Simple is good but simple is simple. You mentioned you enjoy the simplicity of a POS but would like to have a longer lens (to do less cropping) I have a long lens and still crop more than I should. If you shoot kids and pets running around the low light areas of the house and in the shade, you need to be able to set the shutter speed to stop the action. I'm gussing you are using the Action shooting mode on your camera for this. A 3x zoom on a 7mp camera will allow you to crop with better results than a 3x zoom on a 3mp camera. Mayby you just need a higher mp camera and not the DSLR. Keep it simple and fun.-Dwainhttp://www.photobox54.com..
Amy129 wrote:.
I have been reading these posts for a few nights, but I am justfeeling more overwhelmed trying to find answers to my questions. SoI thought I would just post them all here in one place and maybesomeone could help clear it all up for me. I'm looking forrecommendations..
I currently own a Kodak C340. It's an ok point and shoot camera, buttoo limiting. It's time to upgrade. I have been looking at theKodak Z612, Kodak Z712, and the Nikon D40. The Nikon D80 lookspretty amazing, but the price tag is a bit much for me. I have putmy hands on them.
I like the lighter weight of the Kodak's..
OK, good of you to check that. Personally I don't like the way a lot of Kodaks render skin tones and the way that even a tiny bit of a challenge will cause them to CA from here to next week. But, I've handled only a few kodaks the last few years and they do make a LOT of cameras..
Here is what I need:.
1) I enjoy cropping. Sometimes, I crop just a portion of a photo,but with my current camera, that portion doesn't look that great.But it's only a 3x zoom, so I can't get as close as I would like,therefore cropping more..
Then 6mpix is bare minimum.
2) Auto and manual settings. Back in high school and college, I hada fully manual Pentax film camera that I enjoyed. My Mom had a Nikonand we swapped lenses, enjoyed our hobby of photography, and evendeveloped our own b&w film and photos in our home darkroom. But thathas been about 15-20 years ago. So the DSLR's wouldn't be sounfamiliar to me, I'm just not sure I need all that (especially forthe price)..
OTOH, you may enjoy getting back into the hobby, I know I did..
3) The types of photos that I take include action shots of mychildren playing, shots in low light (that I struggle with my currentcamera), landscape, portrait shots, outdoors, indoor, natural lightphotos, and pretty much just daily life. I take a LOT of photos. Ihave some old photo editing software that does quite a bit.... not asfancy as the photo shop, but nice. However, I don't have the time orthe desire to do a lot of photo editing to every single photo that Itake. For the most part, I've been pleased with the colors that Iget with my current camera..
OK, well, the Nikons will produce very decent out of camera pics. What you will love about a dslr is that it's fast enough to capture your kids. Set it properly and shutter lag is just about non-existent. For me that was one of the reasons to drop compact cameras and move to DSLR..
4) Different lenses and filters would be fun, but not a necessity.I do love the wide angles and zooms. With the point and shoots thathave lens accessories, is there an adapter to add any type of lens orjust a couple made for that particular camera?.
A lot of compacts these days are threaded for additional lenses, if not then there's an adapter. Do bear in mind that good addon lenses will cost you..
With a D40 and 18-70 you can already cover a lot of situations..
5) I do like and use the video feature on my current point and shootcamera. If my next camera didn't have that feature, I would stillhave it with my old camera, but it is something I use and like. Iknow that is not availabe on DSLR's..
6) LCD screen. I rely on that feature to view my photos... andsometimes to take the photo. I don't think the DSLR's allow you touse the LCD screen to take the photo like the point and shoot camerasdo. But I especially would like a nice size screen for viewing thephotos afterward..
DSLRs do have that. Only olympus at the moment also allows you to copy that ridiculous behaviour of composing a shot while holding your camera at arm's length..
7) I am used to the Kodak software and like how it works. I likehow the photos download to my computer. I know this is just what youget used to and I wouldn't be against other brands, but I would likesomething equally simple to download my photos..
Windows explorer? Google picasa?.
Photography is a hobby of mine, but I'm far from a professional. Andas much as the Nikon D80 and/or D40 would be, I just don't know if I"need" that. But I do take a lot of photos... birthday parties, babyshowers, reunions, etc. I crop and print out a lot of photos... mostare 4x6, some 5x7, and a few 8x10.
OK, no you don't "need" a DSLR but it does make photography so much more fun. Since I bought my D50 last year I've shot more than 10000 pics with it and have totally rediscovered how much I like photograhpy. It's allowed me to take shots like:.
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Shots I couldn't have done with a P&SDon't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..
Amy129 wrote:.
I have been reading these posts for a few nights, but I am justfeeling more overwhelmed trying to find answers to my questions. SoI thought I would just post them all here in one place and maybesomeone could help clear it all up for me. I'm looking forrecommendations..
I'm a hobbyist as well, and I take a lot of pictures. I had never owned anything besides a P&S camera until this past Christmas, when my girlfriend surprised me with a SONY DSC-H2. She already had one and I was impressed with the quality of both camera and images. Since then, I have taken many pictures. I have a lot to learn, but I'm getting better each time I go out and shoot. I shoot 99% of the time in manual and it's a great learning experience.
There are many reviews for the H2 if you Google it. Here's one from this website: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonyh2/.
