When did you decide to upgrade your digital?

[Caitsmama]

I am tossing the idea around about updating my digital..

Currently own a Sony Mavica CD400 4.0 MP, 6x zoom.. this is my first and only digital and i guess i am sort of emotionally attached..
When this camera was new about 4 yrs ago, it was around 900.00.
But, lately, i have been really noticing others work, and it seems I just can't my camera to take good zoom shots from far away - not like those i see here! I don't like the fact that when i zoom in from further away, it deteriorates the quality of my image to the point where i am just unhappy with the pic.
I am a big scrapbooker, and would LOVE a great quality camera that would allow me to take beautiful crisp images from across the yard - or whatever. With great sharp details..

I hear lots of talk about digital slr's but admit i know nothing about these.. any advice on what to do?? I would consider probably spending up to about $900 or so on a great camera. However, I don't want to have to take another 4 yrs to learn how to use it!

And, if i DO upgrade, what would you do with my current camera, which like i said is a great camera...

 

[JR6ooo4]

Do you want to haul around one, two or three lenses? Or more? Most that go the DSLR route have several lenses. You may find a single lens that works in most situations. I carry three through the parks. A 28-135IS, a 70-300IS and a 50mm.

You mentioned that when you zoom the image is degraded. Are you using digital zoom?

A compromise might be the Canon S3, 12x optical zoom and a small package. Also considerably under your budget....

Mikeeee

 

[Caitsmama]

I don't mind lugging around lenses, I actually enjoy a larger camera, i don't like the newer small digitals - i just like the feeling of a large camera in my hands! LOL

Yes, it is a digital zoom, I use it in the automatic mode (this camera also has full manual modes - never used them).. Is there another way to use this camera for far away shots without using digital zoom?

 

[Master Mason]

To add to what Mikeee just wrote, besides being willing to carry mulitple lenses, you have to purchase them.

lenses range anywhere from under a 100 to several thousands, although most people probably will never spend more than 1K on a lens.

so keep that in mind.

Personanally you could probably get buy with 2 lenses only.... something in the 18-125 range or the 23-135 or somthing in that range as a good walk around lens, then a longer zoom of your choice.... There are many many options out there.... and some "affordable" options, meaning 3rd party brands that are good, but usually not as pricey as the manufacturers brands..

Hope that helps some.

 

[Master Mason]

I don't mind lugging around lenses, I actually enjoy a larger camera, i don't like the newer small digitals - i just like the feeling of a large camera in my hands! LOL

Yes, it is a digital zoom, I use it in the automatic mode (this camera also has full manual modes - never used them).. Is there another way to use this camera for far away shots without using digital zoom?

There are 2 types of zoom. The optical uses lenses to magnify the image making it larger as it hits the sensor. Once you run out of optical zoom, the digital would take over. What the digital does is crop out parts from the limit of the optical zoom. So while you get no more maginification at that point it appears that you are getting closer because it is consentrating on a single point.

Here is a simple annology.... if you stand 100 ft from an object and look at it That is all the way open or no zoom. Walk 50 ft closer and what your looking at apears larger and you can see it better. Now at the 50ft mark squint and concentrate on only a certain spot of what your looking at... that squinting part is the digital zoom. If you had more optical it would be like walking up to 25 feet away...

 

[Caitsmama]

ok, thank you.. One question though, as for the optical zoom vs digital zoom, what exactly is the difference?
I checked out that camera that mikeee suggested, and it has a 12x optical zoom, where my camera only has a 3x optical (6x in digital)..

Do you think that just getting a camera like mentioned above with the much higher optical zoom would help me out? B/c the price on that camera is obviously very tempting!

 

[Master Mason]

One other thought.... If you don't want to learn to at least adjust Whitebalances, ISO settings, and use either the av or tv modes the I personally would recomend against a dSLR. Because all you would end up with is a really expensive point and shoot. And your pictures wouldn't be improved over the cheaper point and shoot in anyway.

 

[Master Mason]

Yes absolutely it would help you..

Take a look at this thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1235546
A couple of people on this board just bought that camera and they have some good examples of what it can do as far as zoom goes on this thread..

 

[Caitsmama]

Thanks SO much! I will take a look at that link!! See this is why i love you guys - That is exactly what i don't want - an expensive dslr to use as a point and shoot! LOL

I guess i really don't want to honestly be bothered with all the technical stuff, and i really enjoy a point and shoot but i am frustrated with my far zoom.. I guess when my camera first came out, it was great.. but technology changes so fast.. It's just an emotional thing i guess, hard to part with..silly i know!

