Digital Camera Advise Needed

[peam]

I'm sure there's a camera nerd or two around so hopefully someone can help me out.

We had a point and shoot Kodak for the past few years. Generally a piece of shit, but it took an OK picture maybe one out of every four hundred shots.

It crapped out this Summer, and since baby boy is due at the end of September, we're going to be needing a camera before he comes kicking ass and screaming into this world.

We're really hoping to get our hands on a used digital SLR camera. I really don't have a preference for Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus, et al so I'm open to all suggestions. As far as features, they're really not too important. I'm hoping the camera will last a few years so there's probably going to be some point where I'll be taking pictures of the kids playing sports or running around.

The largest size picture we would ever print would be an 8"x10" so there's no need for anything super new. Reliability, a quick shutter, and something within the price range are my only requirements.

If anyone knows anything about this market and could toss a suggestion my way, I'd appreciate it.

Budget is a little tight. I'd prefer to keep it under $500. Something $400-450 would be nice, but if the features are worth it I could probably push up to $550.

I may consider one of those point and shoots with the 10-12x optical zoom, if anyone is stark raving mad about their particular model, but we're really leaning towards digital SLR at this point.

[Sean of the Thread]

Jen uses some Olympus shit that I can't stand but my latest is another Kodak. Z915. It works f'n great and I didn't even pay for it. FUCK YOU HSN SEE YOU IN HELL. That aside it was fairly cheap.

It's 10 megapixel and 10x optical zoom. Unlike my prior kodak it doesn't suck batteries like Elton John sucks dick.

The old one was 5x op zoom and 12 megapixel. Z1275.

[radamanthys]

I love my casio point and shoot. SLRs are huge, and that's a problem... You'll never take a pic of your kid outside your house. A decent point and shoot will take good, quick pictures. And you'll be able to take it with you to the park and shit.

[Kuyuk]

Get a camera that makes your peener look bigger.

[Nieninque]

DSLRs are not huge. They CAN be depending on the lenses attached to them, but with a kit lens are small and lightweight.

Canon v Nikon is down to personal choice. I went with Nikon and love them. The D80 is the equivalent of the Canon Rebel (T1?) and is a decent piece of kit. SHould be fairly affordable these days too. The D90 is about to be discontinued so prices will drop. Worth a look, they too are good cameras and have video capability too.

I suggest going to a shop and having a play with some of the cameras they have there. See which ones you like the feel of. They are all pretty much of a muchness.

[Nieninque]

I love my casio point and shoot. SLRs are huge, and that's a problem... You'll never take a pic of your kid outside your house. A decent point and shoot will take good, quick pictures. And you'll be able to take it with you to the park and shit.


They will take good snapshots...but if you want more control over the photographs, a point and shoot wont do it.

[Bobmuhthol]

My only concern with taking pictures with an SLR of a kid in a park is being tackled and arrested.

[Nieninque]

My only concern with taking pictures with an SLR of a kid in a park is being tackled and arrested.

A real concern - although based on utter stupidity on the part of the people who make it a real concern - I'm not sure how it stands in the US, but there are no actual offences in the UK around taking photgraphs (with the exception clearly of indecent photographs) other than for use in terrorism. As a result, many photographers are harassed with terrorism laws threats. It's fucking stupid, however as long as people are aware of what the laws are, they are usually OK.

[Sean]

My recommendation is that you take the money you'd spend on an SLR and send it to your sister in laws cancer fund and buy a cheap point and shoot camera from best buy.

[Rinualdo]

My recommendation is that you take the money you'd spend on an SLR and send it to your sister in laws cancer fund and buy a cheap point and shoot camera from best buy.

This

[Asile]

I'm too lazy to get up and find the exact model name, but when our daughter was 6 months old, my husband got me a new digital camera for our wedding anniversary, a Cannon... I think EOS or something, it's just below their SLR quality. It's 10MP, 10x optical zoom, has easy shoot modes, a mode to focus on shutter speed, a mode to focus on aperture, and a full manual mode, plus video mode that will take pretty high quality video or compressed video to make the files smaller and therefore easier to post up and email to folks (which your family will probably love, with the baby). It's got a nice start-up speed, which is critical, and fast processing of pics so you can have a better chance of getting those important-but-gone-all-too-fast moments. It's also easy on the batteries, a good thing since it takes regular AA batteries. It shouldn't run you over your $500 budget, even with a nice large memory card.

If you want examples of what it can do, PM or email me and I'll send over some samples.

[peam]

My recommendation is that you take the money you'd spend on an SLR and send it to your sister in laws cancer fund and buy a cheap point and shoot camera from best buy.

