Help pick a camera

jlinzmaier

jlinzmaier

Premium Member
I'm sure everyone here has heard this question a thousand times - help me pick a camera!!

I'm no photographer and truthfully know very little about cameras or photography. As I search through the endless thousands of cameras on the market I have no idea what is good and what isn't. I don't even know what most of the specs pertain to and how they'll affect my pictures.

Right now I have a Kodak dx 7630. Very good camera for general picture taking. Doesn't work well for very close up pics and does terrible at compensating for 20K lighting (no manual white balance adjustment option - only a few basic preset options, none of which make a difference under 20K lighting).

I could spend up to $500 on a camera. I'm looking for something that can take very close up pictures, and can give me real colors in my pictures (adequate white balance compensation for 20K lighting). Since I'm not a camera genius, I'd prefer that it be easy to use, but I'm also willing to learn and experiment with different settings to get things just right. This camera need not have any other capabilities other than taking good pics of my tank, corals, and fish (I already have another camera for all the rest).

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Jeremy
 
I have a Canon xsi and absolutely love it, however; I am not sure you can get one for under $500 yet. You can probably get the Canon xti for under $500 now and that is an excellent camera as well.

If you just want a simple point & shoot, any Canon or Nikon will give you great color and great photos. (other brans are also good but in terms of best color...I'd stick with Nikon or Canon but that's just me).

Good luck with your search!
 
An Xsi and 100mm f/2.8 Macro will run you $1000. This is without any other lenses or accessories. It can take very close up pictures, and can give you real colors in your pictures (adequate white balance compensation for 20K lighting). It won't be a lot of use for general picture taking, so it is good you have another camera for everything else. It won't be a lot of use for fish either unless your very good with manual focusing. Oh and you will need a tripod. If you don't already have one factor in another $200-$300.

Enter the Canon G10. For $400 you get decent closeups with accurate colors, just like you want. It still isn't "easy to use", but no camera that can do what you want will be. Closeups of corals in a reef tank is no place for automatic settings.There is no way around it, you will have to spend a few late night staying up and reading about photography. It won't be as good as the Xsi with 100mm f/2.8 macro, but it is less than half the price and within your budget. $400.

Of course you still need that tripod though. The G10 is a small point and shoot camera. Compared to a DSLR it is light as a feather and you can get away with a less expensive (I didn't say cheap) tripod.

As a point and shoot that will fit in your purse (I am assuming your a female), the G10 will be nearly as portable as your current camera. In fact you may as well put your current camera in the closet just in case, because this will be your new do-all machine.
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14506608#post14506608 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
An Xsi and 100mm f/2.8 Macro will run you $1000. This is without any other lenses or accessories. It can take very close up pictures, and can give you real colors in your pictures (adequate white balance compensation for 20K lighting). It won't be a lot of use for general picture taking, so it is good you have another camera for everything else. It won't be a lot of use for fish either unless your very good with manual focusing. Oh and you will need a tripod. If you don't already have one factor in another $200-$300.

Enter the Canon G10. For $400 you get decent closeups with accurate colors, just like you want. It still isn't "easy to use", but no camera that can do what you want will be. Closeups of corals in a reef tank is no place for automatic settings.There is no way around it, you will have to spend a few late night staying up and reading about photography. It won't be as good as the Xsi with 100mm f/2.8 macro, but it is less than half the price and within your budget. $400.

Of course you still need that tripod though. The G10 is a small point and shoot camera. Compared to a DSLR it is light as a feather and you can get away with a less expensive (I didn't say cheap) tripod.

As a point and shoot that will fit in your purse (I am assuming your a female), the G10 will be nearly as portable as your current camera. In fact you may as well put your current camera in the closet just in case, because this will be your new do-all machine.
Click to expand...

Wow. Really appreciate all the detailed info, that's exactly what I was hoping for.

Nope - entirely, without a doubt, I am a man, and don't carry a purse. LOL!! Out of sheer curiosity, what made you think I was a woman??

Really appreciate your help.

