I need a good camera!

[LegacyGT]

You really shouldn't say things like that and not expect to start a Canon vs. Nikon flame war.

What you say simply is not true. Period.

The fact is that Nikon had a processor that far exceeded what any Canon could do in terms of low light photography in terms of low noise. Now Canon has caught up with Nikon in that regard.

The two companies tend to leap frog each other repeatedly. Nikon will come out with some new tech/features that bests the Canon, then Canon will come out with a new model that will surpass the Nikon. This is what makes them both great companies, and it is great for the photographer.

But to say that Canon is the one always pushing the innovation and that Nikon has to catch up is simply not accurate, and even most Canon owners will agree with that.

Fair enough, it goes back and forth ... not trying to start a flame war. If lenses were compatible with both bodies, i would switch back and forth every few years depending on who was on top at the moment. I bought the 20d and at the time felt it was the best option available, now I am locked into canon due to the glass investment.

 

[Bunky]

I really like my D90. I just wish Nikon made an f2.8 17 to 50 mm VR lens. Tamron has one but I did not like sample pics I took.

 

[fancyfootwork]

Thanks! I'm going do more research before buying one. I might sell my speakers and ps3 lol. I don't use it much anymore.

Keep your PS3. Add me on PSN emericaskate8325

Frequently on GT5 and Battlefield 2.

 

[jimmyjam]

Whats DLSR mean??

 

[FastZR1]

Whats DLSR mean??

Digital Single Lens Reflex

Check out Ken Rockwell's site too. He has many reviews and how-to articles on many different cameras. kenrockwell.com

 

[slickooz]

Keep your PS3. Add me on PSN emericaskate8325

Frequently on GT5 and Battlefield 2.

I barely play games anymore. I just use it to watch blu-rays now. I bought way too many blu-rays back when I was younger.

 

[yakky]

For DSLR you can't go wrong with Canon or Nikon, though Sony and Pentax have some nice offerings too. Find a friend or family member that is heavy into photography and get whatever they have. You'll be able to get advice and borrow lenses/flashes, etc.

For P&S and a deep pocket, it is very hard to beat the Canon S90 and S95. They are almost up to DSLR quality. Nikon's P&S efforts are very half hearted, the real players are Canon and Panasonic.

Last but not least, don't worry about the megapixel count. There are so many more important factors to consider.

 

[fj610]

I will have to disagree with that.

Even if you get a DSLR and use it in auto, you can still get noticeably better picture quality vs a "simple 12-15mp point and shoot camera".

There are several reasons for this: the first is that the DSLR will almost certainly have a better lens than the P&S will. Better glass = better quality/sharper images.

Another reason is that the DSLR will probably have a better sensor in it than the P&S. So, the two things that matter most in picture quality (lens and sensor) will almost certainly be better on the DSLR, and using it in "auto" will not change that fact.

Out in the real world for most people making standard 6X4, 5X7 or even 8X10 sized prints, the difference in image quality between most high end compact and entry level DSLR is nil in regards to lens sharpness and sensor ability (at low ISO values).

The main points you missed IMO is the high ISO performance and processing speed between a compact and DSLR. Meaning, the time it takes to turn the camera on, the capture speed from when the shutter button is depressed, the time it takes to review the photo taken, speed of AF, etc. Doing any kind of action photography pretty much excludes compact cameras for these reasons.

If you want to shoot high ISO values in low light, again you are pretty much bound to a DSLR for thier larger sensors. However, the new generation of compacts like the S95 and G12 apparently have very good high ISO abilities compared to their earlier models. Ive read for normal sized prints, ISO 1600 is perfectly useable on these cameras. I have a G12 arriving soon, so ill find out for myself.





You really have to be honest with yourself about what you are trying to achive with your new camera.

 

[fj610]

Oh, and to add i also have a D300. Its just too much of a PITA to carry a DSLR around for snap shots, so when traveling ill use the Cannon G12 rops:

 

[WJave]

I love my Nikon D-80 but it will do way more then I will ever know how to. It does take great pics.....

I got my youngest daughter a Nikon "CoolPix 110" Takes video and pictures. She loves it and they can be found for $200 and below. Here the one she got. Got her the red one cause she likes color..lol

COOLPIX L110 from Nikon

 

[Rob T]

Fair enough, it goes back and forth ... not trying to start a flame war. If lenses were compatible with both bodies, i would switch back and forth every few years depending on who was on top at the moment. I bought the 20d and at the time felt it was the best option available, now I am locked into canon due to the glass investment.

Yep, I feel the same way!

 

[Rob T]

Out in the real world for most people making standard 6X4, 5X7 or even 8X10 sized prints, the difference in image quality between most high end compact and entry level DSLR is nil in regards to lens sharpness and sensor ability (at low ISO values).

