Need Suggestions for a Nice Camera

[brunette8706]

Hi All!

I love to take photographs at WDW and would like to get suggestions for a nice camera for a beginner. I'm a novice and love to take night time photo's and daytime pictures. My current (cheap) camera, takes horrible night photo's. Anyway, I would like to get something for a novice that would be pretty intuitive to use.

If you have any recommendations, I would appreciate it.

Thanks All!

Brunette

 

[Master Mason]

What is your budget? Are you willing to mess with mulitple lenses and their associated cost?

Also, save part of your budget for a tripod, nothing will help your night pictures more than a good tripod.

 

[brunette8706]

Master Mason-

Hi! My budget is between $500 -$700 range. I'm not sure if I want to change lens constantly lol! Someone mentioned the Cannon rebel, but I know nothing about that particular camera.

I do have a tripod, but I never thought of bringing it to WDW, can I shoot (fire-works, the castle, electric parade) without one?

Thanks!
Brunette

 

[Golf4food]

Master Mason-

I do have a tripod, but I never thought of bringing it to WDW, can I shoot (fire-works, the castle, electric parade) without one?

Thanks!
Brunette

Can you? Yes. Will they look good? Not likely.

Low light requires longer shutter opening and that creates shake and blurry photos if you don't use a tripod or spend a TON of money on really high end equipment (and even then you need a tripod more often than not to get good night photos).

 

[Master Mason]

Master Mason-

Hi! My budget is between $500 -$700 range. I'm not sure if I want to change lens constantly lol! Someone mentioned the Cannon rebel, but I know nothing about that particular camera.

I do have a tripod, but I never thought of bringing it to WDW, can I shoot (fire-works, the castle, electric parade) without one?

Thanks!
Brunette

You don't have to change them all the time, but inorder to get the most out of a DSLR you have to some times.

Entry Level DSLRS
Canon Rebel Line
Nikon d40 and d60
Sony Alpha (I don't know the current Model)
Pentax K200 (pretty sure might be off)
Oympus (dont' know model anymore)

All of these companies make good cameras, each has pro's and con's. Your best bet is to go to a store that has them and play with each, see which one feels better in your hand and is most intuitive to use.

On your list the only thing that I tripod will not help is the electric parade, a tripod will not help much with moving subjects, with the rest, I would say your going to be hard pressed to get a good shot without a tripod or other stablizing device.

Also check DPreview for reviews of each of the cameras as well it will list pros and cons of each.

 

[brunette8706]

Can you? Yes. Will they look good? Not likely.

Low light requires longer shutter opening and that creates shake and blurry photos if you don't use a tripod or spend a TON of money on really high end equipment (and even then you need a tripod more often than not to get good night photos).

**
So all those gorgeous pictures shown of the castle were taken from a tripod? I never knew this. Thanks for the information. I'm not sure I want to lug around a tripod though. )

I love taking candid pictures of people places and things. I also love taking pictures "outside" the box if you will. I have some really cool photo's of the castle from very different angles.

 

[zackiedawg]

Just out of curiosity...what is your current cheap camera? There may be some simple techniques you could use or learn that may help you get better results from the camera you have now.

For example, you mention night shots. Alot of people don't realize that the really nice night shots most people take were done with a long shutter speed, usually on a tripod. Standing in front of something at night, with the camera in your outstretched hand, trying to take a handheld snapshot of a scene, won't work very well with any camera. Even very good and very expensive DSLR cameras require super-high ISO settings and very very light-sensitive lenses with huge apertures to shoot 'handheld' night shots that are crisp and clean. That's just something that's beyond the normal capability of a P&S camera, even a good one.

To take good night shots, the first and foremost order of importance is a slow shutter speed. You want the camera to shoot with shutter speeds several seconds long or more. And keep the ISO set to the lowest number. Now, you can do that with any camera, even cheap ones...but that's where the tripod comes in. You simply cannot hold a camera perfectly still for multiple seconds...and any movement at all will cause blur. So the camera has to remain perfectly still. Tripods are the best way to do that...but in Disney you can slide by without one by just looking for nice, flat surfaces to lay your camera on. Trashcan tops, fenceposts, tables, walls, etc all can work in a pinch. And even better is to not have your hands on the camera when the shutter is being tripped...use the self-timer so you can press the button and let go of the camera to let it take the photo on its own.

