Camera Purchase Tips - Advice Welcome!!

[DVC_Corrys]

Hello,
I am looking for a recommendation on a new camera. I don't know if I want an SLR camera because it is huge. I was hoping for something that took good photos quickly and could take some photos at night.

Any suggestions??

 

[MarkBarbieri]

That narrows it down to about 1,000 different cameras.

How big is too big? Willing to change lenses? How important is nighttime shooting? How much are you willing to spend?

You'll get better nighttime performance with a larger sensor, but that also means a bigger and more expensive camera. Fuji makes some P&S cameras with larger than normal sensors. Olympus makes some SLR and SLR-like cameras that are smaller than normal SLRs (but with smaller sensors).

 

[DVC_Corrys]

I would like to not change the lens. I think Night time is important. I am also big on speed. my current camera is rather slow even in action mode. Under $500. I would like the offspring of an SLR and P&S

 

[ukcatfan]

It depends on what kind of night shots you want. If it is something not moving, you mainly just need a tripod and manual settings. If it is something moving (think Spectro), then you really need a DSLR with a fast lens (at least f/2.8 but under f/2 is better).

 

[ukcatfan]

Check out the Sigma DP1. It is $550 at B&H. I almost forgot about it b/c it is sort of a niche camera, but might work for you. It has a large sensor like a DSLR, has a static lens, and is fairly small.

 

[Frantasmic]

Ah, you seek the Holy Grail of Point and Shooters (HGPnS). Sorry, it doesn't really exist. You'll have to pick and choose sort of what you are most interested in.

However, if low-light pictures are high on your list, see this recent reference in one of the threads down below:

http://www.wral.com/5onyourside/story/5510718/

 

[boBQuincy]

I would like to not change the lens. I think Night time is important. I am also big on speed. my current camera is rather slow even in action mode. Under $500. I would like the offspring of an SLR and P&S

Olympus new Pen might be the closest to what you are looking for, with a P&S size but a dSLR sensor. Yes, the lens *can be* changed but it doesn't *have to* be. Very few P&S have a fast enough lens for low light work and once they are zoomed a little most of them get really slow. The included 14-42 lens is not very fast either but there are a number of f/1.4 lenses in the four third system that will fit.

The price is a little high at $700 but I bet it will come down as more micro four third products are released.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...c&Q=&sb=ps&pn=1&ci=0&A=search&shs=Olympus Pen

 

[MarkBarbieri]

The Sigma DP1, while cool, doesn't zoom, does it? It's stuck with a 28mm equiv moderately wide angle lens.

You might want to read our illustrious moderator's thread on the topic of buying a P&S.