I was really excited to have the chance to borrow a Canon 30D camera this week from a friend at school (Thanks Jerry!).
I wanted to see the differences between what I was doing for the past five years using only a point and shoot and now trying out this model of digital single lens reflex camera.
Since I worked with similar camera models in film, the process was not all that strange to me. What I loved about the camera is the ability to take chances with low light, panning, and fill, and then see the results (translate this to mean see the mistakes) immediately. I made this picture of roses on our table last night at a 6th of a second at f/5.6 with a slight motion pan. For most of my professional career I would never have attempted playing around with the camera as much. In such low light I could guess the results would not be what I would hope they could be. Therefore, I was hesitant to experience and explore light. The process of seeing the images after capture is liberating and I think produces images that are closer to what I see and feel.
The biggest differences between the point and shoot and the DSLR are (1) the quality of the image and (2) the shutter delay factors on the point and shoot. In the end, I feel, both cameras are tool that help us communicate with one another more clearly, and now, more immediately.