I know that there have been other posts on this subject that I have read but I would like advise on picking out a camera that my wife and son will be purchasing for me for Christmas. I have read Ross's posts and I am currently looking at the cameras that the people that I am following use.
I have a p&s camera with limited settings (Kodak C613), I have a better p&s camera that have some manual settings (Kodak DX6490). I am looking to upgrade them with either another p&s or a DSLR.
Here are my requirement:
This camera should have features on it that will allow me to take pictures of the moon and long exposure pictures. The slowest shutter speed I have now is only 16 sec and the smallest aperture setting is f/8. I would like an infinity zoom and/or the biggest optical zoom I can get. To take moon pictures now I need to go into the digital zoom range which makes my pictures grainy and hard to edit. I would like to keep the cost of the camera to be around $500 (plus or minus a few hundred dollars). These requirements may be obtainable with a p&s but not certain that it is obtainable with a stock lens on a DSLR.
Any advise on the start of my research will be appreciated. I have narrowed my DSLR to Canon and Nikon models but am up for suggestions for p&s cameras.
Thank you.
PS: Sorry, I spelled "advice" wrong and to not know how to change it without deleting this post.
Well, Joe, if you're buying new $500 is tough, but it can be done.
Honestly (I know it sounds cheezy for a gift) but my best camera is a 9 year old Nikon D1H. It was $4,350 new with it's whopping 2.74mp. I bought it used for $250. I have a 1997 Nikon AF 35-70mm ($135) and a Refurbished Nikon AF-S 55-200mm zoom ($125). Total cost = $510. I don't even use my 12mp DSLR anymore, only as a spare. You've seen my pics.
And I have shot moon pics with it (a little cropping to zoom in, but I can still print to 20x30 with that "obsolete brick" (that's what a salesperson would call it).
Joe, per your request offline, I know you can always look for refurb kits at a much better price. Nikon does refurbished right. I highly recommend. For a D5000 and a 55-200 mm lens, you are looking at maybe $700. They come and go. Google Adorama and B&H Photo and Video. They run good stuff.
I know I am a Nikon guy, so I can't give an honest recommendation for Canon, but you can't go wrong there either. Look into Lumix and Pentax too.
I hear you can't beat a Canon for a great high end P&S too. Some get up close to $500, but I have seen awesome results from them.
Get a Canon or Nikon basic D-SLR body and a telephoto lens. Not sure of equivalent USD cost but in UK you can pick up a Canon 1000D and a 55-250mm (excellent budget lens) for about £450 online. I'm sure in $ it won't be much more than your budget.
If you're going for a compact rather than an SLR, I'd recommend Nikon. The feature mine has that I like best is the ability to move the area you're focussing on, so it doesn't always focus dead centre. That said, mine doesn't go fully manual, so I can't control the aperture or shutter speed. I'm saving for an SLR at the moment.
I'd respectfully disagree and go Canon if going for Compact - the Canon S90 is one of the best compacts ever released. It has full manual functionality like D-SLR but it the size of a P&S!
Also, Canon compacts are renowned for their ease of use. I own a Nikon and a Canon P&S and the Nikon isn't a patch on the Canon. As for D-SLRs, they are pretty much neck-and-neck.
I'm a Nikon guy as well. Upgraded my old Nikon to a D5000 this year, and saved up for a 70-300 mm lens to go with it. Together, they would come above your 500$ estimate I guess, but probably not too much. As suggested before, if you can find a refurbished one, that's not a bad option, might save some $$.
One tip, I love shooting with my 70-300 tamron lens, but I should have spent the extra money on getting the stabilised version. I now need either a lot of light, or bring the tripod with me where ever I go. Luckily, I usually photograph outside in the sunlight, and I have no issues.
Did do a couple of moon shots with it, and getting better at it. It's not that easy though to get the settings right. The camera has settings up to 30 secs. of exposure, or you can go in bulb mode which will allow you to take a photo for as long as you can press the shutter.
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Honestly (I know it sounds cheezy for a gift) but my best camera is a 9 year old Nikon D1H. It was $4,350 new with it's whopping 2.74mp. I bought it used for $250. I have a 1997 Nikon AF 35-70mm ($135) and a Refurbished Nikon AF-S 55-200mm zoom ($125). Total cost = $510. I don't even use my 12mp DSLR anymore, only as a spare. You've seen my pics.
Just a thought.
I know I am a Nikon guy, so I can't give an honest recommendation for Canon, but you can't go wrong there either. Look into Lumix and Pentax too.
I hear you can't beat a Canon for a great high end P&S too. Some get up close to $500, but I have seen awesome results from them.
Also, Canon compacts are renowned for their ease of use. I own a Nikon and a Canon P&S and the Nikon isn't a patch on the Canon. As for D-SLRs, they are pretty much neck-and-neck.
One tip, I love shooting with my 70-300 tamron lens, but I should have spent the extra money on getting the stabilised version. I now need either a lot of light, or bring the tripod with me where ever I go. Luckily, I usually photograph outside in the sunlight, and I have no issues.
Did do a couple of moon shots with it, and getting better at it. It's not that easy though to get the settings right. The camera has settings up to 30 secs. of exposure, or you can go in bulb mode which will allow you to take a photo for as long as you can press the shutter.