First off, it's cystic fibrosis. Learn to read, building designing man.

Secondly, eat my balls. You have no idea what we have or have not contributed to her cause - monetarily or otherwise.

I think it's perfectly acceptable for me to ask for opinions on a purchase that is going to be paramount in documenting the growth and development of my two children.

[Stanley Burrell]

Make sure the drivers are compatible with your OS, if you're going to be buying a camera + software bundle. Make sure the software (in the software bundle) is compatible with your OS/its drivers.

Microsoft had to help me undo the fuckery of the above gone apeshit. Roxio, if you're collectively reading this, you guys ... seriously.

[peam]

Any of you guys have experience with Nikons?

I've been messing around with what's available in Best Buy, and I seem to prefer Nikon over Canon. Sony just seems weird and I haven't found any Olympus to test, as of yet.

I've found a Nikon D40 that includes a standard and zoom lens and a Nikon D80 that includes just the standard 50mm lens on Craigslist. Both are in my price range. Leaning towards contacting the D40 guy just because of the extra lens - the zoom lenses seem to be expensive as balls.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

I have a Nikon D90 and I love the thing. The lens I have with it makes it a bit unwieldly and thus I only bring it when my main goal is to take really good photos, or I use it for food photography for my portfolio. I have a smaller point and shoot Nikon I use when I just think I may want to get some photos while I'm out and about/doing crap.

[Mateius]

I have a like new canon rebel xt with a 55m and 80-200m lens. 2 GB card and a travel case which will hold everything plus two more lenses i can sell you for under $400 depending on shipping costs.

[Mateius]

I have a Nikon D90 and I love the thing. The lens I have with it makes it a bit unwieldly and thus I only bring it when my main goal is to take really good photos, or I use it for food photography for my portfolio. I have a smaller point and shoot Nikon I use when I just think I may want to get some photos while I'm out and about/doing crap.

I would also recommend a point and shoot. DSLRs produce great quality but they are a hassle to carry around and I noticed I wasnt taking as many pictures. DSLRs would be great for plays, school functions, or sporting events for you but you might get more pics and have more fun with a point and shoot at the park, the beach, or the amusement park.

[Nieninque]

Any of you guys have experience with Nikons?

I've been messing around with what's available in Best Buy, and I seem to prefer Nikon over Canon. Sony just seems weird and I haven't found any Olympus to test, as of yet.

I've found a Nikon D40 that includes a standard and zoom lens and a Nikon D80 that includes just the standard 50mm lens on Craigslist. Both are in my price range. Leaning towards contacting the D40 guy just because of the extra lens - the zoom lenses seem to be expensive as balls.

I love Nikon. Out of the two I would say consider the D80, mainly because I think there are issues with the D40 autofocussing with some of the lenses that you may wish to get in the future.

Lenses are expensive...especially the decent ones. The good news is that you will likely upgrade your camera at some point, lenses will stay with you through many different choices of cameras.

[Asile]

I think it's perfectly acceptable for me to ask for opinions on a purchase that is going to be paramount in documenting the growth and development of my two children.

This is really sticking out at me. I understand wanting an SLR, I'm still jonesing for one big time, but as the mother of a very active toddler who was a very active infant, I'm REALLY going to recommend getting the best point-and-shoot, just below SLR quality, that you can. Things with these little ones happen FAST; if you want to be able to photographically document it, like I did and still do, you're going to be much better off with a slightly simpler camera like my Canon, or Nikon has a model that's a step below their SLRs that starts up LIGHTNING fast (hubby and I tested it in the camera shop before he made the final purchase, and we were both drooling at how fast it went from turned off to ready-to-use).

When the kid is older and doing things that will give you a little more time to set up your equipment (and make it worthwhile to have a lot of equipment), that's the time for the SLR. If you have the high quality point-and-shoot until then, you'll likely thank me. Or you can get both if you can swing it (doesn't seem like that's your case right this moment, though), so you have the SLR for really nice times and the point-and-shoot for when you need to be fast at capturing those moments.

Just my thoughts, based on my own experience, FWIW.

[Celephais]

Step out of the past, you can get a 1080p camcorder for $100-150, then you don't have to worry about missing the shot, just record the whole damn thing.

Pictures are for chumps.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

Step out of the past, you can get a 1080p camcorder for $100-150, then you don't have to worry about missing the shot, just record the whole damn thing.

Pictures are for chumps.

Your face is a chump!

[Warriorbird]

Get something cheap from hhgregg. Help the sister in law.