Anyone made the DSLR jump?

[v.t.]

My poor Minolta camera died. I have spent hours and hours researching what type of camera to get. I went to "the" camera store in town and left very disappointed. I told the owner I was looking for a good camera to take family pictures, mainly kids in sports and concerts. I never mentioned a price, just I wanted something that was fast and could work in low lighting. He only showed me one camera, which was not a SLR. Has anyone made the jump and if so, what camera would you recommend? Is it worth the money to make the step up or should I buy a high end point and shoot? Is Canon that much better than Nikon and Sony?
I tried the photography boards but I really wanted a parent's opinion who takes the same kind of shots I will be taking.

THANKS!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

My DH has a Nikon D80 and has been very happy with it. He has always had Nikon SLRs and had the D70s before he upgraded. One of the main benefits (besides great pictures) is that his SLR lenses work with the DSLR (although he is slowly replacing his lenses as well).

His camera takes wonderful pictures, but the camera and gear are bulky enough that there are times he opts for one of the point and shoot cameras. If he is taking serious portraits, team pictures, landscapes, or wildlife, he takes the DSLR. But if he just wants to capture memories at a birthday party, he takes the point and shoot.

You might consider an interchangeable-lens compact (ILC). You can change out the lenses for greater versatility, but you don't have the bulk (or the price tag) of a true DSLR. Popular Photography reviewed the Sony NEX-3 in the current (August) issue and gave it good marks for the price.

I'm not at all a photographer (but am married to one ), so take that for what it's worth. It's very possible DH would have a totally different answer for you!

 

[surfgirl]

I have a DSLR and love it. However, it is bulky and a pain when traveling. It definitely doesn't go in the pocket easily. Also, I've gone away from the interchangeable lenses - again for the hassle factor. I've found a really fabulous tamron 18-270mm lens that is great, but it isn't terribly fast.

Speaking of fast... do you know what that means in lens terms ?

I would recommend something a little smaller - what are you coming from ?

I would go with Consumer Reports calls a "SLR-like" or an "advanced point and shoot" camera.

I'm thinking along the lines of a Canon Powershot G11 or Nikon Coolpix P100 or L110 (from their guide). Here are the comments about the Canon "It may have a high price tag, but this advanced point-and-shoot matched most SLRs for regular and flash shots yet is much smaller and lighter. It supports RAW files, has a swiveling LCD, includes a hot shoe (for external flashes) and has wide-angle capability. It's one of the few point-and-shoots that still includes an optical viewfinder, which can be helpful when composing in bright light, and has long battery life for a point-and-shoot. "

The other thing I would do is to find the time to take a class... even a community college night class. Anything that teaches you features and forces you to shoot anything other than the basic "vacation" picture will help you.

 

[DawnM]

I LOVE my DSLR, although I kind of wish I had gotten a smaller one. Mine is a Canon 40D and does more than I know how to use, but I am growing into it.

I am very happy I got it. I do keep a little P&S in my purse for everyday use, but I just got back from the Oregon Coast and got such fabulous shots I could never have gotten with a small P&S camera. I have also used it for sporting events, concerts, Niagara Falls trip, NY city trip, etc......it may be bulky but the quality of the shots is more than worth it.

Dawn

 

[mrsklamc]

For sports, I think you're going to want a digital SLR. Even though traditional point and shoots are much faster than they used to be, nothing else is going to take the picture essentially when you push the button.

Nikon and Canon are the most popular brands, although Pentax is much cheaper and there are several DISers on the photography board who love theirs.

 

[DebMcDonald]

We have the Nikon D80 and have had it for several years now. I think our's might be a 10 megapixel. Prior to that we had a Nikon regular SLR and I loved that too, we also have the point and shoot Sony Cybershot. I love to fool around with photographer type quality pictures and am often blowing them up for large wall photos. There is a huge difference between my point and shoot pictures and my DSLR pictures. We also upgraded our lens and have more of a sport type lens which at the time was another $700. Would I buy one again - yes, in a second. Can my point and shoot take as good as pictures - no.

I'm not sure if you have a Ritz Camera in your area, but I have always been very very happy with their service.

 

[Swimalie]

This is the newer version of the one we own and it is awesome! http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/digital_cameras/powershot_sx20_is

We bought ours 3 years ago and we get compliments about how good the pictures are. I take pictures of my friends swimming and they love them. We get great action shots as well as low light. The delay from pressing the button to the time the picture has been taken is very low. This camera is on par with a SLR one without the expense and without the weight and extra baggage of the lenses and such.

 

[polkadotminnie]

I was like you and needed a camera that was fast for sports and that gave great shots in low lights. I ended up buying a Sony A500. It is fantastic. I use a 70-210 mm 2.8 lens or a 50mm 1.7 with it and get great photos.
Make sure that whatever camera you decide on that you hold it and play with it. You will want one that shoots atleast 5 frames/sec. and has lower noise at high iso. Good luck!

