Hello, and please help me spend some money

[Alexs_mom]

Hello, long time lurker first time poster but I need some help in choosing a new camera, this week I was surprised with a holiday bonus at work. This is my first holiday bonus ever!! Yeah new job that I love and they treat us great also. I have decided to use some of this bonus just for me, something moms don’t do nearly enough for themselves, so now it is time to upgrade past a point and shoot Kodak.

My Kodak takes nice pictures outside but the flash is very underpowered when shooting groups of people inside. This means that all of my pictures taken at scout banquets or my son’s basketball games need to be edited to brighten them up. I also need a camera that can handle sports shoots inside the gym with a decent zoom.

I have narrowed it down to either the Rebel XTI that I have been wanting or maybe the Cannon S3. I am not sure but maybe the Rebel is still too much camera for me? The S3 seems like a good choice I have noticed in reading lots of other threads here that people really like this camera. It also used SD cards which I already have several and AA batteries and charger that I already have.

So I guess my question is can the S3 handle quick action sports?
How is the flash that is on it, since I noticed that it doesn’t have a hot shoe attachment?
Or is there another camera that I haven’t considered that needs to be taken into consideration?

Thank you in advance for your help, I love to take pictures family but get really upset with some of my results.

 

[PoohJen]

The S3 looks like a great camera, but I haven't tried it and can't attest to its sports shots.

I bought the Rebel XT in June for my kids' sports shots, and I LOVE it!!! I use a Sigma 18-125 lens as my walk around lens (I bought body only, no lens). It can take (I think, don't make me check the manual) series of six shots a second, great for sports!

Here's a shot of a kid sliding into 2d; I took from behind the fence behind first base.(i've purposely smudged the name for posting)

It is "a lot of camera", but you can ease into that and use the auto modes until you are comfortable with the manual modes. Be forewarned, however, it can get very expensive very quickly!!! Between body, 2 lenses, 2 2gb memory cards, filters, extra battery and a good bag, I've easily spent at least $1500, and have been very frugal in my purchases!


I haven't bought an extra flash yet for my camera, but it does need it at times. I have been pleased with flash-less low-light shots I've taken in manual mode, but I still have a lot to learn!

Good luck with whatever you buy; enjoy!

 

[jann1033]

imho if your bonus is enough get the xti...it has auto modes just like the s3 so you can use it now but you'll use it for ever... unlike the s3, just be prepared to include cost for a lens beyond the kit lens & stuff sometime...( well lots of "stuff" unless you have a will of iron )

you can buy a converter( for $20 or so, you can use 1 for how ever many cards you have as they can be removed from the converter) that allows you to use you sd cards in an cf camera...in my totally unscientific research , it seems to slow it down a bit but not so you'd notice

edited cause
well Jen it seems if i had just scrolled past your picture i wouldn't have had to post oppps

 

[DueyDooDah]

If you find you haven't spent enough and need help, let me know. I have a lens I would like to purchase for my camera.

 

[ukcatfan]

For indoor sports, I doubt that the S3 will satisfy you. A flash is useless in that situation and a nice lens is required. High ISO will likely be needed. Almost all DSLR brands have decent prices on 50mm prime lenses that would really help in that situation. That usually ends up being around 75mm in actual use b/c of the DSLR crop factor. If that is not enough focal length, then you could end up spending significantly more money. A decent long focal length zoom can be pricey also.

I guess you need to decide if you really need that much camera/lens or not. I have used my Canon S1 IS at the MGM stunt show to get really nice pics from up in the second level seating. But that was with nice sunlight. You will end up spending probably 3-5 times as much with a DSLR to get the same range as the S3. Then again, the DSLR will take better pics.

You might want to look at the Pentax K10D. The cheaper K100D does not have the best burst mode and you might want that for sports. It was not important to me and I love my K100D. While not very useful for sports, these models have in body image stabilization so it works with every lens.

Kevin

 

[Alexs_mom]

I am really stuck, I like the Rebel but the price tag has me a little afraid. I also found this kit at Circuit City, it has two lenses with it. I am not sure if Olympus is a good camera or not, but even then this is over $700 where I can pick up the S3 for under $400. My son's games are small and we sit close to the edge lines, so we are not up in the stands. I would like to make my mind up this weekend so I can try out whatever I choose Tuesday night at his school Christmas program. Maybe I will have to wait and read the adds tommorow and see where the best deal is. But if anyone has any experience with this Olympus please let me know.

Olympus EVOLT E-500 Digital SLR Camera Kit

8-megapixel: The Olympus EVOLT E-500 digital camera captures pictures with astonishing 8-megapixel resolution. Images boast exceptional clarity and color, and can be cropped and enlarged for the perfect picture while maintaining exquisite clarity.

SLR: Get the versatility of a digital camera with outstanding image quality. The E-500 gives you the power to change lenses along with the duality of complete manual control or fully-automatic settings.

Included lenses: The 14-45mm Zuiko digital specific zoom lens (28-90mm equivalent) is great for family groups, landscapes and portraits, while the 40-150mm Zuiko digital specific zoom lens captures outstanding sports, wildlife and distance shots. Everything you need in one complete package!