The Carl Zeiss native lens is fantastic and covers a lot of ground. You can buy SONY telephoto and wide-angle lenses as well. I don't have them yet, but I have seen many shots taken with the tele and H2 and have been very impressed. You can read more detailed info on this camera here: http://www.aakatz.com/whitepaper/Homepage.htm.
The H2 is a great "bridge" camera, offering a number of DSLR features. I love mine, and it's bang-for-the-buck value is hard to beat. I will have a DSLR at some point, but I am far from outgrowing my H2. Good luck:).
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Geoff.
Ham-fisted button-pusher..
I want to thank you all for your input..
Photobox54 - Dwain, it's not so much that I want "simple" as it's a cost issue for me. Right now, my camera is a 5 MP with a 3x zoom. I do utilize the different modes on my little P&S. It still doesn't offer exactly what I'm wanting, especially if the light is a bit low. Simple and fun is nice. I was looking at the Kodak P&S - Z612 & Z712.
But I hate to spend $250-$300 on something that's not going to meet my expectations..
Wijnands - I have only used the Kodak, so I don't really have anything else to compare it too. Mine is about 2 years old and I think I'm about to wear it out. So that is why I'm on the hunt for a new one. At first I was just going to replace it with another P&S because that's all I thought I needed, but there are sooooo many times where the camera limits me and I get so frustrated. My husband was the one to suggest that I get a nicer camera. So the hunt has begun.
But it was nothing fancy at all... not even something I would want to compare other cameras too. Ha! The kodak that I have now is 5MP with a 3x zoom. There are so many times that I zoom out (optical) as far as that will go and get the shot, but by the time I crop it the way I want, I've lost the picture. That annoys me to no end.
Or both. I do find that I am editing a lot of the photos out of my Kodak, so maybe I'm not as "pleased" with the colors as I thought? I like them when I'm done editing. The shutter lag on the Kodak drives me crazy, but it's something I've gotten used to I guess. I would certainly rather it NOT be there though. The speed of the DSLR really is a big plus for me.
As for lenses, I forgot to mention that I have a few lenses. I have a 75-300mm Albinar, Nikon Nikkor 24mm wide angle, 2x teleconverter, a Nikon speedlight flash, and some filters. These are all the items that I had years ago. I didn't know if they would fit the DLSR's of today? Photography is definitely a hobby of mine... and with kids, they do go hand in hand.
And have even been asked by local businesses to take some shots for them. I think that with just a tiny bit of effort, I could even make a little business... maybe! Those photos are great! Thank you for sharing them with me. NICE!!.
Geoff_B - Those are amazing photos. I can see why you are pleased with your camera. I haven't looked at the H2, but I think I will. Thank you!!.
I have 2 specific questions that may be better addressed in the individual forums, but besides 1 MP, what is the differences between the Kodak Z612 and the Kodak Z712?.
And, besides the 4 MP, what are the differences between the Nikon D40 and the Nikon D80? Is the Nikon D40X a good mix of the two?.
Thank you,Amy..
Have you looked at the Pentax K10D? It has all the features you want and then some...
Amy129 wrote:.
I want to thank you all for your input..
So many shots with my P&S. As for lenses, I forgot to mention thatI have a few lenses. I have a 75-300mm Albinar,.
Forget it..
Nikon Nikkor 24mm.
That might be interesting, if not for you then for ebay, they can fetch something..
Wide angle, 2x teleconverter, a Nikon speedlight flash, and somefilters. These are all the items that I had years ago. I didn'tknow if they would fit the DLSR's of today?.
It will fit except for the flash. Question is, do you want to use them?.
Photography is definitelya hobby of mine... and with kids, they do go hand in hand. I takelots of pictures... and have even been asked by local businesses totake some shots for them. I think that with just a tiny bit ofeffort, I could even make a little business... maybe! Those photosare great! Thank you for sharing them with me.
Thanks. Some of those were taken within three months of me buying a D50 and with a $45 lens on it..
Geoff_B - Those are amazing photos. I can see why you are pleasedwith your camera. I haven't looked at the H2, but I think I will.Thank you!!.
And, besides the 4 MP, what are the differences between the Nikon D40and the Nikon D80? Is the Nikon D40X a good mix of the two?.
Too many to mention. D80 is for the more advanced enthousiast allows, among other things, you to wireless control flashes, will autofocus with anything Nikon AF and it's quite a bit bigger. It's what I hope to buy when I wear out my D50..
D40x is a D40 with a 10mpix sensor. Sounds interesting but judging from your story a D40 with 18-135 would make as much sense..
Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..
Amy129 wrote:.
And, besides the 4 MP, what are the differences between the Nikon D40and the Nikon D80? Is the Nikon D40X a good mix of the two?.
Check these links:http://forums.dpreview.com/...forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=24058291.
Http://forums.dpreview.com/...80&page=1&fields=subject&forum=1034.
The D40x is pretty much a D40 with more MP, slightly faster shooting speed, maybe slightly higher dynamic range and slower flash sync speed. Otherwise, as far as all the other features go, it's basically the same camera. The D80 has far more features than either the D40 or D40x, the best of which (IMHO) is the bigger, brighter viewfinder, if that is a consideration for you..
PatcoA photograph is more than a bunch of pixels..