Need Help from Disboard Members

[disgrumpydad]

Good Morning to all,

I am need of some help from a few of you fine photo takers.

I am looking for a digital for < $500.00, I have looked at the following at bestbuy Canon Powershot 8.0MP S5IS

Has a 12X zoom. It would be used at the parks, birthdays, the usual places, I also would love to start taking photos of the wildlife in my back yard, birds, rabbits, deer, as well as insects and flowere inthe garden.

Would this do the job? If not any suggestions would be GREAT

Any help from you all would be welcomed.

Thanks, disgrumpydad

 

[jann1033]

i read this help "with" disboard members and just wanted the gossip but you could check the s2/3/5 thread and see tons of photos with that camera there...seems like it would be great for what you want but i haven't used it personally
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1235546

 

[°O°Joe]

I would get the Nikon D40 kit for under $500. It's a DSLR but easy to learn and great for entry DSLR's like myself. It won't have the 12X optical zoom like the Canon P&S BUT there are lenses out there that will get you that - you could purchase in the future...

 

[mouselovenfamily]

I would get the Nikon D40 kit for under $500. It's a DSLR but easy to learn and great for entry DSLR's like myself. It won't have the 12X optical zoom like the Canon P&S BUT there are lenses out there that will get you that - you could purchase in the future...

Your photos are great! May I ask what you use. After that photo of the fireworks at the castle on the other thread, I'm buying a new lense! I use a Pentax istD but have been advised to get a quicker lense to get better photos. I think I'm buying Photoshop too , after all, it's just money and photos last a life time!

 

[°O°Joe]

Your photos are great! May I ask what you use. After that photo of the fireworks at the castle on the other thread, I'm buying a new lense! I use a Pentax istD but have been advised to get a quicker lense to get better photos. I think I'm buying Photoshop too , after all, it's just money and photos last a life time!

Thanks mouselovenfamily! I use two lenses. Mostly I use the Nikon AF-S DX 18-135 mm. I used this for the fireworks shot that you're referring to. A 10 second shutter was used for the fireworks, so I think it was more technique rather than lens on that one. The other lens I bought (and I'm very glad I did) is the Sigma 30 mm F1.4 DC, which is a very quick lens. I found this extremely useful indoors and walk around night shots. I often set my Auto ISO to 1600, set it on aperature priority mode set to 1.4 and shot away. I made some really good shots with that lens, and it was well worth the $400.

 

[Gdad]

My wife also uses a Nikon D40- and I use her's sometimes when she lets me. A very fun camera.

 

[Groucho]

Also, I would skip Best Buy and look online, you can find much better bargains that way. $500 is a LOT to spend for a point-n-shoot digital camera.

The S5 will probably suit you fine as long as you don't attempt to take photos in low light (and you're not planning on getting too involved in learning more than basic "point then shoot" photography.) As soon as it gets dim, the DSLR's benefits become enormous, and of course a DSLR is far superior if you'd like to learn more and become a more advanced photographer. You can get a variety of DSLRs for under $500 currently. The best bargain is the Pentax K100D Super, only an astonishing $329 after rebate! That price is without a lens, so you'll have to add on that cost, but you can choose from the basic kit lens (either new, usually maybe $80 or so I think, or used - you find many for sale on places like pentaxforums.com or eBay) or a lens with more reach.