Camera for a amatuer hoping to some day be a pro

[mom2HKP]

Budget

*
$200 or less (I am a good bargain shopper)- For now
$600 or less for in the future

Size

size does not matter- although I don't like cameras the same size as my pen or drivers license!

Features

How many megapixels will suffice for you?
6+


Not sure what exactly optical vs digital zoom is but I'd like to be able to stand in the back of a room and at least be able to zoom in on a body- not necessarily a face

How important is “image quality” to you? (Rate using a scale of 1-10)
8

Do you care for manual controls?
As long as I have a manual to tell me how to use them

General Usage

* What will you generally use the camera for?
Pictures of my children and at family wedding events

* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not?
nothing bigger than 8 x 10 or 10 x 13

Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos?
around the house, in churches, reception halls

Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos?
Children running and moving around but nothing like sporting events

Miscellaneous

Are there particular brands you like or hate?
I'd like a brand that makes a D-SLR so that some day if I can't do it now I can upgrade within the brand as they seem to have similar features and useage

Are there particular models you already have in mind?
I was looking at a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20K and a Samsung GX on ebay


(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? (Wide Angle, Image Stabilization, Weatherproof, Hotshoe, Rotating LCD)


****I am in the beginning stages of learning photography on a professional level. I was asked to take pictures at my sisters wedding and I'd like to get a camera ASAP. I do currently have a FujiFilm FinePix F20 which is fine for shooting candid of the kids playing in the yard but I need/want more.****

[AndyfromVA]

If you ever want to be a professional photographer, you must learn how to use manual controls, aperture priority and shutter priority. Your $200 budget limits your options and nothing you buy is going to give you the low light picture quality of your Fuji F20. With that in mind, your options are several compact cameras, the Canon A590IS and A720IS, the Nikon P60, the Panasonic LZ8 and LZ10, and a couple of older ultrazooms, the Fuji S700 and the Kodak Z712IS. They are all good cameras. I have personal experience with the Canon A720IS, which I've found to be a good all-around camera and a great learning tool.

[mom2HKP]

If you ever want to be a professional photographer, you must learn how to use manual controls, aperture priority and shutter priority. Your $200 budget limits your options and nothing you buy is going to give you the low light picture quality of your Fuji F20. With that in mind, your options are several compact cameras, the Canon A590IS and A720IS, the Nikon P60, the Panasonic LZ8 and LZ10, and a couple of older ultrazooms, the Fuji S700 and the Kodak Z712IS. They are all good cameras. I have personal experience with the Canon A720IS, which I've found to be a good all-around camera and a great learning tool.

So I should probably use my Fuji F20 for now and save some money to eventually get a nice entry level D-SLR.


Out of curiosity what are the three top entry level dslr's?

[TheWengler]

The XSi is the top one. After that it's pretty close.

[mom2HKP]

Should a person just starting out opt for a 'SLR-like' camera then go up to the actual d-slr?

[AndyfromVA]

I think purchasing a DSLR at this time would be a bad idea for a couple of reasons. First of all, you don't really know if you would use the advanced capabilities of a DSLR. It would make no sense to buy one and leave it on auto. Second, DSLR's vary in terms of features, capabilities, size, weight, etc. You don't really know at this point what's important to you.

In my opinion, a far better alternative would be to buy one of the cameras I mentioned to give yourself an opportunity to learn to use manual controls, aperture priority and shutter priority. After several months/years you'll be much more knowledgeable of what you really want in a DSLR and you'll be ready to buy one that meets your needs.

[Houman]

How about a second hand S3 IS ?

[Turn]

mate, with what you want to do you'll need an SLR like XSi so best to save up

start learning manual controls asap, it would make the transition easier...

[speaklightly]

Consider this: Here is sample A:

http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s346/Sarah124710/A-138SampleA.jpg

Consider this: Here is sample B:

http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s346/Sarah124710/A-139SampleB.jpg

One of the samples is from a DSLR camera and one is from a common digicam. I am not so sure that a DSLR is required in this situation. Now it is up to you to figure out which photo came from which camera.

I sincerely do NOT believe the op has to jump to a DSLR camera.

Sarah Joyce

[KCook]

My thinking is along the same lines as AndyfromVA. I have a Fuji F45fd, not all that different from a F20. As a stepping stone from an F20 my list would be a Canon SX100, Fuji S1000fd, or Kodak Z8612. There are certainly more expensive, fancier P&S models than these. But once you get near $400 a used DSLR becomes tempting to me.

Different strokes for different folks, find your own comfort zone.

Kelly Cook

[Rooz]

One of the samples is from a DSLR camera and one is from a common digicam. I am not so sure that a DSLR is required in this situation. Now it is up to you to figure out which photo came from which camera.

I sincerely do NOT believe the op has to jump to a DSLR camera.

Sarah Joyce

i sincerely hope sample A is from the digicam cos its shocking. does the OP NEED to get a dslr ? No. need is a relative term though. who needs anything ?

imo, there is no reason NOT to get a dslr. they are not that difficult to use and if you're planning on potentially looking for more pro options then you can have a good play with one now. if budget allows the xsi is a great option. if it doesnt, you can grab a d40 cheap as chips, (plus flash for even better results), and it will outperform any compact by miles in the 2 things specified in the OP.

1. low light.
2. fast-ish moving objects like kids.

its really as simple as that.

[Turn]

Sample A is dSLR...

Sample B is S5 IS

[speaklightly]

Turn-

You are indeed correct! The point I wanted to make here is that the Canon S-5 IS compares very well with even DSLR cameras. BTW the DSLR in this case was a Sony A-100 equipped with the Sony 18-250mm lens.

Sarah Joyce

[Rooz]

not an a100 advertisement thats for sure.