Photography Tutorials: Comparing DSLR to a Basic Camera

Real Life Photography Tutorials

I finally got to compare a DSLR to my crap camera, and I’ve got to say – I fell in serious covet. Here is real life photography tutorials on comparing performance of crap cameras with a snazzy DSLR.

Oh, Cannon T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD Screen, how I covet thee. Let me count the ways….

Okay, let me not, but I will share some back story with you…

Many years ago, while visiting my family in Las Vegas for the summer after my first year in college, I took a course in Beginning Photography. I am aging myself horribly right now, but this was before digital cameras were all the rage. Back then, you still had to load your 35mm film, careful not to catch any light on it, and actually develop it. I remember gathering all my focus just before I entered the processing booth that was pitch black and trying to manipulate the film from one canister to another, getting it just perfect, because if you stepped out of the booth with a tiny bit of that film exposed, your entire week’s work was futile.After seeing my interest in the art begin to take hold, my ever supportive Step Mom took me to a local camera shop and bought me my first ever SLR. It was refurbished, worked like a gem and I loved it. {And I have no idea where it is now. I want to take hold of my younger self by the face and scream at her “don’t throw away all your amazing stuff just because it goes out of ‘style’, you silly little girl!”.}

That summer I took countless pictures of my baby brother Andrew with that camera {he is dang near 17 now!} One in particular I still have put away; the printed work marked with the settings I used to process it. I also took pictures of my God Daughter, who will be 11 years old this year, when she was a tiny baby with that camera. My Best Friend Nicole still has those photos displayed in her home. Maybe I will scan those images to show you all one day…

Anyway, for as much as I have loved photography in the past, and for as adorable of a little girl I have {I’m biased. I’m aware.} to capture images of now, THIS is what I shoot with today:

A beat up, old Cannon PowerShot SD870 IS. This little guy has been “good enough” for many years, but it just ain’t cuttin’ it no more! This picture was taken with my Sister’s Nikon DLSR that I have hijacked and is SOOC {Straight Out Of Camera}. No editing.

Here are some visual examples of why this Momma needs The Coveted Camera:

I took the picture in the back of the beautiful princess Ilah on our trip to Savannah recently. Her Momma, Jessica, took the adorable picture of Ilah in the forefront with her Nikon DSLR at the same time. The difference in picture quality is remarkable! Here is another example:

This picture was taken on a rainy day while waiting outside for Alina to meet Santa this year. My zoom is so laughable that I was not able to capture the baby and Santa’s adorable house at the same time. My Sister’s Nikon DSLR was able to get the entire image in all its cuteness.

Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for having a camera at all. But I want better! Pout, pout, pout! Or maybe you are getting me right! Ha! I am painfully aware at how annoying it is to gripe about what you don’t have, when there are others who have far less. Because despite the fact that my camera is hanging on by its last screw {literally}, it still works and I am still able to take pictures of my sweet girl. Oh, but how do the pictures on my blog look as decent as they do, you ask? Your camera can’t be that crappy, you say? Let me show you the magic of editing…

Pretty crazy, right? I have actually gotten pretty good at working with low light and other less favorable conditions in post editing. Oh, and the pictures above are of my Mustard Rosemary Chicken and Potato recipe I will be posting next Tasty Tuesday. Yum!

Anyway, Daddy D loves me to no end {or perhaps he was sick of hearing me whine like a spoiled little girl} and actually took me to two different stores on two different weekends to buy me this camera.

And I just could not do it. This camera is a pricey investment, and we are a single income household that has a budget to be mindful of. Although I didn’t leave the store with The Coveted Camera, I left with a full heart instead and a determination to work and save for the beautiful box of metal and glass in hopes that one day I will take beautiful pictures with it.

Until we meet again, Cannon T2i. Until we meet again.

Comments

Emma Kay says:

March 9, 2011 at 8:57 pm

You are a wise woman! I really respect that you didn’t buy what you so desperately want because you’re putting your family’s needs above your own. One day you will have your heart’s desire, and it will feel so good knowing you earned it instead of neglecting other responsibilities. And you will enjoy it all the more.

De Su Mama says:

March 9, 2011 at 11:51 pm

Thank you, Emma Kay! So hard, but felt so good, making the right decision.

Baby Making Mama says:

March 10, 2011 at 4:15 am

Awww mama I didn’t mean to make you sad! I have the bottom of the line dslr, mines not as nice as the one you have pictured but I’m happy with it and invoking *crossing my fingers* I can resist an upgrade for the next 10 years!