Does spending more mean getting less?

[Cindy-Clicks]

Unlike a lot of my colleagues in the field, I stayed with my T3i until I proved myself worthy of an upgrade.  But now that I decided to get a "better" camera, I am finding that spending more money means I am getting less performance.  Why is that?   I decided to buy a Pentax K-3, but eventually returned it because it did not give me the flexibilty I wanted.  I decided to put off buying another crop sensor camera for now, so I bought a 6D with a 100mm Macro L-glass lens.  My old T3i with a Tamron 28-300 zoom still produces much better images under the same conditions. What gives?

[Cindy-Clicks]

Well actually I am also an accomplished seamstress and I can tell you that I enjoy hand sewing much better than machine sewing.  I have much more control.  They don't make the perfect sewing machine either, and definitely not a perfect steam iron.  I often wonder how much more effective tools would be if only women were designing them.  Don't assume I am sexist, but I'm just saying.  

[cicopo]

It sounds like you agree that a more expensive tool is no guarantee of better results. However once it's mastered things you couldn't do before become much easier & are usually superior to anything done before. The camera is no different than a sewing machine in that it needs an operator to make it do anything. A better / more expensive camera will only improve your results in areas that your old camera couldn't go. By that I'm talking about things like a faster AF system which wouldn't make a noticible difference shooting stationary targets but it sure changes things when shooting fast paced action. Entry level cameras don't come with all the bells & whistles but then again many who buy them never even read the manual let alone learn how to use the features they've paid for.

[ebiggs1]

I think I am understanding where she is coming from.  If you won a Pulitzer Prize with a G15  (P&S) and than didn't win one with the insanely expensive ESO 1Dx you just bought, was it a good buy?  Her answer is obiviously, no.

I think she should sell the 6D and put that money towards some more glass.

[cale_kat]

The G15 is no p&s. Unless you consider any camera with a fixed lens to be a from the point and shoot category. I have owned a number of compact cameras and my most recent, a G15, is the most SLR-like.

[ebiggs1]

"a G15, is the most SLR-like."

You said it. "SLR-like"  It is certainly not an SLR.  So just what do we call it?

[cale_kat]

I like the term "advanced compact camera" . The reason I don't like "point and shoot" is because it becomes a catch all phrase that stresses the ease of use, through auto exposure and shutter algorithms. But an advanced compact camera allows near total creative freedom but in a small form factor.

[Cindy-Clicks]

Ok,  this is why I am freaking out right now.  I took this shot with the new camera and EF100 macro L, at ISO 2000, F9, 1/160sec and it is a mess!!  I took another shot with the old camera at ISO 800, F10, 1/15sec at 300mm and it was a LOT better than this!

[ebiggs1]

I don't know.  

But I do know your exposure settings are vastly different and would not make the same image even if everything else was equal.

[Cindy-Clicks]

Come on, thats all you can give me?  We are talking a supposedly superior lens vs a third party.   A 28-300 zoom at 300mm and 1/15 sec should not be producing an image that is better than a fixed 100mm with "L" glass.  And don't say to try MF because I did that and that didn't work either.

[ebiggs1]

Miss Cindy,

I can't explain why that particular shot was better or worse with the equipment you have.  I do know your expouser values are vastly different.  That alone would make a great difference in the two shots.

Your EF 100mm lens may need adjusting, who knows?  I would try a lens test chart with each and very strict comparisons.

Equal exposure, equal light quality, equal distance on a tripod, etc and find out for a fact what is going on.

You must compare apples to apples.  You can not say one is better unless you know exactly what and how everything it is working.