Good, reasonable non-SLR camera?

[Colin]

Hi everyone,

Can somebody recommend a good, reasonably priced (<$300) non-SLR type of camera that is good for tank shots as well as vacation photos?

Anybody know anything about the Samsung NV10 ? It's on sale this week for $270.

Thanks in advance!

--Colin

 

[maroun.c]

Why not an SLR? a basic and good one would be the D40 and would cost you just a little bit more with the chance on upgrading on glass as long as you go.
A non SLR would be in my guess the nikon 8800 or the Sony H1.
I like the Nikon for great macro capabilities however it's a bit slow (at least the 5700 that I had guess the 8800 should be faster)
The sony H1 I only used for a couple of days as it's my sisters. seems to be fast to focus without to much shutter lag. and the widest aperture is a 2.8 which should be fast for lowlit areas as well as having a motion reduction built in.
Try to check out Dpreview it will give you detailed info on any camera you like as wellas a direct comparison for camera of your choice.
Never used the samsung you mention however would try to go with a recognized camera such as a Nikon or Canon.
Sony is goood at electronics and Carl Zeiss that come with it is good quality glass. I would rather go to a camera store and hold the camera before getting it as it's really important to carry it and see if it feels good in your hand, balances well, is the size weight that suits you.....

 

[Colin]

This probably sounds pretty ignorant, but I just don't like the way the SLR type cameras look. It's purely aesthetic. Plus, I really can't justify the cost for something I'll use so infrequently. I don't take a lot of pictures, and I'm definitely a novice when it comes to photography.

Thanks,

--Colin

 

[sharrison1]

if you got yourself a desent DSLR you would find yourself taking pictures all the time. I got obsessed with taking pictures since I bought my D50 back in Oct. of 2006. I have not gotten good with Aquarium potography yet. I'm sure I will be as soon as I figure out what macro lenses to get.
You can look at a few of mine at: http://www.ths.phanfare.com/

Im just beginning so they might not be the best but I think some turned out pretty good. You just cant get that type of control with a point and click, I dont care if it's 10-12MP. Not to mention you can get some nice lenses on EBay pretty darn cheap. You just have to research some of them on Google. Well that's my .002 Happy camera hunting.

 

[VoidRaven]

Hey, Colin isn't interested in a DSLR and that's cool! They are not for everyone despite popular belief. And yes you can get that type of control (DSLR) with some of the "point and click" cameras...they just fall into the "advanced digital" catagory (the Fuji S9000/S9100 being one of them).

OK Colin...good solid digital camera that isn't DSLR. Well, you have LOTS of choices. If you would be willing to adjust you dollar amount a smidge you could open up even more possibilities that would have you set for a long time. For example, here are some nice ones to consider:


Canon S3 IS (or the earlier model, the S2 IS which is under the $300 mark)
Canon Powershot A640
Fuji S9000/S9100 (or earlier model S5200 which is under $300....but I would go for the newer model if you can swing it)

Or cameras along those lines.

As to the NV10....after reading about it I'm not really sold on it. But if you are set on it I think this kit from B&H is a much better price: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...265&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Good luck in your hunt!

 

[jedininja]

I agree. You dont need a DSLR. For many of us, its a hobby. For others, photography is just something to take on vacations.

The recomendations above are excellent. But there are a few more questions you have to consider first. First thingi s size. Do you want something bigger with all the options, or do you want something that can fit in your pocket? What type of zoom do you need? What size photos will you be printing? If you only print 4x6s, you dont need anything over 5MP.

 

[Ayanami]

I'd like to recomend taking a look at Canons SD line. I have a SD 550 and like it alot does nice all round work and decent macro. I've taken it diving and it has been a good camera and they can be had for around 260 or so and is 7.1MP. I can post pics of what it can do if you would like just let me know.

 

[Colin]

Thanks for the info and suggestions folks. Keep them coming! I'm reading up on all these models, although it's information overload sometimes trying to juggle all the specs and brands.

Thanks for understanding, jedininja. I know this is a photography enthusiast forum, but I'm no where near the level of most here. Something tells me I won't find the time to get that knowledgeable, either.

Extra kudos to VoidRaven for looking that camera up. Thanks!

