Re: *ist DS versus *ist D for the "Digital Newbie"

[Paul Stenquist]

I can address a couple of these points. First, while some color neg 
films may have greater latitude than digital, shooting RAW allows you 
some correction over both ends of the exposure in the conversion 
process. i find it very forgiving. I know I can control high contrast 
situations better with my *istD and RAW than I could with film. Second, 
i really appreciate the battery grip. I had one on my first *istD and 
decided not to order one with the second camera. However, I find I 
really don't want to shoot without it, so I bought a second grip. The 
extra shutter button on the side of the grip is great for verticals, 
and the camera just seems to fit my hands much better with the grip 
installed. And of course the batter life is doubled.
Paul
On Nov 22, 2004, at 10:32 PM, Shel Belinkoff wrote:

I thought I'd reply, mostly to give Fred something more to think about.
Answers interspersed:
Shel

[Original Message]
From: William Robb <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

You will probably find that a DSLR pretty much replaces the use of
35mm colour print film.
Was thinking about that while out walking this morning.  Since color 
neg
has greater latitude than a digi, it would seem that color film might 
be a
better choice in contrasty situations.  Am I off base here?

The istDS looks like it has a dumbed down interface compared to the
istD.
This might be good or bad, depending on how you feel about picture
taking "modes".
Picture Modes don't concern me as long as the camera can be used in 
other
ways like a regular camera - i.e., manual focus, overriding settings, 
and
so on.

The istDS looks like it won't have the nice feel of the istD.
If you value a solid, nice feeling camera, this might be an issue.
If the camera is just a picture taking tool, and it's esthetics don't
matter to you, then it may be a non issue.
I value the way a camera feels, but am open to the different ways a 
camera
can feel.


The istDS has a larger buffer, and might even write to the card
faster.
The istDS supports USB 2.0, and should tranfer data faster during
downloads.
Nice to know, although using the card readers built in to my computer, 
that
may be an irrelevant concern.  The buffer thing sounds cool, though.


The istDS has a wider image parameter control (saturation, sharpness,
contrast) from the look of the spece.
Don't know enuf about that to comment.

The istDS doesn't support TIFF, which bothers me not at all, I never
shoot TIFFs anyway.
That might bother me a bit only because I'm not used to RAW and 
because the
Sony makes TIFF files.


The istDS won't mount the battery grip. If you shoot a lot of
verticals (I do), the grip is nice.
Been shooting verticals all my life without grips and add-ons.  Might 
be a
nice feature to consider, though.  Never used a camera that offered 
such a
feature.  I might come to like it.


If you are already using a digital P&S that uses SD cards, the istDS
uses them.
A non-issue in any case at this point.
One of the things that struck me just now is that I'd be making the 
jump
from older cameras, without the buffer of all the newewr features like
autofocus, modes, viewfinder information, flashing lights, grips, 
battery
operation, and so on.  My expectations may be different than one who's 
used
all these other cameras made between todays digital marvels.

Thanks for that synopsis, Bill.
Shel