I have been wanting to do a post like this for a while, it was just a matter of finding some time, a model and borrowing my friend’s point and shoot camera. Today I had the time, the model and the camera so I was good to go. So the question is: does the fancy camera make a difference?
I’m going to be honest here, if you want to irk a professional photographer then tell them that you just got a big camera and it takes great photos. I just giggle now when I hear this as I think to myself, “That is so awesome because I just got a new stove and it bakes a wonderful cake.” Are you with me?
The camera (or stove, whichever analogy you like better) is a tool in the hands of a person. That person can use those tools to create beauty, or garbage. The THING itself does not do ANYTHING without you doing something with it. The person studies, experiments, refines and corrects the tool to create what the PERSON intended.
In my example found below, both images were shot in the same studio setup under the same conditions on the same day with the same model to maximize similarity for the sake of comparison. One of the images was shot with a decent quality point and shoot camera. The other image was shot with a professional level camera.
Can you tell which one was shot with the big camera? The quality on both is virtually the same. Both are cropped in for a nice portrait, have nice focus, and respectable color.
If I printed these out at 5×7, I suspect you still might not know the difference.
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So the next time you compliment cousin Joel on what nice photos his big camera takes, stop yourself and tell Joel what nice photos he takes. Give him some credit, his camera saw nothing, composed nothing, edited nothing, and shared nothing.
Just for fun, I’d love to know if you can figure out which image came from the big camera vs. the point and shoot. Leave a comment here (Kristy you may not, as it was your camera and your daughter). All comments will be moderated and posted at 6 pm on January 4, 2012. And we’ll see how you all did.
Stay tuned for Part 2: The limitations of the point and shoot
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THE ANSWER IS:
Point & Shoot is on the LEFT
Professional Camera is on the RIGHT
And from the answers below, I have a pretty savvy group of readers! Great job. Now my next post will compare two other similar shots where you will see the limitations of the point and shoot and situations where you want the ‘big’ camera. That was fun!
Michelle - I love this post!! I think the shot on the left is from a point and shoot. Love the bokeh on the right shot.
Tracy - This is fun! Ok.. let’s see…. I think the one on the left is point and shoot. Both shots are great. Would you mind telling us what kind of point and shoot you were using?
Christina - I think the one on the right was taken with the big camera.
Tanya - I think the point and shoot is on the left and the big professional shot on the right. Why do I think that? Because on the right photo, the girls face is in focus and the rest of her out of focus. I hope I’m right… I just love being right, lol!
will reed - I am going to guess that the photo on the right was taken with the better camera. If I am wrong then you should write an article about how you captured such a shallow depth of field on a point and shoot.
Mary - Both are nicely composed. Beautiful model. I’m not a professional but my guess would be the one on the right is the professional? Only because it captures more of the natural tones and details on her face and has a more creative-edge? (Would not be offended if I’m wrong.)
Heather - Guessing the one on the right is the fancy camera (mostly because of the focus of other things in the picture.)
Sarah - I’m guessing the one on the right is fancy camera
Jonnel - Great post…I just read the answer and now I see why as I was not sure before….I see how the right picture “pops” at you…as the left does not have that same feel…
Great work!
Jonnel