What camera to get?

[tadz0rz]

Hey guys..

Im in the market for a new camera because the one i have is absolutly SHOCKING for night pictures. Virtually makes taking pictures at night pointless.

Went to JB to check out prices on camera's and im trying to stick to the $300 price range.

These are the specs im looking for...

Movie with sound
high quality pictures in low lighting
fast shutter speed
good for action shots, IE, taking pictures of rides while driving
Widescreen lense

I was looking at the Nikon L100. Little bit more than i want to pay but i had a nikon a while ago and was really happy with it. It was 2mega pixles, and the one ive got now is 5, and the nikon kicked its ass in image quallity

Reading somewhere its not really about how many mega pixles it has, more about how big the lense is, etc

Im hoping techni will see this thread since hes the clubs professional photographer. But i know theres a few other members on here that know a bit about photography.

Mainly going to be using it for car pics, ie meets, driveway shots, low lighting, close up detail etc

Any input is appreciated, i just want to get the best camera for the money because i spent 200 on the last camera and its shockin so im trying to do my research on my next one so i dont get stuck with a dud.

Thanks guys

[Ozie]

These are great cameras tadz and very cheap,
http://www.photoreview.com.au/Fujifilm/ ... 00fd-.aspx

you can get them now for around $450.

[tadz0rz]

Thanks for that oz, im willing to spend a bit extra, but if i can get a better camera im willing to go over.

Lookin at the quallity of those pics, they look fantastic.

Another thing, anything around my pricerange that i can attatch a fish eye lense to?

[m1n1on]

Just a website that is good for reviews and comparisons.

http://www.dpreview.com

[SIR-VRX]

How much are you looking to spend as the maximum?

Canon Digital SLRs start at just under a grand (1000D), and they are a fantastic starting point into the DLSR range. But as with all DSLRs they are slightly more complicated to use once you start playing with settings etc. But worth it IMO.

I'm saving for a 5D myself haha They're about $4000

[tadz0rz]

ill put it at a $450 MAX and thats pushing it. Just want something with a big lense that takes great pics in low light rooms/areas, stablisation features etc.

[SIR-VRX]

Most photos are better WITHOUT a stabliser on. You just need a tripod for those conditions that require a long exposure - ie low light.

Try and find one that has a good range of customisable settings like ISO and exposure time.

[tadz0rz]

Can you explain to me what those are and what i should look for in the ways of what settings etc?

[SIR-VRX]

Ok, maybe you should find a camera with AUTO mode LOLZ

If you are really serious about good photos, look for a camera that offers a good range of setting adjustments. Not a full Auto. BUT you will want one that offers an Auto mode too. Just in case!

I'll try to explain this in Laymen's terms for you.

ISO is, in short, the light sensitivity. The higher the ISO number, the more light it captures. A higher ISO is used in low light, but with shorter exposures. BUT the higher the ISO the more "noise" (grain) the shot has. It requires a lot of practice to pick the correct settings for each scenario and conditions. Also depends on the style you are after in the shot. The following photo shows some exmples of the different ISO values.



Exposure time is basically the time the camera is taking the shot for. They can be 1/100sec (1 hundredth of a second) all the way up to 30 seconds, even longer sometimes. The longer the exposure, the more light gets in too. here is another example:



There is lots more to it than what I have touched on, but you are a long way off needing to know it at the moment. No offense or anything, but I don't want you to be too confused

---

Also, you don't need a $500 camera to take good shots. Look at all my photos, even moving ones. Taken on my $300 Sony W110. (If you want I can show you a few that I have taken that I think are really good) Oh but that one of mine that will be on the splash page wasn't taken on my camera.

Hope I am helping, not hindering your decision

[blanka]

get one with full HD 1080p lolz ^^

[tadz0rz]

Lol nah your helping me, looks like i gotta buy a tripod aswell

Just as long as though i get a cam with high image quality, movie with sound, takes good night/low light photos ill be happy.

Once i get to the point where im buyin tripods n that, i would like to have the option of changing the exposure time (is that the same as shutter speed, or is that different?) and a few other feature which i can mess around with just to get a better quallity picture. Not to an INSANE degree, but just has that sorta future proof to it

[SIR-VRX]

Yeah I recommend my camera, Sony DSC-W110. They are cheap as chips now. Well the model that replaced it is. Mine is discontinued. The reason I bought it was for the awesome image quality compared to cameras even dear than it was. Of course, it's no DSLR but at the time it was all I could afford and it has served me well.

Exposure time is the same as shutter speed, but the cameras you are looking at don't have shutters

[jamez707]

ok you are on the right track with all the info you have been given (good work adrian) my recomendation would be a canon or nikon. i am personaly a canon fan. these two brands in particular it would be hard to get a bad quality pic for the amount of money you pay. for $300 you are asking abit mutch to get grate quality pics and video/audio. but close to your price range i would recomend the canon PowerShot SX110 IS. if you could get a bit more money the PowerShot SX10 IS
is a great camera with 2 chanel audio and heeps of settings. i use to have the older vertion the 5is and it was a great camer...till it got stolen.
im pretty sure you can actualy change lenses on these too....on that note you will find that canon lenses are normaly exspencive but they are some of the best lenses you can get

if you decide to hold of for a better camera eg DSLR camera most of the entry level cameras. if you want to see what the DSLR entry levels can do
like the EOS1000D that adrian referd to have a look at all the picks of my car in the garage i have a 1000D. they are only 800x533 pics to fit on the sight but pm me and i can email you the full def file to check out.

also on the iso shutter speed. if you arnt taking moving picks its best to use a tripod esecialy in low light situations so you can take the photo with a longer shutter speed (needs to be held still) and not have to change the iso when the iso gets higher you get more noise creating a lower quality photo. but on the brite side scince you are probably not going to have a light weight camera and wont use it too often you can pick up some cheap tripods off ebay for $20-$30 i have seen some for.

any more questions just post them here or pm me but as been said try to hit tenchi up im only an amature

[tadz0rz]

Thanks for that james, i was looking at the powershot sx110 IS at JB HI FI the other day had it for about $320 i think.

Probley going to go shopping for more cameras today, but since no cashola i cant give into temptation and just buy one

Movies aint as important, long as though they have sound, it doesnt bother me how big the image is, long as though it aint blurry and pixleated when i upload it to youtube.

Too many choices when it comes to cameras if you ask me.

Is there any digi camera in my price range that will let you change the exposure time?

[jamez707]

the sx110is can Shutter Speed : 15 - 1/2500 sec.
i think for $320 it would be a good buy. at the end of the day canon or nikon
i dont think you will be disapointed with either.
make shure they jb throw you in a good fast memory card. id go atlest 2g but for movies at least 4g but most cameras you will look at as long as they are new modles they should suport at least 8g card probably 16g but that can be overkill for just pics

good luck