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Post by milamemories on May 17, 2011 13:41:14 GMT -5
I am in the market for a new camera and wanted to try and take my photo skills up a few notches. I was just wondering what kind of cameras everyone has and if any of them are DSLR's? What brand do you have, do you like or why not?
Thanks,
Mila
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Post by Karen W on May 17, 2011 14:13:36 GMT -5
My DSLR is a Canon and i love it. My point and shoot is a Sony and I carry it everywhere.
Karen
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Post by AnnaMatrix on May 17, 2011 14:18:45 GMT -5
Mila - I have a little Pentax point-and-shoot - which I love. DH has been an SLR guy forever. He is a big Canon fan - has had the Rebel, and the Eos. He started with the Eos, which is now about 12 years old (4 megapixels was what it had back then!!), and now has the Rebel. He loves them both. They take fabulous pictures, and are pretty easy to use. We blow up many of his wildlife photos to 16x20 and frame them - with the Canons, they still look absolutely gorgeous. HTH. Have fun shopping!  Gail |
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Post by Noelle on May 17, 2011 15:28:51 GMT -5
Canon powershot not sure model but it ends with is lol
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Post by Basketlady on May 17, 2011 15:30:17 GMT -5
I'll be watching this as well. I'm thinking I want a "real" camera. And lessons! I'm thinking maybe that will be my Christmas gift this year.
When the kids were small, there just wasn't any way that I could have navigated fiddling with a SLR and chasing after them. And with DS, I had to sneak in pictures of him. I still have nightmares of the professional portrait sittings when he was young!
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2011 15:58:36 GMT -5
DH gave me a Canon EOS 60D for Christmas...it's still mostly smarter than I am, but I'm catching up, s-l-o-w-l-y! I definitely give it a "thumbs up"! The most useful information has been...not the manual as the first source...but a "for Dummies" book and another one specifically written for this camera model. Like Michelle, I'd like some lessons, but NOT a class with specific "go out and take this picture" assignments. I just want someone who will teach me the techniques of operating the camera beyond the automatic modes... in the meantime, I'll just keep reading! The other advice I've read (from several sources) is to not give up the point-and-shoot camera, but to keep it with the DSLR, just in case there's not time to load a lens, get the tripod out, etc., etc. Happy shopping!  |
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Post by AnnaMatrix on May 17, 2011 16:42:31 GMT -5
Great advice, Diane! Don't give up the point and shoot. DH carries one in his car, and one on his bike, and has gotten some great shots when he wasn't planning on "doing photography."  Gail |
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Post by craftygirl on May 17, 2011 17:36:40 GMT -5
I have a Canon Power Shot 1200 Elph. It is point and shoot and I LOVE it. I could maybe handle an DSLR, but I like the simplicity of point and shoot. It has various settings which have suited my needs so far. I guess I mainly take people shots. Back in the day, Hubby had a Pentax "fiddle with all the settings". Nice for scenery and wildlife, not so great for fast-moving toddlers, as Michelle pointed out. (My oldest son gave more than one professional photographer a nervous twitch too).  And now, we have teens and you have to be quick, before the eye roll, so again, I like my point and shoot. As far as learning, the best advice I received, go out and play with each setting BEFORE the big, once in a lifetime event! Crafty Girl |
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Post by Dani on May 17, 2011 19:59:15 GMT -5
great thread Mila. I am also itching to get a SLR. I have so many point and shoot which get ruined by my kids. They love taking pictures.
I need a daddy camera that nobody can touch lol
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Post by milamemories on May 18, 2011 9:16:46 GMT -5
I have not been looking into cannons too much, but i think i might today. Thanks everyone!
So far i have on my list Sony A560, Sony A33 or Nikon D5100.
Those are the three that i am looking at. Cannon seems to be too expensive for all of the features that i want in it. Sony seems to have all the features i am looking for the right price. The Nikon is good also. We are going to Ritz Camera on Friday just so i can take a look at all of the cameras and get a feel of how they will feel in my hand.
Actually, the reason that i want an DSLR is because of my toddler LOL. With my P&S it takes for ever to take a picture and then if i want to take another one right after that it takes for ever also, plus if he moves then it comes out blurry. I am sure there are some P&S cameras that are much better then mine, but i figure if i am going to spend a few hundred on those might as well as get an awesome DSLR LOL. Some of them turn on with in like 3 seconds and they shoot 7 frames per second. That is awesome and is exactly what i need to take quick photos of my little guy. Maybe i am getting the wrong information though?
