Camera Questions--Will DSLR be worth the money

[lauraljp]

I have had a hard time getting anywhere close to decent pictures of my kids sporting events--outside and in a gym. I have been thinking about getting a DSLR but I am wondering if the basic camera without any special lens will make a huge improvement.

I have been researching this one at Costco for $699.

Nikon D3100 Camera Body
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens
AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens
Camera Case
4GB SDHC Card
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
Battery Charger
Camera Strap
ViewNX 2 CD-ROM

Nikon School Training Pack
Fast, Fun & Easy DVD for D3100
Understanding Digital Photography DVD
Guide to Digital Photography Booklet

I had a SLR several years ago but never really learned all I could do with it before film became obsolete. I definitely would need to take some classes to learn all I could do with it.

I also could buy this camera without the package from a local camera store for about $599 but free classes are offered through the store. Is the Costco package worth it for the extra lens and other extras, I already have a camera bag? I am a complete novice and really do not know what either of the lenses would be used for--thus the much needed classes.

Another option I am considering is just getting a higher quality P&S camera. Would I be able to get any good action shots or gym photos with any point and shoot, even the more expensive ones?

Any advice? I plan on going in to the camera store soon and talking to someone there, but I thought that the DIS is a great place to start!

Thanks!

Laura

[photo_chick]

The biggest thing you can do to make a difference in your images is to learn the basics of phtoography. Will you noticce a difference wiht a DSLR? Most of the time yes, but only if you know how to get it off auto and which lenses to use when. Can a high end point and shoot get gym shots? Probably if you know how.

[LordAthens]

As photochick said, learning the basics of photography is going to help tremendously. Understanding the correlation between aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc all makes a big difference.

That being said, a DSLR will generally produce a better picture at the same settings than a point and shoot. You're dealing with larger, higher quality optics, larger sensors (which directly relate to noise (the speckles you see in a dark image that ruins detail and color)), etc etc.

The D3100 is a great camera (though be forewarned, once you really get into photography, you're going catch upgrade'itis and want faster, bigger, more features, etc). The kit lenses in that bundle leave a little to be desired, especially on the long end, the 55-200 is a bit on the slow end. During the day and bright conditions, this won't be an issue. If you're gym lighting is less than ideal or you're shooting outdoor evens in the evening, you may not be very happy with the results. It's almost certainly going to be better than your typical point and shoot, the 55-200 will probably allow a little more light than a PnS, but the more important aspect is that the D3100 will allow you to shoot at a higher ISO and still get a clean image than (most) other PnS's will allow.

That all being said, PnS's like the Nikon P7000 or the Canon G12 are well above average for PnS's, using larger sensors and having more features than a typical PnS. Of course, both of those also retail at $500, not far off from the D3100 package. Once you buy a PnS, you bought what you get, there is no swapping lenses to further improve what you bought.

There is lots to learn with a DSLR, but it's well worth it if you're willing to spend a little time. Don't expect to pick up a DSLR and become Ansel Adams.

To answer your questions regarding the lenses, the smaller the number, the wider the field of view. 18mm on a DX body is pretty wide, ~10mm wider than most PnS's will get you. The larger the number, the closer you can zoom in to whatever you're shooting.

There is a good example of that here at Bob Atkin's page; http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/tamron_18_250/zoom.jpg

HTH!

[Wadecool]

I have had a hard time getting anywhere close to decent pictures of my kids sporting events--outside and in a gym. I have been thinking about getting a DSLR but I am wondering if the basic camera without any special lens will make a huge improvement.

I have been researching this one at Costco for $699.

Nikon D3100 Camera Body
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens
AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens
Camera Case
4GB SDHC Card
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
Battery Charger
Camera Strap
ViewNX 2 CD-ROM

Nikon School Training Pack
Fast, Fun & Easy DVD for D3100
Understanding Digital Photography DVD
Guide to Digital Photography Booklet

I had a SLR several years ago but never really learned all I could do with it before film became obsolete. I definitely would need to take some classes to
learn all I could do with it.
I also could buy this camera without the package from a local camera store for about $599 but free classes are offered through the store. Is the Costco
package worth it for the extra lens and other extras, I already have a camera
bag? I am a complete novice and really do not know what either of the lenses
would be used for--thus the much needed classes.

Another option I am considering is just getting a higher quality P&S camera.
Would I be able to get any good action shots or gym photos with any point
and shoot, even the more expensive ones?

Any advice? I plan on going in to the camera store soon and talking to
someone there, but I thought that the DIS is a great place to start!

Thanks!

Laura

OP, I recently bought a similar package with the same lenses, but mine didn't come with much of the other stuff you're getting, so I'd say that's a great deal. Having the D3100 for about a month, I absolutely love it. I'm definitely not Ansel Adams, but I'm learning a lot and especially love catching DD3 doing cute things, which was impossible with the annoying shutter lag of our old p&s. Good luck.

[boBQuincy]

You may not have to get very far off "Auto" to get greatly improved results over a P&S. A dSLR's "Program" mode generally favors a fully open aperture in low light, giving the fastest shutter speed available (just what we need for sports). The "Sports" mode does this also, keeping the shutter speed fast even in good light to help stop action .

You will need to learn about ISO to set that at the highest possible while keeping noise to a reasonable level, maybe 3200 or 6400 will do. Program mode may give more control over ISO than Sports mode. Even though the kit telephoto lens is not very fast it is much better than most equivalent P&S lenses. That and the much greater sensor size (less noise) will help to give better results than almost any P&S in low light conditions.

I would encourage some sort of camera support, a monopod works well for sporting events and even an inexpensive one can make a big difference. Since the focus speed of kit lenses is not very fast you might try pre-focusing on where the action will be.

Have fun!

[Wadecool]

You may not have to get very far off "Auto" to get greatly improved results over a P&S. A dSLR's "Program" mode generally favors a fully open aperture in low light, giving the fastest shutter speed available (just what we need for sports). The "Sports" mode does this also, keeping the shutter speed fast even in good light to help stop action .

You will need to learn about ISO to set that at the highest possible while keeping noise to a reasonable level, maybe 3200 or 6400 will do. Program mode may give more control over ISO than Sports mode. Even though the kit telephoto lens is not very fast it is much better than most equivalent P&S lenses. That and the much greater sensor size (less noise) will help to give better results than almost any P&S in low light conditions.

I would encourage some sort of camera support, a monopod works well for sporting events and even an inexpensive one can make a big difference. Since
the focus speed of kit lenses is not very fast you might try pre-focusing on
where the action will be.

Have fun!

My biggest challenge seems to be taking clear action photos of DD while on a moving ride like Dumbo for example. I'll try the sports mode for now. Any other advice is appreciated.

[lauraljp]

Thanks for all the advice! It is very helpful to a beginner like me!

Laura

[Pooh2]

These were taken with the 55-200mm kit lens and camera set on "P". They are not tack sharp but my kids did not get ANY photos at all with their high end point and shoot. I definitely have found a huge difference between the quality of point and shoot and dslr.

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/julieannmark/DSC_0042.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/julieannmark/DSC_0070.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/julieannmark/DSC_0044.jpg

[YesDear]

Is a DSLR worth the money?

YES