Looking for a good affordable camera
Fri 2010/12/31 10:03 JST
im looking for an affordable nice camera, I have a kodak 8.0 mega pixels, and the pictures come out horrible. I dont know much about cameras but i was looking for like a photography camera.
Whats ur budget? I would head over to dpreview.com and check out reviews and the forums for tips and suggestions. :)
well id imagine cameras would be over a hundred maybe over 1000 but just the most cheapest id say, dont really have a budget but i wouldnt like to spend over 500.
well there are lots of good suggestions below, but since it sounds like you might still be a photography noob then stick with something like the canon g12 or nikon p7000. those are both about $500 and won't require you to invest more $ into it. i know a couple people with the g12 and it's a really cool little camera! you can go play with one in best buy or something and order from somewhere like B&H photo/video online!
You can consider getting entry level DSLR cameras. Canon and Nikon are popular brand names and both have cameras for beginers. Other choice could be the alpha series from Sony.
Visit my http://www.flickr.com/photos/phossil profile. I have in there pictures taken with my DSLR camera and with my point and shoot.
this picture quality is nice, how much was this camera?
Hello i am new :)
Anyway i suggest you look into the Canon EOS 1000D / Rebel XS.
It's a really cheap camera (around £400 so i think about $450) but it takes high quality images.
I got my Nikon D5000 w/ kit lens for $640 from Amazon. All of my photos were taken using it (you may look at my posts for examples). If that's over your budget then maybe you could try the Nikon D3000. Not sure about the difference (besides the D5000 having a vari-angle screen) but they are very similar and the D3000 is a little cheaper.
Nikon and Canon are probably best 2 choices, you won't go wrong with either of the brands, it'll just come down to personal preference with the lens options etc. I myself have a Nikon D3000 which is their entry level DSLR. I'm a lil upset because of the no live view feature but from what i've seen the live view can lead to a false image of a picture since the LCD screen doesn't match the quality of the actual picture. Anyways... like i said it'll just come down to which brand you rather have since unless you're a professional photographer and it's your job, you won't be able to tell the difference.
FYI, the Nikon D3000 has been replaced with the D3100. This will make existing units of the D3000 much cheaper though ;)
I'll suggest Canon G11, its awesome. Not too big, very good features, takes damn fine shots even in low lights (you can look at my Flickr page ... I been shooting w/ that thing at cons and concerts where flash wasn't usable)
the LCD screen rotates, so you can take the weirdest "holding camera above my head and around corner" shots and still see what you're aiming at
Well Nikon camera's are probably the best cheap slr cameras out there.. I mean cheaper than canon of course..
Id agree with the D5000 its a very good kit, if ur looking for smaller but performance camera id suggest NEX 5.
Here is a great review site (uk based) for most digital equitment, check it out:
http://www.digitalversus.com/
Sorry for hijacking this thread but can anyone recommend a good point and shoot for around $500USD? I'm currently using a Canon IXUS50(PRIMITIVE LOL) but I'm planning to save up for a better one. And where do people buy cameras online because retailers here in Australia jack up the prices so high and they complain that nobody goes there...
Try taking a look at the Lumix LX5 or Canon S90.
Those two are basically on top of the compact sector, and are pretty much the best you'll find out of compacts.
Keep in mind though admittedly all compacts suffer in lower lighting areas (LX5 and S90 being no exception, even though they do a better job than most compacts). Many lower end compacts can take decent photos given that there is enough light too. LX5 and S90 also sport quite a bit of manual settings, which are super useful and can yield better results than going full auto.
It depends on if you really want to be serious with photography as a hobby or not. If photography is something that you wouldn't mind putting a lot of time into, then you should look into the entry level DSLRs like the Canon Rebel XS, Nikon D3000 etc.
If you're only looking for improved image quality, and you don't know what aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. mean, or if all the face buttons and different settings on a DSLR simply scare you, then I'd suggest sticking with something like the Canon Powershot s95.
Panasonic LX3 or LX5 are pretty nice if your not looking for a DSLR
Either a Nikon D3100 or maybe a Pentax K-m. The Nikon's a little cheaper, has a nice kit lens, and will get you into the Nikon "system", which means there's tons of lenses, flashes, and better cameras to update to in the future, and tons of third-party software and accessory support. It's a big improvement over both the D3000 and D5000.
The K-m is arguably the better camera, but it's more like $700, and it's easier to be in the Nikon world than the Pentax one. Still, Pentax stuff is great.
M43 cameras! find a cheap used Panasonic G1 and learn with it!
My first shoots here were with a Kodak Easyshare 740.. Try a few shots with ALL the settings!! I found out that the "text" setting was actually better than the "macro". Don't stop trying to take a decent shot just because you only have a Point 'n Shoot, I've seen some incredible shots here with just those types of cameras, experiment a bit!!... (deleting a bad pic is just a button away!!)
