Don't know much about cameras.. need opinion

[motofox4]

I'm looking to buy a camera that will take good night shots, such as of the parades, Fantasmic, etc., and also clear, nice daytime shots. I really don't know much about all of the settings and when to change them and so on.. Can anyone recommend a good camera to use, one that's pretty simple but also takes very good pictures?? I'm looking to spend probably around $250 - $300. I've been searching online, but there are SO many of them that I really have no idea at all what I'm looking at, for or what's good and what isn't. Please help!!!!

 

[Steve's Girl]

Well, taking night shots requires a little bit more than just the right camera. Those are some of the most difficult photos to take and are pretty much impossible to take using an auto or scene mode. You need to use manual settings and have a relatively specialized lens or use a tripod (depending on the situation). So, if you really want to take those types of shots, the best thing to do first is learn a little bit more about the various settings on a camera and how to use those for different situations. Most cameras available in your price range will do fine with daytime shots. It is the night time shots that will be very difficult if you plan to just use auto or another pre-programmed setting on the camera.

 

[Zoesmama03]

think its more in the tripod and timer or remote shutter.

I've seen some amazing night photos from your basic point and shoot cameras. Just invest in a tripod and practice. If you don't get what you were expecting some great night photographers here but that is certainly not me. I keep thinking I'll get my tripod out some night.

Now that I have a zoom I may try my hands at photographing the moon one night.

 

[photo_chick]

You can get good night shots with a point and shoot on a tripod. Good fireworks shots too. My husband has taken many great night shots with our old p&s on auto.

But you will need a tripod.. consider a small one like the Gorillapod or some other tabletop style if you are worried about lugging a big thing with you.

As far as cameras, what kind of features are important to you? Video? Proprietary battery or AA's? Memory card type? Do you want to be able to zoom in close?

 

[motofox4]

I do have an older (about 5 years) Sony camera, and the night time shots or even indoor shots with changing the settings to auto or indoor are just awful.

I like to have video mode available for just short videos.. I'd also like to use a regular rechargeable battery (that's what the camera I have now has, it's square), not AAA's.. Zoom is a good feature too, so I'd really like to have that too.

I've looked at the Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ5 online and see that it takes great pictures, but am not sure if that's hard to use or if it's relatively simple to figure out. Does anyone know??

 

[Zoesmama03]

I was really unimpressed with my brother's Sony for indoor and night photography. However my Nikon Coolpix was great handheld. Too bad I never tried with my little tripod more.

I dunno about that one, you'd probably do good to save a bit more(or just get if you can swing it) the Pentax entry dslr used with a good zoom that does wide and long focal lengths. It will give you the option to interchange lenses. You can start in auto mode and then venture to aperture priority. I started with a coolpix that did this and when I got my Nikon D80 just turned right to Manual and fired away. Still a learning process as I think photography always is. The canon rebels can be found pretty cheap used I could imagine, new even. And the Nikon entry level can work too.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I have attached a review of the TZ5.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonictz5/

The one thing I would like to point out is that the camera is only one part of the equation. The photographer's understanding of the art is probably the key part. Understanding what your camera is capable of doing and then adjusting to get the image you want. Great photographers (not me) can get good images out of any camera! Good luck with your quest.

 

[ukcatfan]

IMO, for night parades and Fantasmic, a DSLR is a must. You can get a shot of those with a p&s at a high ISO, but they are going to be very noisy and more for on screen viewing than any printing. The Pentax K-x is a pretty hard deal to beat right now.

 

[iKristin]

I just purchased a Canon Powershot SX20IS and i've been playing with the settings to try and take some awesome darker shots (specifically for the rides at DL, fires, night shots). I practiced by taking photos of my dark dining room with only a dim light going in my living room and it takes some pretty dang clear dark shots! I was pretty surprised. I have mine on the ISO 3200 setting which according to the manual is great for really low light. This camera also has TWO firework shot settings, one for regular firework shots and one for fireworks in vivid color. I guess I'll get to test it out in October

 

[photo_chick]

My daughters Fuji S1000 goes to ISO 3200 and f/2.8 whch makes it pretty fast compared to some entry level DSLR's with entry level lenses. And I was surprised at how clean the images are at that speed (better than what my old Rebel XT puts out at higher ISO settings). The newer versions of this camera, the S1500 and S2000 have image stabilization which makes them even faster.

Until I got my hands on my DD's camera I was totally in the "DSLR's are always better for low light" camp. But now I keep seeing more and more exceptions to that philosophy as technology advances.

Of course all my daughter cares about is using her camera to make videos. LOL

And I totally agree that the photographer makes the shot, not the camera.

