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 02/22/2011 08:28:14 AM · #1
Hi! I'm looking to get a new camera - a nice one unlike the point and shoot one I currently own. I'd like something capable of taking a really nice photo, but preferably not to expensive as I can't afford to pay much for it. Thanks in advance for any recommendations,
Serena
 02/22/2011 08:38:05 AM · #2
Some questions before we can help you out much:
Can you be more specific with your expected price range?
Are you looking for a nicer P&S, or a DSLR, or possibly something between the two?
How much experience do you have shooting in aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual modes?
Do you have any nearby friends with a camera system (meaning, a DSLR and lenses)? If so, what brand?
What sorts of photography do you want to do? Anything you seem to like more or intend to pursue?
 02/22/2011 09:01:27 AM · #3
A used DSLR can be had fairly inexpensively. nshapiro had a used Canon Rebel XT for sale a while back. I don't think he was in any great rush to sell it and he may still have it. You could PM him and ask.

I recently bought a Canon Powershot G11 and find it to be a great companion to my DSLR. Has a lot of the functionality of the DSLR, including RAW format, but in a very portable size. Nikon has a very similar offering.

As the religious burger flipper said, some more details would help us to make a more appropriate recommendation.

Message edited by author 2011-02-22 21:21:35.
 02/22/2011 09:10:37 AM · #4
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
....
As the religious burger flipper said, .....


BWHWHWAAHAHAHAHAH!
 02/22/2011 09:16:27 AM · #5
Originally posted by coryboehne:
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
....
As the religious burger flipper said, .....


BWHWHWAAHAHAHAHAH!


For the years that I've been here... I think that I have overwhelmingly been referred to by various interesting and hilarious bastardizations of my name in place of actual usage of the member ID method. It's made for many guffaws on my behalf. Louis called me the Ghostly Spoon once I do believe, which really got me laughing.
 02/22/2011 09:27:18 AM · #6
Originally posted by spiritualspatula:
For the years that I've been here... I think that I have overwhelmingly been referred to by various interesting and hilarious bastardizations of my name in place of actual usage of the member ID method.

Shoulda' chosen a different screen name perhaps...

So why DID you choose such a handle?
 02/22/2011 09:31:11 AM · #7
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Originally posted by spiritualspatula:
For the years that I've been here... I think that I have overwhelmingly been referred to by various interesting and hilarious bastardizations of my name in place of actual usage of the member ID method.

Shoulda' chosen a different screen name perhaps...

So why DID you choose such a handle?


well... all spatulas need a handle....
 02/22/2011 09:37:33 AM · #8
Honestly, I'm spiritualspatula ALL over the place on the web. It was a googlesmack when I chose it, which means I can unify an identity. It's somewhat of a joke, too, me being an atheist and all, on iconography and whatnot. Symbols are what we make of them, nothing inherently sacred about the symbol or item, it's the ideology and thought we put behind it, so why not a spatula? It conjures up amusing images and absurdity. It's silly, it's specific, it's alliterative, but easily remembered by people for it's oddness. Way back when I went as angrycheese for some communities (suitably odd and very very rare initially... but that one got more popular and I stopped using it).
It's very rare indeed for people to not laugh when I give them my e-mail address/handle, and I like that aspect, as well.

So there ya have it :)
 02/22/2011 09:38:28 AM · #9
Originally posted by vawendy:
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Originally posted by spiritualspatula:
For the years that I've been here... I think that I have overwhelmingly been referred to by various interesting and hilarious bastardizations of my name in place of actual usage of the member ID method.

Shoulda' chosen a different screen name perhaps...

So why DID you choose such a handle?


well... all spatulas need a handle....


hahaha that was terrible. Awesomely terrible.
Souffle, souffle.
 02/22/2011 09:48:45 AM · #10
Originally posted by spiritualspatula:
Honestly, I'm spiritualspatula ALL over the place on the web. It was a googlesmack when I chose it, which means I can unify an identity.

I can appreciate that part. I have found that some variation of my own screen name is available at any forum I register with. I just sometimes need to make minor changes for a site's username rules, such as not being able to use a space here on DPC.

