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Festival Photography => Faire Photos => Topic started by: anne of oaktower on December 05, 2008, 01:18:45 PM

Title: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: anne of oaktower on December 05, 2008, 01:18:45 PM
As the Subject line says, I need your help in choosing my first digital camera.  Santa says he'll get me one, but he needs to know what to look for.

*I told Santa I'd really love to have the Nikon D90, but Santa's budget is a little tight this year, so he's looking for something for a little less dough-ho-ho.   :D  (And Santa says I only want it because Ashton Kutcher is so darn cute in the commercial ;D)

Anyway...I need something that will take crystal-clear pics, preferably with a good zoom, and relatively easy to learn.  Video is a nice feature but don't absolutely have to have it. 

All suggestions will be greatly appreciated!



Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: Alacrity on December 05, 2008, 01:47:12 PM
I use a Sony Alpha 100  and I love it. Uses all my old minolta lens as Sony bought out Minolta. Now it may still be out of your price range but the Alpha has some lower end models as well (200, 350).
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: canonman on December 05, 2008, 02:53:56 PM
what kind of budget are you talking? and what kind of learning curve and time are you willing to put into taking crystal-clear pic's? and last question how much weight and equipment are you willing to carry around with you? such as camera, extra lens, tripod, external flash, filters, extra batteries and so on.....   i can't begin to suggest a camera until these basic questions are answered.
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: anne of oaktower on December 05, 2008, 04:54:05 PM
Quote from: Alacrity on December 05, 2008, 01:47:12 PM
I use a Sony Alpha 100  and I love it. Uses all my old minolta lens as Sony bought out Minolta. Now it may still be out of your price range but the Alpha has some lower end models as well (200, 350).

Thanks, Alacrity.  I'll be sure to check those out.



Quote from: canonman on December 05, 2008, 02:53:56 PM
what kind of budget are you talking? and what kind of learning curve and time are you willing to put into taking crystal-clear pic's? and last question how much weight and equipment are you willing to carry around with you? such as camera, extra lens, tripod, external flash, filters, extra batteries and so on.....   i can't begin to suggest a camera until these basic questions are answered.

Budget:  I'll have to talk to Santa and see what he thinks.  If you know approximate costs, please feel free to post them.

Learning Curve, weight, etc.:  Lovely thing about digitals...no wasted film!  I have plenty of time to experiment and learn as I go along.  (Of course, helpful tips would be wonderful.)  Think BEGINNER.  As I get better (and the budget increases), I'll upgrade.  I don't mind carrying one extra lens, and extra batteries and memory cards are a must, but I'm not yet ready for the external flash, filters, etc.  I do have a (cheap) tripod that I can use if the camera will work on it. 

I'm not aiming to become the world's next greatest photographer - I'll leave that up to the rest of you - I just want to be able to take really nice pics of family, friends, and faire. 





Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: Manwariel on December 05, 2008, 05:38:41 PM
If you want a point-and-shoot camera, the Panasonic DMC LZ8K I have is pretty good, and it only cost $100. There's a setting that automatically selects what it thinks the best scene setting is if you want simplicity, and it has a bunch of different settings you can manually select if want to get more complicated. The downside is that when the ISO is set high, the pictures are sometimes blurry/noisy.
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: DeadBishop on December 05, 2008, 06:26:41 PM
If you want a more affordable DSLR, the Nikon D60 or Canon Rebel XSi would be good choices.  You can easily get a decent zoom lens package with either of those.  For the next couple of days Ritz Camera has the D60 w/two lenses on sale for $649 right now.  Includes a camera bag and a whole bunch of other goodies too.

Link to D60 outfit (http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/SLR1193.htm)
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: gypsylakat on December 05, 2008, 07:46:29 PM
What exactly is the difference between point and shoot and whatever the other would be?
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: DeadBishop on December 06, 2008, 12:43:43 AM
Quote from: gypsylakat on December 05, 2008, 07:46:29 PM
What exactly is the difference between point and shoot and whatever the other would be?



Point and Shoot:

(http://images.tigerdirect.com/skuimages/large/c930-1300-mainxsilver-ca.jpg)




DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex):

(http://www.itechnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/nikon-d700-full-frame-dslr.jpg)

Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: renfairephotog on December 06, 2008, 01:28:58 AM
visit http://www.dpreview.com for camera reviews.