2.5" HyperCrystal LCD: Frame pictures, review images and access the menu using the oversize 2.5 " LCD screen. HyperCrystal technology ensures that you can see images at angles to 160 degrees, even in bright conditions.

Supersonic Wave Filter™: Every time you turn the E500 on, it automatically removes dust off of the CCD giving you spot-free images. Dust can collect onto the CCD when you change lenses in an SLR which can cause extra retouching needed during printing.

TruePic TURBO™ Image Processor: Accelerates the camera's start-up time and decreases the shutter release lag time so you can capture images more rapidly. The TruePic TURBO™ Image Processor also gives you quicker image playback for instant gratification.

Pop-up flash: The flash housing pops up and then moves forward to better illuminate subjects when using a wide-angle lens at close shooting distances.

Shooting modes: Fifteen scene modes let you set your camera to the shooting conditions. There's no need to adjust the camera manually—just choose a mode and start shooting. Modes include portrait, night scene, landscape, sunset, fireworks and macro.

Exposure modes: Take full creative control with modes like program, aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual.

Memory: This digital camera has dual memory slots that let you capture, store, and backup photos on an xD-Picture Card™, CompactFlash™ card or both. Get the most out of your camera by adding a 1GB or larger CompactFlash card or xD Picture Card.

PictBridge-enabled: Simply hook the E-500 up to any PictBridge-enabled printer to print pictures without a computer.

 

[Alexs_mom]

One more question, will a DSLR take video like the S3 will?

Or if you have an S3 what is the quality of the video?

Thanks again!

 

[Master Mason]

I know of no dSLR that takes video.

Video from a camera will always be sub par compared to a video camera.

 

[Groucho]

Greetings to our new poster!

Your first message sounded like you were a Canon fan, since your two cameras were two very different Canons, and nothing from anyone else. With that in mind, then certainly the XTi is a far superior camera.

If you're considering the Olympus, well..................

I actually just did a little looking up of Olympus information recently. (I'll mostly repeat myself from another thread.) First off - all DSLRs can produce excellent photos. That much is a given. The Olympus seems to suffer from more noise at high ISOs than other DSLRs, however. It also have a very limited selection of lenses and there's no image stabilization availble except in one single lens.

It sounds like you'll have the budget for a DSLR, and you'll probably be better off with one. Just remember that DSLRs will take as much, and probably more, work to generate a quality photo - but when used properly, they can play any PnS out of the water due to their larger sensor, better lenses, and more advanced features. So I'll stick to DSLR talk.

For nearly all non-professionals, there are three basic levels of DSLR. (All prices from Beach Camera, for consistency, and all with kit lens.)

The very inexpensive: Pentax K110D ($415 after $50 rebate) and Nikon D40 ($600). The Pentax is a complete DSLR, currently available at an astounding price while the D40 is fairly cut-down and generally not in favor even with Nikon fans. The D40 is brand new so selling close to its retail, so it really doesn't even belong in this group - but I assume the price will fall soon to get it cheaper. It's currently $600 - full retail.

The middle level: Pentax K100D ($513 after $50 rebate), Nikon D50 ($608), and Canon Rebel XT ($588). The Pentax is the only one with in-body image stabilization, which means that every lens will be stabilized (for Nikon and Canon, only certain, very expensive lenses are stabilized.) However, it has a smaller buffer than the other two, which can be a factor if you're shooting sports and want to shoot many shots in a row. The Pentax has the largest LCD (2.5"), followed by the Nikon (2") and the Canon (1.8".) My understanding is that the viewfinders are similarly rated, with the Canon having a very small viewfinder (one reviewer called it like looking at a stamp held at arm's length) - this may not be a huge concern if you don't plan on doing manual focus. All have similar high ISO performance - excellent, in fact the Nikon and Pentax use the same sensor.

The top tier: Pentax K10D ($998), Sony Alpha ($799 from Amazon, not sold by Beach), Nikon D80 ($1,099), and Canon Rebel XTi ($736 for the cheaper silver model). These are all higher-end, but the Canon is probably not quite as high-end - the entire Rebel family is their entry-level line. I believe that these all can shoot unlimited JPGs in a row (not sure about the Sony.) The Pentax and Sony both have image stabilization in the body, and again, Canon and Nikon require it in the lens. I think they all have 2.5" LCDs. The K10D is also sealed against dust and water (not waterproof but should be fine in the rain.) All but the Nikon have a dust-cleaning sensor. Like the D40, the K10D is brand new so the price is still full retail - I would expect that to drop soon.

I didn't mention megapixels as they're really not very important in real-world usage and shouldn't be prime decision-influencers. That being said, the 6mp cameras are the Pentax K110D and K100D and the Nikon D40 and D50, and 8mp camera is the Canon Rebel XT, and the 10mp ones are the Pentax K10D, Sony Alpha, Nikon D80, and Canon Rebel XTi.

If you're looking at saving money, the Pentax K100D is the best bargain out there (I would spend the extra money for the stabilization over the otherwise-similar K110D), if you need continuous shooting and don't want to spend much, you'll probably want to go with the D50 or the XTi, or maybe even the XT.

