Rate Your Camera

I am with Gina.  I don't see why someone would NOT get a DSLR (kit, with a lens) for that price range.  No you DONT have to be a pro or know anything.  Not that I think I'm any good, but people ask me all the time how I take my pictures, what setting for this or that....and honestly I use ONLY preset modes on the camera dial!  Yes, Auto, Auto no flash, and Sport mode.  I actually did a lot MORE shooting using priority or manual settings on my old point-and-shoots than I do now.  Not that I'm not planning on learning, but it's not at ALL necessary.  The DSLR is just so much better in so many ways that having nothing to do with the person fiddling with the dial.

 

I read up on the Nikon but my only concern is it says 3x zoom and some of the others we looked at have a higher zoom number.I am also a bit confused between "optical" zoom and "digital" zoom. Any one care to enlighten me?

Tena

4HAND

I read up on the Nikon but my only concern is it says 3x zoom and some of the others we looked at have a higher zoom number.I am also a bit confused between "optical" zoom and "digital" zoom. Any one care to enlighten me?

Tena

 

bump because I'd like to know too!

Keep in mind that there are additional costs with a dslr. Typically the lower end models will only come with 1 lens. You have to buy others and they are not cheap$ also the dslrs in that price range won't take video. You have to go up in price for that. I would love a dslr, and bought one not too long ago. But I took it back because of the issues I mentioned. I used to have a point and shoot panasonic (tz models) and was not impressed. It did not take good pictures at all in mixed light conditions. A lot of outdoor shots I do are mixed light. I've had 2 canon s-is models and loved them both. Good zoom, can zoom in movie mode (not an option on many cameras), good action shots and most light conditions. My complaint with the one I have now is that the pictures are noisy over iso 400. It also takes a while to focus while taking video in low light.

I know this...digital zoom is pretty much worthless. LOL. The image you get is just...bad.

As to extra costs...yep...if you WANT to buy more lenses you can...you certainly do not HAVE to. Heck I would say 98% of the photos I share here are taken with my KIT lens! Sure I've bought others...and returned a couple because they flat out do not do as well as my kit lens. Spend a few months with your camera at first and see if you NEED another lens. Before you buy one.

If you are shooting in many challenging places and subjects you might want another...but if you shoot like I do...at home, at the State Fair...at school functions...there's really no pressing need.

 

 

I did a little research on megapixels and things, and opted for the Nikon D40 and I am soooo happy. it takes a fantastic picture. A girl on another horse forum I belong to gave me a link to a pro photographer's site, and I read all his stuff and chose this one. Love it. J

Actually, I have to disagree that digital zoom is worthless - they are not all created equal. Sure, it's apples and oranges compared to the DSLRs. Some brands do better than others. But dude. I really have to disagree that everyone needs a dSLR. All my friends recently (like the last two years) went out and bought new dSLRs - replaced point and shoots. You know how often those bad boys come out when we are messing with dogs? Never. My little four year old Canon S1IS was out all the time, snapping hundreds of shots and taking vids. I loved my little workhorse and killed it from love. Their high tech cameras are collecting high tech dust. I had an S1IS - they are on the S5 now. I was never unhappy with it when I bothered to figure out how to work it right (no one here ever saw any of the good pics I took with it because my computer is too slow to upload bunches of files). And the zoom performed quite well for the level of camera that it was. I've seen sucky zoom on long dSLR lenses in amateur hands, particularly in low light. What the good higher end point and shoots do well is think well for you, plus give you plenty of creative modes also. There's another, the G7 I think, that's the next higher up from the S-series, still well in the sub-$500 mark if you shop at Beach Camera for instance. I'm a confirmed Canon fangirl after my long time relationship with my S1 and a recent customer service experience. I'm sadly unable financially to replace the S1 with an equal level camera but I'm sticking with Canon - going with an A1000.

Ha Jewelee glad you finally chimed in as it was your avatar photo of Nico that got my son itching to get shots of his Aussie in midair.We did go to Bestbuy and check out the Nikon dlsr and my son found it too heavy and complicated for him [he's 11].Also he's using his own money so he went with the newest version of the Kodac Easyshare and man has he been able to get some great action shots in the sport mode.I would love to post some,even opened a photobucket account, but when I try I get nothing but the box with the red x in it.

Tena  

Cool. I can't wait to see some aussie shots! I think the avatar picture was taken with my old panasonic, (compact point and shoot) if I remember right. A friend was shooting pictures for me.

brookcove

Actually, I have to disagree that digital zoom is worthless - they are not all created equal. Sure, it's apples and oranges compared to the DSLRs. Some brands do better than others. But dude. I really have to disagree that everyone needs a dSLR.

 

Digital zoom IS worthless, but point and shoots usually do both digital AND optical (like a DSLR).  Digital zoom essentially stretches and crops the image within the camera.  My boss did several comparisons by shooting a picture with digital zoom, then shootin the same pic with optical zoom and cropping to to match the digital zoom, and the latter was better quality every time.  I have yet to see a comparison that shows the digital zoom photo is better quality than a pic taken with optical zoom and cropped on the computer to match.  My first point-and-shoot was the Canon S1 IS and it came with a 10x optical zoom and 3.2x digital zoom.  I never once used the digital zoom on that camera, I just used the optical zoom at the max range and cropped the pic on the computer if I needed to.

 I use a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18.  8MP, 18x zoom.  I love this camera!  It's pretty easy to use and the zoom is incredible.  It cost me about $300, a really worthwhile investment.  I thought I'd share a few pics taken with it so you can see the quality.