Camera for Indoor No-Flash Pictures of Pets

[acmbun]

Hello all,

I've been researching cameras because I'd like to purchase a new one that will capture better pictures of my pets. I'll answer the standard questionnaire below. Thanks in advance for your help. ^^


Budget

Less than $600. Obviously the less expensive, the better, but I'd be willing to go up to $600 if it truly is a great camera.


Size

Size doesn't matter much.

Features

Megapixels = Whatever will suffice for being able to print good quality 8x10s, but realistically I would mostly only print 4x6s and 5x7s.

I'm fine with as little as 3x Optical Zoom, but higher might be handy for capturing pics of my pets without being in their faces lol.

Image Quality Importance is 10 on a scale of 1-10.

As far as manual controls, I used to think I wanted them but over the years I've gotten lazy so a smart auto system would be nice. The only thing is sometimes I'd like to be able to manually change the focus especially in situations where I'm shooting a picture of my pet while he's inside an exercise pen and I don't want the focus on the pen.

I'm guessing I will benefit a lot from optical/mechanical IS so that's probably also a requirement.

Something I would really like as well is the ability to shoot short video clips at least VGA if not HD 720p. Ideally I'd be able to use the optical zoom during the filming of videos.


General Usage

I have pet bunnies who are indoors all the time and most active after dusk.
They can be camera shy and a flash really annoys them.

I don't really have time to setup a tripod to capture moments when they are relaxed and being cute, and my current point and shoot camera of course is completely inadequate at taking pictures of them without flash.

Sometimes they zoom around really fast and hop high in the air, and I would love to catch one of them mid-air at some point, so I suppose that's kind of in the action/sports photo category? XD Kind of...

Miscellaneous

I'm partial to Canon for no real particular reason other than that almost all my point and shoots have been Canon. (A70, S1 IS, A1000 IS)

I started reading a lot of reviews of different cameras and many have features I like but basically after a while I felt more confused than ever, which is why I'm asking for advice here. ^^;

Under other special features: Yes to IS, and possibly to Wide Angle.



Please ask me any other specific questions if needed! Thanks again.

[David Metsky]

Only a DSLR will do this, and even then you'll need a fast lens and a more expensive model that handles high ISO cleanly. You can't do this with a P&S and you probably can't find a DSLR package in this price range that will perform the way you want.

[GoneTomorrow]

Agreed, you need a DSLR with a decent prime. You can get a Canon Digital Rebel XS (body only) and a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 mk II for about $600 together. That combo will do well in low light without flash.

[David Metsky]

Will the Rebel XS do well enough at high ISO? I don't know enough about that model to say. If so, a package like that might be your best bet.

[acmbun]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I had a feeling I'd need to go the DSLR route, however I'm a complete newbie to DSLRs, so I'm definitely not ready to purchase anything expensive (hence the $600 budget).

I also was hoping to not have to purchase too many additional lenses. One extra lens would be ideal.

Being able to capture them hopping mid-air is just overly ambitious and really not that important a requirement. Mostly I just want to capture when they are relaxed and not aware that I'm pointing some strange scary device at them that might emit some scary bright lights.

Are there definitely no higher end P&Ss that do well in indoor no-flash situations? Something like the Panasonic FZ35?

I was intrigued by the Fuji FinePix F200EXR's ability to do well in low-light as well but I don't need something compact and figured maybe there is something with a larger body that isn't a DSLR that'd be comparable if not better?

Any additional suggestions for a DSLR body with just one additional lens around my budget would be helpful too. I'm certainly not limited to Canon!

[David Metsky]

The big zoom lenses tend to be slower (require more light). The cameras that might work (but I think you're still asking too much from a P&S) are the Fuji F70, Fuji F200, Canon S90, or Panasonic LX3. They are better at low light, but not in the same league as a basic DSLR with a fast lens. The combo listed above is about as good as you'll get for low light at that price.

[acmbun]

The big zoom lenses tend to be slower (require more light).

Ah, that's very useful to know. I guess that explains why my S1 IS performed worse than my A1000 IS at taking pictures indoors.

The Canon S90 looks very nice, but since it's newer I haven't been able to find that many reviews for it.

As far as the F200 EXR goes, are there no P&Ss in a less-compact body that do as well or better in indoor no-flash situations? I just keep hearing the F200 EXR does great in low-light for a compact, so I assumed there are non-compact P&Ss that might perform even better?

Or does it really jump from something like the F200 EXR --> DSLR?

If I upped my budget to $700, does that change anything in terms of recommendations for DSLR + lens combo?

[David Metsky]

As far as the F200 EXR goes, are there no P&Ss in a less-compact body that do as well or better in indoor no-flash situations? I just keep hearing the F200 EXR does great in low-light for a compact, so I assumed there are non-compact P&Ss that might perform even better?
No. In this context, P&S = compact.


Or does it really jump from something like the F200 EXR --> DSLR?
Yes


If I upped my budget to $700, does that change anything in terms of recommendations for DSLR + lens combo?
For a little more you can get a Canon T1i and a 50mm f1.8 lens.

[acmbun]

Oh wow, this is a lot more than my budget but I just discovered the reviews for the Panasonic GF1. It looks amazing and I think it might just fulfill all my requirements (ignoring budget lol)!

I shall continue reading up on the Canon Rebels (the T1i having video is nice), but right now I'm completely in awe over the GF1 heh.

[speaklightly]

If you look at the Panasonic G-1 model you will be well within your budget. In the single lens category the Canon G-11 is also a possibility.

Sarah Joyce

[raven15]

The Canon XS + kit lens + f/1.8 50mm lens is probably best at the application for the price.

The Panasonic GF-1 or G-1 + kit lens + f/1.7 20mm lens would be OK also, but expensive.

[acmbun]

Embarrassing stupid questions:

If I'm getting the f/1.8 50mm lens, do I actually need to buy any of the Canon DSLRs with the kit lens? Or can I get the body only?

What am I losing in terms of general functionality if I forego the kit lens?

[GoneTomorrow]

Will the Rebel XS do well enough at high ISO? I don't know enough about that model to say. If so, a package like that might be your best bet.

Well, it will be a far sight better than even advanced p&s cameras. Judging from the sample shots, it's at least as good as an XTi at higher sensitivities (which I'm familiar with), though probably not much use past 1600 ISO in low light.


Embarrassing stupid questions:

If I'm getting the f/1.8 50mm lens, do I actually need to buy any of the Canon DSLRs with the kit lens? Or can I get the body only?

What am I losing in terms of general functionality if I forego the kit lens?

If you forgo the EF-S 18-55mm IS kit lens, you are losing wide angle capability. With the 50mm, the focal length is fixed and is medium telephoto with the crop factor taken into consideration.

You could try just the body and 50mm first and if you decide you need a wider angle, the kit lens is relatively cheap for around $100 or so. It's a very decent kit lens actually.

[lovemycanon]

Is Panasonic G-1 a good one?

[speaklightly]

Yes, the Panasonic G-1 is a very good option, however the kit lens is a little bit slow. Have you considered using Bounce Flash.

Sarah Joyce