On Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:50:55 -0600, Ron Hunter <rphunter@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
wrote:
>aniramca@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
>> The other day, I saw the new Sony P&S camera - DSC H3. On top of the
>> camera, it was indicated that it has a strong built in flash. I went
>> to search about built-in flash feature in a digital camera at the
>> dpreview website and found the following:
>> For P&S digital cameras: Canon G7 has a weak flash, Flash guide of 4m.
>> Canon S51S is stronger. Sony H3 has a Flash guide no. of 7m, while as
>> Sony DSC H7 or H9 is the strongest I found for P&S camera - Flash
>> Guide of 9.8m. Canon SX100 is even worse than the G7/G9 - at only 3m.
>> Lumix Fz18/FZ8 has a flash guide of 6m, and FZ50 has 7m. Nikon 5100 is
>> much better than G7/G9 at 8m.
>> For DSLR: Most cameras with built-in flash has Flash Guide around
>> 11-13m. Canon 5D does not even have a built-in flash. Surprisingly,
>> Nikon D40 and D40x has flash guide no. of 17m. As comparison, Canon
>> 40D/30D/Xti all have only a flash guide of 12m.
>> - Why P&S cameras have relatively weaker built-in flash than the DSLR?
>> Could P&S cameras be designed to have stronger built-in flash like a
>> DSLR?
>> - I noticed that my P&S camera usually is too weak to take picture in
>> large indoors (restaurant, meeting halls, etc). Could this be improved
>> by stronger flash? I have always complained in the past that most P&S
>> cameras have tiny built-in flash, and without a hot-shoe, you cannot
>> improve your lighting in indoor shots.
>> - Anyone tried the built-in flash in Sony H3 or Sony H7 and H9?. Are
>> they much better than flash in other cameras, particularly the low
>> ones like Canon G7/SX100? Does this mean that Sony H3/H7/H9 is
>> superior for taking photo indoors for people in a group than, say
>> Canon G7/G9? I found that Sony H3 is a good competitor against Canon
>> G7/G9 or Nikon P5100. It may have less features than G7/G9, but it
>> makes good quality images and it is cheaper than a G7/G9. It is also
>> as compact as a G7/G9 or Nikon P5100.
>> - Is built in flash in Nikon D40x really stronger than flash in a
>> Canon Xti?
>> - How much difference are relatively between a Flash Guide of 3m, 7m,
>> 12m and 17m ? I assume that this is all based on ASA100? Does a flash
>> guide 17m mean that you can get a good coverage of flash to 17m
>> distance?
>> - Panasonic Lumix L1 is about the only DSLR camera that has extended
>> pop-up flash feature (ie. 2 level heights). What is the advantage of
>> this? Less red-eye images?
>> - Are there digital cameras (P&S or DSLR) which have two or more modes
>> of flash strength in their built in flash?
>> Thanks for the info and discussion.
>>
>
>Ok, to begin with, larger cameras can mount larger flash tubes, and have
>space for more battery power to keep them fla****ng. Smaller cameras
>just don't have the space, or battery power to accommodate the larger
>flash mechanisms.
>Some cameras do control the brightness of the flash, usually in concert
>with the light metering, and the focusing system. Others don't. Look
>for that information in the specs.
>P&S cameras aren't designed to take flash pictures in large areas, so
>they don't manage well in this application. It is just a matter of
>limitations of size, weight, and battery power imposed by their size.
>If you routinely take pictures in such situations, then a P&S camera is
>probably not for you.
>Reviews usually list the flash distances with comments about the usable
>range.
Let's weigh the identical flash-reach options, shall we?
dSLR + built-in high-power flash = always overweight, always expensive,
internal dedicated flash failure = whole camera goes in for repair
P&S + accessory flash = lightweight w/o high-power flash, adaptable,
inexpensive, flash failure = use a different or new flash, any flash
option on
the market
Sorry, dSLR still doesn't win even for its built in flash. In fact if a
dSLR
really wanted to be more of an SLR than a P&S it wouldn't have a built-in
flash
to begin with, taking up all that extra irremovable size, weight, and
cost. I
can't recall even one professional SLR from the past that would even think
of
including an onboard flash. Flash was always an accessory and rightly so.
No Pro
in his right mind would buy a camera with a flash built into it. That was
a sign
of cheapness and P&S convenience. It makes any camera look like a $15
Instamatic. (I wonder if this is why I buy P&S cameras where the flash
folds
down to where you can't even tell it has one.)
Isn't it funny as the years go on the dSLR "Pro" people are always
clamoring for
more and more P&S features on their cameras. Auto focus, auto-exposure,
live-view for that amplified viewfinder in low light and seeing
shutter-speed
effects, on-board flash, silent operation, ..... I bet some of them even
want
audio and video recording capability too now.
Is this another clue into why they speak out against P&S cameras so much?
It's
not because they don't like P&S cameras it's really out of envy and
jealousy
that their dSLR can't be more like a P&S camera. If their dSLR was that
great
why would they feel the need to belittle other cameras? It's all starting
to
make perfect sense -- P'n'S Envy.
What an odd and accurate coincidental homophone, eh?
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