So, I want a New Camera...

[wa3zrm]

lx's Art Tread with heders excellent photo's has got me thinking... should I update my digital camera?

My current camera is a Sony that's over 8 years old... so I guess the answer is yes!

Considering I have not looked at digital cameras in over 8 years, any advice or recommendations are welcome.

[heders]

lx's Art Tread with heders excellent photo's has got me thinking... should I update my digital camera?

My current camera is a Sony that's over 8 years old... so I guess the answer is yes!

Considering I have not looked at digital cameras in over 8 years, any advice or recommendations are welcome.

Of course you should! Photographing is a fantastic hobby.

I would go with either Nikon or Canon. I have a Nikon D80 myself, which I love, but it's not available at the market anymore because it has been replaced with newer models.

I'm not that updated with the different camera models, but my recommendation is to not buy the cheapest one. Often the cheapest Nikon and Canon models (DSLR's) does not have auto focus built in to the camera. That means, if you want auto focus to work, your lens has to have it built in (which a lot of older lenses don't have).

Go to a photo store and compare the differences between the Nikon and Canon models. They have different buttons, different menus, and different functions, but cameras from both manufacturers in the same price range take, I would say, equally good pictures.

Good luck!

[Roo]

If you're just looking for a point-and-shoot that is relatively inexpensive, I have been really happy with my recent purchase of the Canon PowerShot Elph 300HS. I got the matte black one that has a rough finish, almost like grip tape on a skateboard. The digital display is huge for it's tiny size and with 12.1 megapixels it takes great shots. Specs are here:

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/p...ot_elph_300_hs

[sgreger1]

The first question you need to answer is, "What will I be using this for?"

If you are looking to get into photography and learn all of the different aspects of how to use the camera, how to set the exposure, how to set the aperture, shutter speed etc, and don't mindcarrying a big ass camera around on your neck, than get a DSLR camera, either Cannon or Nikon. Don't buy the cheapest model, as was mentioned previously. Cannon T2 would be a good start, I have the T3i and it is amazing. Expect to spend ~$800 if you go this route, plus you have ot buy a class 6 memory card which is another $40.

If you plan on using it as a point and shoot camera, i.e. you are just going to set it to auto mode and snap the picture, than just get one of the many point and shoot cameras on the market, the one roo has looks pretty cool.

I would only buy a DSLR (which are much more expensive) if you really want to learn how to adjust all the fine settings and learn photography, spend time before each shot setting everything up perfect etc. If you plan on just framing your subject and clicking the shutter button to take a pic than just go with a regular point and shoot camera, they are much smaller and easier to bring around with you so you will end up taking more pictures due to it's compact size and portability. The difference between the point and shoot and the DSLR will be minimal unless you really take the time to learn photography and how to adjust the various settings in the DSLR, which most consumers don't want/need to do, they just want to take great pictures without lugging around a huge camera that makes you look like some Chinese tourist everywhere you go.

[truthwolf1]

Yes, Canon or Nikon for DSLR but I lean towards Canon but not by that much. One thing I have definately learned over the years starting with old hassleblad equipment is that glass is very important. Even with my Canon 5D mark 2 I still miss the glass of the hassleblad. A cheap digital body with a High end lens is going to give you better pictures then a high end body with a cheap lens.

[sgreger1]

Yes, Canon or Nikon for DSLR but I lean towards Canon but not by that much. One thing I have definately learned over the years starting with old hassleblad equipment is that glass is very important. Even with my Canon 5D mark 2 I still miss the glass of the hassleblad. A cheap digital body with a High end lens is going to give you better pictures then a high end body with a cheap lens.

Yah the camera itself isn't really that important. Some will have better quality at higher ISO's due to better sensors, they will have faster shutter speed etc, but the lens is what makes the real difference. Of course the lenses are also the most expensive part of the whole thing lol. I can't wait till I can buy a new lens, but I just can't justify how pricey some of them are.

Edit: I also prefer Cannon over Nikon but not for any really important reasons, they are comparable as far as features and quality, I just like Cannon better.

[truthwolf1]

Yah the camera itself isn't really that important. Some will have better quality at higher ISO's due to better sensors, they will have faster shutter speed etc, but the lens is what makes the real difference. Of course the lenses are also the most expensive part of the whole thing lol. I can't wait till I can buy a new lens, but I just can't justify how pricey some of them are.

Edit: I also prefer Cannon over Nikon but not for any really important reasons, they are comparable as far as features and quality, I just like Cannon better.

