camera question

[mjc2003]

Some of you take fantastic pictures. I want to do a TR with pics for our upcoming trip, but we have grown tired of our camera. We have a Nikon Coolpix P80. We actually love the way the pictures turn out if taken outdoors during the day, but find indoors and nighttime to be poor. My wife wants to get a new one before our trip.

So, any recommendations? We are both amateurs at best but take a lot of pictures. Neither one of us is very tech savvy, so the simpler the better.

Thanks

 

[WilsonFlyer]

You really ought to take a look at the Photography forum here. There is a WEALTH of information in there, from PnS's to DSLR users. It really is a wonderful source with some wonderful and helpful people, just like here in the DVC area, but with Photography as their/our (other) passion and hobby.

Got a budget in mind? You covered a broad spectrum of desires in that simple paragraph. All can be had, with some give and taking, for a price. It all depends on what you really want.

 

[tomandrobin]

You really ought to take a look at the Photography forum here. There is a WEALTH of information in there, from PnS's to DSLR users. It really is a wonderful source with some wonderful and helpful people, just like here in the DVC area, but with Photography as their/our (other) passion and hobby.

Got a budget in mind? You covered a broad spectrum of desires in that simple paragraph. All can be had, with some give and taking, for a price. It all depends on what you really want.

I agree....

There are some real nice point and shoot cameras that will probably work for you. Question - Do you always shoot in Auto mode?

 

[mjc2003]

You really ought to take a look at the Photography forum here. There is a WEALTH of information in there, from PnS's to DSLR users. It really is a wonderful source with some wonderful and helpful people, just like here in the DVC area, but with Photography as their/our (other) passion and hobby.

Got a budget in mind? You covered a broad spectrum of desires in that simple paragraph. All can be had, with some give and taking, for a price. It all depends on what you really want.

Wow...I didn't even know there was a photography forum! As far as price, not sure....I don't think I want to spend much more than $500.

 

[mjc2003]

Do you always shoot in Auto mode?

Not always, but again, the simpler the better. I really need something that is easy to use indoors and at night, and actually takes good pictures in those settings.

 

[RMBittner]

My wife loves her Canon PowerShot S5 IS, and it takes fantastic photos. (Or maybe that's just her...)

I bought it for her a couple of years ago, so it may no longer be on the market (or may have been updated). But it has a great 12X zoom lens, a jitter-reduction feature, a viewfinder that opens up (like some video cameras have), and it uses 3 or 4 AA batteries and standard-size SD cards (not the minis).

We both shoot when we travel. Even though I can get some really good photos with my Sony point-and-shoot, the photos taken with the Canon are almost always sharper, with better definition. (The zoom also lets her get shots I can't.)

Bob

 

[DoleWhipDVC]

The Canon Rebel T3 or T3i is a nice entry level dslr that will probably come in around your price range with a decent kit lens as well. Check Amazon.com to get price variations and then go to your local big box store (like best buy). The biggest difference between the T3 and the T3i is the "i" model has some function upgrades and a better ISO capability which will help you with your darker, indoor shots. You need to get over to the photography forum in the "just for fun" category. You'll get tons of info there. Have fun

 

[hakepb]

From what I can tell, the Cannon S95 (an s100 is about to be releasred), Panasonic LX5 and Olympus ZX1 generally rank the best in low light situations among fixed-lens point and shoot cameras.
www.dpreview.com/reviews/q42010highendcompactgroup

Cameras in that league usually have 2 of the most important features for low light.
1) larger sensor than most p&s (more light reaches each pixel)
2) "fast" glass- lens operates around f-stop values around f/2. (Lower is better) more light reaches the sensor - also helps to get that pro "unfocused" background

dSLR's are even better in those regards.

Among the traditional small sensor p&s cameras, the cannon hs series (from the ~$150 Elph 100hs to the travel zoom sx230 hs) have the best high ISO image quality (the 3rd factor in low light an Elph100 at 3200 iso beats many at iso 800). Other makes do use the back-lit CMOS sensors, but they do not get as nice of picture quality as Cannon.

I've been looking for a travel zoom, and had mostly decided on the Sony HX9V. It would loose a little PQ to the Cannon, but I preferred the feel in hands, longer battery life, slightly better auto mode performance and stunning video performance of the Sony HX9V (1080p 60fps) as good as any high-end dedicated consumer camcorder with the optical stabilization)

But... I found crazy deal on a lesser camera so I decided to try that out.

(FYI there is a growing 4/3 interchangeable lens group with cameras like the Sony NEX that are between a dSLR and p&s)