I'm sure there are articles but perhaps you can just point them out to me (ok, I'm a bit lazy at times).
I have a Point n Shoot, takes nice macro shots and has some good features. The zoom feature is not so good. I am ready to graduate away from a point n shoot.
My husband is talking about getting me a new camera (isn't he wonderful) so I want to know what I'm talking about in camera's. I don't know the difference between the DSLR's, SLR's or whatever the different acronyms are. It's possible I don't get one for awhile, but I want to be ready.
Here's what I want:
Good continuous shooting
Good zoom
Good macro
Good quality pic's
digital (NOT film)
change various settings & programs
Something I can take good action shots
I can take specialty shots such as crowns & water splashes
good auto's available too (for low self esteem days)
I want something I can grow with - able to use the basic's right away but get into fancy stuff in the future as I learn.
Can't afford ton's ($500 - $1200)
My cake & eat it too
The best thing you can do is go to a camera store and hold a few of them. I prefer Nikon but that doesn't make them better than Canon or the other way around. Pick the one that feels better to you, i have a friend with an entry level Canon and it just felt too light and cheap to me. Nikon just released the new D3200 (comes with 18-55mm lens) and has all the features you are looking for and there is even money left in your budget for a macro lens.
yes, you want any consumer grade DSLR with a fast lens...the lens is the big expense, not the camera. You can get a used body and put your cash down on the lens.
I have a Canon 60D, and as @tanja_1211 said above, I selected this one because it felt right in my hands. Any major camera manufacturer will give you the features of what you want. So the main thing to do is go to a store and try them all.
DSLR- Digital Single Lens Reflex- means it has a mirror that reflects the view from the lens into your eyepiece, then flips up (reflexeses) to allow the image to imprint on the sensor......Agree with the above, almost any DSLR will do all those things so you need to hold it, carry it (if possible, in the store) and see how it feels. Like Tanja said, you might be able to find one in the right price range so you can get a macro lens also. You might look at getting a sturdy tripod, not one of those $20 walmart ones, but a good solid entry level one.....will help tons with macro and water splashes/crowns. Oh and a XYZ camera for dummies book. Not saying you're a dummy but those owners manuals are dry reading & those books help out.
Don't worry about the very complicated feedback here. Buy any entry level Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera, use the full auto function and go and take some pictures. Have fun! The best camera in the world won't make you take great pictures. You have to develop the "eye" for a great picture. So, don't focus on the equipment, focus on the picture. Then, as you get more comfortable with the camera, start to experiment with aperture, shutter speed and so on. But, the picture is all, not the equipment!
@peadar What is 'very complicated', exactly? She asked for feedback on specific questions and has received some thus far. Kathy strikes me as an intelligent person, I'm pretty sure she can process what's been written on her own.
@beautifulthing Well, here is the question (or part of it) - " I don't know the difference between the DSLR's, SLR's or whatever the different acronyms are." Most responses gave information about equipment, which, given Kathy doesn't even know the acronyms, must have been quite confusing. I was just trying to say that, actually, the equipment is not really the place to start. Most entry level DSLRs do the most amazing things, and photography is about the art, not the equipment. I'm sorry if that offended you!
Hi Kathy, I just purchased my first DSLR in February...and started this project. I purchased a Nikon D3100, it is one of the entry level cameras, it is smaller light weight and can do a great deal of things. Now that I have used it for a while and also used my dad's Nikon D7000 I know I will want to upgrade at some point. However, this suits my needs as a beginner for now. I took a day course on how to use my settings on manual which gives you a bit more artistic license than using just the automatic settings. I would suggest doing that. As most people have said it's really all about the lenses. The kit lense is okay, but if you want to do a lot of macro, you need a specific lens for that. Nikon or Canon are both good, you just have to try them out and see which ones make more sense to you. Good luck.
Anyway o.0
Here's a site to consider looking at- http://www.imaging-resource.com/camera-reviews
It might help to read some reviews, that site is full of information, compares information and images. Canon,Nikon and Sony seem to be the most popular, and readily available, so it may help to narrow it down to one of those before you go out shopping.
On the other hand, maybe just look around, try some out in the store, have fun finding your new camera!
Let us know what you pick :)
@sdpace Thank you for clearing that up, I thought the "D" in DSLR stood for Digital so I assumed perhaps the it's not with an SLR but I wasn't sure.
The idea of getting a used camera & investing in the lens is a good suggestion and I worth considering.
@tanja_1211 I will look into the Nikon 3200 based on what you said.
@beautifulthing I always thought the most important part is the camera not the lens so it's good to know. Also thank you for calling me intelligent even though I asked a pretty stupid question. Since I started in December I've been focusing on composition, processing, POV, etc., etc. and the specific features of my point n shoot and ignored everything about camera types so I feel I need to get a better understanding on cameras. Your feedback is very much appreciated.
@sdpace I think the message I'm hearing is invest in the lens. I really appreciate your feedback!!!
@hjbenson Thank you Harry, I really appreciate your feedback! How do you like your camera?
@shadesofgrey Thank you so much for that explanation - I really appreciate it. I have a tripod but haven't used it much, but that is because of the type of camera I have. I like the suggestion of getting that book - thanks for not calling me a Dummy but I know in the world of photography I'm learning and really am sort of a dummy in comparison to the many advanced photographers on this site. But when my friends see my pic's they are amazed, so I've learned a lot.
