What is A Good Action Shot Camera

[snshine123]

My son is a competitive tap dancer and I need a new camera that will take action shots that won't be blurry when I zoom in oh and won't cost a fortune as well. I also use the camera all the time in my kindergarten camera, so a general, all around camera with some kind of zoom-my current has a zoom that's fairly decent until you get over 3 then it's blurry 9 times out of 10, action, and fairly good in low light situations with no flash. I know I don't need something with much more than a 3 or 4 megapixel as all the photos we take usually stay on our computer photo albums. I think the biggest I've ever printed something out was an 8x10 of my kindergarten class. Thanks for the help!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

won't cost a fortune

Could you be more specific on the price you're willing to spend? Is $2,000 a fortune? $1,000? $500? $300? Plenty of people here can give you great options at different price points.

I assume that tap dance competitions happen on stage in relatively dim auditoriums. That calls for a sensor with a relatively large sensor and a lot of light gathering capability. Trying to take pictures zoomed in on moving subjects in dim light is very challenging.

As this is a Disney board, you might think about what Disney shows seem most similar to the conditions you'll be shooting in. Is it about as bright as the FotLK show and are you about that far away? Maybe it's darker and you're closer, like the Little Mermaid show? Maybe it's brighter but you're farther, like the Indiana Jones show? Anyway, if you can relate it to something similar that many people here have taken pictures of, you can see what results they've gotten with different cameras and see which ones look like the best value for you.

 

[snshine123]

That would have probably been usefull informataion....I hoping for the $200-$300 range-like I said I teach school so not a lot of money here- but anything under $400 would be great. THe cheaper the better for my budget of course! Thanks

 

[webshark3]

hmmm, cheap, fast, and zoom under $400. Stand in line.... lol

I can't see any zoom P&S getting you there, but will toss in my 2 cents.

You can find the Canon 300D DSLR (6mp, large sensor) for about $300 used. Add a Tokina 28-70mm f2.8 lens for around $150 or so.... that will give you "less blur" and "better zoom" than any mega zoom P&S.

The caveat is, you need to do a lot of learning with the SLR before you get the shots you want. Lots and lots of practice. Remember, there's a reason why the good equipment costs more.

The combo I described I've used VERY successfuly and many concerts and shows. If you hunt, you can find it for about $450-$500.

 

[Groucho]

Affordable low light + zoom... sounds like a prescription for a Fuji, make sure it's got the SuperCCD HR, not the regular SuperCCD. They're not perfect, but they're probably the best solution. Hopefully one of these days, there will be some other larger-sensor long-zoom point-n-shoot cameras available, but not yet.

 

[snshine123]

Thanks for all the advice-it is definitely point and shoot at this phase and easy point and shoot at that. I actually let the kindergarten students in my class use my camera all the time so it's gotta be easy to use. THe old one didn't fare well on Splash Mountain-go figure....I wanted a new camera anyway

 

[Spinning]

I would suggest, Fuji s6000SD.
It has a 10x zoom, 6 megs and does very well in low light.
Also make sure to get a tripod.
I have gotten some great shots of my kids on stage.
I took these in the school cafeteria. Now my only problem is...I am not sure if it was with my fuji s5100 or the s6000 But I am pleased with both cameras. I replaced the 5100 because I broke the bottom battery door....

This one is hand held, no flash, and from the s6000

So in my opinion it does a good job for $300!

 

[snshine123]

WOW! Great shots-sounds like your kids are into the same as mine-dance, band plays and yes Ice Hockey!!!

 

[AndrewWG]

I would suggest, Fuji s6000SD.
It has a 10x zoom, 6 megs and does very well in low light.
Also make sure to get a tripod.
I have gotten some great shots of my kids on stage.
I took these in the school cafeteria. Now my only problem is...I am not sure if it was with my fuji s5100 or the s6000 But I am pleased with both cameras. I replaced the 5100 because I broke the bottom battery door....

So in my opinion it does a good job for $300!

The first 2 pics are from your 5100 and the last 2 are from your 6000. Looks like the 6000 is a clearer picture but it could be the lighting. Nice pics though!

Andy

 

[Spinning]

thanks! I know there is a way to get all the photo info...but I have no clue.
FYI:The pictures of the dancers are not my kids. it was a dance troop that came to my kids school.

 

[nicurn]

too bad I can't sneak a tripod into the irish dance comps... they'd notice me snapping away for sure then. maggie

 

[Groucho]

thanks! I know there is a way to get all the photo info...but I have no clue.
FYI:The pictures of the dancers are not my kids. it was a dance troop that came to my kids school.

If you use Firefox, you can google for "fxif" and add that, it allows you to right-click a photo on a web page and see the exif data (which has the info about what camera was used, the aperture, shutter speed, etc). If you use Internet Explorer, there's another program that does it, I think Opanda has it. For viewing your own photos on your PC, Irfanview (if you also install the plug-ins) will show your exif data when you press the "E" key (or use the drop-down menus.)

Nice sharpness on the S6000 photos... nice camera!

 

[Anewman]

I am actually thinking that a K100D with a fast prime might fit the bill.

What is it going for right now??

 

[Spinning]

not to high jack this thread but here is one more from the s6000, just so people can see what it can do.

 

[AndrewWG]

Groucho is right for the Windows Explorer. Just google "Opanda" and you can download their exif viewer called "IEXIF". Actually, it can be found here:

http://www.opanda.com/en/iexif/index.html

It's free. All you do is install it and when you see a picture that you want more info on, you right click and choose "view EXIF/GPS/IPTC with IEXIF" and it pops up a box with that info. Of course, some photos have that blocked depending on what hosting site is being used by that person.

Andy

 

[webshark3]

Remember (looking at the samples above):

Most P&S will look good at High ISOs at 800x600. You may be very disappointed if you view the full resolution image (or need to use it).

 

[webshark3]

Opanda doesn't seen to work on the photos in this thread (for me).

But if I save them to my Desktop, I can right click, Properties > Summary > Advanced to view the EXIF data.

 

[left210]

I am pleased with my Panasonic TZ3.

 

[Spinning]

Remember (looking at the samples above):

Most P&S will look good at High ISOs at 800x600. You may be very disappointed if you view the full resolution image (or need to use it).

Just to let you know I have printed all of those pictures out and they look great! I have had very few pictures I am disappointed in. And the ones I don't like have been my fault by using the wrong settings, or the subject was moving and blurred. Or initially I had a heck of time getting use to the manual zoom and found I was turning it while shooting.
I am a scrap booker and my pictures mean a lot to me. This camera is more than a point and shoot. It is considered a bridge camera.
What I think people need to realize, the camera is only so good but it is also the person using it. The best equipment doesn't always guarantee you will have the best pictures.

 

[nicurn]

Just to let you know I have printed all of those pictures out and they look great! I have had very few pictures I am disappointed in. And the ones I don't like have been my fault by using the wrong settings, or the subject was moving and blurred. Or initially I had a heck of time getting use to the manual zoom and found I was turning it while shooting.
I am a scrap booker and my pictures mean a lot to me. This camera is more than a point and shoot. It is considered a bridge camera.
What I think people need to realize, the camera is only so good but it is also the person using it. The best equipment doesn't always guarantee you will have the best pictures.

having seen the actual pictures printed out, they are outstanding. and I would second the opinion that the camera is only as good as the person taking the pictures. maggie

ps: I like the canon is s1 since that is what I use for irish dance pics, works great in the different light situations and takes awesome action shots