Need recommendation on camera

[4fordisneyworld]

I have two daughters in gymnastics and have quickly learned my point and shoot is worthless for catching them in action. I am needing something that can not only catch them in action but usually the gyms we are in don't have the greatest lighting. So I am looking for something hopefully no more than $1000. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Well, here's something to think about and I may be a little off base here but here me out. Most of the camera's you look at come with a "Kit" lens or lenses. Most camera's have an 18-55 lens that comes "stock" Chances are you want something with a long reach on the zoom end so look for a second lens with something like at least 200mm on the high side (usually 55-200.) Now here's where it gets tricky.

The stock lenses only let in so much light and can be so-so at best in a gym with poor lighting. Ideally, you want a lens that is considered "faster" meaning it lets in much more light which allows you to keep your shutter speed relatively quick which makes your pictures nice and crisp.....with me so far? Unless you can get pretty close, some of those lenses can get pretty expensive.

Something I just purchased last week is an external flash. GiannasPappa showed me some pictures he took during a basketball game inside a school's gym was what sold me on it. They give you the extra light you need and that allows you to use a faster shutter speed without spending too much on another lens.

Now, this may be the most professional way of doing things, but for me it's cost effective once I learn the flash and get comfortable using it. Now if you can move around during the games and get pretty close, there are some inexpensive lenses that are faster but they do not zoom in or out, they are in a fixed position.

Either method has it's trade offs. The fixed (prime) lens is less versatile. The flash is bulky, adds more weight, and embarrasses my wife apparently if I use it near her because it makes the camera appear so much bigger.

Either way, a DSLR is the way to go. Most DSLR's in your local camera/electronics shop will get the job done. Go in and handle a few and see which one feels the best to you personally and go from there.

 

[SarahJN]

Do you know anything about photography? Are you willing to learn? The Nikon D90 is a great camera and has good ISO capabilities. It is listed on Amazon right now (body only) for $750. I have seen it for $650 so if you price watch, it might drop.

I would then get a Tamron (for Nikon) 28-70 f/2.8 lens. That is currently listed for $475 on Amazon.

But you would need to learn how to use all that.

My daughters are in gymnastics and I know that at their gym, it is hard for the parents to get close to the action so an external flash may not be the answer. My friend has a daughter in cheerleading and her external flash is useless when shooting in the gymn.

 

[zackiedawg]

Any of the following cameras will allow for sufficient low light focus capability and high ISO performance to allow capture of something like indoor sports, and fit in your budget:

Pentax KX
Pentax KR
Canon T2
Sony A550/580
Sony A33/55
Nikon D3100
Nikon D90
Nikon D5000

However, ALL of those cameras will be fairly dependent on pairing them with the right lens - a lens that has to be reasonably fast (ie: a large maximum aperture) and have the reach needed for where you'll be shooting from (only you can determine that). The lens, especially as you get ones with fast apertures, will easily cost you more than the camera body, and be large and heavy the faster they get. How fast you are willing to get depends on what you're willing to spend and carry.

You could probably get pretty reasonable, usable results with a somewhat basic zoom that goes up to around 100mm at F2.8...those can be found for more reasonable prices within your budget range - how inexpensively you can get the camera body will determine how much room you have left for lenses (the cameras I listed above will range from around $450 to right at $1000). You'd likely do better if you could get an F2.8 zoom that can go to 200mm or so, as it will allow closer detail from farther away. If you can sit fairly close, you could save some money by looking for a prime lens (no zoom - just one focal length) of 50mm to 90mm or so, and those can be pretty fast apertures (F1.4 to F2.8) for as low as $50 on the used side to over $700.

Either way, even with a basic kit lens that comes with the camera body for $500 or so, you'll still get MUCH better capabilities than a P&S camera will give you - DSLRs are much faster to focus, faster to shoot, and can shoot at ISOs up to 3200 in low light conditions with decent results. The ones I listed above could even be pushed up to ISO6400 and still produce usable results.

But your own technique and skill will be very important factors - learn more about photography and how to control your camera, and you'll get much better results from any of these DSLRs than if you just stick it on Auto and press the button.

 

[Witch Mountain]

How far away from them are you when you would typically take pictures?

The kit lens with my Nikon D90 was the 18-105. The first day out, I took pictures at an event where the person on stage was about 150 feet away from where we were sitting. Thanks to the great ISO, I didn't need the flash and the resulting pictures made it very easy to see my subject. Even with the lighting in the auditorium being dimmed to about 50%, there was enough. (I suspect that normal gymnasium lighting will be sufficient with a camera with higher ISO ranges)

If you're in a large gym, that lens won't be sufficient for making your girls the center of your pictures.

