I think I need some help.. camera ?..

[Piecey]

Okay, so I recently went out and bought a Sony DSCW90 to replace my DSCP73. The P73 wasn't really in bad shape, just a little clunky, outdated and taking miserable night/action shots. Which I usually blame on me as I'm a bit shaky.

Now I'm thinking I don't like the DSCW90 very much at all. It doesn't do much that the P73 doesn't. I have 90 days to return it (from 5/24), so it'll be going with me to Orlando next month to visit my brother. Figured I had a better chance to "test" its capabilities at Downtown Disney than West Virginia.

But..I'm thinking I might buy another one so that I'd have two to play with and then just keep whichever I liked more. (Is that morally wrong to do?.. )

Do you guys have any suggestions on cameras for beginners who are interested in learning to take better/clearer/more vibrant pictures?
I want to be able to take great night shots-- my P73 does just fine during the day but I'm so frustrated that my night pictures are so blurry. I LOVE the night! I think the only two night pictures that ever turned out were of me and my friends drinking on the beach at St. Augustine last year. Go figure.

I've read a lot of great stuff about Canon cameras on here and was just curious.. I realize you probably get asked this a lot, but would appreciate any help you can give!

(I can spend up to about $400 but was looking to stick more to the $300 range!)

 

[DVC Jen]

I would give a Canon S3 a try. There is a big following here on the board with this camera - and some great shots coming from it.

I bought one for my oldest DD as a graduation gift and she brought it to WDW with us. We just got back so I haven't really had a chance to sit down and see what she got with it yet.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I was a diehard Sony Point and Shoot fan but after my last 2 I just couldn't take it any more just terrible with action and night shots.

We got a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX3 and just love it for our needs.

 

[Piecey]

I was a diehard Sony Point and Shoot fan but after my last 2 I just couldn't take it any more just terrible with action and night shots.

We got a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX3 and just love it for our needs.

Wow, great price!

Have any pictures?

 

[Lachesis00]

I too know people who have the S2 and S3 and are thrilled with it. Especially the S3. I have seen photos and they are AMAZING.

I would give a Canon S3 a try. There is a big following here on the board with this camera - and some great shots coming from it.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Wow, great price!

Have any pictures?

Here's a few From our Dec trip

This is at night at the back of BCV

 

[Master Mason]

Also take a look at the fuji 6000, I have read good things about both it and the S3. Apparently the S5 is now availible, but you'll be paying a premium, and not sure your getting any benifit from it yet.

 

[smackdr]

If I were you, I'd just stick with the same camera and only try to take still pictures during the day. But then again, I'm a reputable cheapskate.

 

[YEKCIM]

Also take a look at the fuji 6000, I have read good things about both it and the S3. Apparently the S5 is now availible, but you'll be paying a premium, and not sure your getting any benifit from it yet.

If you want to stay with a PnS, the s6000fd is a pretty good choice; it will perform better in low light than most PnS's. However, it is larger/bulkier than most competing models and does not have image stabilization. Current pricing is about $250 after rebate, online. If you *really* want to raise the bar, though, you might think about a dSLR. Canon, Nikon, and Pentax all offer entry-level models that do quite well in lower light situations, and offer other advantages (and some disadvantages, too, to be clear), including being able to build a "system" of lenses and other accessories, to meet your specific needs.

Groucho is the Pentax guru around these parts, and he can supply better info, but I believe you can get an entry level Pentax dSLR for not a whole lot more than a high-end PnS.

~YEKCIM

 

[Groucho]

Yeah, if you're looking for better low-light ability in a point-n-shoot, it's pretty much Fuji or be disappointed with the new camera, too.

It all comes down to too many megapixels in too small a sensor. What you want is a large sensor with fewer megapixels. DSLRs have sensors that are vastly larger than what you'll find in the best PnS, so those do very well in low light. For PnSs, the current kings seem to be the Fuji F31 (compact 3x zoom) and S6000fd (SLR-like 10x zoom), about $200 or $250 after rebate.

For DSLRs, the cheapest (and IMHO one of the best) entry-level options is the Pentax K100D, which you can get for $435 after rebate. If you purchase their 50-200mm lens at the same time, your total cost will be about $600, which is a real bargain for the quality and performance you'll get.

If you want to stick in the PnS realm and low light is important, definitely look strongly at the Fujis. There are some samples here that include direct comparisons between the Fujis and an S3 at ISO 800. The next page has the Fuji and the Canon G7 at ISO 1600. There's really no comparison with any other PnS model in terms of high ISO performance.

Another thing to consider is if you want to get decent flash performance out, you may want to invest in a standalone flash unit that'll mount on top of your camera. Obviously, that camera will need a "hot shoe" on top for the flash, and such a flash will produce a lot more light, not cause red-eye, and usually will be able to be bounced off a white ceiling if you're indoors, to make a much more natural-looking photo.

And for taking photos of still objects at night (and of fireworks), there's no substitute for a tripod. With a tripod, you can probably get great night photos of still objects with just about any camera.