I am going to check that link, and try to figure out the digital zoom vs the optical zoom thing..

So, would you ultimately suggest a higher optical zoom with less MP, or more MP with a lower optical zoom??

 

[Master Mason]

Thanks SO much! I will take a look at that link!! See this is why i love you guys - That is exactly what i don't want - an expensive dslr to use as a point and shoot! LOL

I guess i really don't want to honestly be bothered with all the technical stuff, and i really enjoy a point and shoot but i am frustrated with my far zoom.. I guess when my camera first came out, it was great.. but technology changes so fast.. It's just an emotional thing i guess, hard to part with..silly i know!

I am going to check that link, and try to figure out the digital zoom vs the optical zoom thing..

So, would you ultimately suggest a higher optical zoom with less MP, or more MP with a lower optical zoom??

It is my feeling that once your over 5MP then your better off with more Optical zoom verse more MP if that is the tradeoff.... I think that 5MP will blow up to 11x14 with no degradation, and how many of us actually ever print anything that large... but it will allow you do do some cropping of your pics and still maintain the quality.

Others might have a different opinion though, I am certainly not the expert that several of the posters here are.....

I have heard rave reviews of that S3 though.... great zoom, and built in IS... hard to beat that combo...

 

[Caitsmama]

I just read that thread and WOW.. the zoom detail on that camera is GREAT!! Maybe i can get my dad to buy my Sony off me (he wants to start playing around with a digital) and I can recoop some of the money for the new camera!
hmmmmm.. i just need to decide- so i can learn a new camera before we go to WDW next month!
And to make matters worse, my current Sony uses mini CD's so i have no clue when it comes to memory cards!

 

[jann1033]

I don't mind lugging around lenses, I actually enjoy a larger camera, i don't like the newer small digitals - i just like the feeling of a large camera in my hands! LOL

Yes, it is a digital zoom, I use it in the automatic mode (this camera also has full manual modes - never used them).. Is there another way to use this camera for far away shots without using digital zoom?

not having read all the posts sorry if a repeat but if you never use your manual modes i'd use them for a while...if you find you hate the "work" involved with that a dslr is not for you but the s3/2 might be the way to go

read( well skimmed ) the posts and want to add...i couldn't decide between the s2/3Is and rebel xt...i ended up with the rebel and like it but i also really liked the size and feel of the s3, it's slightly smaller (compact) than the rebelxt but not small enough to feel like a toy. i still may get one for my husband to use for work( and me when i feel like it instead of my rebel) the pictures from it are very nice.

memory cards, while others will disagree i'm sure, i have one "fast" and 4 normal speed( as in got 2 1 gb cards for $15 each at micro center) and i can't tell a difference in usage or even downloading( never used a stop watch to time them either ) so i really don't think i would worry about a super fast speed. i personally find the 2 gb i like better than 1 since it seems like i can keep taking pictures for ever with it.

 

[Jeanne B]

Do you think that just getting a camera like mentioned above with the much higher optical zoom would help me out? B/c the price on that camera is obviously very tempting!

Absolutely, and I just wanted to mention that you can buy the S3 from beachcamera or buydig.com (sister websites) for $339 with free shipping which is about $100 less than it was selling for back in June when I bought mine. You're on the east coast so you would have it in 1-2 business days even if you selected free shipping. I have the S3 and you'll see quite a difference going from 6x to 12x and actually the digital zoom isn't too bad on this camera if you ever needed to use it, the canons seem to do pretty well with digital zoom. I have a Canon A610 also and the digital zoom on that is pretty decent, for digital that is, but definitely don't let digital zoom be a deciding factor in what you purchase for a camera.

 

[Master Mason]

Memory cards are pretty cheap at this point. SD is cheaper than CF..... I have seen 2gb sd cards for under $40.... and CF seams to be running in the neighborhood of 2x what SD cards cost.... From my limited research.

The big thing with cards is have enough memory to take the pictures you want, and then a little extra. Having some way of saving what is on the cards, such as a laptop or one of the HD memory devices might be helpful, or you can get them burned to CD's at photo stops... WDW does it, but it is pretty expensive from what I hear. Walgreens or what ever drug store is around off property would be a lot cheaper....