Look for optical zoom instead of digital zoom.
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: LadyTrinn on December 07, 2008, 10:43:23 AM
I have a Nikon D80, just got it in fact, and I love it. There is a learning curve if your only experience was a point and shoot prior to a DSLR. I am finding it easier and easier to use....and I already want 2 more lenses.... ;D
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: anne of oaktower on December 07, 2008, 01:59:29 PM
Thank you all for the tips.  Looks like Santa has quite a task ahead of him  ;)
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: vamptasia on December 07, 2008, 02:39:44 PM
I have a Casio Exilim it is awesome.  Great video and crystal clear shots.  It is very compact and easy to use.  Has a great 4x optical zoom plus digital zoom.  Mine is a few years old and is 7MP but the newer ones go up to 10MP for clearer pictures.  Has a great video fuction with audio and you can take a still shot while video taking.  I love mine.  You save to SD cards which are pretty cheap media now.  I purchased extra batteries on Ebay for really cheap so in the end its very affordable with great quality. 
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: Tim T on December 07, 2008, 03:13:56 PM
Just a couple of things to think about;

First off, I've got a Fuji S8000fd.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0707/07072605fujifilms8000fd.asp
It does very well as a step above a point and shoot with a fairly impressive zoom, but it is limited by the size of the lens.  In other words, the zoom is great when you've got plenty of light, but my photos will get grainy if the light levels are low.

One of my pet peeves are the batteries.  I really can't stand proprietary batteries.  I had a Nikon that took an oddball battery, at about $10 a pop, or you had to buy a $40 rechargeable.  The Fuji takes AA batteries.  I've bought a couple pairs of high capacity rechargeables, but I can always use plain old alkalines in a pinch.

My other preference is for a camera that uses SD cards.  I really am impressed with Sony cameras, but they use memory sticks.  I've no bias against memory sticks, but it is convenient when all your stuff uses the same card.

And yes, no wasted film with a digital.  I went to the Richmond Christmas Parade yesterday and took just over 700 photos.  I had to swap batteries about mid-way through, but I have an 8 gig card, so I can hold a ridiculous amount of photos.  Take as many as you want, play with the different settings, and fully expect 30% of them to be not very good, but you'll get 65% that are great, and you'll get a few that are fantastic!

Have fun shoppin'.

Tim
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: Mandrake Von Sets on December 08, 2008, 10:09:16 PM
Since this is your first digital camera, take a look at Canon's
PowerShot G10 IS (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=17624).  It's a high-end point & shoot.
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: Xanthenes The Unbalanced on December 18, 2008, 12:49:21 PM
Quote from: gypsylakat on December 05, 2008, 07:46:29 PM
What exactly is the difference between point and shoot and whatever the other would be?

To expand upon the Bishop's graphical reply, I would note that, for me, P&S's and DSLR's come down to three main differences:

1.  Sensor size.  Megapixels are overrated.  Sensor size is underrated.  Sure, your point-and-shoot may have 10 megapixels, but if you're cramming them all onto a sensor the size of water molecule, your shots will be noisier and flatter.  With a larger sensor (as in a DSLR - either 22mm or 35mm), your pixel density isn't as high, so the shot isn't as noisy.  With a larger sensor, you also have more control of depth of field (resulting in that nice out-of-focus bokeh behind your subject).

2.  Shutter lag.  This is my biggest pet peeve about point-and-shoots.  If I hit the shutter button, take the darn picture.  Don't wait for a half hour, at which point my subject has not only left the frame, but perhaps even the zip code, as well.  Shutter lag is getting better on point-and-shoots, but there's nothing like the click-bang of an SLR.

3.  Interchangeable lenses.  The right lens for the right shot, every time.  For those who feel carrying a bag of lenses is a pain (and I'm occasionally with that crowd), a nice walk-around 28 to 300mm lens won't get you professional results, but will still outshoot most P&S's.  With a P&S, make sure you like your lens, because it's the one you're stuck with.

Not to say that I'm absolutely against P&S's.  I have one.  Somewhere.
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: anne of oaktower on December 21, 2008, 06:59:01 PM
I do believe Santa has settled on a Canon, but I'm not sure yet which model he'll choose.   Thank you all for the helpful info.  :)
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: gypsylakat on December 27, 2008, 12:17:08 AM
K- so my mom got me an Olympus Fe-340, she liked it because "it came in a pretty box (shaped like a shoebox type photobox), was a prettier shade of pink, and came with a case and a picture frame" I'm pretty sure it came from Ritz as it has their extended warranty form as well as a thing for free digital photography classes..

