Camera advise

2198 Views 28 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Groundhog45, Feb 28, 2012

willis3

Discussion Starter · Feb 26, 2012

I am looking to upgrade my camera. I have a point and shoot Sony but would like better quality pictures and fast non blur for taking pics of
my son playing sports..
I am a total novice.. any advice?

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

Davenlr

· #2 · Feb 26, 2012

Canon or Nikon digital SLR. Expensive, but very versatile, and allows interchangeable lenses. For good non-blur sports shots, a telephoto lens is much better than using a point and shoot's digital zoom.

willis3

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 26, 2012

Davenlr said:
Canon or Nikon digital SLR. Expensive, but very versatile, and allows interchangeable lenses. For good non-blur sports shots, a telephoto lens is much better than using a point and shoot's digital zoom.

I was checking out a Rebel T2i.

Davenlr

· #4 · Feb 26, 2012

willis3 said:
I was checking out a Rebel T2i.

There you go. I love photography, and would love that one. I just dont have the time working 6 days a week to get out and do much...hence I havent invested in one yet. Probably this summer.

djlong

· #5 · Feb 26, 2012

I have the Sony DSC-HX9V and I'm incredibly happy with it.

Fast speeds, next to no shutter lag, BIG optical zoom, GPS geocoding, 1080p video and lots more - and it fits in my shirt pocket.

If you're concerned about stopping sports action, this would do the trick without breaking the bank.

Laxguy

· #6 · Feb 26, 2012

If you're serious about photography, and will be at it long term, you should get a DSLR, Canon or Nikon. Interchangeable lenses are a must, as lenses are as important as the sensor. Eventually, you'll want a full frame DSLR, so don't get lenses that are for cropped frame cameras, such as the one you looked at.

Davenlr

· #7 · Feb 26, 2012

Always choices to confuse a person...

For nature, wildlife and sports enthusiasts, it might make more sense to stick with a smaller sensor. You can take advantage of the crop factor to get maximum detail at long distances.

Read more: http://www.digital-photography-scho...p-sensor-which-is-right-for-you#ixzz1nWZC4att

Laxguy

· #8 · Feb 26, 2012

Davenlr said:
Always choices to confuse a person...

Heh. Probably why I feel fortunate to have one of each! It really does give a lot more flexibility. And less lens changing!

Davenlr

· #9 · Feb 26, 2012

I just checked the Canon site, and if I was reading the comparisons correctly, all the cameras from $549 up to $2000 said "Effective 35mm lens size = 1.6x, only starting with the $2500 model, did the specs just say "Uses any EF lens".

So are those full frame models only the ones starting at $2.5K? If that is the case, Im in for the cropped version. Id have to be making significant money from my photography to justify spending $2500 for a camera, and another $2500 for the F2.5 lens to go on it

dpeters11

· #10 · Feb 26, 2012

Also check out dpreview.com, good reviews on cameras. They are owned by Amazon, but it would be hard to tell that.

I like Canon, it's amazing what these DSLRs can do, even pretty good full motion.

Laxguy

· #11 · Feb 26, 2012

Davenlr said:
I just checked the Canon site, and if I was reading the comparisons correctly, all the cameras from $549 up to $2000 said "Effective 35mm lens size = 1.6x, only starting with the $2500 model, did the specs just say "Uses any EF lens".

So are those full frame models only the ones starting at $2.5K? If that is the case, Im in for the cropped version. Id have to be making significant money from my photography to justify spending $2500 for a camera, and another $2500 for the F2.5 lens to go on it

Yes, that's not far off the mark, if off at all. You can get a used 5D (the original one) for a lot less. And you don't have to start with ƒ2.5 lenses!

Crop version cameras are so good these days, you'd be hard pressed to detect the difference for many types of shots.

Davenlr

· #12 · Feb 26, 2012

OK, from the reading Ive done since this thread started, Ive determined that assuming you are an old 35mm SLR photographer like me, if you use the cropped camera, you have to take the lens size (example 55mm) and multiply by 1.6 = 88. Then, you have to use at least a 1/88th shutter speed... Dont know about that, since I would think the f rating of the lens, and the ISO setting on the camera would change that, but the article said, for example, for a 300mm lens, you had to use at least 1/300th shutter speed to eliminate "shaking". Dont know if the image stabilized lens fix that or not.

I used to own a Minolta SRT101, with 55mm 1.8 lens, and a f2.8 135mm lens.
So with the T2i, I was looking at the kit on Amazon with camera body, and a 18mm-135mm f3.5=f5.6 Image Stabilized Lens, then would probably add on a non-zoom 55mm f 1.8 lens.

