need some camera help

[philbyi-guy]

I've always admired photography, and I still doubt I'll ever get pictures as good as I've seen from some of my friends (I know nothing about photography) But I want a camera. My brother has a small little camera that gets pretty nice pics, and that's what I'm looking for. not too expensive, and something that a total newbie can take nice pictures with, without too much experience (I don't expect my pictures to be perfect)

[Mikoh4792]

What's your budget?

What are you looking for? A point-and-shoot, a dslr, a mirrorless? If you don't know what these are a quick google search should give you a good idea of what you want. And joining a photography forum would be much more productive.

If you want to learn how to take good photos, I think getting a dslr would be the right step. Best way to learn how to set your exposure, use different types of lighting, wide-angle and telephoto shots....etc. Most entry level dslrs are pretty basic/easy to learn and there are many guides out there on youtube and books.

[philbyi-guy]

Budget: $400 max. I don't value photography as much as having the money to keep my animals happy
Dslr would be best I think. Something that does have an auto mode that takes nice pics on, but also lets me learn the basics

[Mikoh4792]

Budget: $400 max. I don't value photography as much as having the money to keep my animals happy
Dslr would be best I think. Something that does have an auto mode that takes nice pics on, but also lets me learn the basics

I can't comment then...because the dslrs I've tried are not that good on auto. You'll get much better pics setting the exposure yourself but to be honest it's not that hard to get a hang of once you start understanding them.(just watch youtube videos...)

Amazon.com: Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens: Camera & Photo (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-14-2MP-Digital-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B003ZYF3LO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393545302&sr=8-1&keywords=nikon+d3100)

nikon d3100 is the entry level dslr for nikon...$409 comes with an 18-55mm lens.

[Mikoh4792]

Sony nex... compact camera systems. Auto should be much better and is $299.

Amazon.com: Sony NEX-3NL/B Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera Kit (Black): SONY: Camera & Photo (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-NEX-3NL-Compact-Interchangeable-Digital/dp/B00BF9MUBM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1393545400&sr=8-2&keywords=sony+nex)


And there are plenty of point and shoots that are decent and under $100 but dslrs and similar are more versatile.

[Mikoh4792]

I'd recommend something that can use interchangeable lens since down the road you can buy different focal length lenses for wide angles, telephoto, macro...etc.

[philbyi-guy]

I'd recommend something that can use interchangeable lens since down the road you can buy different focal length lenses for wide angles, telephoto, macro...etc. Ok thank you, I'll look into the cameras mentioned

[Pareeeee]

I recommend any of the of the Canon SX series. I have a Canon SX20IS, and even though it's a few years old it takes AMAZING pictures. These cameras are famous for having great zoom lenses.

I ordered an adapter for my camera and now I can attach filters etc.

Example shots I've taken with this camera:

Macro shot: http://i.imgur.com/cxYJo4M.jpg

Scenery shot: http://i.imgur.com/tIuGr8R.jpg

Zoom example - this turtle was not close, probably 20 feet away. http://i.imgur.com/hAdW8bp.jpg

[Mikoh4792]

Awesome pics pareee. Are those taken with manual exposure, or auto settings?

[Pareeeee]

Awesome pics pareee. Are those taken with manual exposure, or auto settings?

Oh boy, you're asking me to remember that? I'll have to look at my exif data when I get to my PC.

[philbyi-guy]

I'll look into that. Anyone have experience with the Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18.0

[Mikoh4792]

I'll look into that. Anyone have experience with the Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18.0

I've toyed around with it at stores.

If you are getting into dslrs, don't worry about image quality. They are all good as long as you have good lenses.

Just look for the features.(wifi, dual card slots...etc). For your use and purposes I think a T3i would serve you very well. And the kit lens that comes with the camera(18-55 or 18-135STM) are quite decent lenses.

Here are photos taken with the canon t3i(aka 600d)

Full-size sample photos from Canon EOS 600D (http://www.pixel-peeper.com/cameras/?camera=1549)

[MCB]

Cannon EOS 400D, a few years old but a great starter DSLR, you won't go wrong.

