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Camera advice- Cannon? Nikon? Suggestions?
Camera advice- Cannon? Nikon? Suggestions?
Hey forumites!
I have a trendy teeny tiny Kodak Easyshare point & shoot digital camera right now and am looking for a major upgrade. I've always loved photography and with the new digital age, it's become a really fun & easy hobby!
I'm looking to step up my camera quality and have many questions- would love any and all feedback!
1. What is your fav brand name and why? My cousin has a Nikon and loves it cuz the lenses fit all models regardless of age- seems like a good deal! I see a lot of you talking about Cannon's though.
2. Budget- I really don't want to spend potential vacation money
! Maybe $400-$500 at the most!
3. Ease of use- I'm greedy and want the best of both worlds- auto & manual settings! and they have to be easy to use cuz I'm kind of a go with the flow kinda gal and don't want to be fussing with buttons everytime I take a picture.
4. Size- has to fit comfortably in the hands and not be too bulky that I won't carry it around on a walk.
Hopefully my demands aren't too strict. You'all are so much further along in the digital age than I am and I'm so impressed with you photos (Vicki, liamsaunt, CAGirl to name just a few) that I'm really hoping for a little guidance.
Some pet peeves of mine with my current camera-
I can't get close enough to the subject- love macro abstracts of my garden!
Glare on the view screen- esp. at the beach! Sometimes I don't know how my beach pictures came out until I get home and review them.
tiny buttons- well, i have a tiny camera so...
Thanks in advance!!!
I have a trendy teeny tiny Kodak Easyshare point & shoot digital camera right now and am looking for a major upgrade. I've always loved photography and with the new digital age, it's become a really fun & easy hobby!
I'm looking to step up my camera quality and have many questions- would love any and all feedback!
1. What is your fav brand name and why? My cousin has a Nikon and loves it cuz the lenses fit all models regardless of age- seems like a good deal! I see a lot of you talking about Cannon's though.
2. Budget- I really don't want to spend potential vacation money
! Maybe $400-$500 at the most!3. Ease of use- I'm greedy and want the best of both worlds- auto & manual settings! and they have to be easy to use cuz I'm kind of a go with the flow kinda gal and don't want to be fussing with buttons everytime I take a picture.
4. Size- has to fit comfortably in the hands and not be too bulky that I won't carry it around on a walk.
Hopefully my demands aren't too strict. You'all are so much further along in the digital age than I am and I'm so impressed with you photos (Vicki, liamsaunt, CAGirl to name just a few) that I'm really hoping for a little guidance.
Some pet peeves of mine with my current camera-
I can't get close enough to the subject- love macro abstracts of my garden!
Glare on the view screen- esp. at the beach! Sometimes I don't know how my beach pictures came out until I get home and review them.
tiny buttons- well, i have a tiny camera so...
Thanks in advance!!!
I am yet another Canon gal. My older point and shoot is a SD600 w/ underwater housing. For last Dec. trip I bought a Canon G11, and LOVE it. Kind of gives you the best of both options in that it can be operated fully automatically or fully manually. It is not a SLR but has a pretty nice lens. I am happy w/ my photos and it falls in your price range.
Check it out!
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/contr ... elid=19209
Check it out!
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/contr ... elid=19209
Lysa...here is a link to my flickr account of my last trip to St John. All above ground photos (Dec'09) were taken with the G11. I didn't load all macros but there are a few to view. Also wanted to comment on your 4th point in that the size of the G11 is very comfortable for me...not anywhere as bulky as a Canon DSLR. Might really be the compromise that you are looking for.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34079437@N ... 2899151587
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34079437@N ... 2899151587
Sorry to "jump in here".
But, Carolyn - were your photos taken in the AUTO setting?? Or did you need to do any manual adjustments or setting choices??
We have narrowed our camera choices down to 2 and the G11 is one. I was just preparing a post to ask users to show some of their shots.
So, thank you very much! They are lovely!!
Sue & Jim
But, Carolyn - were your photos taken in the AUTO setting?? Or did you need to do any manual adjustments or setting choices??
We have narrowed our camera choices down to 2 and the G11 is one. I was just preparing a post to ask users to show some of their shots.
So, thank you very much! They are lovely!!
Sue & Jim
Whether one likes Canons or Nikons probably depends on which one they first owned. I learned on a Canon FTb. Yes I am that old! I just don't look it.
The lens that came with my FTb works on my newest Rebel, except all the fancy features are not there. I believe that is true for any Canon lens.
What you are buying first and foremost, as my first instructor said, is the glass. You want a good lens that will focus the light on the film - now digital media - and give you good, sharp, color-true images. The rest, he used to say is just a box to carry the film around. Well Ned, things have changed a little since then. Our DSLR cameras have a computer that is probably more powerful that the computer that launched the Mercury astronauts into space.
What we are also looking at when we buy a camera is the list of features that the camera has and how we might or might not use them.
