ANOTHER....camera question.....

[sjams]

Oki doki...I currently have a Canon S3 IS but the viewer/screen deal broke so I have to use the little view finder so I decided to just get a new camera instead of getting that fixed. It is several years old so why not?!

I have been thinking about what I really want this camera to do for me. I need it to take pics of kids, pets, vacation, indoor, outdoor, low light, high light, etc. I am not going to be a photographer although that does sound fun but not practical at this moment!! I just want good photo's for memories. Maybe even some great ones!

I am pretty sure if I went with one that I had to change lens' a lot on that I probably wouldn't use it much, make sense? I think I am already a step up from a point and shoot but not sure about that either. I KNOW NOTHING about camera's and honestly very little time and patience to just sit down and learn. I am more of a fly by the seat of my pants and learn by doing kinda girl!

I have looked at Nikon's and Canon's. Canon EOS Rebel T2i and T1i and Nikon D1300 and D5000. I have really no idea what the major differences are.

Anyone willing to help me out?
Thanks!!!

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Oki doki...I currently have a Canon S3 IS but the viewer/screen deal broke so I have to use the little view finder so I decided to just get a new camera instead of getting that fixed. It is several years old so why not?!

I have been thinking about what I really want this camera to do for me. I need it to take pics of kids, pets, vacation, indoor, outdoor, low light, high light, etc. I am not going to be a photographer although that does sound fun but not practical at this moment!! I just want good photo's for memories. Maybe even some great ones!

I am pretty sure if I went with one that I had to change lens' a lot on that I probably wouldn't use it much, make sense? I think I am already a step up from a point and shoot but not sure about that either. I KNOW NOTHING about camera's and honestly very little time and patience to just sit down and learn. I am more of a fly by the seat of my pants and learn by doing kinda girl!

I have looked at Nikon's and Canon's. Canon EOS Rebel T2i and T1i and Nikon D1300 and D5000. I have really no idea what the major differences are.

Anyone willing to help me out?
Thanks!!!

The cameras you listed are all interchangeable lens DSLR's. If you don't want to be bothered with that type of camera why not look at the S3IS' successor. Currently Canon's top bridge (or superzoom) camera is the Powershot SX30IS. That seems to be the type of camera you are looking for and the controls should be somewhat familar (I'm guessing on that one because I'm not a Canon shooter).

 

[sjams]

So the ones I have listed all are ones with interchangable lenses? The Rebels too?

I guess I am just not wanting to lug around a huge camera and bag when I want to shoot my daughters basketball games but something pretty simple.

I guess I failed to mention my budget.....no more than $800

 

[photo_chick]

$800 will buy you a bridge camera with lots of bells, whistles and fun stuff.

You do have to change lenses on the Rebels. They're awesome cameras, but I'm a firm believer that any camera can make great images in the right hands. You just have to find the one that fits you and it might not be a DSLR if size is really important.

I see you're in Arlington. Howdy from Grand Prairie (or from UTA 5 days a week)! If you're really unsure on which way to go head to Arlington Camera, on the corner of Cooper and Randol Mill, and get your hands on the cameras. They're a full service camera shop and most of the staff there is very knowledgeable.

 

[sjams]

Thanks Danielle! I was thinking of heading over there to Arlington Camera just wanted to see what others had to say here first!!

I actually live REALLY close to UTA....small world indeed!!

Thanks for the help!!

 

[Frantasmic]

Go Metroplex!!

Did your S3 give you decent indoor pictures in auto mode?

Most point and shoot cameras will give brilliant pictures outside in sun, but many really struggle for indoor shots, with flash or not. You will have to decide what you want to trade.

Typically, the lower the zoom factor, the better the ISO (light receptivity in the camera's sensor) and thus the better for indoor/low light pictures.

I have the Canon S5 and it does decently for most situations, but I did have to get a dslr for indoor sports and stage productions. It does make a big difference.

Some p and s cameras do better than others in low light, but none do exceptionally well because of their sensor size.

 

[sjams]

Yeah most of my indoor photo's tend to be yellowish with low lighting and no flash and really over exposed with flash.....


Grew up in FW but moved here to be closer to DH's work in big D.

 

[photo_chick]

I graduated form Azle, the hubs from Western Hills. You know, just throwing that random info out there.

On the yellow inside shots.. a lot of that is white balance. Point and shoots seem to have the worst problems setting auto white balance. Regardless of which camera you get, an Expodisc can help nail that setting for you.