--Colin

 

[sharrison]

What happens when you buy something for X amount of dollars then use it for 3 months and realize that for only a couple more bills you could have had what you really wanted? I thought I wanted a point a click at first. After I researched it on the net I found out that with a point and shoot you are very limited in what you can do. Yes you can get lenses filters and fish-eye lenses and some macro attachments just like the S9000 models (Which look and feel like a DSLR btw). But, by the time you spend the money for those expensive proprietary parts and how expensive they are. You would have come out a lot cheaper in buying an entry level DSLR. Not to mention you can buy nice lenses now for an extremely low price. I bought my Nikon D50 in the ambition of just taking a couple snap shots of the kids or some other odds and ends. But all of you know when you get a hold of something that actually takes pictures that look like some that you gawk about on reef central or on the internet you get excited and want to take more. My wife has even gotten into taking pictures now. I came home tonight and she had taken all kinds of pictures of the tank. IT is addictive. So why pay 500 dollars for something that you are going to have to sink another 200 into it to get all the stuff that you want to attach to it when you can spend the 200 on the camera that you can use for years to come and is very expandable? Any way, that is how I think.

 

[sharrison]

And btw the SDLR of today when set on Auto, Macro, Portriat, landscape, night time is a point and click. its even a point and click on (A) Appature Priority, (S) Shutter Priority Ect. this is still point and shoot.
lol. The only point I'm making is DO YOUR RESEARCH before you buy there is a lot of junk out there.

 

[BlueCorn]

For the record, I shoot virtually everything on full manual. I don't even us AF. That being said, there is nothing wrong with using those automatic modes if you're able to get good pictures with them. It's all about the shot. The equipment you use is just a tool.

 

[sharrison]

true. I only use manual myself now. it took me moths to figure the thing out.

 

[maroun.c]

I guess wether you buy a DSLR or a P&S the most important thing after reading all the specs of different choices is to go try the potential 3-4 cameras you set your mind on. try to hold the camera as well as to focus a few time with it in less than ideal ligthing. also try to take few shots on your own card to assess the pictures before you make a purchase. try to memorize the shutter lag in each of the cameras.Then if those cameras are close in specs I guess the deciding factors would be the above points...
also having an autofocus assistlight, a macro mode, capability of going in A, S mode (which most current cameras do have)....
Keep us posted on what you chose

 

[Colin]

Thanks, folks. I'm going to have to do a lot of research. I've been looking to see what's available locally and looking them up as a start. Any other suggestions/experiences would be great!

--Colin

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8991414#post8991414 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beerguy
For the record, I shoot virtually everything on full manual. I don't even us AF. That being said, there is nothing wrong with using those automatic modes if you're able to get good pictures with them. It's all about the shot. The equipment you use is just a tool.

the lenses oh the lenses i would shoot full auto if i had a lens with better manual focus if you buy a DSLR Then you have to spend just as much on lenses i wish i had a better lens

For what its worth when i got a DSLR i went from takning 350photos a year to 600 a week there is no comparison of the two i still have a great point and shoot but its getting dusty

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8991414#post8991414 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beerguy
For the record, I shoot virtually everything on full manual. I don't even us AF. That being said, there is nothing wrong with using those automatic modes if you're able to get good pictures with them. It's all about the shot. The equipment you use is just a tool.

the lenses oh the lenses i would shoot full auto if i had a lens with better manual focus if you buy a DSLR Then you have to spend just as much on lenses i wish i had a better lens

For what its worth when i got a DSLR i went from takning 350photos a year to 600 a week there is no comparison of the two i still have a great point and shoot but its getting dusty

 

[BlueCorn]

Colin,

If you're planing on taking pictures of fish, pay attention to the delay between the time you push the shutter and the time that the picture happens. On many point and shoot cameras that delay can be significant making pictures of moving objects very difficult.

 

[maroun.c]

For what its worth when i got a DSLR i went from takning 350photos a year to 600 a week

600 a week??? still a long way to go. Took 900+ in a 4 hours aqurium visit in Denmark 3 days ago!!!
my post processing is nearly a year behind.
when you go that way it's post processing that is the problem. especially for some (me included) where each picture has to be inspected in PS at least for a levels check.