Suggestions please?

[disneyjes]

I do hope this is the right board.

My DSLR, a Sony a33, recently stopped working. My alternate camera is a Canon PowerShot A2500 with 5x optical zoom and 16mp. I'm not happy with it at all. I want a GOOD camera for vacation but also for my sons swim meets. My budget is $500. I'd like something between an SLR and more convenient like a P&S.

I appreciate any suggestions! Thank you!

 

[xlxo]

I'm not a big fan of water resistant cameras...

• limited optical zoom
• poor image optics and resulting pictures

However they do have their place...

• Niagara Falls's Maid of the Mist
• when I can't pull out my DSLR without fearing damage
• extreme temperatures
• in the hands of young children who frequently drop things
• Tropical locations where the humidity condensation building up like taking a can of soda from the fridge

This camera will push your budget, but something to include your research if zoom is important....
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1006602-REG/nikon_27669_1_aw1_mirrorless_digital.html

You might also want to check out this annual waterproof review...
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/2491269399/2014-waterproof-camera-roundup
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/2491269399/2014-waterproof-camera-roundup/14

 

[disneyjes]

I'm not a big fan of water resistant cameras...

• limited optical zoom
• poor image optics and resulting pictures

However they do have their place...

• Niagara Falls's Maid of the Mist
• when I can't pull out my DSLR without fearing damage
• extreme temperatures
• in the hands of young children who frequently drop things
• Tropical locations where the humidity condensation building up like taking a can of soda from the fridge

This camera will push your budget, but something to include your research if zoom is important....
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1006602-REG/nikon_27669_1_aw1_mirrorless_digital.html

You might also want to check out this annual waterproof review...
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/2491269399/2014-waterproof-camera-roundup
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/2491269399/2014-waterproof-camera-roundup/14

Thank you for the info! I will look in to all of those!

It doesn't have to be waterproof. I just want to be able to get shots of him on the block and swimming. We're not allowed to use flash and the shots always come out grainy and blurry with my P&S right now. Sad my galaxy s5 does a better job, lol.

 

[photo_chick]

You might consider mirrorless cameras.

Also keep in mind that the Galaxy S5 has an aperture of f/2.2 which helps out a lot in less than ideal light. It might be worth comparing the cameras you're looking at to what you know works for you.

 

[disneyjes]

You might consider mirrorless cameras.

Also keep in mind that the Galaxy S5 has an aperture of f/2.2 which helps out a lot in less than ideal light. It might be worth comparing the cameras you're looking at to what you know works for you.

Thank you! I will look in to that.

 

[boBQuincy]

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...x=aps&hvadid=163256141&ref=pd_sl_79pj0uid48_e

For a little over $300 you can get a Panasonic GF3, for about $350 you can get the newer GF6. These are interchangeable lens mirrorless cameras which is nice because for swim meets you will probably want a longer lens to "get closer" to the action.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...:502394,n:499248,n:562261011,k:panasonic+lens

Panasonic's 45-200 and 45-150 put you a little over your budget but Olympus 40-150 (which fits like it was made for the camera, which it was) is close. These are not great in low light but should be ok for a well lit pool and will magnify the image about 3-4 times over the normal kit lens.

 

[havoc315]

I'd look at mirroless, particularly the Sony. If you can squeeze it into your budget, the a6000. If you don't need a viewfinder, the a5100. Or get a really good deal on an older one like the Nex 5t. But the a6000 in particular will give you true dslr performance -- autofocus speed and image quality, in a much more compact package.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

What lenses do you have for your a33 and have you looked into why it is not working?

 

[disneyjes]

Thank you all for the advice and ideas! I will be checking in to all of them.

I was taking pictures at my sons party and all of a sudden the camera just shut down on me and wouldn't turn on. We thought it might be the battery and I bought a new one and it wasn't that. Sony wants $300 to fix it which I can't justify spending since a brand new one of that model is $300 on Amazon. I paid $900 when I got it. Not sure what I'm going to do with it just yet.

 

[Pic Stitch]

I recommend the Sony RX100. The original mark 1 is $500 on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DSC-RX10...TF8&qid=1419867108&sr=1-1&keywords=sony+rx100

20MP
28-100 zoom equiv
F/1.8-4.9 aperture

I own the Mark 3 and love it!! Easily pocketable, great image quality.

Just my 2 cents!

Enjoy and Happy Holidays all!!

B-

 

[disneyjes]

I recommend the Sony RX100. The original mark 1 is $500 on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DSC-RX10...TF8&qid=1419867108&sr=1-1&keywords=sony+rx100

20MP
28-100 zoom equiv
F/1.8-4.9 aperture

I own the Mark 3 and love it!! Easily pocketable, great image quality.

Just my 2 cents!

Enjoy and Happy Holidays all!!

B-

Thank you! I was actually checking that one out yesterday.