I'm interested in getting a SLR camera...I've been researching a lot of them. I've seen some that are 10MP, 12, 15...etc My current point-and-shoot as 12MP (Nikon coolpix). If I end up getting a SLR with only 10MP with this mean my SLR has a worse image quality than my 12MP point and shoot?!
Also, with SLR cameras for beginning-intermediate photography would you buy a kit? I would love to take close up shoots..but also landscape shots. Does that require two different lenses? Are there kits that would include macro lenses?
Thanks!
megapixels have very little to do with image quality. It's all about sensor size, and the image sensors on today's DSLR's are almost 4 times the area of a standard P&S. So don't worry about image quality, just becasue you're getting a 10mp camera instead of 12mp. You'll still be happy with the image quality from your DSLR.
Standard kit lens will be 18-55 for most consumer DSLR's. This is fine for general purpose shooting. And would serve well as a "learner" lens.
Once you've been shooting for a while, I'm sure you'll want to expand your capabilities, and there are hundreds of options to choose from.
Welcome to the DSLR World...You won't regret it.
I am asked this question quite a bit, and the honest truth is that anything over 8MP produces outstanding quality. It really depends on how large you want to blow up your prints. If you are the average person, you will print mainly 4x6's, 5x7's and 8x10. Anything above an 8 MP can give great results for 16x20's and posters. Unless you are doing billboard sized prints I wouldn't pay much attention the MP. In my opinion, purchasing an SLR is a necessity IF you are going pro as it allows you to go entirely manual (f/stops and shutter speeds), interchange a variety of lenses and gives a larger film plane. However, this is totally unnecessary if you are "playing around" and only use it occasionally. Lastly, the camera is not as important as you are. Understanding the basics of photography will go a long way to improving your luck with your current camera. If your looking at going pro, I'd advise you to enroll with New York Institute of Photography and don't buy until your absolutely sure of what you need as photography equipment is pricey.
Answer by owens40601 on 05 Jan 2010 11:30:52The pixel count on any new DSLR is irrelevant. Anything you get will be more than enough, with better quality than your Coolpix at it's best.
If you have no lenses, then the kit is a very good place to start. None of them are true macro lenses, as a matter of fact 90% of the lenses labeled as macro are not. They will do servicable close-up shots. It is also possible to get a 2 lens kit in many cases, with the 18-55 and usually a 55-200 or so telephoto. For a lot of casual photographers, that may be the only two lenses you ever need.
As already said, once you have used the gear for a time, you will get a better idea of what you want to do that you can't do with a kit lens. It will make the selection of second or third lens a little easier.
Size of pixels matters. 15mp on your point and shoot is crap compared to 4 mp on a DSLR. Long explanation, just trust me. Even 10mp on a standard DSLR is pushing it.
I guarantee you 70% of the problems you had with your point and shoot are because there were too many pixels on it.
I have a 3MP point and shoot, and a 3MP dSLR. Although both take excellent pictures, the ones from the dSLR are much better. So obviously, megapixels don't necessarily matter. As others have said, sensor size is probably more important in this case. You don't need 8+ megapixels to get great results (my prints come out beautiful) - unless you are making very large prints (11x14 and up).
Also, for regular consumer purposes, I doubt you would be able to tell the difference between 10MP and 12MP. Maybe if you tried making an 20x30 inch print. But I've never tried so I don't know.
So long story short: No, you will not get worse image quality with the dSLR (at worst it will be the same, at best it will be better. I'm guessing the latter).
Kit lenses are inferior. You can still get good pictures with them, though - that will depend on your skill as a photographer. You can't do landscape photos with a *true* macro lens. But a regular lens can take decent close-up shots (not sure if you are taking about portraits or bugs).
An 18-50mm zoom lens (or similar) is good because you can get wide angle shots for landscapes (and groupshots in tight spaces) and still take good regular shots. If you can afford one that is f2.8 (as opposed to f3.5) that is better. Although a good lens depends on other things, too.
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