I hav a feeling your wife would prefer the S3/S5, and so would you whenever you had to carry it..

The SLR will lose out in many situations: when you need zoom, when you need image stabilisation, when you need video, when you need a flip-out screen, or when you need lots of depth-of-field..

The 400D is a great SLR (I have one myself) and you can put it on auto and use it as easily as a camera phone if you really want to. But you need to put some work in to get the best out of it, and perhaps invest in a lens or two to really notice the advantage over the S3/S5..

I love mine, but I wouldn't want it to be my only camera. Often, I leave it behind for something more compact..

Androohttp://Androo.smugmug.com..

Buy both! i.e.

1. EOS 350D, which is bang for bucks at around $550. Difference in resolution (8MP vs 10MP) is not much. (May have a look at review of 400D at this site) where it has been compared with 350D..

2. Nikon S10, which has 10x zoom in compact swivel body. It will also complement your DSLR when you need more reach..

And if you do buy one camera, then buy a DSLR. Novice users can use it in Auto/Scene modes. Do bump in-camera contrast/sharpness/saturation setting to get typical P&S type results straight out of camera..

Fhedberg wrote:.

Hi,.

I just joined this forum and this is my first post....As of last weekend I no longer own a digital camera (it got severlydamaged during a big storm), and now i'm looking at getting a newone..

I do have an older Canon EOS 500N with a few lenses and I wouldlove to get a new Digital SLR. I've been looking at the Canon 400Dsince I would be able to use my older lenses with it (hence savingme a few dollars) or alternativly go full digital and get the CanonS3 (possibly S5)..

The dilemma is that altough I would love to get the DSLR not justfor the occasional happy snaps as well as for me as an photographerenthusiast, my wife will also use this camera and i'm worried thatshe will have problems using it or find it bulky..

I know there is a great physical / performance diffrence betweenthe cameras as well as price but I would like to hear your opinionson the matter as well as any arguments for getting the DSLR...(needto convince my wife this is the way to go.....).

Fred.

Regards, Ajayhttp://picasaweb.google.com/ajay0612..

"The SLR will lose out in many situations: when you need zoom, when you need image stabilisation, when you need video, when you need a flip-out screen, or when you need lots of depth-of-field.".

Partially wrong, if the OP has a zoom lens or two.Dirck HarrisBug chaser/Dragonfly hunter...

That would be a really expensive zoom lens for a dSLR which is what the person was suggesting I believe. The 28-200mm lens is still only an 8x zoom, compared to the 12x on the S3...

The body is virtually identical to the 500N. My wife has both. Dirt cheap now..

Then spend what's left on a compact for the Boss! Plenty out there, and if you don't spend too much, you'll have a better idea of what frustrates/annoys her, so you can plan for the inevitable upgrade in 3-4 years...############\_O Tim Yorath#####/\/>##### /@ UK.#### # \.

Http://catmangler.smugmug.com/..

Thanks for all your quick replys guys.... What I forgot to mention is that we already have a digital video camera and a very....very...basic digital (which is my four year old son's camera, 4.0MP point & shoot type pocket camera) that my wife occasionally use at her work..

I do have some experience from my older EOS 500N and feel quite comfortable getting a DSLR but i'm just wondering if the diffence in outright cost between the DSLR and the S3/S5 actually is worth it in the long run?Is it that much difference so that I can justify (to my wife) the extra cost?.

I feel this comes down more to the handling and actual operation (conveniance of batteries, ease of use, physical size etc.) of the cameras rather than just the shere image quality/mega pixles/zoom lenses. I have read the review on this site and I know that facts but I'm interested in your opinions and experience with maybe one/both or similar cameras/situations..

Thanks once again for you replys so far...Fred(shooting for the stars.....;-)..

The 400D is very close to beingthe smallest DSLR, so before you decide against it, at least let your wife hold one, especially if you can get her to hold a bigger DSLR at the same time. By comparision, the 400D will seem small, and bingo, mission accomplished..

The big problem with non-DSLR is the shutter lag between when you press the button and when the picture is taken..

For scenery and posed pictures, this does not matter; for pictures of people or things in action, it is a real pain..

As for simplicty of operation doesn't matter which one you buy..

BAK..

Fhedberg wrote:.

I do have some experience from my older EOS 500N and feel quitecomfortable getting a DSLR but i'm just wondering if the diffencein outright cost between the DSLR and the S3/S5 actually is worthit in the long run?.

OK then. If you consider S3IS as 12x zoom strapped with camera than it is terrific value. As such zoom lens for DSLR will cost much higher..

Is it that much difference so that I can justify (to my wife) theextra cost?.

The differences? DSLRs simply have more data per pixel (as each pixel is 10x times to that of typical P&S). i.e. they have less noise at higher ISOs, so great low-light performance. Consequently, dynamic range is also higher (as shadows are cleaner), which is helpful in avoiding blown out highlights..

I feel this comes down more to the handling and actual operation(conveniance of batteries, ease of use, physical size etc.) of thecameras rather than just the shere image quality/mega pixles/zoomlenses..

The opposite..

I have read the review on this site and I know that facts.

You would have also read about blown out highlights in almost all reviews of P&S cameras..

But I'm interested in your opinions and experience with maybeone/both or similar cameras/situations..

For serious work DSLR. For casual snap-shots/holidays etc., S3IS kind of P&S camera.Regards, Ajayhttp://picasaweb.google.com/ajay0612..

Just had enough of just looking at cameras and went and got a Canon S3 yesterday. If anyone got any good tips/tricks relating specifically to S3 could you please let me know.........

Not yet happy but at least satisfied..........for the moment..

Thanks again guys for all your replys...much apprechiatedFred..