Hugs,
Mila
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Post by Susan on May 18, 2011 10:22:47 GMT -5
if you're shooting in "manual" mode, you'd be right Mila. But using a SLR you're going to get the best picture off of manual mode. With a toddler - keep in mind the portability of a SLR. With my kids' high school activities I rarely take my "big camera" anywhere because it's just too much stuff/weight to lug. And with a strap around my neck I was always banging something or someone as I navigated a stadium, bleacher, auditorium, etc. My SLR stays at home in my office and rarely leaves the house. I have a rockin' awesome "camera purse" that 90% of my pictures come from. It's with me always! just a few things to keep in mind... good luck - it's a hard decision - but I do LOVE my Canon DSLR! |
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Post by Basketlady on May 18, 2011 10:51:05 GMT -5
I'm with Susan--you need a good P&S no matter what else you have. If you want pics of your kids, you are much more likely to have your P&S with you, tucked into the diaper bag, your pocket, etc. Since you are asking opinions (and I have lots!),  I would go to Ritz and talk to them. Tell them what you want to do with your camera. How old is your current P&S? These days, they are better and cheaper than ever. I have a Kodak camera I bought for my DS that has image stabilization and a really fast processor. And I paid $80 for it a few years ago. It takes really good photos. In fact, DH is in Europe right now and that's the camera that he took with him. I agree that you need a quick "recharge time" with toddlers. My old P&S took 4 batteries and was FAST. My current P&S is a new model of the same camera (Canon PowerShot), but only takes 2 batteries and it has a long lag time. I really don't like that, even with older kids. I understand that the PowerShots are faster again, so I would consider another. This is my third PowerShot and I really like the "handle" sort of thing on the camera. It just feels more secure in my hands. Another thing to consider is batteries--do you want to use proprietary batteries or regular batteries? We travel a lot and I wanted to be able to replace the batteries anywhere. So my camera takes AA. One more thing to consider in a P&S is a view finder. They are getting pretty rare in P&S cameras as the viewing screens are getting better. But make sure that you can see the screen in sunlight. I think Canon is the only manufacturer that still puts a view finder on a P&S. You can check other's reviews on Amazon. Even if I don't buy from there, I can read what other's think of the camera. That's a great way to sift through the info and find what others love and hate about the camera. |
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2011 11:25:27 GMT -5
My Canon P&S (10 megapixels) has a pretty short lag time, and I do have 3 batteries for it (one in the camera at all times, and 2 as backup). It does have a viewfinder (as Michelle mentioned...that's becoming rarer and rarer, unfortunately), and it was a factor in my selection of a P&S.
And for my DSLR, manual settings (usually with the flash disabled) and I are best friends. I'm not a professional photographer, and likely never will be...I generally use the 50 mm lens, but have also used the zoom (I took some great closeups of deer in our back yard without them really being aware that I was there).
A piece of trivia that I learned...if you're using a tripod for your camera and/or a remote shutter, disable the image stabilizer, or your pictures may be blurry. The image stabilizer makes a counter movement to pressing the shutter if the camera is handheld.
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Post by milamemories on May 18, 2011 11:57:23 GMT -5
Thanks Michelle and everyone else, yes i am definitely looking for opinions , i am not familiar with DSLR's at all, so any info i can pick up is awesome!! I agree, i will still have my current P&S as my camera purse (I carry it around already anyway), but this one will be for special shoots. Does anyone know about protective cases for them? Like for the beach so sand doesn't get in there? Thank you so much for your help!! Hugs, Mila |
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Post by Basketlady on May 18, 2011 12:42:50 GMT -5
I only take my old camera to the beach. ONLY that one. I had a camera ruined at the beach by a stranger's child who poured sand into my camera case. Take your back up camera unless you are doing a special shoot and guard it with your life!
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Post by craftygirl on May 18, 2011 13:34:58 GMT -5
I have the Canon Powershot 1200 elph. It is square and small and doesn't have the handle grip like the one that Michelle has. I like it because it takes a rechargeable battery, instead of AAs. It lasts a very long time without switching batteries. I also think it can take more pictures faster this way. Sorry, to give conflicting advice, on that count.
