative.

It's wondeful at 1600...

http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/canoneos350d_samples1/

 

[kalokeri]

A DSLR is a good campanion to a rangefinder. It could help you in situations the rangefinder is not made for or doesn´t work - like using tele lenses, or high ISO is needed for just a few shots. A DSLR is also nice on vacation with your family - they don´t have to wait ´till the return to see pictures.

I would keep it unless you need the money you get by selling it.

Thomas

 

[lubitel]

I am in the same position when I got my 350D i was thinking "this is it" what else will I ever need? ha ha! next year I got a bessa R and some time later an M2. 😀
But there are still times when it comes in very handy. And I am not selling it. Its worth more than what I'll get for it.