Intro & questions

[Canadian Harmony]

Hi! First foray into this area of Disboards, and I'm sure I'll get a lot of helpful ideas and tips here.

I have a Canon EOS Rebel (pretty old) but with two good lenses for normal/macro and far far far away. My buddy who is a professional photographer said they're really good and if I want to take firework photos, they'll do just fine (just gotta get the remote with a cable because it doesn't have the infrared). It's a big set-up to lug around DLR though, especially for GRR and SplashMtn.

I also have a HP P&S that is pretty good, but I'd like my oldest to cart that around because her second hand Pentax P&S needs recharging every day, so it's easier to switch batteries instead of charging this up on a laptop (which I'm not bringing with for the trip, btw).

And I have the obligatory iPhone camera

So... here're my questions... I'm looking at micro 4/3 cameras (yeesh!) and the best deal I found was $300 for an Olympus EP1 with a second lens. Yes? No? Something else? Will it work for fireworks? Will I need a wide-angle lens for that?

I'm going to get a smallish tripod (something to fit into the suitcase and not take up much room) for the trip to steady for F! and fireworks and suchlike.

I'd like something with the quality of a DSLR but also with the ease of a P&S. Budget: under $300 if possible. I think that'd be my top-end, all-in including lenses and cables and such.

Suggestions?

 

[havoc315]

Fireworks are a unique photo opportunity that work equally well with just about any camera and any lens. Almost any. To get the best fireworks shots, you need to be able to set your camera manually. So any camera with manual settings, a self-timer or a remote release. Additionally, you want to have some sort of tripod.

In terms of dslr quality with p&s ease --- Virtually every dslr on the market has "p&s ease" -- it's call auto mode. Auto mode is really the same whether you are on a P&S or on a dSLR.

If you are looking for dslr quality in a more compact package, then the m4:3 cameras and Sony mirrorless cameras are probably the best options.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

I guess by 'ease', I meant portability and quick photo taking opportunities, not so much auto-mode stuff (which I'm pretty good at already ).

Is Sony the only one who makes a mirrorless camera?

 

[havoc315]

I guess by 'ease', I meant portability and quick photo taking opportunities, not so much auto-mode stuff (which I'm pretty good at already ).

Is Sony the only one who makes a mirrorless camera?

No, the M4:3 cameras are mirrorless, they are from Olympus and Panasonic. Nikon makes a 1" mirrorless, the quality isn't quite up to most dSLRs, but it has very fast auto focus. Samsung, Fuji and Sony all make APS-C mirrorless cameras (the same sensors found in most dSLRs).

 

[Canadian Harmony]

Thanks!