Nikon is way better than Canon. And don;t let anyone tell a different :p
Come on now, bring it! XDD
It is a ba-rought!
While I do use Canon I don't really have imperical reasons why its better. I just felt like saying that.
Tho I do think the UI for the D5000 (the camera I was considering at the time) was gimmicy and combursom, and I was attracted to Canons high end lenses. (you are buying a camera and marrying a family of lenses and accessories.)
lol, yes I know people who only use Canon, Nikon or Pentex. I was attracted to the feel of the Nikon in my hands over the Canon at the time. And a particular lens I wanted. Also as you said look for lens compatibility and selection. Some low cost Nikon dslr's don't let you use older lenses. But that shouldn't be a problem these days as their line of AF-S is growing.
Okko, I can only suggest to go out to a camera store and try some out. Then shop online for prices :)
Yesterday I've bought my new camera, a Canon 550D. Im impatient untill it arrives!
I hope you find the best camera 4 you too! ^^
Is that the same as the EOS Rebel T2i?
Yes, EOS Rebel T2i is the same as Canon 550D
I would suggest a D3100. It has a guide mode to help you get start in case you never use a DSLR before. Also it has in camera photo editing.
I didn't go for the D3100 as it didn't have AEB. I went for the Pentax K-r, nice features and wasn't too expensive
What's your budget and usage?
Some good cameras are Canon EOS D550, Nikon D3100...
If you want a compact, take a look at Lumix LX5 and Canon S90.
If you want a DSLR, consider the entry level DSLRs from Canon and Nikon.
Don't know if you're aware but don't judge a camera's quality by megapixels offered. Honestly its just a hyped up number that retailers use to make it sound like you are receiving quality. Megapixels simply state how large of an image you can take, then print. While it sounds like a larger image would mean better quality, its not always the case since cameras going for high megapixel images sometimes end up lowering quality because the hardware isn't really suited for it.
If you're divided on Compact vs DSLR, ask yourself how you'll be using the camera. Although DSLRs take better pictures, it's pointless if you don't bring your DSLR out the door, so keep that in mind.
I'm lovin' my Nikon Coolpix p100. Super Zoom (35mm equivalent 28mm to 600mm-ish) fixed lens, a true CMOS chip as opposed to a cheap CCD, shoots both stills and full HD video, does SLOW MO video (Yes, you can shoot a 6 Million Dollar Man fan video with this baby!) and is balanced so nicely that even when the lens is fully deployed it stays balanced.
http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Compact-Digital-Cameras/26212/COOLPIX-P100.html#tab-ProductDetail.ProductTabs.TechSpecs
Here's some picks from my shots so far. Sorry, no dollieh pix yet, but that's coming soon...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/msgeek/5305361757/sizes/l/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/msgeek/5305947012/sizes/l/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/msgeek/5288484991/sizes/l/in/set-72157625541102849/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/msgeek/5289079866/sizes/l/in/set-72157625666675002/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/msgeek/5289082682/sizes/l/in/set-72157625666675002/
And here's some video I shot with it, during the recent rain storms...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9VGVAB9rG0 (720p-watch at full rez and full size!)
Hope this helps you...this camera cost $319 US. It's less than half the cost of a Rebel T2i which is what I really wanted originally but I'm glad I got this. Nikon Ichiban!
If you have the possibility try to look for some used prosumer level body such Canon 40D (or 50D since the new 60D came out this year) or Nikon D90.
I don't suggest buying entry level DSLR since top level compacts reached a quality level that's similar to a entry level DSLR and, sometimes, the building quality of these compacts is far superior (Nikon D3000 is a junky piece of cheap plastic).
Don't be distracted by the megapxiles count because it's not the megapixels that makes you take great pictures, it's mainly your skill and the lens.
If you buy Canon be prepared to spend humongous amounts of money in lenses, however you can always try cheaper compatible lenses such Sigma and Tokina that make great lenses (for non professional users like us) and allow you to save some bucks: I started with a used Canon 40D mounted with a used Sigma 17-70 and after one year is still the lens that I use more since can cover all the ranges that I need from macro to mid-tele with a fair good quality.
Another advice is to not buy too many lenses since you'll only end up being confused and you will not enjoy the real magic of DSLR photography, buy one lens and try to understand her completeley before spending more money on other lenses.
If its equipment you're looking for, Canon and Nikon are the brands you should check for entry-level DSLRs...
I highly suggest you read some photography books first before deciding on which brand to go... It would help you a lot on choosing the right equipment (as well as taking photographs).
Good luck on your choosing! :D
I recently got a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40/45 and I'm really pleased with it. It's very user-friendly, looks amazing, takes great pictures and is very easy to work with, oh and you can also shoot HD video with it. I got it for 450 USD (including a 18 GB memory card).