Suggestions?

[maci]

Hi Photo Guru's!

I am in the market for a new Digital camera. Here is what I want, great zoom ability, and to just be able click away. It is so frustrating when our current camera takes so long between pics, by the time it is ready again, your subject is GONE!

Main purpose would be shooting the kids and vacations etc,
I want one that is EASY for most of the time, but does have options if I want to try and get "fancy" like you all do!

This board and you photographers are inspiring me!

Which camera would you guys suggest for 1000.00 or under?

Thanks!

 

[Corey10112]

I use a Kodak Z650. It's not near what some of the other people on these threads are using, but it does good for me. It's got a 10x Optical zoom and 6 MP processor. There is some lag between shots, but if you know you're going to be taking action photos there is a continuous shoot mode that's easy to setup just by pressing a button. It has preset scene selections as well as manual options and the always handy full automatic. The only thing that I would suggest is that you take a tripod if you're going to be taking night shots (most everyone else suggests this also no matter what camera you have). I think the cost of it is under $300 anymore. Kodak has a pretty good selection of point and shoots and they take decent pictures. Mine has been dropped a few times as well (courtesy of my 11 month old son's little fingers) and it still works great. Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Best of luck in your search.

 

[jann1033]

here's one reviewers opinions...he has a list of his "best" super zooms if you scroll down...you can just skip to the conclusions if you don't want to read the whole thing but imo before you buy go to a store or 2 and try the ones you are considering out as to how much you like the feel and set up.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/best_cameras.html
once you decide on a few you can check here as well( his set up is just a little harder if you don't have a specific camera in mind imo)
http://www.dpreview.com/

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

A lot of people here have a Canon S3 IS. I have no experience with the camera, but it gets great reviews.

I did have a Kodak z740. It had 10x zoom and was a pretty nice camera. One thing it didn't have was image stability (IS) and it made taking low light shots a bit more difficult.

I did upgrade to a DSLR. It's a Pentax k100D. It has image stability built into the body (that was a major seling point). I bought that for about $500 and it came with a 18-55mm lens. I bought three other lens for under $400.

It does have a learning curve, but for the most part it pretty easy to use.

 

[Groucho]

You can probably safely cut your budget in a third. Most point-n-shoots are much faster than they used to be, so lost shots shouldn't be as much of a problem.

With long-zoom, at the moment, you have a choice between image stabilization (Sony H5, Canon S3) and image quality (Fuji long-zoom)... not that the S3/H5 will necessarily have poor photos, but the Fuji has a markedly larger sensor so will generally produce sharper photos and should do much better in low-light situations.

 

[maci]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I guess I need to go into a wolf and "play" with cameras?
We have a sony cybershot, that we got 3 years ago? I think. I have not liked it since day 1. The pics are always blurry, unless you hold your breath and are photographing a snail
I REALLY want to UP grade, and get a really nice camera this time. It just has to be one I can operate.

Sounds like image stabilization is the key.
I had a fuji- 35 mm camera, and I LOVED that camera, the pics were always SO clear. I want that again!

 

[YEKCIM]

Sounds like image stabilization is the key.

IS can be helpful, to be sure, but taking good photos is WAY more than just having an image stabilized camera or lens. Learning to use the camera's features can be just as important, if not more so. For example, you can reduce both camera blur *and* subject blur by using a faster shutter speed (IS does nothing about SUBJECT motion/blur). Faster shutter speed sometimes requires use of a higher ISO. How to adjust those and other settings on your camera is very important if you want to use the tool (camera) to its full advantage.

Fortunately, learning to use a digital camera is much easier in some ways than film, and is certainly less costly, since there is no film cost. After you decide on a camera, read the manual, cover to cover, and then just to shoot some pictures. You don't have to go far; usually your back yard will do. Try different exposure modes, different apertures, different shutter speeds, different ISO settings, different metering and AF modes, different...well, you get the idea. See what works for you and what doesn't, under differing conditions. Once you get the hang of it, you will rely less and less on the manual, and more and more, on experience.

~YEKCIM

 

[m&m's mom]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I guess I need to go into a wolf and "play" with cameras?
We have a sony cybershot, that we got 3 years ago? I think. I have not liked it since day 1. The pics are always blurry, unless you hold your breath and are photographing a snail
I REALLY want to UP grade, and get a really nice camera this time. It just has to be one I can operate.

Sounds like image stabilization is the key.
I had a fuji- 35 mm camera, and I LOVED that camera, the pics were always SO clear. I want that again!

Hey Maci! Haven't seen ya in forever!
Why don't you come to the next DIS Meet so we can see the new little one before they start college.

 

[maci]

I have been looking at the Canon S3 thread, maybe this would be a good option for me?

Hi m&m's mom! I would love to, the last couple of meets just havent been at good times for me. Please be sure to let me know when the next one is! I will try to make it!
I am not very good about looking at the meets board

 

[Groucho]

I had a fuji- 35 mm camera, and I LOVED that camera, the pics were always SO clear. I want that again!

One big reason they were clear was that a 35mm negative is 864mm square... whereas most point-n-shoot digital cameras have a sensor that is, umm, 24.71 mm square. In other words, there's about 35x as much surface area to capture your photo in a film camera! That goes a long way towards picture clarity. Of course, you can't make a direct comparison between film and digital, but there's no question that with a difference that drastic, the film will always have a huge advantage.

The other thing is that few people looked at their print photos like they do their digital ones. A high-megapixel camera is the equivalent of having all your photos printed at poster size. When you're looking at it at 100% size on your monitor, you're seeing it a lot closer than you'd see your 35mm print unless you got out your magnifying glass.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I have been looking at the Canon S3 thread, maybe this would be a good option for me?

I'm one of the guys over on that S3 thread, and I can say that I'm loving my new Canon S3 IS. It's an excellent "all around" camera that does exceptionally well in outdoor conditions.

It's a nice complement of features; good lenses with a long zoom, plenty of manual controls and auto modes, Image Stabilization, ISO 800 (but grainy, need Noise Reduction software for PP), awesome stereo video capabilities, and good price.

If you're going to be taking lots of low-light pictures, though, the Fuji (F30, I think) is supposed to be the best -- more sensitive sensor and better High ISO performance.

Taking low-light pictures with the Canon requires you to play around with settings -- it gets good results, but you have to work much harder to get them....