I'm looking to upgrade from my Olympus point-and-shoot camera. I will be heading to the stores soon and would like to have some information to talk with the sales people about. What do you recommend?
Canon's Rebel seems pretty impressive (based on some of the images I'm seeeing on this site). I personally am a fan of the Nikon brand. The D3100 is an great low end Nikon DSLR costing between $500-$550 I believe. The D5000 is a fair upgrade over that for roughly $100 more. Both those prices inlcude a kit lens (18-55 or something like that)
@dmortega ..
Conventional wisdom will either point you to either a Nikon or Canon entry level DSLR.
However, you may want to look at the other alternatives like the Olympus EP-L1 (EP-L2 will come out soon), Panasonic GF1, Sony NEX series or Samsung NX series. (Also the Fujifilm X100 looks very tempting) These are all small cameras but with DSLR-sized sensors and interchangeable lenses (except the Fuji which has a fixed lens). Just some things to look at, if you favor the P&S size but are looking for higher quality photos SOOC.
If you are looking at the DSLR route though, going for any of the entry- to mid-range models of any brand is good. Many opinions will arise, but your own preference after a thorough research will still prevail. :) Just my $0.02. :D
@nellycious Ah the X100... soon it will be mine!! But it will be around $1100...
The EVIL, PEN, ect cameras are great...
I love my Pentax KX as a DSLR...
But a 'prosumer' camera will give you great results... you will not likely need to upgrade it any time soon and you don't need to buy a bunch of lenses and stuff...
Look at something like the W90 or panasonic water proof camera, they take great photos, have lots of options and are indistrutable... drop em, freeze em, water em... they keep working...
try taking a canon rebel underwater... well don't... unless you don't want it to work any more
@icywarm --- Actually, that an excellent suggestion. I need it to be indestructable and water proof would be an added feature that would come in real handy.
A prosumer camera are the cameras that look like a DSRL camera, but they have a fixed lens... often very powerful zooms, ok sensors, lots of automatic modes, but better than a run of the mill P&S....
Pentax w90... great camera... the panasonic is good/great too... but I am a pentax fan boy...
@dmortega Depends on if you want to go the DSLR route or not -- if yes, Nikon D3100. If you want to stick with a P&S that fits in your pocket but max out your possibilities, Canon Powershot S95.
Thank you!!! I've been printing out information and will be taking all my info with me to the stores. I really appreciate all the input. It is quite overwhelming to walk into a store with no previous information in hand and everything here is good information. Thank you!
I love my Rebel Xsi! I also have the Powershot which is a great little point and shoot . . . I like to have it for those times I don't want to take all my "gear" but might want to catch a few memory shots . . . I'm a Canon gal . . .
@lynnmwatson - finally! someone that uses the same phrase of memory shots - i use the term and often get blank stares lol
@dmortega - i would say the nikon 3100 or 5000 for a bit more if you are going the dslr route the viewfinder display screen is a LOT more impressive on the 5000 flip down, rotate, really a nice feature depending on type of shooting you are wanting to do - i had been using a d200 until i got a d90 today and was amazed at the image quality and how technology has changed in sensors. i had been doing a bunch of digging and research, and the 5000 is a really good base model the 3000 is a good as well. i have had a couple canons in the past, and just seemed to like the nikons a bit better (just pers. preference there)
if you are considering a base camera and then expanding later, i would suggest the nikon or canon route - a friend went with another company for her first dslr and realized too late she ran into problems when she looked at alternate lenses and flashes. she had also recently purchased a really nice set of strobes, only to find out that she had to go back and buy more adapters because of the brand of camera she went with.
olympus makes a really durable point and shoot (can't remember model number sorry) i also carry a nikon coolpix s4000 on my belt all the time i went in and that was the first one i saw and went with it, not really worried about brand) i didn't even realize it had a touch screen or did video until i got home (hadn't had my coffee for the day at that point). it does a great job when i need a shot quickly, and don't have anything else around - out with friends and the such.
a thought is going with a dslr and upgrading the point and shoot for shots in a pinch - if you do, i would highly suggest making sure they both take the same type of memory cards (usually sd)
the best bet is go into a worst buy or a similar store and try out the different ones, just be hesitant in what route they may push for you to go, but more of the feel and ease of use of the different models for you. then go back home and really dig into those models, even google the user manuals, skim through them, to see how easy one over the other might be - an example would be canon and nikon do a lot of the same things but in different ways, and one way may seem easier to you over the other.