If you want to spend even more and get one of the top tier ones... well, that's a whole different discussion! But they all can produce excellent photos, no question.

Of course, if taking videos is a priority, then DSLRs are out. Some of the PnSs can take pretty good video - but you're still dealing with something that's a camera first and foremost. You'll get much better video from a dedicated camcorder, and those can be had for ridiculously cheap (and are ridiculously small) nowadays.

 

[ukcatfan]

One more question, will a DSLR take video like the S3 will?

Or if you have an S3 what is the quality of the video?

Thanks again!

I have an S1 and it has almost the exact same video mode. It is pretty good, but as stated, it is not a camcorder replacement. There is a 8-9 minute per clip limit b/c no file over 1GB is allowed. So if you had a 4GB card, you could get about 35-40 mins with brief pauses between clips. For me, it is all the video I need as I am not into video so much.

If a better video mode on a DSLR is something that you really want, then take a look at the Canon G7. I believe it has a 4GB limit and a higher resolution. You should be able to get around 30 min clips with it on a 4GB card and that is the file size limit on it also.

Kevin

 

[ndelaware]

Get the S3.

 

[donaldduck1967]

I am really stuck, I like the Rebel but the price tag has me a little afraid. I also found this kit at Circuit City, it has two lenses with it. I am not sure if Olympus is a good camera or not, but even then this is over $700 where I can pick up the S3 for under $400. My son's games are small and we sit close to the edge lines, so we are not up in the stands. I would like to make my mind up this weekend so I can try out whatever I choose Tuesday night at his school Christmas program. Maybe I will have to wait and read the adds tommorow and see where the best deal is. But if anyone has any experience with this Olympus please let me know.

Olympus EVOLT E-500 Digital SLR Camera Kit

8-megapixel: The Olympus EVOLT E-500 digital camera captures pictures with astonishing 8-megapixel resolution. Images boast exceptional clarity and color, and can be cropped and enlarged for the perfect picture while maintaining exquisite clarity.

SLR: Get the versatility of a digital camera with outstanding image quality. The E-500 gives you the power to change lenses along with the duality of complete manual control or fully-automatic settings.

Included lenses: The 14-45mm Zuiko digital specific zoom lens (28-90mm equivalent) is great for family groups, landscapes and portraits, while the 40-150mm Zuiko digital specific zoom lens captures outstanding sports, wildlife and distance shots. Everything you need in one complete package!

2.5" HyperCrystal LCD: Frame pictures, review images and access the menu using the oversize 2.5 " LCD screen. HyperCrystal technology ensures that you can see images at angles to 160 degrees, even in bright conditions.

Supersonic Wave Filter™: Every time you turn the E500 on, it automatically removes dust off of the CCD giving you spot-free images. Dust can collect onto the CCD when you change lenses in an SLR which can cause extra retouching needed during printing.

TruePic TURBO™ Image Processor: Accelerates the camera's start-up time and decreases the shutter release lag time so you can capture images more rapidly. The TruePic TURBO™ Image Processor also gives you quicker image playback for instant gratification.

Pop-up flash: The flash housing pops up and then moves forward to better illuminate subjects when using a wide-angle lens at close shooting distances.

Shooting modes: Fifteen scene modes let you set your camera to the shooting conditions. There's no need to adjust the camera manually—just choose a mode and start shooting. Modes include portrait, night scene, landscape, sunset, fireworks and macro.

Exposure modes: Take full creative control with modes like program, aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual.

Memory: This digital camera has dual memory slots that let you capture, store, and backup photos on an xD-Picture Card™, CompactFlash™ card or both. Get the most out of your camera by adding a 1GB or larger CompactFlash card or xD Picture Card.

PictBridge-enabled: Simply hook the E-500 up to any PictBridge-enabled printer to print pictures without a computer.

I have the E500 and it's a great camera.

As far as moise goes, here's test results popphoto.com did on 5 dSlr's and Olympus no worse then the others.

http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/1924/hotshot-shoot-out.html

 

[donaldduck1967]

Here are 2 other threads

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1277602

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1275557

 

[Groucho]

All DSLRs are great cameras, no debate there. Here is the page of the review I saw which has high ISO samples from the E500 and E400, compared to a Canon XTi and a Panasonic L1.

There's nothing really wrong with the camera from what I can see, but the unavailability of IS in any form (except for a single lens) makes the entire system, IMHO, not very compelling to a new DSLR buyer who doesn't already have an investment in lenses. If one likes to do manual focus, the smaller/dimmer viewfinder (due to the live LCD) is also a concern. If someone has a collection of Olympus lenses, though, it's certainly well worth considering.

 

[robinb]

I just bought an S3 myself from Dell for $305. Here's how I did it: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1289911. Having the video was important to me. We bought a video camera about 6 years ago and used it less than a dozen times. I use the video clip on my Sony almost every time I use the camera and I was able to get 30 minutes+ on and empty 512 mb memory stick. Enough for IllumiNations or Wishes. I expected to get more on my 2G card for my new Canon. I assume there is an option for high/low quality videos. I guess I'll find out later this week when my camera arrives!