I'm probably gonna get toasted for this, but what does my D5100 do my ELPH300HS won't

[Tangle]

Here's the scoop. I bought a Nikon D5100 about two weeks ago and love the camera. However, when I started taking pics that I have 'always' taken, I found some limitations in a hurry. The D5100 costs over 3 times as much as my ELPH300HS. The ELPH has a 12MP sensor, the D5100 a 16.9MP. That's an improvement certainly, but hardly justifies a camera that costs three times as much and is 10 times or more bulkier. Keep in mind, I'm not down on the D5100, I am very impressed with what it can do, but it does raise the question, what does is do my ELPH won't.

I realize part of the answer is going to be resolution and the ability to use RAW, etc. But, that aside for a moment, the colors rendering seems to be comparable as does the sharpness except perhaps in the most critical applications.

On the ELPH, I can set the focus point, focal area, some control over focus range. Light metering options are evaluate, center weighted and spot. The ELPH even has color selection. It has a 5x zoom as opposed to a 3x on the D5100. It has automatic and manual modes. You can set the ISO or let it be automatic, the same for white balance: it has all the normal illumination corrections and even lets you program in a custom white balance from like a white reference.

You can choose color modifications from a number of effects or program in a custom one.

Here's an application example I ran into:

From time-to-time I take pics of small parts that would easily fit within a 3/4" area. My D5100 with the 18-55 zoom lens simply won't focus close up enough. My ELPH300HS will focus on an object about 1 cm from the front of the lens. I know, buy a closeup lens or extension tube. That brings me right to the focus of this inquiry: why buy anything more when the ELPH will do closeups?

The ELPH has a much wider lens than most point and shoots, which of course means, I don't have to have the camera as far away, or I can get more in the frame at a given distance.

The ELPH does 1920 HD video, and even has true slow motion video. In one slomo mode the frame rate is 120 fps but with only at a resolution of 640x320, a bit coarse but still 1/4 real time. I recorded a bouncing golf ball and it was pretty incredible.

I realize the D5100 allows manual focusing and that is important to me, but it comes at a significant price ($) and bulk, and some limitations in applications I frequently encounter.

Here's where this is going. I like the D5100, I really do. But, I have about 20 more days to decide to keep it or return it. If price were not an issue, $650 vs $200 and to a lesser degree size and portability, it would be a no brainer - I'd keep it. But what I'm weighing is the D5100 features against the ELPH300HS in some practical applications. For example, if I posted some pics on the web, could you pick which one was made by which camera? Very likely not.

I hope this won't be taken as a slam on the D5100, it is not, I love the camera. I guess what I'm saying is does it offer a great deal more for the great deal more cost and bulk than my little ELPH300HS?

Thanks for any help and suggestions,
Tangle

 

[AC016]

I always enjoy reading these sorts of posts. Yeah, i am sure that someone will come along and tell you that you are out of your mind. Someone else may tell you to go troll somewhere else. The only person who has the right answer to whether or not you should go left or right, is you. Below i have posted a link for you so that you can see the comparison between the two cameras. I think if you want a more versatile camera that can take photos in more difficult conditions, it's a no brainer. But i get the feeling that you probably know that already.

Canon 300 HS vs Nikon D5100 - Our Analysis

 

[stmv]

smiles.. yes,, enjoy the point and shoot, if you are happy,, who cares about SLR flexibility and lower noise ability. return,, and buy a backup point and shoot.

 

[Disorderly]

You may also want to learn about depth of field, a photographic tool that increases with the size of your camera's sensor. It's why some photographers spend more and carry the extra weight of full frame cameras and lenses, and still others work with medium format. Simply put, there are images you can get with larger sensors that a compact camera can't achieve. Whether that matters to you is a question only you can answer.

 

[Carolina Photo Guy]

Let me see if I understand this correctly.

You already had the Elph and you bought the D5100. Somehow, you decided that the D5100 would do stuff that the Elph wouldn't.

THEN you find that the Elph already does everything that you want in a camera.

