Camera advice- Cannon? Nikon? Suggestions?

[caribemom]

Hi! I agree with everyone's advice on choosing a camera, and I love my Canon too. One other suggestion is if you decide on a point and shoot, you might want to get one with a viewfinder. When you are in bright light and can't see your screen, you can still see what you are shooting the old fashioned way. My husband bought one without a viewfinder and he misses it in lots of situations.

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

I may be wrong, but I don't think that you are going to find many SLRs in the price range you suggested.

Last year I bought a Canon Powershot SX10IS and am very happy with it. It has 10 Megapixels and a 20X optical zoom. It is intuitive to learn and really turns out great photos.

It does use batteries, but I prefer that to recharging, as I have found that rechargeable batteries tend to lose their ability to charge fully over time. Oh, and it also takes kick ass videos.

It's a great camera. I would take a picture of it, with it, but can't figure out how to do that.

[Eric in NJ]

I might as well put in my thought. I have a Canon Digital Rebel with a few lenses. Always took great pics. Then over the last few years as I got older I find I don't have as steady a hand as I once did. I reserched getting the Image Stabalized lenses for it and realived they were quite expensive. Talking to my brother he stated he had a Sony camera that has the IS built in to the body, so I looked into that and just bought a Alfa 330 DSL. He has an extra long lense he's going to give me so I'm all set.

[LysaC]

Eric- I think one of my cousins has an Alpha so I'll be testing it this weekend.

Thanks again everyone for your suggestions! I love all the insight.

Pete- thanks for the recc- I will add it to my list and check out the reviews on CNET. there are a few dslr's that are in my price range if I order them online- CNET lists lots of places to buy and the prices. At this point, I'm doubting my need for a dslr and the expense.

I guess I have this fantasy of selling some of my pictures for some side cash and thought I should by a dslr to be more professional (?). maybe I'm just PMS'ing.

caribemom- the vuewfinder thing is totally a bonus as far as i'm concerned. there are times at the beach that i'm taking pictures and the glare keeps me guessing on what the heck i just took a picture of!

sea-nile- thanks for another cannon recc! seriously, looks like cannon for point & shoot is the leader here for ease of use and quality!

keep 'em coming if anyone else wants to chime in- you guys are awesome!

[liamsaunt]

I love my little Canon powershot with its underwater housing. That's what I use for almost everything--underwater, food photos, etc. John gave me the Canon that Pete has about a year ago and I have to say that I don't really like it. It is very heavy (for me). I've taken some nice landscape type shots with it, and I like the large viewfinder, but most of my action photos come out blurry, even on the sports setting. It does take HD video, which is cool. I have an underwater housing for it, but don't like that either--way too big and bulky. John uses it though, and has gotten some really nice up close shots underwater with it.

I got a Rebel for Christmas and like that better than the the other one, especially for people pictures. I am still learning it though, and have not decided whether to bring it on my upcoming trip or not.

[mbw1024]

It's a great camera. I would take a picture of it, with it, but can't figure out how to do that.

got an iphone?

[PA Girl]

I may be wrong, but I don't think that you are going to find many SLRs in the price range you suggested.

Last year I bought a Canon Powershot SX10IS and am very happy with it. It has 10 Megapixels and a 20X optical zoom. It is intuitive to learn and really turns out great photos.It does use batteries, but I prefer that to recharging, as I have found that rechargeable batteries tend to lose their ability to charge fully over time. Oh, and it also takes kick ass videos.

It's a great camera. I would take a picture of it, with it, but can't figure out how to do that.

I second the recommendation. I had the older version and loved it. I am struggling with my Rebel. I know I will get there and love it but it is a big change from my old powershot. I really miss that zoom.

[LysaC]

which cannon power shot that you own is the one that you love? is there a specific model number or name?

I love my little Canon powershot with its underwater housing. That's what I use for almost everything--underwater, food photos, etc. John gave me the Canon that Pete has about a year ago and I have to say that I don't really like it. It is very heavy (for me). I've taken some nice landscape type shots with it, and I like the large viewfinder, but most of my action photos come out blurry, even on the sports setting. It does take HD video, which is cool. I have an underwater housing for it, but don't like that either--way too big and bulky. John uses it though, and has gotten some really nice up close shots underwater with it.

I got a Rebel for Christmas and like that better than the the other one, especially for people pictures. I am still learning it though, and have not decided whether to bring it on my upcoming trip or not.

[LysaC]

So I have to ask-

of all of you who already take wonderful photos that I see on this forum, who has a DSLR? And, what are the advantages over a regular point and shoot?

[liamsaunt]

Mine is the Canon powershot sd800IS. I doubt they still make it, it's a couple of years old. Before that I had the 600 and loved that one too (but I dropped it in the Petroglyph pool on the Reef Bay hike and it died).

[Eric in NJ]

So I have to ask-

of all of you who already take wonderful photos that I see on this forum, who has a DSLR? And, what are the advantages over a regular point and shoot?

LysaC I would say the main advantage these days with a DSLR is the fact you can exchange lenses. I have a Nikon Coolpix 20 that takes greta pictures but it is limited in its ability for long lens shots. Optical zoom on point and shoots usually doesn't go too high. Once pased that Digital zoom is not that great. In affect all it is is cropping the picture something you can do post production.

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

As to Eric's point, that was one of the main reasons I bought my Canon...it has a 20X optical zoom, which really comes in handy. In fact, the photo of the iguana to the left was taken from about 30 yards away.

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

Here it is larger. The detail is decent given the distance of around 30 yards.

[LysaC]

very cool detail from 30 yards away! thanks!

I'm not usually zooming in at far away things so that's not as important to me.. well, right now anyway.

[jimg20]

very cool detail from 30 yards away! thanks!

I'm not usually zooming in at far away things so that's not as important to me.. well, right now anyway.

You will be later. One of the keys to getting a good shot is to fill the frame with the image you want. When you want to get that shot of a family of goats in Coral Bay or some detail of the features on the Truck Bay cay, you will want the ability to change lenses. Trust me. This is as addictive as going to STJ.

Almost all of my land based shots are made with the Rebel DSLR. The underwater shots are all point-and-shoot cameras.

JIM