Opinions on SONY DSC-H5

[DamnPepShrimp]

I absolutely know nothing about cameras. So hopefully someone here can help me. A local member of mine is selling 2 of his cameras to get a SLR camera, whatever that is. One is a SONY DSC-H1 for $200 the other a SONY DSC-H5 for $250. I will be mostly interested in taking macro shots of corals, and moving shots of fish/cars/bikes. Is this a good deal and the camera for me? I am on a tight budget, so cheaper the better. Thanks for any help anyone can give.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Neither of these cameras are good reef tank cameras. He realized this which is why he is selling both of them to help afford a DSLR, which is an excellent reef tank camera. These are cameras for your kid's soccer game or an air show, not your fish tank.

Then again you aren't going to find a good camera for "macro shots of corals, and moving shots of fish/cars/bikes" on the cheap so I guess you might as well get one of them. It would probably cover cars/bikes pretty well. Macro shots of corals and moving shots of fish aren't really in either of these camera's resumes though. They might do okay with the corals...but nothing spectacular...and the fish are going to be extremely difficult at best.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

Hmmm interesting. Thanks for the response. I am not worried so much about the macro shots. Mostly I need a camera for taking pictures AND videos of moving cars/bikes and for moving fish. The macro shots would be cool, but not needed at all. Sounds like I should wait and save for a DSLR? Any recommendations on a tight budget?

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Or a better point and shoot. Moving fish is going to be the hardest of all for those cameras above. The cars and bikes would probably come out okay. DSLR's are generally still picture only. There are a couple new ones which will take full HD video in short bursts but your talking a lot of money. They also work best if they don't move while shooting (sitting on a tripod just waiting for something to go by...and not turning to look as the object passes). What is your budget? Just as important...on a scale of 1-10 what kind of quality are you looking for?
1 = Cell phone camera at a NASCAR race
10 = NASCAR camera crew

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

I am not looking for the top of the line. I am by no means a photographer. I just want a decent all around camera for moving fish/cars/bikes and be able to take decent videos as well. Cheaper the better, I guess I'd have to say $500 or preferably under for a camera. I know that's nothing as far as cameras go, but I'm not expecting the best camera either, not even close. I'd have to say nothing lower then a 5 on the quality scale? Or is that not reasonable for $500?

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

You can do pretty darn good for $500. $200 is a stretch.

I'll give this one the edge for your cars
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ic_DMC_LX3K_Lumix_DMC_LX3_Digital_Camera.html
And this one the edge for your corals
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/583955-REG/Canon_2663B001_PowerShot_G10_Digital_Camera.html

They are both very capable for cars and corals...but if you really desire one over the other there you have it. I would put them about equal for fish. I might even give the edge to the LX3 for fish but that is a tough call.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

Thank you for your help! I'll probably be taking more pics/vids of cars/bikes racing etc. So I'd rather have the edge for that. The LX3 looks kind of cheap/small looking? Not professional like the sony one I had posted? Weird? Well, I am not quite yet ready to buy a camera, but will definitely keep the LX3 in mind, thank you!

 

[kalebsdad21]

The pics in my gallery are from a dsc-h1 ok camp but dslr is the way to go I just got a nikon d40 and it blows the sony out of the water

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

Yeah, I plan on waiting until I have the money for the right camera. I will be taking more car/bike shots then anything though. Then fish shots, then coral shots, maybe some macro shots.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Oh I didn't know you meant cars in the act of racing. What kind of racing is this exactly and how far away will you be from the action? A DSLR (such as the nikon d40 suggestion above) really might be the only feasible way to go depending on your situation...but...that is going to run a lot more than $500. I've said it before and I'll say it again, "DSLR's, such as the D40, are for people in the $2000+++ price range". I'm sure your new DSLR does blow your old sch-h1 out of the water but to put it in the OP's perspective, that is like comparing a GSX1300R to a Honda Accord and it just isn't fair.