Also important is how the camera feels in your hands. Its size, weight, balance, location of controls, ease of use and other factors like that will have a good deal to do with which camera any of us buy. Before you buy something spend some time with it and shoot some photos. That will tell you a lot about whether you want to use that camera. To borrow a phrase, if you don't like it in the store you're probably not going to like it when you get it home.
JIM
The lens that came with my FTb works on my newest Rebel, except all the fancy features are not there. I believe that is true for any Canon lens.
What you are buying first and foremost, as my first instructor said, is the glass. You want a good lens that will focus the light on the film - now digital media - and give you good, sharp, color-true images. The rest, he used to say is just a box to carry the film around. Well Ned, things have changed a little since then. Our DSLR cameras have a computer that is probably more powerful that the computer that launched the Mercury astronauts into space.
What we are also looking at when we buy a camera is the list of features that the camera has and how we might or might not use them.
Also important is how the camera feels in your hands. Its size, weight, balance, location of controls, ease of use and other factors like that will have a good deal to do with which camera any of us buy. Before you buy something spend some time with it and shoot some photos. That will tell you a lot about whether you want to use that camera. To borrow a phrase, if you don't like it in the store you're probably not going to like it when you get it home.
JIM
Man it's like some dream we live down here....
Oh I'm definitely going to play with some cameras in the near future. I'm not a catalog or internet buyer-of-things-unknown. Would much rather see and touch something before I buy it.
My cousins are photo enthusiasts as well, one has a Nikon and one has a Sony, so I'll be stealing those at Easter dinner and playing with them a lot!
I'm wondering if I need a DSLR? There's SO much info out there, and just as many friggin cameras, that I'm having trouble figuring out what the heck to upgrade to.
Kind of like trying to decide on a villa on STJ!
My cousins are photo enthusiasts as well, one has a Nikon and one has a Sony, so I'll be stealing those at Easter dinner and playing with them a lot!
I'm wondering if I need a DSLR? There's SO much info out there, and just as many friggin cameras, that I'm having trouble figuring out what the heck to upgrade to.
Kind of like trying to decide on a villa on STJ!
Lysa - You took the words right out of my mouth!!!
"Kind of like trying to decide on a villa on STJ!"
I was just going to say that!!!
Actually, I think choosing the camera is harder because you will be living with that choice for quite awhile. As far as villas go, you will, most likely, always have another time to try out your second and third choices!
Good luck to you, as well, in your search. We "think" that our searching is ending with the G11.
"Kind of like trying to decide on a villa on STJ!"
I was just going to say that!!!
Actually, I think choosing the camera is harder because you will be living with that choice for quite awhile. As far as villas go, you will, most likely, always have another time to try out your second and third choices!
Good luck to you, as well, in your search. We "think" that our searching is ending with the G11.
I think Jim hit on a valid point. Probably the best camera I ever had was a Canon AE1, which was a film SLR camera I probably got in the late 70's or early 80's. Once I went digital I was NOT happy w/ anything until I got my first Canon. Then the transition to the G11 was simple for me as the controls are similar.
Lysa I think it is absolutely essential that you handle as many cameras as necessary until you find one that has the right feel in your hands. I was certain when I went out to buy mine that I was going to get one of the Canon Rebels but I just didn't like how it felt and thats when I realized the G11 was both a better physical fit as well as meeting my needs for what I wanted a camera to do.
Sue I think all of the photos were taken in auto mode for that set w/ perhaps the exception being the moonlight ones...they aren't that great as I didn't have a tripod.
There was another discussion here recently about Canon cameras and the pros and cons of what type batteries the different Canon's take. I prefer the G11's rechargeable style...it has a very nice life in my experience.
Needless to say I am very pleased w/ my purchase but I by no means expect it to meet everyone's needs. Hope you both end up happy w/ whatever you buy.
Lysa I think it is absolutely essential that you handle as many cameras as necessary until you find one that has the right feel in your hands. I was certain when I went out to buy mine that I was going to get one of the Canon Rebels but I just didn't like how it felt and thats when I realized the G11 was both a better physical fit as well as meeting my needs for what I wanted a camera to do.
Sue I think all of the photos were taken in auto mode for that set w/ perhaps the exception being the moonlight ones...they aren't that great as I didn't have a tripod.
There was another discussion here recently about Canon cameras and the pros and cons of what type batteries the different Canon's take. I prefer the G11's rechargeable style...it has a very nice life in my experience.
Needless to say I am very pleased w/ my purchase but I by no means expect it to meet everyone's needs. Hope you both end up happy w/ whatever you buy.
I wasn't sure if you wanted an SLR or a point and shoot. As far as small point and shoot the Canon ones are great. You can use a manual setting and the macro works really good too. But what do I know? I am no professional. My daughter has a Canon SLR and she loves it. It is an older one and I am not sure what model.