Another route is to get reasonable priced prime lenses. They dont need to be Canon, but Canon does have some cheap one's. I have found they also give you crisper pictures then a standard all range lens. I use a 35mm prime that picked up on EBAY and it has been my favorite lens. The Canon 50mm prime is rated by many as one of the best.

[sgreger1]

Another route is to get reasonable priced prime lenses. They dont need to be Canon, but Canon does have some cheap one's. I have found they also give you crisper pictures then a standard all range lens. I use a 35mm prime that picked up on EBAY and it has been my favorite lens. The Canon 50mm prime is rated by many as one of the best.

Yah I would love a 55mm prime lens, that is probably the first one I will buy.

[wa3zrm]

Thanks for your advice thus far.

I've begun to research camera's and it appears the next big step is going to be wifi. Anyone familiar with camera's that have wifi capability? I see that Sony introduced a Cybershot back in 2009 that had a built in web browser; however, it did not receive glowing reviews.

I like the idea of a cheaper body and more expensive lens. I also like the idea of being able to stream from the camera over the Internet. Anyone familiar with the the Gopro Hero2?

[Ainkor]

I love photography but it's really easy to go down the rabbit hole when it comes to buying a new camera. Someone above asked the best question of all and that is "What will you be doing with it?" The answer of course is taking pictures, but to what level of control and how deep into learning about manual shooting are you willing or want to do?

My daughter and I go out once a week usually and I had a nice lower-mid level Olympus DSLR that I used for a while. I left it on the roof of my jeep though and it went by-by. I currently use a Sony Nex-3. It's a smaller format mirror less camera that has the same image sensor of a DSLR but without all the size and weight stuff. Plenty of control for me and since I hate using an optical view finder, it works just fine for me. I might step up to a proper DSLR again, but I really can't justify spending $1000 or more to get something that would be demonstrably better.

My daughter wanted to learn to shoot and after she dropped my camera a few times I found a nifty one for her. Its the Canon Powershot SX130. I think it was about $250 at Best Buy but what attracted me to it is the controllablity of it. You can set shutter speed, aperture, focal length and take some really nice manual shots. I wanted to make sure she learned a bit of composing a shot to try and match what her mind saw. Of course it has easy shooting mode but for learning, its a small investment, takes nice pictures and safely got her into photography without me having to drop $800.

Last but not least, the best camera out there is the one you have with you when you want to take a picture.

[wa3zrm]

My daughter wanted to learn to shoot and after she dropped my camera a few times I found a nifty one for her. Its the Canon Powershot SX130. I think it was about $250 at Best Buy but what attracted me to it is the controllablity of it. You can set shutter speed, aperture, focal length and take some really nice manual shots. I wanted to make sure she learned a bit of composing a shot to try and match what her mind saw. Of course it has easy shooting mode but for learning, its a small investment, takes nice pictures and safely got her into photography without me having to drop $800.

Last but not least, the best camera out there is the one you have with you when you want to take a picture.

YES! This may be the one! Very nice and has what I'm looking for... THANKS!

[Ainkor]

YES! This may be the one! Very nice and has what I'm looking for... THANKS!

No problem. Here is a link to them on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSho.../dp/B003ZSHNG8

They are cheap now, like $134 cheap. They also take great close up macro shots. Sure, there are more expensive cameras out there especially in the point and shoot arena, but for the price, the value is great. Here is a pic my daughter took showing how close you can get with it.

[wa3zrm]

No problem. Here is a link to them on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSho.../dp/B003ZSHNG8

They are cheap now, like $134 cheap. They also take great close up macro shots. Sure, there are more expensive cameras out there especially in the point and shoot arena, but for the price, the value is great. Here is a pic my daughter took showing how close you can get with it.

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What's the battery life like? That seems to be the only downside that's mentioned about this camera.

I also found them for $114 here: http://www.sammysdeals.com/product.a...npssx130isb-de

[Ainkor]

Just asked my daughter and she said the last charge she got out of her Lithium Ion rechargeable batteries was about 200 pictures. About 30 of them were long exposure "light painting" ones so with good rechargeable batteries, it does very well.

Normal durcell batteries? It sucks it dry faster than a Tijuana hooker. I think her first set of batteries lasted about 50 shots with some flash use.

I'm certainly no photography professional but her Photography professor was very impressed with the camera, its features and the pictures that came out of it. At $114 its a even more of a good deal!