@peadar I get your point that you can have the fancy equipment but if your shot lacks composition, is out of focus or just a stinky shot the equipment isn't going to help. I've had my point n shoot and started on auto. I use all the settings my camera offers so I'm ready to graduate and advanced. I see pictures of animals, birds, etc. and my camera makes them look smaller or fuzzy when I zoom. I'm ready to learn slowly learn about aperture, shutter speed, etc. and trying to do what I can with what I have. I really appreciate your feedback!!
@chapjohn I just assumed it had to be a Nikon or Cannon - why do you suggest those brands? Thank you for the feedback!!
@38mm I love the whole idea of digital, capture, delete, reuse. Film to me means continuous investment in film and paying someone to develop the pic's. I know there are features film offers. Is there a reason you would recommend film instead? Thank you for your comments!
@newbie Thank you for your feedback - I'm hoping to get a camera that I can grow with, add additional lens or equipment etc. so I don't want something I will outgrow too quickly. I enjoy taking macro shots now so that is good advice & something to consider. Thanks so much for the feedback - really appreciate it.
@binny Yes, I was thinking about having an idea of what I'm looking for first and then just look at a few good ones. Thank you so much for the comparison link - really helpful!!
Thank you everyone for your feedback. I love this site, I have grown so much already and I know I have made HUGE improvements with my photography. I also know I'm just a toddler in comparison to all of you on this site so I want to continue to learn & grow. If you ever look at my shots please feel free to tell me what you really think & offer advice.
Just bought a Nikon D5100 as my first SLR a few weeks ago. It was $800 (in Canada). I had no idea what I was doing, but it was really easy to learn. I think by now I know how appox. 12% of the settings work now. :D
I can join in with everyone else. The camera just has to "feel right". For me personally, Olympus was way too heavy and I really like my Canon 450D (entry level, of course) because the body is quite light which means heavy lenses don't hurt too much.
For macro I would suggest you buy an extension tube first, for example one by Opteka. It is so much cheaper than an actual lense and will do the job for a while (although your pns might be superior-this is what I find with my mum's pns).
NEX is Sony. I believe that Sony, Panasonic, and Olympus are moving forward with technology and have some great things not found on other cameras. Alpha series are DSLR's that look like that. NEX are smaller and offer most the DSLR features in a smaller case.
@myhrhelper I do like the Canon 60D, it has all the features that I wanted and then some, still trying to figure some of them out. It is a heavier camera than most, but I like that type of solid feel. The buttons are positioned far enough apart so that I don't accidently hit the wrong key.
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@beautifulthing @sdpace
Here's a site to consider looking at- http://www.imaging-resource.com/camera-reviews
It might help to read some reviews, that site is full of information, compares information and images. Canon,Nikon and Sony seem to be the most popular, and readily available, so it may help to narrow it down to one of those before you go out shopping.
On the other hand, maybe just look around, try some out in the store, have fun finding your new camera!
Let us know what you pick :)
The idea of getting a used camera & investing in the lens is a good suggestion and I worth considering.
@tanja_1211 I will look into the Nikon 3200 based on what you said.
@beautifulthing I always thought the most important part is the camera not the lens so it's good to know. Also thank you for calling me intelligent even though I asked a pretty stupid question. Since I started in December I've been focusing on composition, processing, POV, etc., etc. and the specific features of my point n shoot and ignored everything about camera types so I feel I need to get a better understanding on cameras. Your feedback is very much appreciated.
@sdpace I think the message I'm hearing is invest in the lens. I really appreciate your feedback!!!
@hjbenson Thank you Harry, I really appreciate your feedback! How do you like your camera?
@shadesofgrey Thank you so much for that explanation - I really appreciate it. I have a tripod but haven't used it much, but that is because of the type of camera I have. I like the suggestion of getting that book - thanks for not calling me a Dummy but I know in the world of photography I'm learning and really am sort of a dummy in comparison to the many advanced photographers on this site. But when my friends see my pic's they are amazed, so I've learned a lot.
@peadar I get your point that you can have the fancy equipment but if your shot lacks composition, is out of focus or just a stinky shot the equipment isn't going to help. I've had my point n shoot and started on auto. I use all the settings my camera offers so I'm ready to graduate and advanced. I see pictures of animals, birds, etc. and my camera makes them look smaller or fuzzy when I zoom. I'm ready to learn slowly learn about aperture, shutter speed, etc. and trying to do what I can with what I have. I really appreciate your feedback!!
@chapjohn I just assumed it had to be a Nikon or Cannon - why do you suggest those brands? Thank you for the feedback!!
@38mm I love the whole idea of digital, capture, delete, reuse. Film to me means continuous investment in film and paying someone to develop the pic's. I know there are features film offers. Is there a reason you would recommend film instead? Thank you for your comments!
@newbie Thank you for your feedback - I'm hoping to get a camera that I can grow with, add additional lens or equipment etc. so I don't want something I will outgrow too quickly. I enjoy taking macro shots now so that is good advice & something to consider. Thanks so much for the feedback - really appreciate it.
@binny Yes, I was thinking about having an idea of what I'm looking for first and then just look at a few good ones. Thank you so much for the comparison link - really helpful!!
Thank you everyone for your feedback. I love this site, I have grown so much already and I know I have made HUGE improvements with my photography. I also know I'm just a toddler in comparison to all of you on this site so I want to continue to learn & grow. If you ever look at my shots please feel free to tell me what you really think & offer advice.
For macro I would suggest you buy an extension tube first, for example one by Opteka. It is so much cheaper than an actual lense and will do the job for a while (although your pns might be superior-this is what I find with my mum's pns).