Expert Photogs..please help me choose a camera...

[ThreeMusketeers]

Here's my situation. Will you PLEASE help me choose the best camera for my needs....


I LOVE photography! I love being creative with it. I enjoy Landscape shooting as well as of course pics of the kids.

I am struggling with speed right now. I need something fast. Something that will recover quick enough to get the shot without missing the moment.

I would love a Digital SLR, but worry about the price and size.

Any suggestions???

Thoughts appreciated in advance.

 

[AydensMom]

Being a Nikon fan and owner you would do well with a D40 and whatever AF_S lens you decide to get with it. Virtually instant shutter response and a nice size LCD to view your shots. Check out kenrockwell.com for good Nikon advice as well as many other brands that he has tested.

Pat.

 

[Steve's Girl]

What is your budget?

Many of the entry level DSLRs are quite small in size and are not much more $ than a high end P & S.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

THank you for the reply's. I don't have a set budget. I just know I want a good camera at a decent price.

The quality is most important to me.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I agree with Steve's Girl - there are lots of small-ish dSLRs out there now. I was also concerned with size and price and I bought an Olympus E-510 (the 410/420 is even smaller). You might also check out the Panasonic G1 which is a brand new concept camera coming out at the end of the month (but may be out of your price range). Whatever you do, before you buy, do your homework so you can make an informed decision. There are some differences in all of them which will impact you no matter what you buy. Don't discount the size thing, though. Every week there are threads here about people not wanting to bring their dSLRs with them because they're too big. If it's important to you, then pay attention to that when you're buying.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Sounds to me like you should go down the DSLR path. I'm a Nikon fan, so I'd second the D40 suggestion. You can get one with a decent kit lens for around $500. The important thing is to get one that fits comfortably in your hands. You might find that a Canon Rebel XS or Rebel XT fits your hand better than a Nikon D40. Bottom line, you just need to see and handle them in person, read up on the different features each offers, and think carefully about what features and functions are important to you. They all basically take pictures the same way. The differences are in the extra bells and whistles. Some you might want, many you'll probably never use. At least not initially.

 

[bob100]

I'll give you another opinion here -
consider one of the "super-zoom" type cameras like the Canon SX10, SX1 or the Panasonic FZ28, etc. You get great pics, macro, telephoto zoom, video, all in one camera for around $300. Fast? the shutter speed (with proper settings) are fast enough for most outdoor sports, wildlife, etc. Actually considering the video capabilities they are at 30 fps or greater. is that fast enough for you? Most poor dSLR owners get.. 4 fps?

 

[AydensMom]

I'll give you another opinion here -
consider one of the "super-zoom" type cameras like the Canon SX10, SX1 or the Panasonic FZ28, etc. You get great pics, macro, telephoto zoom, video, all in one camera for around $300. Fast? the shutter speed (with proper settings) are fast enough for most outdoor sports, wildlife, etc. Actually considering the video capabilities they are at 30 fps or greater. is that fast enough for you? Most poor dSLR owners get.. 4 fps?

Some people confuse shutter speed with shutter response. I want the shutter to fire the instant I press the button. Most of the non-DSLR cameras have a noticeable delay in that response. You know how people are taking those group shots with a P&S and everyone has to stand there for a few seconds because after the shutter is triggered the camera sits there for a second or two and then says hey maybe I should fire the shutter. Very annoying and sometimes a shots timing is critical.

Pat.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

ThreeMusketeers, what are you using now? Can you tell us more?

 

[bob100]

Some people confuse shutter speed with shutter response. I want the shutter to fire the instant I press the button. Most of the non-DSLR cameras have a noticeable delay in that response. You know how people are taking those group shots with a P&S and everyone has to stand there for a few seconds because after the shutter is triggered the camera sits there for a second or two and then says hey maybe I should fire the shutter. Very annoying and sometimes a shots timing is critical.