But- It has a dead pixel.
So I can either even exchange it, or I can pick out another camera of the same cost family (she said nikon had one, i believe she was referring to the 8megapixel coolpix)

Any opinions? This is not a camera that I was looking at so I don't know...
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: DeadBishop on December 27, 2008, 08:10:52 AM
I'd exchange it for a Nikon or Canon in the same price range.  I've already seen a few of those cameras returned for various issues.
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: gypsylakat on December 27, 2008, 03:09:50 PM
K- I thought that's what I was probably going to do... Any advice on Nikons in the price range?
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: NoBill Lurker on December 27, 2008, 06:01:03 PM
dpreview (http://dpreview.com/)

This would be a very good time to go to this site as they have recently did a review on P&S cameras of all price ranges from the lowest priced to the top of the line!
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: anne of oaktower on December 27, 2008, 10:41:15 PM
Santa brought me a Canon SX110, a spare 4GB card, Energizer rechargeable batteries with charger, and the promise of a good camera case when I pick out one I like.  ;D  It's a really nice camera and Santa didn't break the bank.  It has a manual setting, so I will be able to begin to learn a little about shutter speeds and apertures - good practice before I move up to the DSLRs.  ;)

Thank you all for your input and advice.  You were quite helpful, and I'm sure I'll be back with more questions soon.
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: DeadBishop on December 27, 2008, 10:53:12 PM
Wow, Santa was good to you!  The Canon SX110 is a brand new model that just recently came out.  I've been looking at getting a smaller camera to compliment my SLR when I don't want to lug it around, and that's one of my top 3 picks.
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: gypsylakat on January 09, 2009, 09:53:58 PM
Well- the camera gods have apparently said that I should not get a new camera. Honestly.
I took the Olympus back today, the manager at Ritz was very accomodating, came home with a coolpixS52 the lack of an actual honest to goodness telescoping zoom worried me at first but it was explained to me that it used mirrors (like a magic trick, i thought)

SO I brought it home in Green, (apparently I'm carbon neutral for the next two months, if I wanted I could totally drive a Hummer, but considering the amount of carbon I use anyways, i've been told my footprint is really low) Plugged the Nikon battery charger in at 5pm EST and it's now 11pm and the darn battery still isn't charged, the manual says it could take up to 2 hours from the time you plug it in if it's discharged totally... It currently won't even turn the camera on, SO it's got until morning and I'm going back in there entirely displeased.

I can't imagine what I did to displease the Photographic Gods....
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: DeadBishop on January 09, 2009, 10:46:19 PM
Quote from: gypsylakat on January 09, 2009, 09:53:58 PM
Well- the camera gods have apparently said that I should not get a new camera. Honestly.
I took the Olympus back today, the manager at Ritz was very accomodating, came home with a coolpixS52 the lack of an actual honest to goodness telescoping zoom worried me at first but it was explained to me that it used mirrors (like a magic trick, i thought)

SO I brought it home in Green, (apparently I'm carbon neutral for the next two months, if I wanted I could totally drive a Hummer, but considering the amount of carbon I use anyways, i've been told my footprint is really low) Plugged the Nikon battery charger in at 5pm EST and it's now 11pm and the darn battery still isn't charged, the manual says it could take up to 2 hours from the time you plug it in if it's discharged totally... It currently won't even turn the camera on, SO it's got until morning and I'm going back in there entirely displeased.

I can't imagine what I did to displease the Photographic Gods....

Hmm, make sure they didn't give you a display camera.  Even without being charged initially, there should be enough power in the unopened battery to power your camera for a little bit.
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: gypsylakat on January 10, 2009, 01:57:43 AM
It wasn't the display camera he had up, it was one of the last ones in stock, (it's 3am and the charger is still blinking) Not flickering, blinking steadily, which means "i'm charging" according to the manual. Looks liek that nice man will be seeing me again... -_-
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: gypsylakat on January 14, 2009, 11:08:05 PM
Returned to Ritz today- The guy gave me a new battery since the one that was in the camera was a non-nikon battery and may not even have been the right one. DB you were right in thinking it was a floor model, once I actually got it turned on and all the memory was almost full of photos taken in the store (some lady's fingers in the shot and all) I'm going to try it anyways, if I have any problems their going to hear from me is all. I kind of have issues getting sold a model that has been taken out and used without being told so.
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: anne of oaktower on January 15, 2009, 08:19:36 AM
I wouldn't wait.  I'd take it back today.  I would ask to speak to the manager, then politely explain your disappointment in the quality of service/product you have received.  You took this thing home, waited much too long for it too charge up only to find out that it didn't even have the right battery, then after receiving the right battery you found out it was obviously a display model - and you had not been informed of that little detail.  At the very least, you should get not only a new camera (perhaps even a free upgrade), but also some sort of freebie (perhaps an extra memory card, or a camera case, batteries, etc.). 