I did a lot of time lapse photography (stars, meteors, lightning, etc). How do these dslr cameras handle the bulb setting? Do you get decent pictures on 30 and 60 second exposures? How about longer?

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hdtvfan0001

· #13 · Feb 26, 2012

I can highly recommend the Canon Powershot S95...or the latest model...the S100.

Excellent quality glass lens, excellent light sensitivity, excellent construction...great photos.

It also takes HD video.

Just used mine on a trip and took about 1400 pix and 40 minutes of HD video.

Having so much quality in a compact size, along with the flexibility in settings (you can even go fully manual if you need to) is outstanding.

Samples below.

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Laxguy

· #14 · Feb 26, 2012

I made the transition a long time ago—long time insofar as digital photography goes!

You'll get used to lens focal lengths very quickly, and exposures are a cinch to get right. Most DSLRs have a histogram you can review in addition to a visual representation of the image. Reading about it makes it seem harder than it is.

Camera shake? I.S. in Canon lenses works several stops in your favor, and then it depends on the amount of light and you.

hdtvfan0001

· #15 · Feb 26, 2012

Laxguy said:
I made the transition a long time ago-long time insofar as digital photography goes!

You'll get used to lens focal lengths very quickly, and exposures are a cinch to get right. Most DSLRs have a histogram you can review in addition to a visual representation of the image. Reading about it makes it seem harder than it is.

Camera shake? I.S. in Canon lenses works several stops in your favor, and then it depends on the amount of light and you.

Good points.

Canon's stability feature is great to have in the Powershot S95/S100 as well.

Laxguy

· #16 · Feb 26, 2012

hdtvfan0001 said:
Good points.

Canon's stability feature is great to have in the Powershot S95/S100 as well.

Your camera is da bomb! Incredibly packed with features and high res.

However, for now I am sticking with DSLRs and iPhone. If I had neither I'd go with that Powershot, which combines the best of both- but I always have my phone with me and handy, and no pocket camera will match my 5D for resolution and reach.

HDJulie

· #17 · Feb 26, 2012

I'm a point & shoot person -- I don't have the patience to mess with a DSLR -- so I've stuck with Kodak for years. For me, personally, their pictures have always turned out great & I loved that the camera could be charged while in a dock. The dock also allowed me to just sit the camera on it & push a button & the camera was connected to the pc. As they came out with higher zooms, I also loved their IS -- I could zoom out all the way & get non-blurry pics while holding the camera in my hands. However, the last version that I got with a 26x zoom no longer had the dock & I have hated the batteries in it so I decided that it was time to upgrade again with a different manufacturer. I looked at the Nikon P500, the Canon SX40, & the Sony HX100. The Nikon had too many negative reviews about blurry pictures so I quickly dismissed it. The Canon would have been my choice but it has only a 2.7" LCD screen & that extra .3" really makes a difference to someone like me. So I went with the Sony. I've got the battery charging & haven't yet had a chance to play with it but from what I saw playing with it in the store, it will be a good camera.

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dmspen

· #18 · Feb 27, 2012

Last summer, in 'celebration' of our daughter's wedding, we purchased the Canon T3i. In the 3 days up to and including the wedding, we shot over 4000 pictures, many of them extraordinarily good.

Regarding camera shake, the stability feature in Canon lenses is top notch. Just make sure to turn it off if using a tripod. Evidently it will still try to remove 'shake' and can actually blur your pics. It's a good camera for 1080HD although I wouldn't buy it for that.

Love the flip out LCD and it is compatible with all EF lenses.

If you're going to shoot video, make sure your SD car is a grade 6 or above so the transfer rate is good enough (we went with a 10).

doctrsnoop

· #19 · Feb 27, 2012

Go Canon or Nikon. Go to a camera store or at least a Best Buy and pick up the low-end of either. They have fundamentally different controls and menus. Go with the one that seems the most natural to you. You will find even the lowest end SLR's radically faster than most (all?) P&S's.

Cholly

· #20 · Feb 27, 2012

You may want to check the warehouse clubs or Amazon.
Costco has a great Nikon D3100 bundle, regularly $899, currently $699 - camera with 2 lenses, bag, SD card and tutorial DVD's
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...rypageHorizontalTop|PopularProductsInCategory

Sam's Club has a Nikon D51-- kit (2 lenses, bag) for $899 and Canon T2i kit (w lenses, bag, SD card) - probably $899 or less.

They also have a Canon EOS Rebel T2i bundle with 2 lenses, bag and SD card for $999

Amazon has a wide variety of both brands, mostly through their partner merchants.

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