We will have to agree to disagree on that point. My wife has a 12mp Nikon Coolpix camera, and I can tell you that the differences in image quality between that camera and my D700 are *very* noticeable in terms of sharpness, contrast, low noise and more...and these differences are seen in prints of 5x7.

The main points you missed IMO is the high ISO performance and processing speed between a compact and DSLR. Meaning, the time it takes to turn the camera on, the capture speed from when the shutter button is depressed, the time it takes to review the photo taken, speed of AF, etc. Doing any kind of action photography pretty much excludes compact cameras for these reasons.

All true, but I guess when I talked about the better sensor in the DSLR I meant to including the processor speed as well. Also, the high ISO performance that you talk about is obviously one of the main performance advantages that a better sensor has over a lower quality one.

So, again, my point being that a DSLR will more than likely have a better sensor than a P&S. A better sensor will have better low light (high iso) performance.

If you want to shoot high ISO values in low light, again you are pretty much bound to a DSLR for thier larger sensors. However, the new generation of compacts like the S95 and G12 apparently have very good high ISO abilities compared to their earlier models. Ive read for normal sized prints, ISO 1600 is perfectly useable on these cameras. I have a G12 arriving soon, so ill find out for myself.

 

[05xrunner]

Depends on how serious you want to get into it....The 60D seems like a very nice starting camera..especially since they dropped the price more. Really it depends on how much you want to get into this hobby and how into it you will be willing to spend really to give a direction..I started out small then I went out of control and its just a hobby for me. its very addicting like detailing but 1000x more expensive. I recently just sold my 1D Mark III and getting a 7D next week cause my mark III sat on my desk for 6months with zero use..so i decided to sell it because I really dont need it and really want to get into some video. Really any modern DSLR is going to give excellent results and will blow away any point n shoot. Just depends on what you want it for to go in the direction of the right body for you. Action/landscape/portrait..

OHH and P.S...DO NOT look at the cameras MP as a part of choosing..that means absolutely nothing in reality unless you do MAJOR large prints..and more does not mean better. When someone ask how many MP it has 99% time they are point n shoot users who dont know crap and think thats what makes a camera good

 

[Rob T]

Depends on how serious you want to get into it....The 60D seems like a very nice starting camera..especially since they dropped the price more. Really it depends on how much you want to get into this hobby and how into it you will be willing to spend really to give a direction..I started out small then I went out of control and its just a hobby for me. its very addicting like detailing but 1000x more expensive. I recently just sold my 1D Mark III and getting a 7D next week cause my mark III sat on my desk for 6months with zero use..so i decided to sell it because I really dont need it and really want to get into some video. Really any modern DSLR is going to give excellent results and will blow away any point n shoot. Just depends on what you want it for to go in the direction of the right body for you. Action/landscape/portrait..

OHH and P.S...DO NOT look at the cameras MP as a part of choosing..that means absolutely nothing in reality unless you do MAJOR large prints..and more does not mean better. When someone ask how many MP it has 99% time they are point n shoot users who dont know crap and think thats what makes a camera good

This is a very good summary!

rops:

 

[Laura]

You really have to be honest with yourself about what you are trying to achive with your new camera.

One other thought that I'll add to this is one of convenience and practicality. If the majority of the pictures you plan to take will be family vacations, then you probably could be happy with a compact P&S because of the ease. Unless your subjects have a lot more patience than mine, they won't wait for you to compose, focus, check exposure, adjust, re-compose, etc, etc...And if you can get adequate results from something you can carry in your pocket, that beats $2000 of heavy glass hanging around your neck. I took this shot about 5 years ago with a Nikon P1, one of the first P&S Nikons. There are several things I would have done differently had I had a DSLR (and a tripod) at the time, but for the quality and convenience, it served it's purpose.

However, if this is something that you think you would like to get into for the true enjoyment and satisfaction of capturing those perfect shots (like are posted in this thread!!), then I personally would recommend a mid-level DSLR like the Nikon D90 or the Canon 60D. Something that you can flip into auto for those vacations without feeling like you're cheating, but that will also allow you to learn and test your ability and creativity. You have to spend an incredible amount of time and effort to be good enough for the equipment to be the cause of disappointment in your photographs; in other words, it takes a lot of practice to be better than any good DSLR on the market today. And by the time you've reached that point, then you will know exactly what you are looking for when it comes time to upgrade. And as a lot of others have said, by then you'll have enough invested in lenses that you'll have to stick with the same family.

And...one good thing about photography is that, unlike detailing, when you've done great work, it lasts forever...well past the next rain.:xyxthumbs:

 

[Rob T]

Great post Laura!