[violet]

Sony RX100, it's a great little camera. This is the perfect one for your price range

[violet]

Here are some inexpensive camera for you, check out
Best Cheap Digital Camera under 200 Dollars 2014 (http://thedigitalcamera.net/best-cheap-digital-camera-under-200-dollars/)

[KarenL]

I would also check out the Panasonic Lumix point & shoots. I get great results from my Z200 which is a little over $400 but they have a number of models in your price range. The FZ200 has a built in 24x zoom, and I use a $70 Raynox DCR-250 clip on converter for macro photos.

Here are a few shots taken with an earlier Panasonic Lumix model -

[millertime89]

Buy a used DSLR and get the Canon 50mm prime lense and find a decent telephoto later. It's not so much the camera as the user. Start here, I did Canon since that's what I know best, you can't go wrong with a Nikon either.
Used SLR Digital Cameras | B&H Photo Video (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ns=p_PRICE_2%7c0&ci=15488&setNs=p_PRICE_2%7c0&N=4294182649+4291570227&srtclk=sort)

Edit: I took this with a Canon Rebel XTi and the 50mm prime lense IIRC
http://www.1320video.com/img/album375/MG_9018_2.sized.jpg

[eminart]

It's not so much the camera as the user.


This.

Photography is all about knowing how to set up a shot, and which settings to use in each situation to get the results you desire. NO camera will give you CONSISTENTLY good results shooting in auto mode because it just isn't possible for a camera to be that smart. You'll get great photos sometimes, but it's going to be the luck of the draw.

Get an entry level DSLR (even used and older), a decent lens as suggested (50mm prime would be great), and learn the basics of photography. It really isn't difficult to learn to be a pretty good photographer. Get a handle on ISO, aperture size, and shutter speed and you can do just about anything.

[Mikoh4792]

I would also check out the Panasonic Lumix point & shoots. I get great results from my Z200 which is a little over $400 but they have a number of models in your price range. The FZ200 has a built in 24x zoom, and I use a $70 Raynox DCR-250 clip on converter for macro photos.

Here are a few shots taken with an earlier Panasonic Lumix model -

Great shots Karen. Were these taken with manual exposure, or automatic mode?

[KarenL]

Great shots Karen. Were these taken with manual exposure, or automatic mode?

I usually use aperture priority mode so that I can control depth of field but not worry too much about constantly checking my settings. If I am using flash, I set the ISO to Auto but limit it to max 400 ISO. I will crank up my ISO if I'm using natural light and I need to, but with the point and shoots this usually results in noisy shots so I try to avoid it where I can.

I do have a pro quality mirrorless micro 4/3 camera too, but usually leave it at home when I am field herping because the P&S is so much lighter than a lugging around a bag of lenses and I'm guaranteed to have the wrong lens at the right time!

[Mikoh4792]

I usually use aperture priority mode so that I can control depth of field but not worry too much about constantly checking my settings. If I am using flash, I set the ISO to Auto but limit it to max 400 ISO. I will crank up my ISO if I'm using natural light and I need to, but with the point and shoots this usually results in noisy shots so I try to avoid it where I can.

I do have a pro quality mirrorless micro 4/3 camera too, but usually leave it at home when I am field herping because the P&S is so much lighter than a lugging around a bag of lenses and I'm guaranteed to have the wrong lens at the right time!

Thanks for clearing that up. I'm just in the market for a nice small point and shot camera that has good automatic functions. Sometimes my dslr is a bit big to take on the go or when i need to capture a shot very quickly.

were those pictures taken with flash? or just natural light?

[KarenL]

Thanks for clearing that up. I'm just in the market for a nice small point and shot camera that has good automatic functions. Sometimes my dslr is a bit big to take on the go or when i need to capture a shot very quickly.

were those pictures taken with flash? or just natural light?

I would have to look that up. If the light is decent enough for me to get a shot at reasonably low ISO with a shutter speed of around 1/125 sec I usually don't bother with flash, but I do use flash in low light of if the subject is moving about a lot so I can use a smaller aperture and get a little more leeway on focus!