Camera experts

[shmokes]

His price range isn't too much for a point-and-shoot that eliminates common point and shoot annoyances like slow auto-focus and shooting. Lots of point-and-shoots cost more than $200.

[Dartful Dodger]

Tech gear you shouldn't buy this Christmas

#6 Point-and-Shoot Cameras

[saint]

I might get knocked for saying this but oh well.  As soon as I switched to DSLR, I sold my nice point and shoot and never went back.  I believe the arguments have all been made but I will just second the fact that delay is a huge factor to me.  If I can take 5 or 10 pictures in the time that it takes me to take one on a point and shoot, I can keep only the best.  Not to mention that with little kids, the moment usually only lasts for a second or two.

Point and shoot cameras usually have some features for low light conditions but a DSLR does so much better in my opinion.  Even using the automatic modes, the pictures seem to come out better.

Finally, the comment about battery life.  I understand wanting to have AA batteries but my experience with compact point and shoot cameras was that the batteries would seldom hold up with regular use.  Under normal conditions I usually don't charge my DSLR batteries except every couple of months(I'm a pretty casual user).  I have owned mostly Sony compact cameras and I can remember not even getting through one event (birthday, wedding, etc.) without having to swap batteries.

Now having said all that, there are times when I take pictures with my cellphone because it is a lot easier then hulking out the beefier camera, however until cellphones do as good as high end compact cameras my opinion is that a second device is a second device.

Not to mention that you look pretty gangster with a beefy DSLR around your neck, every one gets out of your way because they think you are a real photographer.

Just my opinion on it.

I take around 1000-3000 photos a year, amateur photos for family use/fun. I pretty much concur with this re: p&s vs DSLR. Low light photos, fast picture taking (no more lost shots because the kids changed poses in the 2 seconds it took your p&s to focus and shoot), two proprietary batteries are much more convenient for me to carry than a pile of throwaway batteries of rechargables, etc. I'll never go back to a p&s for my main camera.

Despite that opinion however, you'll never get a good DSLR in your price range, and I really enjoyed using my p&s for several years. I missed some shots, but got the majority of what I wanted by knowing my camera and being prepped ahead of time if I thought there might be an action shot with the kids.

If you can afford it, DSLR's are great. Budget wise, p&s.

[Hoopz]

Tech gear you shouldn't buy this Christmas

#6 Point-and-Shoot Cameras

I read that earlier.  I was wondering if someone would point it out.  

To bring a little closure to my portion of the thread, I did get a Canon Powershot S95.  It fit the budget and from what I had read, was a quality p&s for the price.  I do think DSLR has a lot of features but I couldn't justify the cost v what she'll use it for.  Couple that with the furnace motor that I just had to replace that wasn't in my budget, I didn't want to go over my budget.

I do appreciate all the opinions and info that was shared.  A lot of it went over my head but that's par for the course around here in some threads.  Thanks to all.

[Dartful Dodger]

I think the point of the article was you should have a decent enough point and shoot camera on your phone. I'm not sure I agree with it the article though.

You can get a beefy point and shoot that's worlds better than a simple phone camera, but I also think DSLR is worlds better than a point a shoot.

It all depends on what you want.

I wanted to become a hobbyist photographer and planned on reading books and buying lenses...
1 year after buying the DSLR I've only taken it on two trips(taking a dozen or so photos on each trip) and have yet to read a book or buy any lenses for it.

The photos do look great, as far as it being worth the money I spent on it.  I spent close to (if not more than) a thousand dollars on my MAME cabinet and I’ve played it for about an hour and a half.

Just like my cabinet, the practical side of my brain hates the DSLR, but the impractical ( and dominant) side of my brain loves it.

[Ed_McCarron]

Not that this helps the original poster, but the USB port broke on the T1i 11 months into the extended warranty.  Kid kicked the cable.  Took it back, they decided it was easier to give me a new T2i instead of repairing the old T1i.

Best Buy does something right occasionally.  Why yes, I will take another $69 extended warranty, please.

[Donkey_Kong]

Not that this helps the original poster, but the USB port broke on the T1i 11 months into the extended warranty.  Kid kicked the cable.  Took it back, they decided it was easier to give me a new T2i instead of repairing the old T1i.

Best Buy does something right occasionally.  Why yes, I will take another $69 extended warranty, please.

You use that thing? I just move the cards back n forth from camera to card reader. I suppose there might be a reason to hook it up but I have had a T2i for a couple months and haven't ever hooked a usb to it.

Nice going with BB, though! When ever I mention fix or repair in my local BB, the guy looks like he wants to puke, or maybe beat me up. It's always "Dude, you totally be better off just buying a new one."