Sounds like buyers remorse more than anything else.

Return the D5100 and go back to full time use of the Elph.

If you're looking to start something here based on the differences between the two cameras

you're barking up the wrong tree. Hell, I have a Canon i3000 and my D3100.

My fav is the D3100 but that doesn't mean that I never use the Canon.

I just don't use it as much.

But if you're not using the D5100 to it's fullest, then you're just wasting it.

Send it back and let someone that will appreciate it get it at a refurbished price.

You have a great day, Bubba!

 

[Rancher_RIP]

Whenever I upgrade it has been to improve myself and my photos. Doesn't happen over night and I sometimes wonder if I made the right decision. I kept my last ultra zoom because of what it can do. I do find lately that I have to check the batteries in it more often since I use the D3100 more and more.

Dave

 

[Tangle]

It's a bit more than point and shoot and buyer's remorse. In fact, I want to keep the camera and am looking to the experts to fill in some blanks for me.

I did the following pic with the ELPH300HS in manual mode. I set the metering area to spot, the focus to spot, set the focus to closeup. Bear in mind as you look at this the flower was moving with a breeze when I shot this, I was hand holding the camera. Notice especially not only the blurred background, but the sharp focus on the yellow center and the softness in the pink flower. Hardly a point and shoot mode.

Since this was about detail, close up, resolution, and blurring for effect, I paid little attention to color adjustment, set the ISO to auto, the white balance to auto and took the pic.

When I looked at this on my computer, I hit the full size view and noticed the tiny little yellow 'thingys' actual consisted of three parallel strands and the sharpness and focus was incredible even zoomed in. I went back to the flower with the highest power of reading glasses they make, put my 3.5x head magnifier over that and could just barely make out the parallel strands.

Again, the flower was moving, I hand held, I had an overcast sky. I'm just saying, I know this isn't the best, but the subject was moving, and unless I buy an expensive lens, I really don't think my D5100 can do any better. Of course resolution might be some better, still, if you could see what I see on my monitor, I believe I could convince anyone this was taken with my D5100 instead the ELPH300HS.

 

[pkdslr]

It's a bit more than point and shoot and buyer's remorse. In fact, I want to keep the camera and am looking to the experts to fill in some blanks for me.

I did the following pic with the ELPH300HS in manual mode. I set the metering area to spot, the focus to spot, set the focus to closeup. Bear in mind as you look at this the flower was moving with a breeze when I shot this, I was hand holding the camera. Notice especially not only the blurred background, but the sharp focus on the yellow center and the softness in the pink flower. Hardly a point and shoot mode.

Since this was about detail, close up, resolution, and blurring for effect, I paid little attention to color adjustment, set the ISO to auto, the white balance to auto and took the pic.

When I looked at this on my computer, I hit the full size view and noticed the tiny little yellow 'thingys' actual consisted of three parallel strands and the sharpness and focus was incredible even zoomed in. I went back to the flower with the highest power of reading glasses they make, put my 3.5x head magnifier over that and could just barely make out the parallel strands.

Again, the flower was moving, I hand held, I had an overcast sky. I'm just saying, I know this isn't the best, but the subject was moving, and unless I buy an expensive lens, I really don't think my D5100 can do any better. Of course resolution might be some better, still, if you could see what I see on my monitor, I believe I could convince anyone this was taken with my D5100 instead the ELPH300HS.

Take the same shot and try to get the flower and background super sharp.

 

[AC016]

It's a bit more than point and shoot and buyer's remorse. In fact, I want to keep the camera and am looking to the experts to fill in some blanks for me.

I did the following pic with the ELPH300HS in manual mode. I set the metering area to spot, the focus to spot, set the focus to closeup. Bear in mind as you look at this the flower was moving with a breeze when I shot this, I was hand holding the camera. Notice especially not only the blurred background, but the sharp focus on the yellow center and the softness in the pink flower. Hardly a point and shoot mode.

Since this was about detail, close up, resolution, and blurring for effect, I paid little attention to color adjustment, set the ISO to auto, the white balance to auto and took the pic.