 

[mamalle]

we ended up buying the canon EOS 50D digital SLR in June. Hubby went back and forth between that one and the Nikon my inlaws had that we have borrowed over the past 2 years.. We just got back from our trip and the photos came out just beautiful.. we definitely made the right choice.

 

[Poohbear5]

I got the Nikon D60 last year and love it. It's lighter than my old film SlR. I did pick up a Pansonic Lumix TZ5 for backup. The Lumix takes nice photos if the subject is still but otherwise a bit frustrating for moving kids. The d60 is fantastic for moving subjects.

 

[middleofamerica]

We just made the jump from our film Canon Rebel to a Pentax K-x to mainly take pictures of our family doing whatever our family does. It is amazing to be able to get the really fast shots and the ability to take low light shots is amazing! We could never really get night time pictures to work out on our old camera. I just searched it online and found the best price and ordered it that way. Good luck!

 

[MichelleB]

I just made this jump 2 weeks ago for the same reasons.....I wanted to be able to take fast sports shots, kids school concert (low lighting) shots, and also wanted just an overall faster speed in between shots. I bought the Canon t1i and absolutely love it! I'm not a photographer by any means and have to admit that I'm just learning what each button even means but I am sooo glad I made the jump.

 

[v.t.]

Thanks guys! That is exactly the information I was looking for. I am not a professional photographer but I do take a lot of pictures. I will head to Ritz camera and then look on-line. Keep the suggestions and reviews coming.

 

[ashleyasiegel]

I made the jump to a Canon Rebel XS last fall from my point and shoot. It is starter DSLR camera but I am no professional so it does the job I need it to do. Maybe someday I will upgrade to a better DSLR if I finally learn everything I need to learn but for now it takes awesome pictures in low light and sport shots. I LOVE my camera!!!

 

[bridget]

I have a canon 40D and it is BIG! It takes fantastic pictures. I know the digital rebel is quite a bit lighter and smaller. I have been a canon fan for years. I have never had a nikon, so I can't compare.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/

This website helped me tons when trying to choose.

 

[hlkeck]

The Dis has a photography thread and I asked a few questions before I bought ours (just two weeks ago). After reading all the answers and reviewing the info online, for us, the best product was a Pentax K-X. Really good price for a lot of camera. I do love it!!

 

[sjms71]

I made the jump last November, Nikon D5000 and I love it. I'm so glad I made the switch. Still trying to figure it out. I mean I have the basics but still working on all the additional features.

 

[surfgirl]

me, chiming in again.

1) find a local camera store. A "real" camera store. I don't have anything personal against Ritz brand, but I've found much better service and knowledgeable people at a independently owned store. If you are in the Philly area, I can recommend one. My last new camera, they took a used lens in for a $300 trade - one I wasn't using and I was psyched to get that much for it!

2) take a class. If you get a 'real' SLR, take a college level, for credit class. It will force you to shoot manual and learn about your camera. Some of them will force you to develop, but if they do, it will also teach you about exposures and how you can correct for mistakes and other things. Don't only shoot on "auto" !!!!!

3) I've seen great pictures taken with point and shoots and horrible ones taken with SLRs. The camera doesn't make the picture, the photographer does. The SLR will give you more tools and options, but if you only shoot auto, you are missing the true range of it.

Send me a pm and I can send you a few links of my photos. I love my DSLR! My first one was 5 1/2 yrs ago when I just upgraded and I had taken over 18,000 photos with it! I also love to take photo tours and do workshops when I travel, so I've taken special photo tours in Paris and London and have great photos. So I'm not anti-DSLR, I just think:
=> it is heavier and not convenient for in-your-pocket
=> it is significantly more expensive
=> most people use extremely few features of it

: )

 

[labdogs42]

I'm a Canon dSLR girl myself. I have the 20D and I love it. I haul it everywhere with me. I also have a couple of point and shoots, but they make me crazy most of the time. I'm so used to the responsiveness and shutter speed on the SLR that the PnS's just don't cut it most of the time anymore. (although, my Olympus stylus tough that can go underwater is a fun little camera to play with!) The Rebel series is a great series to get you started with an SLR. Pair that with a nice lens like the 17-55 f2.8 lens and you will be the low light queen! If you want to see some pictures I have taken with my dSLR, you can see them on my smugmug account: http://psukaras.smugmug.com/Disney/Photos-to-Share

 

[apnep]

Thanks guys! That is exactly the information I was looking for. I am not a professional photographer but I do take a lot of pictures. I will head to Ritz camera and then look on-line. Keep the suggestions and reviews coming.

There are alot of great point and shoots out there that will give you excellent pictures at a low cost and have great features. If you want a DSLR you'll be spending $$$ for it. Maybe not initially, but you'll end up spending some eventually.

If you think that all you will ever do is use the automatic functions, then I would just get a P&S. If you got really familiar with your old camera, used some manual functions, then step on up to a DSLR. Most people just shoot automatic, unless you plan on taking full advantage of all a DSLR has to offer, why spend the money? That's my two cents.

Good luck!
Ang