[shmokes]

I got my wife a Sony NEX 5 for Christmas. I really wanted to get her a NEX 5n, but couldn't justify the cost. I was hoping for a good sale on it before Christmas, but then a couple days ago I found a sale on the Nex 5 for $400 and I bit (it's expired or I'd link to it). These cameras are the size of a micro four-thirds camera (actually smaller than any other micro four-thirds), but they have a full-size APS-C sensor in them (DSLR sensor). I think it's the perfect compromise. Years ago I bought my wife a nice Canon EOS film SLR camera. She's used it quite a bit over the years, and the pictures are phenomenal. But for everyday stuff we just couldn't be bothered to cart the thing around. It was nice to have for specific purposes, but we used our little Canon point-and-shoot about 95% of the time. That little Canon was a great camera, but after about 5 or 6 years it finally started going wonky about a year ago and since then we've been relegated to the worthless camera on my Blackberry and the barely acceptable 8 megapixel camera on my wife's Sony C905a camera phone.

It's worth noting that our Canon 5 MP point-and-shoot took noticeably superior photos than my wife's 8 MP phone (which is ostensibly more of a camera with a phone tacked on than the other way around). I nice reminder that megapixels aren't everything. Anymore, I'm tempted to say that megapixels aren't anything. I don't think any manufacturers are even selling anything less than 12 MP these days.

[Dartful Dodger]

You use that thing? I just move the cards back n forth from camera to card reader. I suppose there might be a reason to hook it up but I have had a T2i for a couple months and haven't ever hooked a usb to it.

I also just use the SD card to transfer photos, but I use the cable for effects and gimmicks.

I hooked up my T1i to my laptop pointed it out the window and used it for time lapse photography last year when Chicago had that huge snow storm. The window had a glare and looked fogged, so it didn’t turn out. This year I’ll do better.

I've also hooked it up to my laptop to take HDR photos.

I was going to buy a remote that can do all of that without using a laptop, but the remotes I've looked at use the USB port.

The T2i and newer cameras may beable to do these things natively.

This winter I'm going to built my road and rail slot car track. I want to take photos of the progress and the camera needs to be in a fixed position. (I have a thing for time-lapse photos). I know it’s going to take weeks if not months to finish. It will be impossible for me to keep the camera locked down that long. If the camera is moved or used for something else I can hook it up to a laptop, view what the camera is seeing and layer that over the last photo taken with it. I’ll be able to line up the camera to the same position every time.

[Donkey_Kong]

You use that thing? I just move the cards back n forth from camera to card reader. I suppose there might be a reason to hook it up but I have had a T2i for a couple months and haven't ever hooked a usb to it.

I also just use the SD card to transfer photos, but I use the cable for effects and gimmicks.

I hooked up my T1i to my laptop pointed it out the window and used it for time lapse photography last year when Chicago had that huge snow storm. The window had a glare and looked fogged, so it didn’t turn out. This year I’ll do better.

I've also hooked it up to my laptop to take HDR photos.

I was going to buy a remote that can do all of that without using a laptop, but the remotes I've looked at use the USB port.

The T2i and newer cameras may beable to do these things natively.

This winter I'm going to built my road and rail slot car track. I want to take photos of the progress and the camera needs to be in a fixed position. (I have a thing for time-lapse photos). I know it’s going to take weeks if not months to finish. It will be impossible for me to keep the camera locked down that long. If the camera is moved or used for something else I can hook it up to a laptop, view what the camera is seeing and layer that over the last photo taken with it. I’ll be able to line up the camera to the same position every time.

Ok, that makes sense. I remember back in the day using the usb to transfer all of my photos and it took longer than via a card reader.

I like your ideas for time lapses, etc. You didn't post one of that storm? I know I seen one somewhere and it was insane. So how do those work do you run a program to snap a still every so often? 

I recently purchased a wireless remote for my T2i, as far as I know all it does is snap a pic when I click the button.

[Dartful Dodger]

You didn't post one of that storm? I know I seen one somewhere and it was insane. So how do those work do you run a program to snap a still every so often? 

No, it didn't look good. I've got double glass windows. the test picture I took looked good. It started out fine, but a few hours into it the glass got foggy and had a glare.

I wanted the final to be under a minute and I wanted it to take photos throughout the day. I don't remember the actual numbers I came up with, but it was something like 2-8 photos a seconds.

I recently purchased a wireless remote for my T2i, as far as I know all it does is snap a pic when I click the button.

The remotes I were looking at allowed you to program them to do time-lapse and could take a series of photos with different light settings. They were good for HDR photos.

I'll get one before my next vacation, but for the controlled inside playing around I'm doing the laptop does the job.

[Ed_McCarron]

Not that this helps the original poster, but the USB port broke on the T1i 11 months into the extended warranty.  Kid kicked the cable.  Took it back, they decided it was easier to give me a new T2i instead of repairing the old T1i.

