I need help with a new camera, please!

[pklein09]

I currently have a Sony Cyber-Shot, 10.1 mega pixels, Optical 3X lens, f=6.2-18.6 mm 1:3.1-5.6.

It's a nice little camera that takes great outside, full-of-natural-light pictures. It stinks at indoor, low level light pictures. Using the flash is iffy. Sometimes the pictures turn out okay, but most of the time they're washed out.

We're cruising the Fantasy for DDs graduation and I'd like a new camera that won't break my budget.

What's my budget? Good question! I don't want to spend a couple of hundred dollars, but I might go as high at $250. I'd prefer a compact, point and shoot model as opposed to something that looks like my Pop's old Canon SLR. I've tried looking on Amazon, but the models are overwhelming. I've tried figuring out the F-stops to get something for lower light levels, but that's been confusing as well.

Any suggestions? Thanks!!!

 

[threecrazykids]

I currently have a Sony Cyber-Shot, 10.1 mega pixels, Optical 3X lens, f=6.2-18.6 mm 1:3.1-5.6.

It's a nice little camera that takes great outside, full-of-natural-light pictures. It stinks at indoor, low level light pictures. Using the flash is iffy. Sometimes the pictures turn out okay, but most of the time they're washed out.

We're cruising the Fantasy for DDs graduation and I'd like a new camera that won't break my budget.

What's my budget? Good question! I don't want to spend a couple of hundred dollars, but I might go as high at $250. I'd prefer a compact, point and shoot model as opposed to something that looks like my Pop's old Canon SLR. I've tried looking on Amazon, but the models are overwhelming. I've tried figuring out the F-stops to get something for lower light levels, but that's been confusing as well.

Any suggestions? Thanks!!!

I don't know a huge amount about photography but have been learning quite a bit over the last couple of years.

The one thing that you need to know - for low light situations you need to have an aperature that will allow enough light to come into the camera. The faster the shutter speed the better off you'll be. f/2.8is a good starting point.
Otherwise you may end up with blown out pics with the flash. It's not as much the camera itself as it is the lens on the cameras but I don't have any experience with a point and shoot. The aperature settings are what are going to allow you to get those great low light shots.

I'd just check to see what the aperature abilities are on the camera...if you can get at least a f/2.8 that would be a good start...f/1.4 or f/1.8 even better.

 

[albarellic]

We upgraded from a point and shoot to a "bridge" camera. A Canon SX40- not quite an SLR, but more function than a point and shoot. It's a bit bigger, but the picture quality is much better. It takes great low light shots without needing a flash.

We bought it from ebay for around $200- you can get them elsewhere for about $300-$350.

 

[pklein09]

Thanks for the replies. It looks like the f-stop on my current camera is way off for indoor pictures. I'll take a look at that Canon as well.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I bought my Panasonic Lumix for the same reason, cruising. I have sold several photos from it over my Sony DSLR. Only because I carry it with me always.
It has a 16 mp and 20x zoom.

Low light without flash like in Little Mermaid came out great. Fireworks wonderful, with the flash I can take pictures in near black and see every detail lit up.

It was about $260 and worth every cent. A few years old so they may be less in cost now
Lumix is the best I have used, bigger than the 3x zoom, but can't say enough about the quality.

 

[My3Princez]

I bought my Panasonic Lumix for the same reason, cruising. I have sold several photos from it over my Sony DSLR. Only because I carry it with me always.
It has a 16 mp and 20x zoom.

Low light without flash like in Little Mermaid came out great. Fireworks wonderful, with the flash I can take pictures in near black and see every detail lit up.

It was about $260 and worth every cent. A few years old so they may be less in cost now
Lumix is the best I have used, bigger than the 3x zoom, but can't say enough about the quality.

Which model do you have? There are alot of Lumix models.

 

[lovesdumbo]

You might want to consider the Lumix LX7. It's a bit more than you wanted at $299 but. Has the fast lens you want in a small camera.

Here's a review:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-lx7/14

 

[Pooh2]

You might want to consider the Lumix LX7. It's a bit more than you wanted at $299 but. Has the fast lens you want in a small camera.

