Need a new camera, for sure. Help!

[Hoytman]

I've actually been considering making another camera purchase because my digital is so old. It's a Pentax Optio G somethin', 3.2 megapixel that has never taken good quality photo's. Some were good, but many were extremely blurry from day one and my dad and I never could figure it out. We should have taken it back, but we didn't.

Sam's has a nice Canon elph 100 HS that I've been eyeing for sometime now. The price is finally right at $109, but I'm afraid it's going to be way outdated even before I purchase it. I like that it has 1080 HD.
I honestly can't spend over $200-$300 and I'd like to keep it below $200 if I could.
I don't know much at all about cameras, but I'd like to know more. I really need another camera because my son is growing up so fast and we've totally quit using the Pentax out of frustration.

My dad has an old Nikon FG with 2-3 Nikon lenses (not sure which ones), but the body has malfunctioned. I'm not sure if I could use the glass on a new DSLR body or not. I probably could, but changing lenses often might be a pain for what I want it for.

I need a camera to take basic photo's of our family, and it's also important for taking good quality detailing shots. Not pro quality, but sufficient for showing detailing work.

I like the thought of having a similar camera to what Mike Phillips uses, which I believe is above a point and shoot style camera.

What are good options for me? Links please!

 

[FUNX650]

Hi Bill...

I'm not much on camera-spending myself (still using a point&shoot Nikon Cool Pix S70)...

But this is where I camera-shop:
Digital Cameras - Dodd Camera | Shop Online
Dodd Camera | Contact Information

Go online...Or (I believe you're in Kentucky)...
Take a little drive-up North, perhaps.



Bob

 

[fahoumh]

I don't know how it is with the Elph 100 you're considering, but I've noticed with my mom's and girlfriend's mom's PowerShot SD1200 that indoor pictures with poor lighting always look terrible, even with the flash. At any ISO higher than 200, there's a lot of picture noise...like the pictures look grainy.

I stopped worrying about how quickly my tech items became outdated a long time ago. My Nikon D60 (well, it's my sister's now) is almost 4.5 years old and it still takes amazing photographs.

My girlfriend's Canon T2i films in 1080p and the quality, while good, is still nowhere near as good as that of a proper video camera, IMO. So it's never a feature I look for to be honest.

Digital Photography Review and KenRockwell.com: Photography, Cameras and Taking Better Pictures are great sites to check out for proper reviews....though Ken seems to have a bias for Nikons.

 

[Hoytman]

Hi Bill...

I'm not much on camera-spending myself (still using a point&shoot Nikon Cool Pix S70)...

But this is where I camera-shop:
Digital Cameras - Dodd Camera | Shop Online
Dodd Camera | Contact Information

Go online...Or (I believe you're in Kentucky)...
Take a little drive-up North, perhaps.



Bob

Thanks Bob! I'm actually about an hour northwest of Dodd and had completely fogotten about that place. Never been there, but hear an occasional advertisement on the radio.

...in 1080p and the quality, while good...

A camera with 1080 HD filming is a must for me because I can't afford two seperate cameras right now.

I'm almost certain that all of Garry Dean's (Premium Custom Detailing.com) video's are shot with a Canon elph 100 HS.

 

[fahoumh]

A camera with 1080 HD filming is a must for me because I can't afford two seperate cameras right now.

I'm almost certain that all of Garry Dean's (Premium Custom Detailing.com) video's are shot with a Canon elph 100 HS.

You sound like you're set on that camera. :laughing: Then I would say the best thing is to buy one and try it out. Worst case scenario is you don't end up liking it, returning it, and you're back to shopping for another camera.

 

[nihoole]

Check out dpreview.com and search for your Canon camera. At least you can be informed before you purchase.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Here's the most important thing I need in a camera and that's a camera size and lens that enables me to get a side profile shot without having to walk away from the car a zillion steps. Hard to explain but so many of the things I do I need to do quickly, like "getting the shots" be they before, process or after shots and I can't invest a lot of time walking 20 to 30 feet away so "all the action" can be captured or a good profile shot.

These are side profile shots and nothing is cut-out, that is a portion of the front or rear of the car. The goal of a side profile shot is to capture the entire side profile view of the car. Without a full size camera with a good lens you have to back away from the car to far to get the entire car framed into the shot.

If you look at the pictures I include in any of my write-ups you'll see patterns, one of the patterns is something I learned while taking pictures of my classes at Meguiar's and that's lots of action shots of people having fun.


Action shots...

Entry level cameras don't offer these kinds of abilties...