When I looked at this on my computer, I hit the full size view and noticed the tiny little yellow 'thingys' actual consisted of three parallel strands and the sharpness and focus was incredible even zoomed in. I went back to the flower with the highest power of reading glasses they make, put my 3.5x head magnifier over that and could just barely make out the parallel strands.

Again, the flower was moving, I hand held, I had an overcast sky. I'm just saying, I know this isn't the best, but the subject was moving, and unless I buy an expensive lens, I really don't think my D5100 can do any better. Of course resolution might be some better, still, if you could see what I see on my monitor, I believe I could convince anyone this was taken with my D5100 instead the ELPH300HS.

Your first mistake is thinking that there are "experts" on this forum. The majority of us are amateurs and there are a few folks who do this photog thing for a living. But no "experts". Sorry to dissapoint you. The picture that you took with your ELPH does not really prove anything. I can do the same thing with my mobile phone camera and i have done so. Seriously, if you can not see the benefits of a mid-range DLSR over a P&S, then i suggest you just return your D5100. All you have proved here is that your camera can take a picture. Well, so can my mobile phone camera. So, does that mean that we should not even buy P&S cameras because the camera in our mobiles can take the same pictures? Sorry, but you Canon P&S is no match for the D5100. Enough said!

 

[TedG954]

Get rid of the D5100, as you will never be happy with it.

 

[Tangle]

Take the same shot and try to get the flower and background super sharp.

Thanks - good suggestion! I think that comes down to the degree of quality, more than a go/no-go though. Still excellent point.

The ELPH300HS will do that. I took several pics with the flower about 3 feet from the lens and a student walking about 20 feet away and a column and wall about 30 feet away. It was all in focus. The question is was it enough in focus?

I wish I had the D5100 with me to do a comparison - oh well - tomorrow.

Clearly a smaller and lower res 12 MP camera wont' take as sharp of a pic as a larger and higher res 17 MP camera, period. So if ultimate quality is the defining issue then sure, it's a no brainer.

I'm getting the impression that this is coming down to acceptable quality of pics rather than features, since both have very similar features.

For me, a big plus for the D5100 is I will be able to attach my AN/PVS14 night vision monocular to it and that is one reason I bought the D5100, but not the only reason.

What happened is I started taking pics with the D5100 using all the manual and program features as quickly as I could get to them and was quite impressed with the camera.

To be honest, I had never really taken the time with the ELPH300HS to realize what all it could do. Once I began to see how many programmable and manual features it had I think I began to wonder.

One feature that impressed me on the D5100 was color selection (and the HDR). Then I realized the ELPH300HS would do the same thing.

I realize the ELPH300HS is no where near an equivalent to the D5100, but it does have many features that the D5100 does, I'm not trying to say it's as good, not by a long shot. And as I said previously it seems, at least for me, to be coming down to a quality issue more than a feature issue, and that's worth a lot too.

I appreciate the thoughts guys!

 

[JohnFrench]

Funny, I started with P&S's, and ended up with a D5100 after a D3100 and a Canon T3 as well. At least one of the P&S's was a Nikon, it takes great photos, but I really like a view finder, and the sharpness of the the D5100, plus the incredible array of lenses available to say the least.

 

[JPar]

Easy. I'll trade you my old Canon P&S for your D5100. Problem solved!

 

[pkdslr]

I'm kind of an amateur but typically print 8x10 or larger. Because of this I prefer the DSLR. That being said - I've printed excellent 8x10s with a point and shoot that was older and lesser than the Elph. It all depends on the application etc....

I guess learning what you can do with it is part of the experience of shooting with it.

 

[Tangle]

...The picture that you took with your ELPH does not really prove anything. I can do the same thing with my mobile phone camera and i have done so.

You must have a really nice mobile phone camera that allows you to set the metering manually, the focus manually, the focus area size and metering area and weighting.

But the picture does prove something. It proves I can set the ELPH300HS to take a sharply focused foreground with a blurred background with a very narrow range.of focus or I can set it to take pics with the foreground and background in focus over a much larger range of focus.