Message edited by author 2011-02-22 09:49:19.
 02/22/2011 09:55:11 AM · #11
im going to have my rebel xs for sale soon. pm me if you are interested.
 02/22/2011 11:06:16 AM · #12
Fuji makes a prosumer camera (S-series) that has manual controls, automatic controls, looks like a miniature DSLR, and has a build-in (non-changeable) zoom lens. The price range starts about $185 for the S1800 (meijer.com). That unit has an 18x optical zoom (28-504 mm equivalent), and is a 12 mega-pixel camera. These cameras have a smaller sensor (16:9 ratio) than the ASP-C, but take excellent pictures in good light. As a bonus it uses 4 AA batteries - available literally everywhere. The older models went a bit grainy in lower light conditions, and were a bit slow on the focus / power-up side.
That's a whale of a lot of camera for the price. You might want to check out the camera pages on dpchallenge to see images folks here have shot with the camera.
On the other hand, if you're going to buy a DSLR anyhow, it represents almost $200 towards the purchase of the camera you really want...
02/22/2011 11:16:02 AM · #13
I'd find an old rebel. Even the older versions did a marvelous job. My first digital SLR (I had a film one for years before) was a rebel, and I loved it.
 02/22/2011 04:43:18 PM · #14
Originally posted by spiritualspatula:
Some questions before we can help you out much:
Are you looking for a nicer P&S, or a DSLR, or possibly something between the two?
How much experience do you have shooting in aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual modes?
Do you have any nearby friends with a camera system (meaning, a DSLR and lenses)? If so, what brand?
What sorts of photography do you want to do? Anything you seem to like more or intend to pursue?


I'd like a DSLR preferably - something between the two could do if it's cheaper. I don't have much experience shooting in aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual modes, but I'm a quick learner if there's a manual provided ;)

I do have a friend nearby who has a DSLR, a Nikon I think.

In terms of photography, I'm mostly interested in wildlife and nature, so something that has a nice zoom would be nice.

Thanks again!

02/22/2011 04:50:20 PM · #15
Originally posted by Firefly_Song:
In terms of photography, I'm mostly interested in wildlife and nature, so something that has a nice zoom would be nice.

If you go the DSLR route, then a large zoom is going to be an additional purchase. Also keep in mind that once you invest in some lenses and other brand specific equipment, that switching is expensive.
 02/22/2011 04:51:46 PM · #16
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Originally posted by Firefly_Song:
In terms of photography, I'm mostly interested in wildlife and nature, so something that has a nice zoom would be nice.

If you go the DSLR route, then a large zoom is going to be an additional purchase. Also keep in mind that once you invest in some lenses and other brand specific equipment, that switching is expensive.


Not to mention the fact that most lens that are appropriate for wildlife are priced quite a bit above your range... Although, the 80-200EF isn't a bad lens, and should be easily found for a good deal less than many similar lenses.
 02/22/2011 07:34:12 PM · #17
Don't expect to shoot bird close-ups (still or flying) with less than 400mm or so. I thought that 270mm would be enough, but it isn't - unless the bird is comatose and you're really close. ;-p
02/22/2011 08:42:35 PM · #18
I'd suggest something like a Canon G12. It has almost all of the controls available on a DSLR and has a hotshoe for using external flash.
 02/22/2011 09:20:16 PM · #19
Originally posted by Spork99:
I'd suggest something like a Canon G12. It has almost all of the controls available on a DSLR and has a hotshoe for using external flash.

I recently bought a G11 and love it Near DSLR image quality in a compact package. Not enough telephoto reach to be good for wildlife photography, but it's certainly a significant upgrade from the P&S she now has. jmsetzler has one of the earlier G9's up for sale for $200.
 02/22/2011 09:25:03 PM · #20
This is weird. Does anyone else see two of Nshapiro's profile pic after the signature line of my first response in this thread?
 02/23/2011 01:48:48 AM · #21
Originally posted by dtremain:
... unless the bird is comatose and you're really close. ;-p

Close enough to comatose to get close with a 432mm (EQ) built-in lens ...
02/23/2011 02:40:38 AM · #22
The canon sx30 is can also be used for birds
04/09/2011 03:15:32 AM · #23
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
This is weird. Does anyone else see two of Nshapiro's profile pic after the signature line of my first response in this thread?

Yes!
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