I do like reading reviews on Amazon also.
Good luck with your search. Probably any camera you pick will be better than your current one, so you will be happy. Camera technology improves quickly, so if your current camera is more than a few years old, you are going to be happy with a new and improved one.
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magpaks
Junior Diva
Cindy
Posts: 89
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Post by magpaks on May 18, 2011 13:38:46 GMT -5
Both my SLR & P&S are canon. I just got the new Canon SX230 (P&S) and I love it. It has built in GPS which I have always been fascinated with especially when you go somewhere you've never been before you can pull it up on a map....way cool!!
My SLR is the Rebel. I see they have a newer version out. I started with the film one then got the first digital rebel. That was stolen when my house got broken into so I was able to get the newer better model from the insurance settlement. I love that camera too!!! I do usually have both cameras handy. I've had many Canon P&S's and never had any issues with them. I've had some Sony's that were terrible. One I tried to take back within 3 days because once you enlarged the photo to a 4x6 size or bigger they would all be blurry but they didn't look blurry on the screen on the camera. Got into a big argument with Best Buy over that one!!!
On a side note, Dani did you get your Ipad?
Cindy
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Post by Basketlady on May 18, 2011 14:27:37 GMT -5
Something that Crafty Girl noted and I may not have clarified earlier--I don't think a camera takes faster pictures just because of the battery. I think it's part of it, but I think the big factor there is the processing speed of the camera itself. That's a really good question to ask when you go shopping! I once had a Canon PowerShot go out on me 2 days after it went out of warranty. I was using it during a tornado warning and the electrical currents in the air fried it. Yet Canon very graciously repaired it at no cost. For that kind of customer service, I will always buy Canon as my first choice. They have my loyalty! There are also memory cards with faster processing. I'm not 100% up on that technology, but when I buy another camera I sure will ask about that. My biggest complaint about my current camera is how slow it is to take multiple pictures. But I knew that when I bought it. My old camera went weeks before Christmas. I didn't have a lot of time to shop around, I knew Canon's reputation and it was priced low enough so that I could pay cash for it and not charge it. I hate having to pay a big CC bill in January! Does anyone else want a new camera now? Hubby brought DS's camera to Europe and DS's class is going to Washington DC next week on a week long field trip. Maybe I need a new camera and I should give DS my old, slow camera?  |
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Post by craftygirl on May 18, 2011 17:16:59 GMT -5
Michelle-I think that you should get new camera. I am sure DS would love your old one. I love inventing reasons to get new cameras. I got my last one, while hubby was deployed for 6 months. It was great to have 2 cameras, while he was gone. He got home and liked my new camera and wanted to upgrade, though. Luckily, by then it was on clearance. We both are in love. And I have always had great luck with Canon! Cindy, I think the location feature would be cool too. I fear Big Brother though, so didn't turn it on. If you post pictures to the Internet, blog, Facebook, etc., certain non-tech challenged people can find your location. So, don't post your house picture, then announce you are going on vacation! Crafty Girl |
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Post by Cat on May 18, 2011 18:03:03 GMT -5
There's a lady where I work who has the Cannon Rebel. She uses it to take pictures of her grand kids.....the pictures are fantastic.....so much so she now takes pictures for other people's families on special occasions for them. (no she has never taken classes....she just plays with it a lot...something she recommends) She will tell you that a Cannon Digital works great for her.....but learn all you can about it to get the most from it. ( this is from a grandmother's point of view) Hope this helps some.....  Cat |
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Post by crazy4pink on May 18, 2011 18:17:39 GMT -5
I have an Olympus FE-340 (dark pink, some call red ) I guess it is a point and shoot. It is very easy to use and takes great pictures!!! Oh, and has a re-chargeable battery. I am not so good at the techy stuff so I am happy to keep things simple. I would love to be able to take fabulous pictures. I have been working at it and am much better than I used to be. I love taking pictures (alot more than being in them  ). Cindy |
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Post by Basketlady on May 18, 2011 18:25:48 GMT -5
Cindy, I think the location feature would be cool too. I fear Big Brother though, so didn't turn it on. If you post pictures to the Internet, blog, Facebook, etc., certain non-tech challenged people can find your location. So, don't post your house picture, then announce you are going on vacation! I was wondering about this. I've heard it's a problem with custody issues and such. And what Crafty Girl said about house photos and vacation--good point. Why do we always need to be one step ahead of the bad guys? But it's a cool feature. DS went on a Boy Scout hike in NH or VT a few months ago and another dad was taking pictures. When we viewed them online, we could see just where on the trail they were taken. It was a relief map and we could see them following the ridge line. Very, very cool! |
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magpaks
Junior Diva
Cindy
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Post by magpaks on May 18, 2011 21:01:07 GMT -5
It is true that they can figure out location from photos that have GPS location. I usually don't post pictures of where I live. If I do, I strip out that data before uploading.