Jeremy
 
Because purse sounds better than fanny pack. The analogy sticks whether you actually own a purse or not. The G10 is large for a point and shoot though.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14505902#post14505902 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NixPack
(other brans are also good but in terms of best color...I'd stick with Nikon or Canon but that's just me).
Click to expand...
On a side note, I think Pentax has the best color. Just giving credit where credit is due. With Photoshop you can make the color look however you want though.
 
dpreview.com is a great place to start if your looking for camera review.
Are you looking for a DSLR or a point and shoot?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14511013#post14511013 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jtrasap
dpreview.com is a great place to start if your looking for camera review.
Are you looking for a DSLR or a point and shoot?
Click to expand...


Don't even know what DSLR is???

Jeremy
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14511243#post14511243 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jlinzmaier
Don't even know what DSLR is???

Jeremy
Click to expand...

Digital Single Lens Reflex. The fancy cameras...:D ... most of which have interchangeable lenses.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14511013#post14511013 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jtrasap
dpreview.com is a great place to start if your looking for camera review.
Are you looking for a DSLR or a point and shoot?
Click to expand...

He is looking for something $500 or less. DSLR's are for people in the $2000+++ range. If you buy a DSLR with no intention of spending $2000 on it, I think you have wasted your money and should have bought a G10, LX3, or some other nice point and shoot. $2000 really isn't that much in the DSLR world. Like reef tanks, many hobbyists spend over $10,000.
 
Your deal looks good to me. It appears to include a battery, which is something I found out to look for when I bought my G9.

BTW, I absolutely LOVE my G9. It does everything I need it to do and more. I take close macro shots, nature photography, and snapshots. I'm more than happy with my G9, and I can only imagine that the G10 is one notch better. With your budget, the G10 is the best deal, hands down.
 
curious but i am shopping too for a non-slr. i was looking at the fuji s2000hd. 250.00 average price. what do you guys think?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14511953#post14511953 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
He is looking for something $500 or less. DSLR's are for people in the $2000+++ range. If you buy a DSLR with no intention of spending $2000 on it, I think you have wasted your money and should have bought a G10, LX3, or some other nice point and shoot. $2000 really isn't that much in the DSLR world. Like reef tanks, many hobbyists spend over $10,000.
Click to expand...


Actually DSLR's have come down a whole lot in pricing. You can pick up a very nice used one on ebay for under $500 easily.
 
And what does $500 camera do for you? Absolutely nothing. You can't take a picture with it.

Now you need a $500-$1500 wide angle lens, $700-$1300 Normal lens, $500 Macro lens, $500-$2000 Telephoto, $400 speed light, $300 Tripod.......and that is just the basics.

If you want to get into birding for example, you need a $4000-$10,000 Telephoto lens. There are 5 regulars on my local birding trail who are using $15,000 worth of equipment at the same time not including the camera.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14513136#post14513136 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
And what does $500 camera do for you? Absolutely nothing. You can't take a picture with it.

Now you need a $500-$1500 wide angle lens, $700-$1300 Normal lens, $500 Macro lens, $500-$2000 Telephoto, $400 speed light, $300 Tripod.......and that is just the basics.

If you want to get into birding for example, you need a $4000-$10,000 Telephoto lens. There are 5 regulars on my local birding trail who are using $15,000 worth of equipment at the same time not including the camera.
Click to expand...

I don't know where your shopping for lenses but they sure see you coming.....;)

A person could easily pick up a decent used DSLR body, a middle of the road zoom lens, and a decent macro lens for close up pics of fish and corals and other various tank shots for under $500. And with a DSLR you can gradually expand and grow with your needs further down the road.
 
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Actually, I got my DSLR Canon xsi with the kit lens (55 - 80mm) for $700 and, if used right with the correct F-stops, etc, you can get some great tank shots with it.

Of course you can spend $2000 and up on a camera and people who buy a DSLR eventually do spend that much, and more, but you certainly don't need to drop $2000 right out of the gate. Spending more money will not make you a better photographer. You can get amazing shots with a $500 camera.

The G10 that Jason first suggested would be an excellent choice.

As far as good deals go....don't go with Broadway Photo. You can email me privately if you want the scoop. I am not sure how much I can say in a public forum without getting in trouble.
 
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