Need Camera Suggestions

plain and simple · Jun 14, 2011

I'm a first time blogger and need a camera so I can include pictures and, possibly, some video.

I'm not a photographer but I'm not an idiot either. The last camera I owned used film (gasp!) and my pictures turned out quite well.

Here's the part you were expecting, and waiting for. I no longer have the great paying job I used to have and so the budget is tight. Up to $120 at most. Preferably right around $100. I'm open to the world's most sophisticated camera for $15, too!

I've done some research online but I want to know what folks here think. I can't ask online reviews questions!

Basically, I'm not too fussy. Just great quality pictures, long battery life, video capability that isn't crappy, and a really good zoom feature. I live around lakes and use zoom a lot so I want more than the piddly standard zoom. I don't care about size and I'm not afraid to read a manual and learn every feature of the camera. So, I guess a camera I could grow into would be great. (Well, that 'camera I could grow into' might be asking a bit much for $100!)

Is there anything specific I should be looking for but aren't aware of? I promise, I'll listen.

And does buying online get the best prices? If so, where? Amazon? Brick and mortar like Target?

(The first person to say "paper and colored pencils are cheap" doesn't get repped!) (Neither does the second or third! LOL)

Thanks in advance, folks.

Maryn · Jun 14, 2011

Does it need to be new?

I got a Canon SD450 in 2006, handed to me right before a big trip. I did not have a case or anything, just the camera, battery charger, and a spare chip, so it got pretty beat-up in backpack, purse, etc. While its view screen is scratched all to hell, it's still a great little camera. I'm not much of a photographer, really, but I get crisp shots good enough to share here and elsewhere. (Most of my avatars, although not this one, were shot with this camera.)

Of course there's now a newer model, but there are used SD450s at Amazon for as little as $60.

If it's in good shape, I'd certainly consider it used.

Maryn, pleased with her camera

areteus · Jun 14, 2011

There are a few good mini DSLRs out there now. If you are not aware, DSLR is digital single lens reflection and is the system professional cameras use (the vision you see in the viewfinder or screen is exactly what is seen by the lens rather than an image which may be slightly out). Now a proper DSLR will cost you hundreds (min £300 new, maybe less on ebay...) but you can get a decent one of these new things for about £100.

No idea if they do video (a proper DSLR rarely will but these are supposed to be more general purpose so may) but then I am not sure vid quality on any digital camera is especially good compared to a dedicated video camera.

Now, the average mobile phone these days usually has a very good camera and video camera. If you already have one that does this, why not use that until you can upgrade to something better?

And I say it is often worth looking at ebay and seeing what is on sale. People upgrade their cameras all the time and sell the old ones. I got a reasonable Canon 300D (in good condition) which is a basic SLR for £90.

Now if someone could point me to an ebay auction for a telephoto lens that is within my budget of anything less than £70 I'll love you for life (I've bid on two so far and they both started cheap but then went too expensive for my blood very quickly...)

plain and simple · Jun 14, 2011

Maryn said:
Does it need to be new?

I got a Canon SD450 in 2006, handed to me right before a big trip. I did not have a case or anything, just the camera, battery charger, and a spare chip, so it got pretty beat-up in backpack, purse, etc. While its view screen is scratched all to hell, it's still a great little camera. I'm not much of a photographer, really, but I get crisp shots good enough to share here and elsewhere. (Most of my avatars, although not this one, were shot with this camera.)

Of course there's now a newer model, but there are used SD450s at Amazon for as little as $60.

If it's in good shape, I'd certainly consider it used.

Maryn, pleased with her camera

Very true. I hadn't thought of buying a used camera. Well, that's not completely true. I thought about how I felt about buying used electronics in general years ago and decided against it because I'd heard too many horror stories. But, now that I'm older and not such an elitist in my purchasing, this makes the best sense... especially for one who professes to live simply. Thank you, Maryn!

As for your avatars, I can't wait to see them as time goes by and you get a fancy to change them. I didn't think your current avatar was an original picture because I'm familiar with that tush, having lived in Italy for a spell! I've never seen the top hat unless it was connected to a tourist trying to get a closer view!

plain and simple · Jun 14, 2011

areteus said:
There are a few good mini DSLRs out there now. If you are not aware, DSLR is digital single lens reflection and is the system professional cameras use (the vision you see in the viewfinder or screen is exactly what is seen by the lens rather than an image which may be slightly out). Now a proper DSLR will cost you hundreds (min £300 new, maybe less on ebay...) but you can get a decent one of these new things for about £100.