I would never announce on facebook or anywhere public that I was going on vacation. Usually when we do go out of town, we have people that house sit. Also, I have a very diligent neighbor. If anyone comes to my house and he hasn't been warned, he will come down with a gun and question what they are doing there. He had my sister-in-law in tears once when I forgot to tell him that she was dropping something by.
So yes, you do need to be careful with that type of stuff. I also usually turn off my gps when taking pictures at home since I know where I am in those pictures.
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Post by Cat on May 18, 2011 21:35:01 GMT -5
Kindy creepy.....yet I can see the good side and the bad side of GPS on cameras..... Cat |
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Post by craftygirl on May 19, 2011 8:19:13 GMT -5
Cindy-sounds like you have things well covered with the GPS information. That is great that you have a neighbor to keep an eye on your place. Though your sister-in-law might now agree! In theory, I think the GPS feature sounds great. We travel a lot and it would be neat to keep track of our photos with GPS. I wish I could be sure that I would remember to turn it on and off. I have trouble remembering to turn the date stamp on and off, so I just left the GPS off. Crafty Girl |
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Post by milamemories on May 19, 2011 9:10:25 GMT -5
Ok, so i have narrowed down the cameras down to Sony A55 and Sony A560. They are essentially the same thing, except for a few differences, the A55 has a translucent lens which allows you to shoot photos faster and continuous auto focus, it is not really a DSLR, it is a DSLT, which just means a single lens translucent. The A560 has a traditional Prismamirror in it. The A55 is a newer technology and people are saying that is where all DSLR's are headed eventually. So now i am debating to go with new technology, that will be easier for me to use because everything is pretty much automatic (great for new users), or the traditional DSLR camera. They both have the exact same options on them. What do you guys think?
Hugs,
Mila
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qkmary
Student Diva
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Post by qkmary on May 19, 2011 13:42:56 GMT -5
I have a Canon PS 1300 and Canon TI DSLR. I use the PS 1300 more because it is easy to carry with you at all times. I have an extra battery for it, but I don't use it often. I like the rechargeables, cheaper and last longer than AA. The lag time is no where close to my old PS camera's. I actually take pictures from time to time at the baseball games with it in continueous shot mode. No problems.
I use my DSLR a lot but need to have a lot more lessons. I do use it for outdoors shooting, but have not mastered indoors and AP settings to lighten things up. Someday. Until then it is my PS for me.
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Post by Basketlady on May 19, 2011 15:51:06 GMT -5
I've never heard of a translucent lens. One more thing to research. Some days I feel so old and out of the loop!
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Post by milamemories on May 23, 2011 14:18:20 GMT -5
Update: So i bought a camera this weekend, it is the Sony A55. So excited!! Can anyone recommend me to some good digital photography books?
Thanks,
Mila
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2011 14:37:02 GMT -5
See if you can find a book or two that are specifically written for your camera. My black-and-yellow "for dummies" book has been invaluable.
If you are wanting to learn more about taking great pictures with any camera, I'd recommend Brian Peterson's Understanding Exposure (I still don't), Understanding Close-up Photography (great book!), or Understanding Photography Field Guide (a smaller, carry-along book that covers some of the information in his other books). I had the first 2 books spiral-bound at my local print store, which made them easier to handle.
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Gail
I would go to Ritz and talk to them. Tell them what you want to do with your camera. How old is your current P&S? These days, they are better and cheaper than ever. I have a Kodak camera I bought for my DS that has image stabilization and a really fast processor. And I paid $80 for it a few years ago. It takes really good photos. In fact, DH is in Europe right now and that's the camera that he took with him. 
).