Challenge: I need a new camera
I know almost nothing about cameras. The last time I bought a camera (2004), friends from work gave me a list of features, I walked into the Ritz Camera store, and told them I wanted a camera that had this list of stuff, and handed them the list. I've been really happy with what I ended up with, which was this:
http://www.nikon.com/about/news/2004/0916_05.htm
It's time for a new one. That was more than FIVE years ago. Hard to believe, but I have the math skills, and it's true. I would prefer another Nikon. I've been happy with the one I have. Now, here's the important thing. A good deal is not always about price. I'm not looking to spend thousands, but I have no interest in the cheapest thing out there.
Please DO NOT suggest some random site I've never heard of. BHPhotovidio, Amazon, Ritz, you know, someplace not in Hong Kong, or Malaysia, or any place where it's going to take forever to get to me. I'm hoping at least one or two of you have some knowledge of photography. Crossing my fingers.
by
shrdlu
asked 2 years ago
Point and shoot digital or Digital SLR?
One thing you can do is go to Any store and play around with most of the digital cameras. to see which features you like. If you like Nikon I would stick with them.
@hobbit: That's just the point. I don't know. I don't want to go and look at cameras. I want one that's the right one, for me. I may give up and send email to the same two guys that set up the initial list.
I not only don't know about camears, I don't really want to know. I know enough other stuff, and my brain is full. I'm busy with bank stuff AND cloud stuff, and that's enough.
I want to take pictures of things that look like what I see with my eyes. It is unsatisfying to take a picture, and then look at it, and realize that although the camera was pointing in the right place, the colors are off, or the flash altered everything.
@hobbit: By the link she provided she wants a point and shoot.
I sorted through the Nikon's current product lineup plus Canon's and Sony's, nothing remotely like the one @shrdlu has.
However these Panasonics have received excellent reviews and are almost exactly what @shrdlu has but with some newer features, I'm reading their specs and comparing and finding what's new, I know the zoom is larger, 10x instead of 8.3x.
This one for $375.47 and has built in wifi, the Panasonic Lumix TZ50:
http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/15a0c792-6fa6-4897-bcfa-7dbea34c6b61/panasonic-lumix-dmc-tz50-point-shoot-digital-camera-silver-dmc-tz50s
Or this one which is its predecessor and has no wifi for $277.30, the Panasonic Lumix TZ5:
http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/1005fb5a-e2e0-44ce-8192-70e83e0b79d6/panasonic-lumix-dmc-tz5s-9mp-digital-camera-with-10x-wide-angle-mega-optical-imag
Problem with POS Cameras is that they do alter these issues that she has. It may be time to move up to a lower end Digital SLR, which is why I asked. Of course I am of no help here, because I go off and ask my photographer friends for advice and they tell me exactly what kind of camera I need to get.
Oh and shrdlu won't like the one from buy.com ;)
Okay the differences between the the camera you have and the cameras I recommended.
The zoom is larger and should handle slightly better in low light situations with the Panasonics. The battery life may be a little shorter with the Panasonics. The Panasonics will shoot for about a day and a half before needing a recharge.
The difference between the two cameras I selected, one has wifi and poor macro/super closeup abilities. The other does not.
The one without wifi is significantly cheaper.
@hobbit: Actually, I don't like buy.com, so I never clicked on the link. Why wouldn't I like it? Just curious.
I can see it's going to be more difficult than I thought, because I just need to know what camera is it that I want, and when I looked at the one on Amazon, I immediately started looking for the names of the guys that I'd worked with. It'll take a while (I suck at remembering names), but I'll retrieve it.
@catbertthegreat: I am not particularly concerned with price. The one that had wifi takes closeups, and the other one doesn't? I like closeups.
Mostly I take pictures of my glassware, or my garden (and there's snow right now, so no gardening). One of the things that I find frustrating is that I think there should be enoug light to take a picture, and yet the camera wants to flash, and the flash distorts the colors. Bleagh.
Shrdlu HATES the flash. Hate hate hate. But without it, things are blurry. Rock. Hard place.
I would recommend the Lumixes that @catbertthegreat posted, or if you wanted to stick with Nikon, this one looks pretty good for $183.46:
http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/294b08b7-8b2f-4877-9110-3d8bc3efb3a8/nikon-coolpix-l100-10mp-digital-camera-with-15x-optical-vibration-reduction-vr
@shrdlu: The one with wifi, the reviewers said it does a poor job with closeups. If you mount your camera on a stable tripod and woot! had mini tripods once or twice and you can turn off the flash and leave the shutter open for a longer time to take a photo without a flash, even point and shoots can do this but you have to read the manual.
@catbertthegreat: I agree it is bigger, but it also has 15X zoom and is $100 less. I like the Lumixes a lot though, it was my favorite P&S at my last trip to Best Buy.
See now I need to start shopping for a new Digital SLR. I want to play with lenses.
@shrdlu: Placing a thin piece of white paper over the flash would make a cheap diffuser and soften the flash over what your shooting. Could make you and the flash better friends.
@shrdlu: A simple guide to taking better close-ups:
http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Do_Close_Up_Photography
@catbertthegreat: Oh, dear. I am famous for the not reading the manual thing.