Just know that while most of the new fancier cameras you can buy will be better in many ways than a several-year old cheap P&S camera, there are some areas where you won't see that big of an improvement...night shots is one of them. They really are much more dependent on the technique of the photographer than the camera's abilities.

 

[brunette8706]

Hi MasterMason!

Thanks so much for the tips and brands of camera's. I'm going to go to RITZ CAMERA this weekend to check these out. They always have sales too. If interested you can check them out on line at RitzCamera dot com.

Thanks again!
Brunette

Hi Zack!

I believe my camera is a Konica Diamantz (sp)? It's a cheap $199.00 camera I got a few years back. I used to have an old PENTAX SLR camera that used, (gasp) film! LOL! That was about 10 years ago, when I took a photography class. We also developed our own black and white photographs it was alot of fun!

Thank you so much for the great information in your thread.

I clicked on your photo's at the bottom of your thread. WOW! YOu really take great photos.

Thanks again for the tips.

I may have to go to a beginner's photography workshop, lol!

 

[YesDear]

Ok Eveyone who knows me and is familiar with this board sit down before you read this!

Since you have some background in photography even if it was years ago and it sounds like you are not ready for a DSLR, I highly recommend......

The Canon G10. It is an upper end point & shoot that has gotten rave reviews for picture quality and overall capabilities.

Even as a dedicated Nikon user, that is my suggestion!!!!!!!!

Now you all can faint!

 

[gokenin]

Hi MasterMason!

Thanks so much for the tips and brands of camera's. I'm going to go to RITZ CAMERA this weekend to check these out. They always have sales too. If interested you can check them out on line at RitzCamera dot com.

Thanks again!
Brunette

Hi Zack!

I believe my camera is a Konica Diamantz (sp)? It's a cheap $199.00 camera I got a few years back. I used to have an old PENTAX SLR camera that used, (gasp) film! LOL! That was about 10 years ago, when I took a photography class. We also developed our own black and white photographs it was alot of fun!

Thank you so much for the great information in your thread.

I clicked on your photo's at the bottom of your thread. WOW! YOu really take great photos.

Thanks again for the tips.

I may have to go to a beginner's photography workshop, lol!

By any chance do you still have the camera and the lens? if you do as long as the lens is clear of fungus or any scratches you can still use them on all current DSLR's with Pentax. The K200 and the K2000 are the current entry levels for Pentax. Both are good cameras the K200 is weathersealed where the K2000 is not, both have shake reduction in body unlike most other camera makers which have the reduction in the lens

 

[boBQuincy]

Master Mason-

Hi! My budget is between $500 -$700 range. I'm not sure if I want to change lens constantly lol! Someone mentioned the Cannon rebel, but I know nothing about that particular camera.

I do have a tripod, but I never thought of bringing it to WDW, can I shoot (fire-works, the castle, electric parade) without one?

Thanks!
Brunette

$500 to $700 will get you a Canon Rebel (either Xs or Xsi with more features). It will also buy the equivalent Nikon, Pentax, Sony, etc.
These cameras will take very good night photos, especially if you also get the 50mm f/1.8 lens, another $85 or so.

Fireworks does not require a tripod but that limits us to shorter exposures where we won't get the long trails. The 50mm will do ok for the night parades. For night photos of the castle some sort of camera support really helps. It doesn't have to be a full size tripod, a mini or GorillaPod set on a convenient trash can works great.

I don't *even* know what to think of YesDear's post, he must be ready to go over to the dark side!

 

[annnewjerz]

Ok Eveyone who knows me and is familiar with this board sit down before you read this!

Since you have some background in photography even if it was years ago and it sounds like you are not ready for a DSLR, I highly recommend......

The Canon G10. It is an upper end point & shoot that has gotten rave reviews for picture quality and overall capabilities.