...Seriously, if you can not see the benefits of a mid-range DLSR over a P&S, then i suggest you just return your D5100. All you have proved here is that your camera can take a picture.

I disagree, contrary to your belief, one does not realize all the benefits of a mid-range DSLR just because he buys one. I came here because I know there is a wealth of knowledge and experience with not only this particular camera, but photography in general.

The ELPH300HS is hardly a P&S in manual mode, you must have missed that. If I took the pic with my D5100, manually set to the effect I want, would that prove any more than setting a different camera manually for the same effects?

But then I'm not trying to prove anything, just demonstrate what I'm struggling with, and I've gotten some helpful responses that have helped to clarify some things important to consider.

...Well, so can my mobile phone camera. So, does that mean that we should not even buy P&S cameras because the camera in our mobiles can take the same pictures?

I guess it depends if you can put your mobile in manual mode to select specific exposure and focus settings. If your mobile can do all a P&S can and has the same res and storage capacity as a P&S, then it would be rather a waste of money to buy a P&S that does no more than your mobile, right?

...Sorry, but you Canon P&S is no match for the D5100. Enough said!

I never said it was. I said it has most of the same features. I also said it was in no way an equivalent to a D5100.

 

[Tangle]

Funny, I started with P&S's, and ended up with a D5100 after a D3100 and a Canon T3 as well. At least one of the P&S's was a Nikon, it takes great photos, but I really like a view finder, and the sharpness of the the D5100, plus the incredible array of lenses available to say the least.

Hey thanks, I think I'm on a similar path as you describe. I haven't really warmed up to the viewfinder yet, but I'm getting there. I'm so use to the LCD. Plus I really like being able to see the focus rectangle move to change the point of focus - I've used that a lot!

I'm kind of an amateur but typically print 8x10 or larger. Because of this I prefer the DSLR. That being said - I've printed excellent 8x10s with a point and shoot that was older and lesser than the Elph. It all depends on the application etc....

I guess learning what you can do with it is part of the experience of shooting with it.

So true, again, I'm in that learning curve. To tell you the truth suddenly realizing the ELPH300HS had most of the features as the D5100, kind of blindsided me. LOL - I'm in recovery mode you might say.

It's so true that what we use is application dependent. I keep my ELPH in my shirt pocket and it's there when I need it. I can set it to auto and P&S or set it to manual, a set many settings manually.

I guess I'm in that transition phase where I'm weighing the high cost/large size against low cost/small size with similar manual features, but with not quite the quality of the D5100.

I'm inclined to keep the D5100. I just keep finding I don't have it when I need it because of it's size, and it looks like I need to add a $200 or so lens to get some shots I want.

Anyway guys, you've given me some things to think about and I appreciate it.

 

[Dave_W]

I'm not surprised at your conclusions. If you treat an dSLR like a P&S then you're right, there is little difference. The difference comes when you want to adjust the DoF, +/- EV, along with things like panning and low-light photography. Otherwise there's no reason to move to a dSLR if you don't intend to use the additional features found only on a dSLR.

That said, it seems the so-called Point and Shoots are getting better and better with time but they still lack the features you'll find on a dSLR.

 

[Tangle]

Funny, I started with P&S's, and ended up with a D5100 after a D3100 and a Canon T3 as well. At least one of the P&S's was a Nikon, it takes great photos, but I really like a view finder, and the sharpness of the the D5100, plus the incredible array of lenses available to say the least.

Hey thanks, I think I'm on a similar path as you describe. I haven't really warmed up to the viewfinder yet, but I'm getting there. I'm so use to the LCD. Plus I really like being able to see the focus rectangle move to change the point of focus - I've used that a lot!

I'm kind of an amateur but typically print 8x10 or larger. Because of this I prefer the DSLR. That being said - I've printed excellent 8x10s with a point and shoot that was older and lesser than the Elph. It all depends on the application etc....

I guess learning what you can do with it is part of the experience of shooting with it.