I miss my husband (gone since 2001). He was an amazing and talented photographer. I used to tell him to please take pictures of things, and then I would have the picture I wanted. My camera mostly does what I want, and I have it mastered for outside, but the flash indoors just frustrates me.
@shrdlu: You know these new digital ones have indoor settings right?
okay I am leaving before you figure out how to hit me from several hundred miles away.
Try mine @shrdlu you can turn the flash off, I do it all the time.
@shrdlu: From what you have said you want and expect from a camera, a cheap, entry level DSLR would give you much better results than any pocket point and shoot camera. You need a faster lens to take clear pictures in low light. For about $600 you could get the set-up I use to take pictures indoors without a flash. I use a Nikon D40 which you can find cheap online. I bought mine as a refurb for $375. For a lens, I use the new 35mm prime ($200). It is sometimes called a "normal" lens, because it closely matches what your eye sees. It has a large aperture, which mean it lets in more light, so you can shoot faster and have less blur. With a entry-level DSLR you can just leave it on Auto (the green camera) and it will do the work, but as you learn more from playing with the camera you can get really creative.
@toastriot: You just made my head hurt. I'm pretty sure that what you are talking about is the very opposite of what I wanted. Seriously. If it takes any more effort than turning the flash off, I don't want it.
I appreciate everyone's effort, and thank you.
@hobbit: I can turn off the flash on my Nikon, but the pictures are often blurry when I do that. What frustrates me is that when I view them on the preview on the camera, they look fine. It's when I download them that I can see the picture isn't good.
@shrdlu: buy the camera I just suggested you will be happy trust me. Also get a tripod.
I upgraded to a Panasonic Lumix from a Casio Exilim (what catbertthegreat recommended) year or so ago and absolutely love it. It's small enough to fit in my coat pocket or purse but the lens is good enough that I can take some great pictures. It has some features that allow me to do some more interesting things. However, I generally stick to the very simple menu that includes the size, quality, lighting and a few other things (for example...type of lighting...clouds/light bulb/sunshine, etc.). I love that the lens can do wide angle & telephoto shots. I learned recently how much I like it for close-up/detail shots.
I should note that my tech savvy includes turning things on and expecting them to work (I still can't program my thermostat). I wanted the features without the confusion.
Oh, also...I was nervous about the battery. It holds a charge for a long time! Weeks when I'm not really using it and days even when I'm shooting a ton of pictures.
@glindagw: Oh, thank you thank you THANK YOU!!! Nice to see someone else with my apparent skill level. I am just going to trust @catbertthegreat, and go for the fancy one then.
Crossing my fingers...
@shrdlu: Make sure that you get the one with the wide angle & telephoto...they have some different options in the lumix.
Ok, so true story...no kiddin' there I was (dumb & inquisitive). When my camera was days old I woke up to a security issue on the Slovakian border. I was bored & the train wasn't moving...making it the perfect time to take surreptitious low-light pictures (it's cold, snowy and there are a bunch of people with guns outside). I pulled out the manual and I could actually understand it. I have some very cool pictures from that night. My manuals generally languish in a drawer...but this one might even be worth your reading one day. It's amazing what happens when you actually use the features.
I played around with the features on my casio last night and came up with an amazing shot. Didn't hurt that the lighting was perfect. Actually I used the Anti Shake feature on mine A.LOT. because my hands jiggle a bit more than I like with the camera.
@hobbit: You recommended a tripod earlier...I totally agree with that! It makes life so much easier!
@glindagw: I need to get a little one, but I also don't want to look like a dork when I am just out and about. I just take snaps now, I rarely use my digital for anything more than playing around.
I ended up getting this one:
When I looked again at the Amazon one (I was comparing the two that @catbertthegreat had posted), it said "Look, there's a newer better one just for you!!!"... or something like that. It had the wide angle thing, and great ratings. What the heck, it was still less money ($243.45) than my Nikon was, new.
@shrdlu: Now you need to go on a trip to break in your new camera. Let me know how you like it.
@glindagw: Why would I need to go on a trip? I'm retired. I LOATHE traveling. I will use this camera for the same things I used the other one for. My garden, and trying to take pictures of my antique glassware (mostly Carnival, and green depression). If I feel adventurous, I'll venture down to the river and take some pictures there (that would be a matter of three miles, so not a long journey).
I do appreciate your recommendation though. It was the tipping point (as I'd said), and I'll be excited to get it.
@shrdlu: Fair enough! It sounds like you have had a few adventures (or at least lived in a variety of places) in the past. I think that everything is an excuse to travel. 90% of the time I'm a single mom who works from home (almost everything is virtual) & does exciting things like cooking & quilting (ok, add hiking & biking). I keep things interesting by indulging my wanderlust the other 10% of the time.
Have you played with building a simple light box to photograph your glass? I built one with pvc from the hardware store (no tools required) to document my glass & china before storing it.
@glindagw: Single mom is tough. BTDT.
I know nothing about cameras, and although I know my husband talked about light boxes, and also had a light table, both of those things were mysteries to me.
I PMed you over on regular woot with the rest of the reply.
Stats
- Asked
- 2 years ago
- Asked By
- shrdlu
- Answered
- 33 times
- Viewed
- 655 times
- Voted Against
- 0 times
- Voted For
- 6 times
33 Answers answer
Sort By: