It's Christmas and many people are looking forward to moving from their point n shoot to a more complicated camera; the DSLR.
The first thing to consider is cost. A new DLSR kit may come in a box on sale for $500+, but there will be add on's. Expect to pay closer to $1000 for your new camera.
First there is the extra battery ($50), Class 10 SD card ($30 to $100), a book on how to use your particular camera...you will want this. Google your cameras name plus book to find one. The owners manual are not real helpful to novice camera owners.
Next, you will find out the kit lens does not fit all your needs and you will need to buy another lens to fill in the MM that your kit lens does not have ($300-800). If this is a problem, stop here. There is no such thing as a good DSLR kit under $1000. You will also need a camera bag ($60 to 400)
Another secret about DSLR's; the entry level cameras all boast automatic modes like you find on your point n shoot. For some reason, most of these auto features do not give near the quality picture of your point n shoot. This is very disappointing. You will have to shoot in P mode to get a decent automatic shot. Aperature Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual are the settings you will need to learn how to use.
Now, finding that wonderful camera. You can get advice from the camera guy at work to buy a Nikon 5100. This is a great camera. So is the Canon T3i.
But, is it the right camera for you.
Consider ergonomics. Full size DSLR's weigh about 4 or more pounds. Add another 1/2 to 6 pounds for a lens. Heavy.
You may consider APS-C cameras. They are smaller DSLR's with all the same features just a slightly smaller sensor. The Canon Rebel T3i is an APS-C. Sony, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax all make this type of camera.
A very important thing in picking out a camera is finding one that has all the controls placed where you are comfortable working with them. Each camera puts stuff in slightly different places.
Learn about Focus Modes, ISO, E/V (exposure compensation, a very well used feature), metering, white balance. These are buttons/settings you will use often. Especially the ISO and EV. Another feature that is wonderful is Manual Focus. Does the camera have a way for you to switch quickly to Manual Focus. (Manual Focus is useful if there is a lot of clutter in front of or around your subject like branches, bars, screen. When this confuses the auto focus you can step in with manual to focus on what you want to shoot.)
How do you learn this stuff? First, Google "Best Cameras 2012" or Best Cameras from previous years, these may be on sale to make way for the latest model. Read about their features, their specs etc. Then, go to a bunch of Best Buys and other places that sell cameras and check out all these features. You may find one camera becomes your favorite. Also, many stores do not carry Sony or Pentax. You can look at these on line after you learn a lot about camera features.
The try before you buy contract. Some camera stores and many online camera stores will let you try a camera or lense for thirty days. If you don't like it you can return it. BUT, READ THE CONTRACT CAREFULLY. Some places will specify you can only take 200 shots with the camera. At 201, you have just bought the camera. Playing with burst mode can have you owning that camera in less than five minutes.
Also, some places stipulate it has to be returned with all it's packaging and wrappers in "New Condition". When you open the box, take pictures each step of the way on how it is wrapped so you can re-pack it EXACTLY the way it came out of the box if you want to send it back. Some places will ding you on this and send you back the camera saying you bought it. Do not accept a verbal, "we don't mind how you wrap it".
Hope this advice is helpful. One more thing, if you want a small camera, check out the Micro Four Thirds Cameras. These can fit in a large purse if you don't have a long lense attached. Some of these also have "digital zoom". This can take the place of a long lense. Of course many DSLR people hiss at digital zoom, but it's still a great feature in my humble opinion.
Happy Holidays!
Page: 1 — Blog Index
And I am laughing my socks off here!
I read the whole of the header, thinking..."has she changed her mind again?" and there, in the last paragraph, you wrote what I had been expecting!
Have fun tonight, and if you learn anything useful, I hope you will pass it on :-)
If you're doing a lot of inside photography, an aftermarket flash is also essential.
At work right now, bbl.
Hi Sandi, the longer I have this camera the more I like it. Although the iA is disappointing considering Panasonics stellar point n shoots. The class was okay, I already knew a lot of that stuff from reading through the links you sent. Still fun getting out though.
Hi Ylee, oh yeah, the tripod, a good strap and a speed light. These are the things for amazing indoor portraits. Of course the tripod is handy for everywhere. Thanks for bringing those up. Forgot about them. Good pictures really are a $Ka-ching$ sport.
Hi Calpoppy, how a camera feels is really important. They are all good, but if it's not comfortable to hold they aren't fun to use. I was actually leaning towards the Nikon 5100 (for grip and controls comfort) until I found out about the micro four thirds.
So people, beware the super-zoom bridge cameras, they are not budget DSLR's with great zoom, they are gateway drugs to interchangable lense cameras. lol
I think this is a point-and-shoot camera.
My bad!!! Here you are trying to be serious and helpful and I go and put something like this on your blog. Shame on me.
All good points here GardenGrrl. It seems, depending what your shooting style and genre, $1000 would be expected, but it can easily go much higher. Especially when you start to move beyond "kit glass". Doing the research is key and make of list of everything you need with prices! The total cost will spiral up fast!
Everyone has a reason they have the make camera they have. So if you are asking? Ask a lot of people! That might be a good subject for a blog.
I seem to have to many cameras. At any given time I have a minimum 3 cameras with me and at times more. It doesn't help me make a better image, but I have choices and backups.
For those of you who do upgrade to a DSLR. If you are done with your point and shoot, don't toss it in a box. Pass it on to someone else who may get the BUG!
A nice camera is, well, nice, but is it's not the camera it's the mind behind it. One of my favorites is - Would you ask a chief what kind of pot he uses? And I always recommend to anyone to know what all the buttons do on the camera they have. It like most electronics these days, what's the worse that can happen? You can always reset! (Sorry to hear about your reset Sandi)
No, because he might get paranoid, and think I was from the DEA or something....;-)
Looks like you're around - if you're off this weekend, get outdoors! They say The First Big Front is on the way. I can't quite tell if it's hype, but it sure enough will be getting cooler. At last!
Anyway it tough to find a camera that's just right, so the info here is a good start!
I thought I would post this link, as I found it by accident, then spent over an hour opening some of the tutorials. Lots of tips and ideas, with some illustrations, and why this or that works - or doesn't work.
Morning John :)
Thanks for sharing!
Digital Photography School is a great site. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter.
Tons of information and a great source of ideas!
Was a good day birding. Saw a Spotted Towee again, think small North American Robin with punk rock hair cut. Finally got a decent picture of a Kestral and a usable picture of a King Fisher.
Hi Briarcraft, that looks like a great birding camera. Shoot a birdy, shoot another and we all still get to go home happy.
Hi Zeus, sure pass my bridge camera on to someone else. It's not a camera, it's a gateway drug into lens addiction. ;-)
Hi Shore, that is a lot of cash for insurance. Eeeek.
Your right about the hyperventilate part. Even though I had the money saved up, (for something fun..been saving what I would have spent on cigarettes for a awhile) couldn't sleep, was stressed, etc after the big purchased. Have always been a bit of a money hoarder.
Hi Ylee, I'm still waiting for my Hutzler Banana Slicer. Hope your work week goes well too.
Sandi, now I'm a bit behind. That is another great link. Thanks. Saw your contribution to Pastry Day at Briars blog. Had no idea.
So, GG, what's with you and banana slicers and funny brownies? Just what kind of mischief have you been getting into lately???
I just moved all my plants to get them out of the wind. It's still warm and getting more humid. I'm trying not to be anxious for the wind shift. After all, I get to work in whatever shows up tomorrow. Yee-hah!
Briarcraft; THE BANANA QUESTION. Da ta da daaaa; this link Banana
Reno SoHill posted it in Ylee's blog. Be sure to read the product reviews.
Hi Prose, always great to have you stop by. It brightens my day on this really cold morning.
That excursion to the Wildflower Center was also a chance for me to try out my first full-frame digital camera, the Canon EOS 5D Mark III that I’d gotten five days before. The resulting files aren’t a lot larger than those from my EOS 7D, 22 megapixels compared to 18, but the pictures from the new and larger sensor are smoother and less noisy, even at higher ISOs.