Here's a review:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-lx7/14

We have theLx5 and Lx7. Would highly recommend spending a little more than your budgeted amount for the Lx7. It's great in low-light. At disney, I had several nights that I brought this along and left my dslr in the room.

 

[pklein09]

Thank you all so much! I really appreciate you posting pictures you've taken so I can see the quality. The Lumix is a bit more than my budget, but not so much - I'm going to get the Lx7!

 

[Pooh2]

Thank you all so much! I really appreciate you posting pictures you've taken so I can see the quality. The Lumix is a bit more than my budget, but not so much - I'm going to get the Lx7!

Congrats! You will really enjoy this camera!

 

[FINFAN]

I'm a lumix fan myself..but my DS says to get this for what you specified :

http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-MX-1-D...F8&qid=1395976323&sr=8-1&keywords=pentax+mx+1

(tho I see you may have made your purchase..enjoy your new camera!)

 

[pklein09]

I'm a lumix fan myself..but my DS says to get this for what you specified :

http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-MX-1-D...F8&qid=1395976323&sr=8-1&keywords=pentax+mx+1

(tho I see you may have made your purchase..enjoy your new camera!)

Thanks! I haven't made my purchase yet, so I will look at this camera as well.

 

[seashoreCM]

Does your old camera have two flash settings, typically labeled "auto" and "on"?

The "on" setting may result in washed out flash pictures of fairly close subjects.

A high ISO may also give washed out flash pictures of fairly close subjects.

The "auto" flash setting dims the flash for close subjects to help prevent washout.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Just bought this one for my wife and she loves it. It's a brand new model, just release this month. From all my research it seems like one of the best cameras in the compact and casual range.

Very small so she can drop it in her purse and not lug something around. Good zoom, relatively quick to power on.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HLDIDVM/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

price is pretty good.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I purchased a Lumix last year after I so brilliantly dropped my Kodak digital camera on the floor and broke the lens.....I love the Lumix the pictures are amazing and I especially love the nighttime Scenery section. This is the one I purchased

Panasonic Lumix ZS20 14.1 MP High Sensitivity MOS Digital Camera with 20x Optical Zoom (Black)

On Amazon it is currently About $160.

I have several other cameras that were a lot more expensive but this one takes the best pictures by far!!

 

[pklein09]

Does your old camera have two flash settings, typically labeled "auto" and "on"?

The "on" setting may result in washed out flash pictures of fairly close subjects.

A high ISO may also give washed out flash pictures of fairly close subjects.

The "auto" flash setting dims the flash for close subjects to help prevent washout.

Yes, the camera has both settings. I typically use "auto" or "off" for the setting, and get washed out pictures when the flash is used.

 

[pklein09]

OP here...I thought I'd let you know I purchased the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7. It was a little more than I thought I would spend. So far, I'm very pleased with it. There are a lot of features I probably won't use (like all the filters), but my kids have already used them! I had it for Easter Sunday, and was very pleased with the crispness of the pictures as well as the ability to capture motion without blur. There were 2 or 3 of my sons chasing my 18 month old nephew around the yard, and they came out beautifully! I took some indoor ones as well, that came out nicely. Nothing with what I consider low light...I'll test that out on our upcoming trip to Disneyland.

Thank you all for your help and insights!

 

[pklein09]

I took over 700 pictures in Disneyland! I am very pleased with this camera. Although I will say I drained the battery twice. I would post pics, but I have no idea how to. I clicked on the insert image icon, and it asks for a URL address. All my pictures are on my computer. Do I have to upload them to a website and then post them?

 

[Pooh2]

I took over 700 pictures in Disneyland! I am very pleased with this camera. Although I will say I drained the battery twice. I would post pics, but I have no idea how to. I clicked on the insert image icon, and it asks for a URL address. All my pictures are on my computer. Do I have to upload them to a website and then post them?

You need to upload to a website like photobucket then copy the img code to your post.
Would love to see some of your Disneyland photos with the Lx7!
We are making our first trip to Disneyland in the fall!

 

[Pooh2]

We picked up a second battery for our lx 5 and lx7. We keep the extra battery in the pouch so it will be on hand when things start to get low. If you use the flash, the battery will go down quicker.