No idea if they do video (a proper DSLR rarely will but these are supposed to be more general purpose so may) but then I am not sure vid quality on any digital camera is especially good compared to a dedicated video camera.

Now, the average mobile phone these days usually has a very good camera and video camera. If you already have one that does this, why not use that until you can upgrade to something better?

And I say it is often worth looking at ebay and seeing what is on sale. People upgrade their cameras all the time and sell the old ones. I got a reasonable Canon 300D (in good condition) which is a basic SLR for £90.

Now if someone could point me to an ebay auction for a telephoto lens that is within my budget of anything less than £70 I'll love you for life (I've bid on two so far and they both started cheap but then went too expensive for my blood very quickly...)

Well, I'm relieved to finally have that cleared up! At times when I've borrowed people's digital cameras for a quick shot of something, I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out why the image wasn't exactly what I saw in the viewfinder! DSLR. Got it! Helpful feature, that!

Alas, I'm gadget-less, except for an iPod when I going walking around the lake. No music, just books and sermons. I can walk for days on end while listening to those! No phone with a camera or video recorder.

I hope you find a telephoto lens within reason. I did some searching for you and they're not cheap! You must be a very good photographer!

plain and simple · Jun 14, 2011

I've been looking at reviews online and found an article on CNET/UK titled, Best Blogging Cameras. Why, that's exactly what I'm looking for! I don't live in the UK but I'm sure our cameras are similar, unless their cameras photograph everything to the left the way their drivers drive. (In that case, I can't be bothered to take the How to Use Your Left Hand as More Than Just a Balancing Weight for Your Body class.)

Then I read the first paragraph of the article:

Ah, the blogosphere. A mystical realm of ill-informed opinions, trivial obsessions and anonymous abuse. Fortunately, cameras don't lie, even if bloggers do. We've had a look at the best cameras out there for the purposes of adding images to your blog.

Cheeky Monkey! I wouldn't take his advice if he were the last left-sided photographing, driving on the left side of the road, reviewer in the world! I mean, every word is basically true, but.... oy!

Still looking....

AlexPiper · Jun 14, 2011

areteus said:
Now if someone could point me to an ebay auction for a telephoto lens that is within my budget of anything less than £70 I'll love you for life (I've bid on two so far and they both started cheap but then went too expensive for my blood very quickly...)

Depending on what sort of telephoto you need, your best bet is actually to find a local pro photography shop. Many pro photographers own only a smaller number of lenses and rent the rest as-needed, but most rental shops will only rent out a lens X number of times before they sell it off used (at a substantial discount).

I shoot semi-pro (i.e., I make money at it, but it's not my career), and my absolute favorite lens, the pride and joy of my collection, is one I picked up that way.

The thing to keep in mind, however, is that prime lenses (i.e., non-zoom) are easy to keep good quality on, even at the high end, because they don't have to deal with zoom. Zoom lenses, the cheaper ones begin to show optical flaws /very early on/. To have a really high quality zoom lens, the amount of precision glass you have in there is going to make it a) heavy, and b) expensive.

Canon's 75-300mm lens, for instance, is very cheap ($120, or roughly £73), but you get what you pay for. It will get you closer in, but it's not good in low light, it has focal artifacts around the edges, and so on. The 70-200 is WAY better and built with much higher quality glass, gives you great quality shots, but costs over $1000; buying it used from a rental place makes a lot more sense.

AmericaMadeMe · Jun 14, 2011

Do you want good or do you want cheap? With the advent of the camera phone, the lower end of the digital point-and-shoot market is in decline - and it's about time. Keep in mind that digital photography allows you to do things that wouldn't have worked in the film era, but optics still matter. A cheap camera is a cheap camera. A small aperture is still a small aperture. A digital Kodak is still the lowest of the low, much like the film era. You can buy a nice little Canon with image stabilization for well under $100 - which will work well for casual snaps. Nothing brilliant, but good enough for indoor parties. You can tuck it in your shirt pocket.

areteus · Jun 14, 2011

Apologies for hijacking this thread...

AlexPiper said:
Depending on what sort of telephoto you need, your best bet is actually to find a local pro photography shop. Many pro photographers own only a smaller number of lenses and rent the rest as-needed, but most rental shops will only rent out a lens X number of times before they sell it off used (at a substantial discount).

I shoot semi-pro (i.e., I make money at it, but it's not my career), and my absolute favorite lens, the pride and joy of my collection, is one I picked up that way.