Steve has a page of photographic tips that are useful, too. You can find equipment tips here and technique tips here.
A magazine to look into for photography is 'Outdoor Photography'. Lots of info and of course a lot of nifty photo accessories to drool over.
Also for wet weather photography, I found that using a large ziplock bag, with the zip part at the back of the camera, and cutting a small opening for your lens works great. I agonized for weeks over what to buy to rain proof my camera for Alaska. Then I just went into my drawer pulled out a ziplock bag and it was perfect.
It Isn't Easy Being Green
Hi Shore, checked out the little green guy. Macro photography is so fun. Peeked at the tip link. Will have to wait until I have time to go through his work. It's nice to see someone who is good at their craft not afraid to share details like he does.
Hi Calpoppy, I would be too nervous to bring the spendy camera anywhere that it could get rained on. I do however have several back-up cameras now that I might try the bag trick with if I want nice rain pics.
Hi Sandy, oh the heck with going out into the cold. Wipe some frost off the window and shoot the back yard from the warm comfort of indoors ;)
But it was worth it:-)
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/4.3
Focal Length 77.6 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias -0.66 EV
Later - Ooh, it went into the AC gallery! lol
I like BriarCraft's idea of the point and shoot camera. I may dismantle an old pellet gun in the hoard and add a camera mount. :)
Enjoy the day.
Shore, that is a very good pic of the caterpillar, not the easiest to get without what they are eating in the way!
Hope you, or at least Roxie, had some fun in the snow before it melted!
Hope you are having a fun day off!
It's magic, perhaps. Hope you are having fun on your days off.
I have to ask.... With your days now at the beginning of the week, do you have to work on Christmas Day?? Or do all sites close down for Christmas?
Great photo Sandi! That was worth braving the cold for.
Hi Plapman, ya know, that would be a fun camera. could sell them at the gun shows.
Hi Calpoppy, yep, got a new camera. Woke up thinking about this particular one and decided to see how much it actually costs on Amazon. It just happened to be the "Deal of the Day" and was half price. Booya!
Hi Sp, that would be a great gift for my nephew. He is a trip...in a fun way.
Hi Ylee, it's warm again! But when it does get cold I take all the precautions. An ounce of prevention is better than a 100gal of water.
And yes, will be working Christmas.
Poor Roxy!
Can't believe you made her wear that sweater!
:o)
Wishing you a wonderfully happy Sunday.
All Corning Ware is made in the USA. No added heavy metals like some imports have.
Hi Rob, Apparently from her expression I don't think Roxie could believe it either ;)
Hi Prose, I have more fun with Roxie and the online Picmonkey program to decorate her.
Santa's new Elf.
This year they have new mint Lindor Balls. Amazing.
On the you have to try these once catagory, Lindor has some cinnemon Christmas balls.
The first bite really truly tastes like Christmas.
Was looking for a picture of the new Lindor offerings. Found this guy instead. Not sure who he is but he looks really pleased with his big lindor ball.
have a great day.
I used to have a canon SX3IS but it's since been gifted to the youngest daughter after the Queen bought me a Canon SX20IS. I like the idea of having a 20X zoom without having to carry extra lenses.
Have a great day and keep dressing Roxie for the season.
Weather. Today it is going to be 82f and very windy.
Overnight it will drop to 37f and get cold for rest of the week. Go figure.
Hi Sandi, of course, get a hunky tennis guy to pitch Lindor Balls. Kind of reminds me of a Saturday Night Live skit.
Hi Ylee, lololol
Hi Tony, you know I still love my point n shoot with the superzoom. Now that I have started collecting cameras, the big question is; which one to use?
Yep I think using what would normally been sent to the landfill is a good idea. The old ballasts were taken to the local hazardous waste depot where the will be disposed of properly.
Enjoy your day.
Viewing: 1 - 44
Page: 1 — Blog Index