Pat.

right, but that instant firing with the dSLR, isn't that on manual settings? the camera I have, (Canon S5) if you preset it (not auto-focus, not auto exposure, etc.) has a quicker shutter response or shutter speed. As I understand it, a dSLR has a mirror to lever up and move before the pic is taken. The P&S is slow because if you have auto-focusing, auto-exposure, etc. it takes longer. If you have a camera with manual settings and pre-set those it can be quick - with the right camera, quick enough for most events you will encounter.

 

[AydensMom]

Exposure settings are a constant and as long as the shutter is halfway depressed the shutter fires virtually instantly. Yes it can take a second if you had to autofocus some big glass for a close up but still way faster then any P&S that I have encountered. Most photographers I know focus before they consider taking the shot anyways.

Pat.

 

[YesDear]

Go to your local camera store and ask to play with the different cameras. Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Sony, whatever. See how they feel in your hands and how easy the controls are for you to deal with. Then ask about price ranges and kits, meaning cameras that come with a lens or lenses. Try to narrow it to a line of cameras, or a range of camera you like then there are many on this board that can give you the pros and cons of the brand or model!

I think all we will do is confuse you until you have touched and felt what you are looking at.

I love Nikons but many other love theirs as well.

 

[Frantasmic]

Look at the Canon 30D at Ritz/Wolf cameras. They are selling the body for $699.00, so you could get some decent lenses and body for under a thousand.

 

[GrillMouster]

Before you spring for a DSLR, think about how important size and portability are to you. A good camera is worthless if it's too big to take everywhere with you. I know friends and relatives who were initially excited with their SLR purchases. As weeks passed by I would see their SLRs less and less often, until eventuallly I'd see them with a new point-and-shoot -- the SLR was never to be seen again.

From your post, I gather that you're most interested in is a camera with very short shutter lag, as AydensMom explained in her post. In the last year or two, shutter lag has improved on point-and-shoot models. I highly recommend that you visit a camera or electronics store that has functioning display models to try out. Some stores list the shutter lag on the price tag/features list.

 

[wenrob]

I think if you are used to PnS a Bridge or Super Zoom camera will seem blazing fast in comparison. However if you spend just a day or two using a DSLR the Bridge camera is going to seem slow. Once I went to a Bridge I was beyond frustrated using a PnS when handed to me to use. (everyone in my family just hands me their cameras lol) Once I went to DSLR I was frustrated when using the Bridge. For me, I can never go back.
Any place that sells cameras will let you hold and shoot them. I would narrow down the cameras that have the features I want, PnS, Bridge and DSLR and spend a fair amount of time picking up each one and firing them repeatedly. You will get a feel for them pretty quick and no doubt fall in love with one.
I will say this DSLR's take dedication to learn, in the beginning you have to really work for your shots but in the end it is soooo worth it. If you look at the threads wondering whether to bring the DSLR or PnS almost overwhelmingly people choose to take the DSLR because they want the quality of the shot and they don't want to risk missing a great shot.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Having used a bridge camera myself for a while, I found there was a big difference in speed once I became skilled at using it. Prior to that, the camera itself took time trying to adjust focus or exposure, whereas if I did that properly myself, the camera was all set to fire. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that whatever camera you use, it helps a lot to learn how to use it.

FWIW, I've found there's no magic bullet to using a dSLR, either. Your pictures can come out crappy with one, too, if you don't take the time to learn how to use it. Sure, it'll fire faster. But you can still get blur, poor focus, bad exposure, etc.

 

[wenrob]

FWIW, I've found there's no magic bullet to using a dSLR, either. Your pictures can come out crappy with one, too, if you don't take the time to learn how to use it. Sure, it'll fire faster. But you can still get blur, poor focus, bad exposure, etc.

I agree, I have 100's of pictures to prove it! Still, some of my so so pics on the DSLR are far superior to my best from the point and shoot. But then I knew nothing as far as ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed back then.

Like Grill Mouster pointed out, not everyone falls in love with their DSLR. Serious research and holding/playing with a variety of cameras will be what ultimately makes the decision for you.