Good Luck!
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: gypsylakat on January 15, 2009, 02:26:27 PM
well, i had been hoping the manager was going to be there yesterday but he wasn't it was just one of the employees... I think I might, I'm just uncomfortable with it not being new... I don't know why really..

edit- spoke with my mother, she thinks since I had to delete the pictures to make room for my sisters science fair project (don't have a memory card here, it's in my dorm with my old camera) they may not take it back for that reason... I'm going to try any ways
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: gypsylakat on January 16, 2009, 09:52:01 PM
Yeah I've stopped using it completely I'll be going over there tomorrow, I just don't think that's appropriate, they have a shelf model out already, why not use that one?
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: gypsylakat on January 17, 2009, 03:38:18 PM
Got in touch with the Manager today. He is out of the model I have and apparently didn't have anything comparable (?) to exchange for so he is either going to run to another store and get it and my mom will pick it up from his store, or since the store that DOES have it in stock is close to my school, I may go pick it up myself (so I'll have it before spring break) by having one of my friends drive over with me (no car on campus) currently he refunded it onto a gift card for the store. I'm still writing a letter to Nikon however, the manager claims he has no idea how all this happened, but it looks kind of bad because he's the one that directed me towards that model, and the one that sold it to me, after he checked the box.

I just want my darn camera.
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: DeadBishop on January 17, 2009, 05:02:30 PM
Glad to hear that you've had some resolve to this.  In general, Ritz stores always have a new camera as a demo on the shelf.  The manufacturers encourage this because it lets customers experience the camera first hand.  Unlike "big box" stores like Walmart or Target, we don't bolt a camera to a peg and let just anyone bang them around.  We supervise every camera to make sure the customer can't damage it while looking it over.  That being said, we only sell the "open box" cameras if it's the last one after disclosing it to the customer, and IF they find that acceptable.  It sounds like this was definitely not what happened in your case, which is not the norm.  If you need anything additional past what the store manager has done, the quickest way to get something resolved is to go through the district manager. 
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: gypsylakat on January 17, 2009, 09:06:16 PM
DB, they had one out as a display camera, this one was pulled from the actual stock, like underneath the display, I used the display camera first to get a feel for it, then he gave me this one in the box. Their actual display camera is actually still on display.
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: DeadBishop on January 17, 2009, 11:54:52 PM
Quote from: gypsylakat on January 17, 2009, 09:06:16 PM
DB, they had one out as a display camera, this one was pulled from the actual stock, like underneath the display, I used the display camera first to get a feel for it, then he gave me this one in the box. Their actual display camera is actually still on display.

Ouch, that's not good if a camera down below was worse off than the display.  Wondering if someone could have pulled a switchout without the manager knowing. 
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: gypsylakat on January 18, 2009, 01:37:56 PM
*shrugs
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: gypsylakat on February 02, 2009, 03:20:26 PM
Grr, so it's been.... 3 weeks and I haven't heard anything from the manager, I called the store today the guys out on medical leave  and has been for a few weeks so I'm STILL without camera. Anyone have the address for Nikon's corporate line, I do still want to write them but have as of yet been unable to find it...
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: anne of oaktower on February 02, 2009, 08:01:49 PM
I'd say forget about writing and just pick up the phone!  (You should be able to find a number online.)  Give them a call, explain what happened, tell them how disappointed you are with both the camera and the lack of service from the store where it was purchased.  Be polite but assertive.  If you don't get any result from the first person you speak with, ask to speak to their supervisor, and just keep going up the chain of command, if necessary. 

Writing a letter and waiting for a response will just prolong the situation that much longer.   You might, however, find it helpful to put your complaint into writing, including as many details as possible, and have it in front of you whenever you begin making phone calls.
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: DeadBishop on February 02, 2009, 08:25:29 PM
Quote from: gypsylakat on February 02, 2009, 03:20:26 PM
Grr, so it's been.... 3 weeks and I haven't heard anything from the manager, I called the store today the guys out on medical leave  and has been for a few weeks so I'm STILL without camera. Anyone have the address for Nikon's corporate line, I do still want to write them but have as of yet been unable to find it...

Like I said before, talk to the district manager!  Call the store; they'll give you his phone number. 
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: gypsylakat on February 02, 2009, 10:53:55 PM
Lol you did say that, but you put it at the end, and for some reason my brains definition of "skim" is don't read the last 2 words apparently... I'm going to start with that tomorrow after class, that's part of the major issue, I'm at a college where I don't have a car, and I hate bumming rides off of my friends to go pick up the camera from the local store here.
Title: Re: Need your suggestions - 1st Digital Camera purchase
Post by: gypsylakat on March 12, 2009, 04:39:21 PM
Update:
It is now March 12 and I still have no camera. This all started at christmas.

I'm ticked. Although that isn't the right word for it.

Apparently the manager I was dealing with went on Medical leave like 5 days after speaking with me. awesome. I can't get entirely mad at him for being sick, and it sounds like he may have lost his job, he has been "replaced with a new manager" according to the DM I just spoke with

The DM is calling me back on Monday to see if he can find the camera in Fairfax and will most likely meet me in Fairfax, he sounded almost like he would come to my school to drop it off. Not sure, this is apparently something he's been dealing with a lot of complaints after the manager there went on leave, which probably means he's out of brownie points to give upgrades.