OKAY all you amazing PHOTOGRAPHERS - A ?? for you

[Ilivetogo]

My DD15 has taken a digital photography course in her high school (awesome school system) and will be taking the sequel class next year. Her teacher loves her "eye" and her work. She is currently just using a Nikon Coolpix which does a nice job -- and you know -- easy to carry, in-and-out of the pocket, etc. Eventually she want's to go to college for photography and get her BFA possibly from Virginia Intermont College (vic.com).

I just spotted this camera and since it's rather inexpensive AND I read one review that leaned more toward it being a half-decent camera for the price, I was considering getting it for her. BUT, it says it is "SLR-like" and it's a "SLR-type" camera. What the heck does THAT mean?

Fujifilm S1500 10MP 12x

THANKS for your help!

 

[jann1033]

My DD15 has taken a digital photography course in her high school (awesome school system) and will be taking the sequel class next year. Her teacher loves her "eye" and her work. She is currently just using a Nikon Coolpix which does a nice job -- and you know -- easy to carry, in-and-out of the pocket, etc. Eventually she want's to go to college for photography and get her BFA possibly from Virginia Intermont College (vic.com).

I just spotted this camera and since it's rather inexpensive AND I read one review that leaned more toward it being a half-decent camera for the price, I was considering getting it for her. BUT, it says it is "SLR-like" and it's a "SLR-type" camera. What the heck does THAT mean?

Fujifilm S1500 10MP 12x


THANKS for your help!

from what i could tell it means it looks like a dslr and has more of a zoom than most other point and shoots. from what i see,you can't change lenses like you can with a dslr . i'm guessing it also has a point and shoot sensor. in a dslr your view is through the same lens you take the photo thru and there is a mirror that moves when the shutter is depressed. don't think that is the set up with this one. you can't shoot raw either(a different type photo file but has more info in the file ) which she might want to do. it did say you could control iso etc. not really up on p&s cameras but maybe you can't on some(?)

if she is really interested in pursuing photography( and at 15 it could of course change) i'd get her a real entry level dslr ( a few hundred more plus lenses but she will be able to use the lenses with what ever brand if she stays with it later). it's what she would want eventually, the prices for entry levels are not bad right now and it probably would be more useful in the long run.

 

[kyak]

I'd hold off on the camera until she's sure that she wants to major in it (I'm currently entering my junior year, and my major has changed about 6 times since I was 15). If her point and shoot is taking great pictures now, I'd hold off on investing in a newer camera, since prices are dropping like crazy.

But, if she is interested in photography, and is mature enough to handle a nicer camera, I'd recommend an SLR. They are getting cheaper and cheaper now, but with responsible care they will last a long time. She'll want an SLR camera in college, anyways, because the options and capabilities are so much more advanced.

If she's seriously interested in photography, send some e-mails to the photography department at her potential school to see what they recommend. I know my photography department either recommends high-er end 35mm film cameras, or DSLR cameras.

Eh, just my 2 cents.

Check out http://digital-photography-school.com they have lots of information and great reviews

 

[Evad]

from what i could tell it means it looks like a dslr and has more of a zoom than most other point and shoots. from what i see,you can't change lenses like you can with a dslr . i'm guessing it also has a point and shoot sensor. in a dslr your view is through the lens and there is a mirror that moves when the shutter is depressed. don't think that is the set up with this one. you can't shoot raw either. it did say you could control iso etc. not really up on p&s cameras but maybe you can't on some(?)

if she is really interested in pursuing photography( and at 15 it could of course change) i'd get her a real entry level dslr ( a few hundred more plus lenses but she will be able to use the lenses with what ever brand if she stays with it later). it's what she would want eventually, the prices for entry levels are not bad right now and it probably would be more useful in the long run.

jann is exactly right. This camera is a pns with a 12x zoom. I have a Fuji as well a dslr. The Fuji though not bad for a pns is still no match for a dslr. The only real difference between what she has now and the Fuji is that the Fuji has more zoom.

 

[jann1033]

jann is exactly right. This camera is a pns with a 12x zoom. I have a Fuji as well a dslr. The Fuji though not bad for a pns is still no match for a dslr. The only real difference between what she has now and the Fuji is that the Fuji has more zoom.

in other words, "marketing marketing marketing"

 

[Ilivetogo]

Okie dokie then.

There you have it!

We will skip this idea altogether.

Thanks to everyone for the insight.

 

[zackiedawg]

I don't have that cam, and have no reason to defend it, other than just not wanting too much misinformation floating out there in the world. So I feel compelled to mention that the Fuji is as mentioned by others a small-sensored advanced point and shoot camera with a largish-zoom range. Not much special. However, if you or your daughter haven't yet decided to commit to the DSLR route, with the extra weight and bulk that will tend to come with the multiple lenses you will inevitably begin to collect, there is another Fuji model that is actually a much more 'SLR' like camera - the S100FS. It has a decent 28-400 optical zoom with stabilization, a decent-sized 2/3 sensor (much bigger than typical compact camera sensors, but still smaller than DSLR sensors) and fairly extensive manual controls.

Some folks just don't really want (and some don't need) DSLRs, yet they still enjoy photography and want a good all-in-one camera that allows some control...advanced P&S and ultrazoom models are a pretty good choice. But you always want to look at sensor size and lens quality - not megapixels. Just an FYI!