 

[ukcatfan]

My daughters Fuji S1000 goes to ISO 3200 and f/2.8 whch makes it pretty fast compared to some entry level DSLR's with entry level lenses. And I was surprised at how clean the images are at that speed (better than what my old Rebel XT puts out at higher ISO settings). The newer versions of this camera, the S1500 and S2000 have image stabilization which makes them even faster.

Technology is improving, but most p&s models simply up the noise reduction to get rid of the noise. The problem with that is that the fine detail is then gone. That is where a DSLR beats a p&s. It is all a matter of what you find to be an acceptable shot. Me, I am too picky to accept that.

 

[mom2rtk]

There is a big difference between getting good nighttime shots of a still subject, like the castle, or even fireworks, and getting good low light ACTION shots, like Fantasmic or a parade.

I bet you could do well with most P & S's as long as you have a tripod. A cable release is good too, but you can always use a 2 second delay. But for the low light action shots, you'd probably want to consider a DSLR.

 

[photo_chick]

Technology is improving, but most p&s models simply up the noise reduction to get rid of the noise. The problem with that is that the fine detail is then gone. That is where a DSLR beats a p&s. It is all a matter of what you find to be an acceptable shot. Me, I am too picky to accept that.

I'm very picky as well, and I'd never be satisfied using a point and shoot on a regular basis. But many, many people are.

And I disagree that point and shoots simply up the noise reduction. Refinement in the sensors in general helps as well.

 

[Frantasmic]

Having just returned from WDW, there are a LOT of people content with the cell phone cameras.

I think it is good to say that to get the often jaw-dropping photos you see here, you will need a dslr, a good lens, a tripod, and sometimes the ability to stroll the places late at night after everyone has left and the security guards are throwing darts at you with their glances.

That is not to say that some good point and shooters aren't going to get a decent shot occasionally.

Not to pick on the OP, but the concept of buying a camera that takes good shots is somewhat of a misconception. My wife has had a dslr for years and she still only uses Auto. She's happy with what she gets apparently. I could never be.

Regarding the original question, IMO, the best cameras that might fit your criteria are the Canon S90, the new Sony, and the Panasonic Lumix ultra-zoom. General reviews give a slight nod to these among the point and shoot cameras.

 

[zackiedawg]

First off...it's been mentioned here, but worth repeating: the key to good "night shots" is a tripod - virtually any camera from the lowliest P&S to the highest full-frame DSLR can do those quite respectably. Any half-decent P&S that allows shutter speeds of 15-30 seconds can pull off large print stunners, no noise, super sharp details, etc. That's because good night shots are taken on a tripod with the lowest ISO setting, middle apertures, and a long shutter speed...something even P&S cameras can do.

The key to "night action shots" is markedly different...for those, you need fast shutter speeds, and at night, that means wide open apertures and/or very high ISO settings. P&S cameras can't do these very well, no matter how good the photographer, and for these, you would need to move into a DSLR to get good results. And even with a DSLR, some will be better than others, and the lens will still be a big factor.

I'm willing to bet the OP's 5-year-old Sony could probably give some surprising results. Almost all Sony models but for the smallest pocket models have the ability to shoot for multiple seconds...which means most models can pull off very nice night shots. I've been a big fan of night photography since 2003, and I've worked with 7 different models of Sony cameras, from high-end P&S to pocket compacts to DSLRs. They're as good as any other cam on the market for night shooting. For an idea, check out my night photography gallery here:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/night_photography

There are 6 pages of thumbnails in there from all different cameras...however the first 2 pages are all taken with Sony P&S cameras. All it took was a tripod (or putting the camera down on a ledge, fence, wall, table, trash can, or other level surface) and the 2-second timer.

Decide what you really need, how much you want to spend, and how much compromise you are willing to make in portability and convenience. While DSLRs are the ultimate, and I wouldn't go anywhere without mine, they too involve compromise - after all, you can't fit any DSLR in a chest pocket and usually they come with quite the collection of lenses you've acquired. It just may be that a P&S camera will fill 90% of your needs, and the 10% it can't cover can be outweighed by the convenience and portability, as well as price, enough to make a good P&S the best choice for you.

When it comes down to it, the photographer still makes the biggest difference, not the camera. Fine art and gorgeous photos can still be taken with a pocket cam wielded by a great photographer, and a great camera can still create junk in the hands of someone not skilled. I'd recommend trying out some slow shutter techniques with that 5 year old Sony, and you may be surprised how good it can actually do for night shots. That may help guide you to the decision of what to get next.

 

[motofox4]

Wow, there really is so much to learn with cameras ~ I never really knew much about which different settings to use when and about the speeds and all.. I'm going to go home tonight and try some different things with the camera that I have and see how the pictures come out. Chances are now that I know a little bit more and I change the settings, I might have what I already need and not have to buy another one. Thanks everyone so much for the tips, advice and suggestions.