Posted: 10/26/2011 10:10:10 AM EDT
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Looking for a decent camera in the $400-$600 dollar range.
Would it be better to get a high end "Point and Shoot" type camera or a low end, entry level SLR? Nothing too complicated, just recreational use. Any specific brands or models to get or to stay away from? Thanks. |
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I would get a P&S Canon S95. It is pretty simple to use, at least to me, but I have doing cameras for like 40 years.
You can take stills and video, and has a pretty decent lens. You can some manual override when you get more advance. Price ~$350, the S95 will probably be on close-out soon, because there is a successor already announced, the S100. The newer S100 is a bit bigger & heavier. |
| I bought a nikon d3100 and use it on the auto setting...some shots come out looking national geographic quality, and some come out looking no better then my point and shoot. I think a dslr should really be used with a tripod to get the best pictures. what will this camera be used for? vacations? toss in your pocket when you go out drinking? |
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I have a Nikon D40X, and I agree about the photos, you have learn the idiosyncrasies of the camera to take a good quality photo. I find that sometime I have set the exposure +1EV more to get a clear photo.
I bought a nikon d3100 and use it on the auto setting...some shots come out looking national geographic quality, and some come out looking no better then my point and shoot. I think a dslr should really be used with a tripod to get the best pictures. what will this camera be used for? vacations? toss in your pocket when you go out drinking? |
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Start simple. Buying a DSLR will be very confusing for a beginner. There are too many settings and menu options to understand. Best to start with a good point and shoot; even those relatively simple cameras have a lot of settings that you will learn to use (e.g. white balance).
Unless you need something really small I recommend a mid-size P&S. A great option is the Canon G12. It's small enough but also has a lot of cool functions not available on the micro-cameras. It is selling for $447 on Amazon. |
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If you just want to take vacation photos, etc then a point and shoot is fine. If you are interested in learning about photographic and want to approach it from an artistic perspective, then invest in a DSLR. Canon and Nikon have entry models in your price range that have simple options for beginners as well as advanced features for more experienced users. Quoted: Start simple. Buying a DSLR will be very confusing for a beginner. There are too many settings and menu options to understand. Entry level DSLRs have the same simple modes that the P&S do. However, the DSLRs also have optional advanced capabilities that can be used once a user has moved beyond a beginner level. |
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Lytro
This looks like it might be just the ticket for the inexperienced photographer. And, most important of all, it fits in a pocket. 
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Lytro This looks like it might be just the ticket for the inexperienced photographer. And, most important of all, it fits in a pocket. SO BEAST |
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Start simple. Buying a DSLR will be very confusing for a beginner. There are too many settings and menu options to understand. Entry level DSLRs have the same simple modes that the P&S do. However, the DSLRs also have optional advanced capabilities that can be used once a user has moved beyond a beginner level. You are correct on the modes, but the biggest issue for newbies and DSLRs is lens selection. DSLRs are sold in body-only format. Best not to confuse the new folks with the intricacies of lens selection, thus the recommendation for a higher level point and shoot. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Start simple. Buying a DSLR will be very confusing for a beginner. There are too many settings and menu options to understand. Entry level DSLRs have the same simple modes that the P&S do. However, the DSLRs also have optional advanced capabilities that can be used once a user has moved beyond a beginner level. You are correct on the modes, but the biggest issue for newbies and DSLRs is lens selection. DSLRs are sold in body-only format. Best not to confuse the new folks with the intricacies of lens selection, thus the recommendation for a higher level point and shoot. Most entry level DSLRs are available as a kit with a general purpose zoom lens. That's why I recommend them to anyone interested in learning about photography––the kit can be be operated like a P&S by a beginner then you can greatly expand your capabilities by adding lenses and flashes to the existing DSLR body without buying a new camera. The Digital Rebel is a good, affordable option from Canon. Nikon has comparable options, but I'm not familiar with them. |
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i'd suggest a point and shoot to start with for recreational use. you'll take more pictures in more situations. if you start getting concerned about the quality of your photos, can crop and edit them afterward. unless you have a strong interest in photography, any dslr is a pita and nowhere near as convenient or portable. eta. i dont think i'd suggest spending more than a few hundred on a point and shoot to get started. at that price, you may be better served with a dslr. personally, i've been well served with nikon and they've become my first choice. |
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Looking for a decent camera in the $400-$600 dollar range. Would it be better to get a high end "Point and Shoot" type camera or a low end, entry level SLR? Nothing too complicated, just recreational use. Any specific brands or models to get or to stay away from? Thanks. Canon has a Customer Loyalty Program. I used it to get a new point-n-shoot camera. It works like this: you have an old junky canon camera - I bought one for $10 - and trade it in on a refurbished camera. I got a $500 (before tax) G12 for $374 to my my door. You can't tell the difference from a new one because there's no sign of use at all. You can call this number and they can tell you what is available: 1 (866) 443-8002 |
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I know a lot of people that have dslr's but use them as a p&s. If you don't have an idea what you are doing, what the advantage of shooting in raw is (some p&S's do that too) then you are better off with a p&S. The easier it is to carry the more you will use it. Sometimes opportunity makes the best pic. My next one will be an even smaller one than I have. |
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Depends if the small size of a p&s ( convenience of stuffing it in your pocket )
If you want a small p&s can't go wrong with any of the choices in the price range you are looking at . Don't get hung up on the MP myth A good p&s that closes the gap to the dslrs is the Canon G11 / G12 . My wife uses a G12 and I use a G11 that I leave in my truck. I know its not a fair comparision but these cameras don't come close to what is capable with a good dlsr ( high iso etc ) . I use a Nikon D700 for serious pictures My father is a camera geek with high end Nikon bodies and lenses. Now with 3 small grandkids he wanted a point and shoot that he could just pop in his pocket to capture the moment. He did the research ad naseum on the latest and greatest p&s . Lets just say he is on his 3rd try and his is still not satisfied ! I keep telling him he is expecting too much from a p&s It all boils down to sensor size ( more so than MP ) . A DSLR ( crop sensor DX such as Nikon D5100 / 3100 / 7000 ) has generally a much larger sensor than a p&s. A high end pro DSLR that is "full frame" is larger yet . The big difference between these sensors is how it handles low light / high iso If you want to get more into photography, buy a entery level DSLR such as Nikon D5100 / D5100 and kit lens. As you get more experience, invested in better lenses |
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Unless you are going to take the time to learn how to use a DSLR, you will end up putting it on the program mode and using it as a really clunky and expensive point and shoot. If that sounds like you, get a nice point and shoot. Todays point and shoots make very good photos and are small enough to actually have with you when you need it. If you are the type who likes to study and learn new skills and aren't afraid to read a book, then a DSLR would be an excellent optioin. I know how to use a DSLR and I use a point and shoot for just about everything. I only break out the tripod and DSLR when I want to impress somebody with my skills.
It's kind of like the mouse gun argument. Having it with you when you need it is far more important than having the very best at home in a drawer because it's to damn heavy and bulky to carry around. Now that I think about it, you can put a mouse gun and a point and shoot in the same pocket 
Of course, the real answer is to get both. They both have their place. |
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I would get a P&S Canon S95. It is pretty simple to use, at least to me, but I have doing cameras for like 40 years. You can take stills and video, and has a pretty decent lens. You can some manual override when you get more advance. Price ~$350, the S95 will probably be on close-out soon, because there is a successor already announced, the S100. The newer S100 is a bit bigger & heavier. Awesome camera! I just got it a few weeks ago and used it on my family vacation to Disneyland a couple weeks ago. The auto mode is awesome and adjusts very fast to the situation! |