The thing to keep in mind, however, is that prime lenses (i.e., non-zoom) are easy to keep good quality on, even at the high end, because they don't have to deal with zoom. Zoom lenses, the cheaper ones begin to show optical flaws /very early on/. To have a really high quality zoom lens, the amount of precision glass you have in there is going to make it a) heavy, and b) expensive.

Canon's 75-300mm lens, for instance, is very cheap ($120, or roughly £73), but you get what you pay for. It will get you closer in, but it's not good in low light, it has focal artifacts around the edges, and so on. The 70-200 is WAY better and built with much higher quality glass, gives you great quality shots, but costs over $1000; buying it used from a rental place makes a lot more sense.

Thanks for all the advice here... will consider this in my search.

I hope you find a telephoto lens within reason. I did some searching for you and they're not cheap! You must be a very good photographer!

No, I'm not. I'm an amatuer who loves taking photos but have no pretence at excellence. Still learning all about it. This is why I am preferring cheap to expensive...

plain and simple · Jun 14, 2011

AmericaMadeMe said:
Do you want good or do you want cheap? With the advent of the camera phone, the lower end of the digital point-and-shoot market is in decline - and it's about time. Keep in mind that digital photography allows you to do things that wouldn't have worked in the film era, but optics still matter. A cheap camera is a cheap camera. A small aperture is still a small aperture. A digital Kodak is still the lowest of the low, much like the film era. You can buy a nice little Canon with image stabilization for well under $100 - which will work well for casual snaps. Nothing brilliant, but good enough for indoor parties. You can tuck it in your shirt pocket.

Thanks. I've spent all this time reviewing online articles and reading reviews on Amazon. Honestly, it's a little disheartening. I've seen $8,000 little cameras (for that price it had darn well better come with Oprah to show me how to use it) and the little, digital cameras for $70-80.

A common problem with these little digital rascals seems to be that, after a time, they just stop working. Usually less than a year. (Happened to a friend of mine, too.)

I'm a writer, not a photographer. My goal isn't to wow people with pictures on my blog. Just to add a corresponding picture with my blog post. That's the main use for it. I don't really need it to take videos. That's just an afterthought and an "if I ever decide to add a video" option. All I ask of the pictures is that they not be grainy or noticeably bad quality. (And they have to be Mac compatible.)

I know any old camera should do but, I'm a man of principle. I'd hate to spend even $80 only to have the camera die in a year.

Why can't they make technology that lasts anymore? (The official answer: to get you to keep buying it year after year. Sorry, I won't.)

Silver King · Jun 14, 2011

When you have a chance, check out this photography site, in particular the forum section. The place is top-notch, friendly and helpful (much like this site).

You might even decide to join as a member and ask questions there as well. If you're fortunate (as I was), you'll find someone who will sell you a quality, used camera that will suit your needs at a very reasonable price.

You should know, however, that your current budget of $120 will most likely only afford you a point-and-shoot style camera, which will greatly limit the range of choices you'll have when taking shots.

Darren Frey · Jun 14, 2011

Try this:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sony-Handycam-Dvd-Camcorder-650/10965631

I actually just ordered it. The reason I chose this one is because it takes DVDs instead of any kind of tapes which makes it less expensive in the long run.

AmericaMadeMe · Jun 15, 2011

Darren Frey said:
Try this:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sony-Handycam-Dvd-Camcorder-650/10965631

I actually just ordered it. The reason I chose this one is because it takes DVDs instead of any kind of tapes which makes it less expensive in the long run.

Yikes! Walmart has a great returns policy. That thing is definitely a throwback. Honestly, I don't understand why anyone would want a video recording device that records to an optical medium instead of solid state memory. In any case, it isn't a camera and it isn't all that cheap for what it is.

plain and simple · Jun 15, 2011

Silver King said:
When you have a chance, check out this photography site, in particular the forum section. The place is top-notch, friendly and helpful (much like this site).

You might even decide to join as a member and ask questions there as well. If you're fortunate (as I was), you'll find someone who will sell you a quality, used camera that will suit your needs at a very reasonable price.

You should know, however, that your current budget of $120 will most likely only afford you a point-and-shoot style camera, which will greatly limit the range of choices you'll have when taking shots.

Not a bad idea. I'll definitely give it a try. Thanks for letting me know about it!

plain and simple · Jun 15, 2011

Darren Frey said:
Try this:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sony-Handycam-Dvd-Camcorder-650/10965631

I actually just ordered it. The reason I chose this one is because it takes DVDs instead of any kind of tapes which makes it less expensive in the long run.