So true, again, I'm in that learning curve. To tell you the truth suddenly realizing the ELPH300HS had most of the features as the D5100, kind of blindsided me. LOL - I'm in recovery mode you might say.

It's so true that what we use is application dependent. I keep my ELPH in my shirt pocket and it's there when I need it. I can set it to auto and P&S or set it to manual, and set many settings manually.

I guess I'm in that transition phase where I'm weighing the high cost/large size against low cost/small size with similar manual features, but with not quite the quality of the D5100.

I'm inclined to keep the D5100. I just keep finding I don't have it when I need it because of it's size, and it looks like I need to add a $200 or so lens to get some shots I want.

Anyway guys, you've given me some things to think about and I appreciate it.

 

[Tangle]

I'm not surprised at your conclusions. If you treat an entry-level dSLR like a P&S then you're right, there is little difference. The difference comes when you want to adjust the DoF, +/- EV, along with things like panning and low-light photography. Otherwise there's no reason to move to a dSLR if you don't intend to use the additional features found only on a dSLR.

Thanks Dave. But I'm not treating the DSLR like a P&S - not sure where you got that idea. I use it exclusively in manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, or program modes.

I've used the +/- exposure. I'm not impressed yet with the low light mode, that's probably due to the limitations of the 18-55mm zoom lens. But again, the ELPH has a manual low light mode. You should notice from the pic of the flower the very small DOF I set the ELPH to.

But you've hit on exactly what I'm asking, what are those additional features of a DSLR? I think one is the fully manual focus; I find that to be quite powerful. Another feature is the HDR; I really like that. But as far as manually setting the metering weighting, metering area, focus and focus area, WB, ISO, effects, low light, the ELPH has all that. Granted it isn't to the same degree, but it sure does cover a lot of ground.

And again, let me be very clear about this as someone has already misunderstood this, I am in no way saying a ELPH300 is equivalent to a D5100. I'm simply trying to use the ELPH300 for feature comparison. I realize the quality of photos will be different.

 

[AC016]

You must have a really nice mobile phone camera that allows you to set the metering manually, the focus manually, the focus area size and metering area and weighting.

But the picture does prove something. It proves I can set the ELPH300HS to take a sharply focused foreground with a blurred background with a very narrow range.of focus or I can set it to take pics with the foreground and background in focus over a much larger range of focus.


I disagree, contrary to your belief, one does not realize all the benefits of a mid-range DSLR just because he buys one. I came here because I know there is a wealth of knowledge and experience with not only this particular camera, but photography in general.

The ELPH300HS is hardly a P&S in manual mode, you must have missed that. If I took the pic with my D5100, manually set to the effect I want, would that prove any more than setting a different camera manually for the same effects?

But then I'm not trying to prove anything, just demonstrate what I'm struggling with, and I've gotten some helpful responses that have helped to clarify some things important to consider.


I guess it depends if you can put your mobile in manual mode to select specific exposure and focus settings. If your mobile can do all a P&S can and has the same res and storage capacity as a P&S, then it would be rather a waste of money to buy a P&S that does no more than your mobile, right?


I never said it was. I said it has most of the same features. I also said it was in no way an equivalent to a D5100.

You are obviously trying to prove something; otherwise, you would not have posted the picture. By posting the picture, you are saying that your ELPH can take pictures just as good as the D5100. Fine by me, but who cares. I can take the same kind of picture with my mobile and then argue why do i need to have a D5100. We can argue until we are blue in the face. Your points are valid; that is to say, using a P&S in very basic, normal settings, you will more or less get the same results as a DSLR. If you were to put the pictures side by side, no, no one would be able to tell which picture was taken with what camera. I have posted a few pictures on here taken with my mobile and i highly doubt that anyone knew that they were taken with my mobile. Again, it all comes down to flexibility/versatility. This type of debate can be made with many cameras. Many people wonder why people pay thousands of dollars for a D800 when you can get a D3200 for under a grand and yet, still take great pictures. Anyway, good luck with your adventure