Best Buy does something right occasionally.  Why yes, I will take another $69 extended warranty, please.

You use that thing? I just move the cards back n forth from camera to card reader. I suppose there might be a reason to hook it up but I have had a T2i for a couple months and haven't ever hooked a usb to it.

Nice going with BB, though! When ever I mention fix or repair in my local BB, the guy looks like he wants to puke, or maybe beat me up. It's always "Dude, you totally be better off just buying a new one."

It was my wifes PC -- no card reader.  I just bought her an Eye-Fi card, so no more cables needed.  My PC, yes, card reader.

[Ed_McCarron]

Anymore, I'm tempted to say that megapixels aren't anything. I don't think any manufacturers are even selling anything less than 12 MP these days.

Megapixels are a small part of the equation, but it's really all about the glass.

[saint]

You use that thing? I just move the cards back n forth from camera to card reader. I suppose there might be a reason to hook it up but I have had a T2i for a couple months and haven't ever hooked a usb to it.

I also just use the SD card to transfer photos, but I use the cable for effects and gimmicks.

I hooked up my T1i to my laptop pointed it out the window and used it for time lapse photography last year when Chicago had that huge snow storm. The window had a glare and looked fogged, so it didn’t turn out. This year I’ll do better.

I've also hooked it up to my laptop to take HDR photos.

I was going to buy a remote that can do all of that without using a laptop, but the remotes I've looked at use the USB port.

The T2i and newer cameras may beable to do these things natively.

This winter I'm going to built my road and rail slot car track. I want to take photos of the progress and the camera needs to be in a fixed position. (I have a thing for time-lapse photos). I know it’s going to take weeks if not months to finish. It will be impossible for me to keep the camera locked down that long. If the camera is moved or used for something else I can hook it up to a laptop, view what the camera is seeing and layer that over the last photo taken with it. I’ll be able to line up the camera to the same position every time.

This all sounds cool. What software on the PC are you using for this?

[Donkey_Kong]

Would be cool for family get-togethers, then make a slideshow for youtube.

[Dartful Dodger]

This all sounds cool. What software on the PC are you using for this?

I downloaded it from Cannon's website.

I don't know about the onion skinning(layering) software. I was telling a video guy about my idea for making a time-lapse video of my slot car track but was worried about how I'd be able to position the camera correctly after it's been moved. He said he has a program that does it for his T2i.  I'll let you know when (if) it works.

[Donkey_Kong]

Hate to be a pesky bugger here DD, but can you tell us specifically what you're using? The Canon website is insanely large and I can't seem to find what you're talking about, but I'm really interested in stop motion all the sudden! (thanks to you mainly)

[Dartful Dodger]

I just installed whatever was on the CD the camera came with. I don't know the name of the program.

I'll check the name and version of the software and the OS on my camera when I get home.

It's been a year since I fooled around with this. Talking about it has got me interested in this again.  I may have to ask Santa for a camera remote this year.

[Dartful Dodger]

Hate to be a pesky bugger here DD, but can you tell us specifically what you're using?

Canon's EOS Utility 2.8.1.0

[Donkey_Kong]

Thanks man! Good to know, can't find my disc.

Was doing a little research last night on this and found these as another option. I'mreally liking the thought of not having to tether it to a laptop or pc. For around $15?!
An auto timed shutter controller
http://www.amazon.com/RS-60E3-Comaptible-Shutter-Release-Control/dp/B003QA0MWW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1323381744&sr=8-3

[Dartful Dodger]

That’s the type of remote I wanted to get too. I need it to be able to take HDR photos too.

HDR Tutorial

It takes a few seconds to change the aperture on the camera using the computer, so I can only take photos of objects that stay perfectly still. I also can't take photos outside, because I'd need to be lugging my laptop around.

See if it can control the camera to automatically take 5 consecutive photos with different aperture settings, because that might end up being more useful to you.

[Blanka]

That’s the type of remote I wanted to get too. I need it to be able to take HDR photos too.

The D5100 does HDR straight out of your hand, really amazing. As I told here before, it is the most amazing camera when it comes to in-camera options. Adobe Lightroom is just pissed all over, so bad is it compared to the in-camera software of this baby.

[stu33]

That’s the type of remote I wanted to get too. I need it to be able to take HDR photos too.

The D5100 does HDR straight out of your hand, really amazing. As I told here before, it is the most amazing camera when it comes to in-camera options. Adobe Lightroom is just pissed all over, so bad is it compared to the in-camera software of this baby.

Do you work for Nikon?

[Blanka]

No, I just hate it this 500€ plastic thing kicks my 3000€ pro DSLR's butt in terms of IQ.