Wow. I had no idea those things existed. Unfortunately, I primarily a camera. I'm still unsure if I'm going to even do videos. I just thought that if I had a camera with video capability, even just a 30 second one, it would be a nice option to have available.

Thanks for the suggestion! I really do appreciate it and hope it works out well for you!

alleycat · Jun 15, 2011

My first thought was similar to Maryn's. You might considered a good used camera if your budget is tight.

I got a top-of-the-line Cannon ELPH a few years ago. I didn't exactly hate it, but I didn't love it either. I barely used it. Now, because it's five years old, it's probably considered obsolete. If I were selling it I wouldn't ask much, even though it's truly "like new".

Matera the Mad · Jun 16, 2011

I bought a Canon A550 in 2007, and it's still going strong. No parts have broken -- unlike Kodak garbage. It takes AA batteries, rather than a built-in rechargeable that will run down when you need it most and die young besides. It isn't super-fancy, but it takes darn good pics.

plain and simple · Jun 16, 2011

Thanks for the suggestion, Matera the Mad! Glad you found a good camera. Right now, that's all I'm asking for. A camera that takes decent quality pictures and doesn't conk out in a year or less!

The most common complaint about digital cameras, that I've seen, is that they suddenly just stop working, without explanation.

alleycat · Jun 16, 2011

I haven't read all the replies, so this point might have already been covered.

Before buying a camera, I think someone should think hard about what kind of photos they really want to take, and then buy a camera that suits that purpose. Buying a great camera at a great price isn't great if the camera can't do what the user wants to use it for. If someone wants to take what used to be called snapshots, just about any good quality camera will do. If someone wants to do more advanced photography, then they need to look harder.

That's the problem I had with my Canon. Years ago I used to be a serious amateur photographer with a good SLR and a tripod and a gadget bag of stuff. I got tired of wagging it around (and I decided I was spending too much time photographing the events I went to than in enjoying the events). So, I sort of stopped doing photography. When I got the Canon ELPH. I thought, "Great, a nice handy camera that I can keep in my pocket and take with me wherever I go." The only problem was the camera couldn't really take the kind of photos I wanted; it was more of an advanced snapshot camera. So, I mostly used it to take photos of my cat (or, since my cat doesn't like to be photographed, photos of the back end of my cat as she was running away).

cameron_chapman · Jun 16, 2011

areteus said:
No idea if they do video (a proper DSLR rarely will but these are supposed to be more general purpose so may) but then I am not sure vid quality on any digital camera is especially good compared to a dedicated video camera.

Sorry, this might be a bit off-topic, but I needed to make a correction here. Many of the new DSLRs are now doing HD video and are being used on professional movies and TV shows. An entire episode of House was shot on a Canon 5d Mark II. I'm about to buy a Panasonic GH1 that does phenomenal video after some simple hacks, specifically for making movies.

Zacuto did a series of comparison videos with some pros, comparing the DSLRs with actual film movie cameras and the DSLRs actually out-performed them in some areas (though obviously not all). Here's the link: http://www.zacuto.com/shootout. They premiered the tests at Skywalker Ranch (George Lucas's place), which has one of the most sophisticated digital theater setups around.

plain and simple · Jun 16, 2011

I appreciate your feedback, alleycat. For my purposes, I think you're right. Any decent camera will do as long as they don't take obviously poor quality photos. I realize a lot of that will have to do with my abilities - or lack thereof.

I think what I'm going to do is practice a little patience. I like Maryn's advice on buying a decent used one. That kind of goes with the simplicity theme of my upcoming blog anyway. I'll keep looking around for an affordable camera. I'm just not going to be in a hurry about it anymore. I'll find the right camera in due time. Patience and due time have been good friends of mine through the years.

plain and simple · Jun 16, 2011

That's more camera that I could ever grow into, cameron. Best of luck with yours!

As an aside, what an incredible cover for a book! Caught my eye immediately. I'd stop what I was doing to check it out if I saw that in a book store.

PEBKAC2 · Jun 18, 2011

You're not going to find a new camera with a good zoom range for $100 or less. If you're using the photos only for your blog you don't need much in terms of resolution (3 megapixels, maybe even less). You might be able to pick up an older Fuji with a decent zoom in it.

If you're afraid that a "low" megapixel camera won't be good enough, do some looking around for a model in your range, then do a search for images posted on the web from that model and look at real world examples.

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