Need advice from a "camera" guy/gal

[warhawk77]

The family and I took a mini vacation over the weekend and we noticed we need a new camera. We have a point and shoot digital camera we got for $90-100 a few years ago so time to upgrade.

The camera will be used to take holiday, camping, kids school events, and vacation photos. We are hoping to see all the lighthouses on lake Michigan so it will have to have a good optical zoom for the ones we can't get real close to.

The goal is to stay under $450 if at all possible

 

[tv1217]

For about 50 bucks more, you can get a Canon T3 kit. It's on the low end as far as DSLRs go, but it's still better than most point and shoot cameras.

 

[Westside]

For about 50 bucks more, you can get a Canon T3 kit. It's on the low end as far as DSLRs go, but it's still better than most point and shoot cameras.

canon and Nikon are the two best point and shoots as well stay with those and you really can't go wrong.

 

[warhawk77]

Thanks for the info. I will check out the canon t3.

It will be hard to let that much cash go on a camera I've always been the $50-100 camera people.

 

[iamaclone45]

A DSLR is going to greatly increase you photo quality and optical zoom options. You will obviously sacrifice portability with the DSLR option and they tend to come with the same symptoms of Black Rifle Disease as there are many many upgrade options and accessories available.

My brother owns a Panasonic Lumix (don't remember which model). I believe it's the Lumix ZS8.

Can be had at Best Buy for about $200.

Panasonic - Lumix ZS8 14.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black - Lumix ZS8 Black

Small enough to pocket carry and takes excellent quality photos for a "pocket camera". Also considered in a class of "superzoom" pocket cameras it allows up to 16x optical zoom.

I own a Nikon D3100 DSLR. I love the image quality but sometimes it's size is just impractical.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

I had some money to throw at it and got a DSLR (Nikon D90) and a few lenses. I probably didn't need that, and you probably don't either. There are numerous point and shoot choices for under a couple of hundred zorkmids that'll do far more than you need. The resolutions are high, the storage is massive, the transfers are easy, but more important, the photographic technology has filtered down from the flagship stuff. You have all the exposure, focusing, whatnot you could ever want, but you can set it to auto and get great results with less effort than it took to get crap pictures with a film camera. You can get a camera on a blister pack now that would make the "experts" from 20 years ago collapse in a puddle of sweat. In other words, you can't go too far wrong unless you get one that's just broken.

 

[warhawk77]

Over weekend we used my droid to take most of the photos and it worked fine. Just has very limited zoom

Even thought about looking for a used one. But that can be a waste of money.

I will be using a bonus from work to buy camera and left over will go toward another rifle just don't know the amount of the bonus yet.

 

[Sailor]

They both have their places. Point and shoot cameras give up control. Their biggest down fall IMO is that the flash is an inch from the lens.

In ideal light they can take great pictures. If you need your flash you will have a white blown out subject, with a black background, instead of the whole room properly exposed.

Some DSLR pics,

I should have cloned out the crane.

 

[hopper68]

Here is one step below a SLR that is a good camera.
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Powershot-Digital-Stabilized-Accessory/dp/B0064C2XUS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1338329108&sr=8-2[/ame]

 

[K_W]

Nikon P500

(has pop-up flash that is not shown)

I have a P100 and I love it. It can focus as close as a speck of dust on the lens to 26x zoom. Shoots 1080P in stereo, slow motion (low res), and 10 full res. burst shots.

P500 does all that and more for < $400

 

[aclark]

I'm about to buy a D5100, but thats around 900. If you can spend a little more go with the D3100 or the EoS t3 (not t3i, thats higher priced). Those are both great cameras that will serve you for a long time.

 

[perry]

The DSLR can have a bit of a learning curve, IMHO. If you are just wanting to take pictures and not get in to the photography craft (lenses can make guns look cheap) then I think cameras like the SX40 and P500 would be good choices. I guess it depends on your goals, but if you are happy with the phone pictures then you may be overjoyed with one of those.

I like reading Digital Photography Review for camera reviews.

 

[williamsburg]

I know I'm bringing up a week old thread and slightly jacking it. Apologies to the OP.

I just didn't see a need to start another thread asking generally the same question.

For nothing but a general picture taking. Nothing professional. Just for the same reasons the OP stated. Which one of these would anyone suggest....

1. Canon Powershot SX40 HS 12.1MP
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Powershot-Digital-Stabilized-Accessory/dp/B0064C2XUS/[/ame]

2. Nikon COOLPIX P510 16.1 MP
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-Digital-Camera-Location/dp/B0073HSH8U/ref=dp_ob_title_ce#productPromotions[/ame]

3. Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-D3000-Digital-18-55mm-3-5-5-6G/dp/B002JCSV5I]Amazon.com: Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens: Camera & Photo[/ame]

4. Nikon COOLPIX L810 16.1 MP
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-Digital-Camera-NIKKOR/dp/B0073HSJR4/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_2]Amazon.com: Nikon COOLPIX L810 16.1 MP Digital Camera with 26x Zoom NIKKOR ED Glass Lens and 3-inch LCD (Black): Camera & Photo[/ame]

5. Another camera around $400 - $500 or less.

I just want to be able to take better pictures than I can with my current p&s Kodak. And zoom a great distance, maybe 40 - 60 feet.

Thanks.


/jack

 

[longbow]

D4 or d3x are not much more.................

 

[phishb0y]

The fuji point and shoots are great. The glass and image chip make for wonderful pics. When I don't want to lug my canon slr around My fuji is the goto. The only exception is for fat ports football soccer basketball ect. Can't beat dslrs for that. The entry dslr come with some marginal lenses. Expect to spend double body price to get good glass.
I have shot professionally and sold cameras just my 2cents. Good luck.