the d90 i bought came as a kit, with a couple lenses. i went online and ordered instead of going thru a store, also a demo model with warranty, which was a much cheaper route that way, the savings i of course blew on extra gadgets for, including a coffee mug shaped like a camera lens just for geek factor)
@cchambers --- Thank you for your input. I've printed everything out including all of your suggestions. This is really helpful and will give me lots to work with. I agree with the idea of going to the stores and "looking" without buying until I've done some lookups on the internet.
Write a Reply
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
Conventional wisdom will either point you to either a Nikon or Canon entry level DSLR.
However, you may want to look at the other alternatives like the Olympus EP-L1 (EP-L2 will come out soon), Panasonic GF1, Sony NEX series or Samsung NX series. (Also the Fujifilm X100 looks very tempting) These are all small cameras but with DSLR-sized sensors and interchangeable lenses (except the Fuji which has a fixed lens). Just some things to look at, if you favor the P&S size but are looking for higher quality photos SOOC.
If you are looking at the DSLR route though, going for any of the entry- to mid-range models of any brand is good. Many opinions will arise, but your own preference after a thorough research will still prevail. :) Just my $0.02. :D
The EVIL, PEN, ect cameras are great...
I love my Pentax KX as a DSLR...
But a 'prosumer' camera will give you great results... you will not likely need to upgrade it any time soon and you don't need to buy a bunch of lenses and stuff...
Look at something like the W90 or panasonic water proof camera, they take great photos, have lots of options and are indistrutable... drop em, freeze em, water em... they keep working...
try taking a canon rebel underwater... well don't... unless you don't want it to work any more
Pentax w90... great camera... the panasonic is good/great too... but I am a pentax fan boy...
Thank you!!! I've been printing out information and will be taking all my info with me to the stores. I really appreciate all the input. It is quite overwhelming to walk into a store with no previous information in hand and everything here is good information. Thank you!
http://reviews.photographyreview.com/blog/samsung-wb700-pocket-superzoom-camera-18x-zoom-raw/
http://reviews.photographyreview.com/blog/2011-ces-camera-report/
@dmortega - i would say the nikon 3100 or 5000 for a bit more if you are going the dslr route the viewfinder display screen is a LOT more impressive on the 5000 flip down, rotate, really a nice feature depending on type of shooting you are wanting to do - i had been using a d200 until i got a d90 today and was amazed at the image quality and how technology has changed in sensors. i had been doing a bunch of digging and research, and the 5000 is a really good base model the 3000 is a good as well. i have had a couple canons in the past, and just seemed to like the nikons a bit better (just pers. preference there)
if you are considering a base camera and then expanding later, i would suggest the nikon or canon route - a friend went with another company for her first dslr and realized too late she ran into problems when she looked at alternate lenses and flashes. she had also recently purchased a really nice set of strobes, only to find out that she had to go back and buy more adapters because of the brand of camera she went with.
olympus makes a really durable point and shoot (can't remember model number sorry) i also carry a nikon coolpix s4000 on my belt all the time i went in and that was the first one i saw and went with it, not really worried about brand) i didn't even realize it had a touch screen or did video until i got home (hadn't had my coffee for the day at that point). it does a great job when i need a shot quickly, and don't have anything else around - out with friends and the such.
a thought is going with a dslr and upgrading the point and shoot for shots in a pinch - if you do, i would highly suggest making sure they both take the same type of memory cards (usually sd)
the best bet is go into a worst buy or a similar store and try out the different ones, just be hesitant in what route they may push for you to go, but more of the feel and ease of use of the different models for you. then go back home and really dig into those models, even google the user manuals, skim through them, to see how easy one over the other might be - an example would be canon and nikon do a lot of the same things but in different ways, and one way may seem easier to you over the other.
the d90 i bought came as a kit, with a couple lenses. i went online and ordered instead of going thru a store, also a demo model with warranty, which was a much cheaper route that way, the savings i of course blew on extra gadgets for, including a coffee mug shaped like a camera lens just for geek factor)