Even as a dedicated Nikon user, that is my suggestion!!!!!!!!

Now you all can faint!

 

[Master Mason]

both have shake reduction in body unlike most other camera makers which have the reduction in the lens

Actually that's not true, there are basically 5 players in the entry level DSLR market and 3 of the 5 use in body, so MOST manufacturers have in body, now if you want to go by units sold, then I would agree, but not makers.

 

[gokenin]

Actually that's not true, there are basically 5 players in the entry level DSLR market and 3 of the 5 use in body, so MOST manufacturers have in body, now if you want to go by units sold, then I would agree, but not makers.

hey Master Mason was wondering where you have been have not seen you around that much. Well since you brought it up those two are the ones most people getting in DSLRs look at

 

[Master Mason]

hey Master Mason was wondering where you have been have not seen you around that much. Well since you brought it up those two are the ones most people getting in DSLRs look at

Yes it is, but I am very careful to make sure that I point people at all of the different brands. I bought into canon, and have been very happy with it. But if I were starting right now with a fresh slate, I am not sure that I would choose the same path. But I am too heavely invested to change at this point.

 

[Swoop1]

Also keep in mind that if you are going DSLR and looking to do fireworks pics then a remote shutter release helps alot too, keeps your hands away from the camera while the shutter is open, less chance to shake the camera that way.

I just stepped up from a P&S to a Canon Rebel XSi. Went ahead and got the nifty fifty 50mm lens. Camera kit was 650.00 and the extra 50mm lens was 80.00. I'm sure you can find it cheaper, but that's right in line with your budget and it's a big step up from a P&S.

Just remember you can't stick the DSLR in your pocket.

 

[gokenin]

you may also want to look into the bridge cameras that are being put out these days. they will provide you with the long ranges that you may be looking for and they do provide good night pics not always great pics but better than a P&S if you are ot ready to make the jump to a SLR

 

[brunette8706]

Also keep in mind that if you are going DSLR and looking to do fireworks pics then a remote shutter release helps alot too, keeps your hands away from the camera while the shutter is open, less chance to shake the camera that way.

I just stepped up from a P&S to a Canon Rebel XSi. Went ahead and got the nifty fifty 50mm lens. Camera kit was 650.00 and the extra 50mm lens was 80.00. I'm sure you can find it cheaper, but that's right in line with your budget and it's a big step up from a P&S.

Just remember you can't stick the DSLR in your pocket.

**
You mean to tell me you can't put the DSLR in my pocket? lol!

Thanks for the info about the fireworks. Yes, I have heard a few people that did recommend the Canon Rebel. I may have to check that out. I'm sure Ritz or maybe even Walmart may have this particular brand.

Thanks again.

Brunette

 

[Golf4food]

**
You mean to tell me you can't put the DSLR in my pocket? lol!

Thanks for the info about the fireworks. Yes, I have heard a few people that did recommend the Canon Rebel. I may have to check that out. I'm sure Ritz or maybe even Walmart may have this particular brand.

Thanks again.

Brunette

I would suggest looking at Ritz, etc. to pick them up and hold them, but don't buy from them. A) they are overpriced, and B) they might not be in business at all much longer. Plenty of reputable websites that are much cheaper for actual purchasing (Beach Camera, Adorama, etc. - just don't fall for the gimmicky sites - if they are a LOT cheaper than other websites they are probably a scam).

 

[brunette8706]

I would suggest looking at Ritz, etc. to pick them up and hold them, but don't buy from them. A) they are overpriced, and B) they might not be in business at all much longer. Plenty of reputable websites that are much cheaper for actual purchasing (Beach Camera, Adorama, etc. - just don't fall for the gimmicky sites - if they are a LOT cheaper than other websites they are probably a scam).

Hi!

Great! I will certainly check out your recommended websites. I never heard of Beach Camera or Adorama. Thanks for the heads up regarding RITZ I thought they were supposed to be priced comparable to other camera sites. You have mentioned a great point though not to fall for the "gimmicky" sites on the net.

Thanks.
Brunette