 

[Golf4food]

Any of the following cameras will allow for sufficient low light focus capability and high ISO performance to allow capture of something like indoor sports, and fit in your budget:

Pentax KX
Pentax KR
Canon T2
Sony A550/580
Sony A33/55
Nikon D3100
Nikon D90
Nikon D5000

However, ALL of those cameras will be fairly dependent on pairing them with the right lens - a lens that has to be reasonably fast (ie: a large maximum aperture) and have the reach needed for where you'll be shooting from (only you can determine that). The lens, especially as you get ones with fast apertures, will easily cost you more than the camera body, and be large and heavy the faster they get. How fast you are willing to get depends on what you're willing to spend and carry.

You could probably get pretty reasonable, usable results with a somewhat basic zoom that goes up to around 100mm at F2.8...those can be found for more reasonable prices within your budget range - how inexpensively you can get the camera body will determine how much room you have left for lenses (the cameras I listed above will range from around $450 to right at $1000). You'd likely do better if you could get an F2.8 zoom that can go to 200mm or so, as it will allow closer detail from farther away. If you can sit fairly close, you could save some money by looking for a prime lens (no zoom - just one focal length) of 50mm to 90mm or so, and those can be pretty fast apertures (F1.4 to F2.8) for as low as $50 on the used side to over $700.

Either way, even with a basic kit lens that comes with the camera body for $500 or so, you'll still get MUCH better capabilities than a P&S camera will give you - DSLRs are much faster to focus, faster to shoot, and can shoot at ISOs up to 3200 in low light conditions with decent results. The ones I listed above could even be pushed up to ISO6400 and still produce usable results.

But your own technique and skill will be very important factors - learn more about photography and how to control your camera, and you'll get much better results from any of these DSLRs than if you just stick it on Auto and press the button.

What he said.

 

[Frantasmic]

It would probably just be easier to get your daughters to switch to soccer or softball than it would to get the kind of shots you REALLY want with the parameters you've set up.

You can get some pictures with higher iso and a less expensive lens.

For the time being, you could go two different routes. You could get a really good camera (the enthusiasts level in your brand of camera Sony, Pentax, Canon or Nikon) and rent lenses. Or, you could get a really good lens and a higher level beginner's camera.

I have a Canon Xsi and I rented a 135mm f2.0 L lens and got really good results for volleyball earlier this past year.

To get a really good camera and a really good lens to do what you really want, IMO, would cost you closer to $1500.

I'd get the camera now and rent lenses for a while.

 

[emcclay]

Go with a Canon DSLR, no matter what. B&H Photo has a Xs with 18-55mm lens for $499. Unless you're going to be blowing up huge prints of pictures, a 10 mp camera is FINE for a new DSLR user. If you want to take video, go with the T1i. B&H has plenty of used lenses. You'll be able to find one with more zoom at a much affordable price than brand new.

 

[polkadotminnie]

Don't forget to consider how many frames per second the camera will shoot also when choosing a camera to purchase. I upgraded from a camera that shot 2.5 fps to one that shoots 5 fps. It made a huge difference in my tumbling and cheerleading shots. It has taken me a year of playing around to finally get shots I am pleased with of indoor sports.

 

[photo_chick]

Don't forget to consider how many frames per second the camera will shoot also when choosing a camera to purchase. I upgraded from a camera that shot 2.5 fps to one that shoots 5 fps. It made a huge difference in my tumbling and cheerleading shots. It has taken me a year of playing around to finally get shots I am pleased with of indoor sports.

Excellent point. But to get a camera that has a faster rate you will have to etiher blow that $1000 budget or go used. A used Canon 50D runs just over $700 from KEH right now.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Excellent point. But to get a camera that has a faster rate you will have to etiher blow that $1000 budget or go used. A used Canon 50D runs just over $700 from KEH right now.

The Sony a550 will do 5fps continuous focus/7fps focus first frame and is around $600 new. Sony a33 is also $600 new and will shoot 7fps continuous focus. The lens length required will influence the budget of course.

 

[ukcatfan]

Excellent point. But to get a camera that has a faster rate you will have to etiher blow that $1000 budget or go used. A used Canon 50D runs just over $700 from KEH right now.

The Sony a550 will do 5fps continuous focus/7fps focus first frame and is around $600 new. Sony a33 is also $600 new and will shoot 7fps continuous focus. The lens length required will influence the budget of course.

I think the $1K only applies to Canon and Nikon. My Pentax K-x does 4.7 fps for $460 (with kit lens) at Adorama and the K-r does 6 fps for around $700

 

[Wadecool]

I think the $1K only applies to Canon and Nikon. My Pentax K-x does 4.7 fps for $460 (with kit lens) at Adorama and the K-r does 6 fps for around $700

Go Big Blue!

 

[ukcatfan]

Go Big Blue!

Let's have some gator tail tomorrow