My dad used to be a professional photographer, he had his own portrait studio, back in the early 1980s. My brother is a hobby photographer, but he takes some pretty awesome photos. As for me, I wouldn't really call myself a photographer, either hobby or professional, but I do take a lot of pics for the articles I write--for an online magazine and for my website. It's mostly sewing tutorials and in-progress photos of the historical costumes and doll clothing I make. Nothing special. I've had an adventure finding a decent camera, though!
My first digital camera was some cheap Sony, which gave every photo a green tinge along the upper portion of the photo. Most peculiar. (Any idea what causes that sort of malfunction?) My husband bought an expensive DSLR, but it's too fancy for me. It's bulky and heavy, and way too complicated to use. For awhile, I just used my old cellphone's camera (very poor quality) but once I realized I needed decent photos to submit with my articles, I bought a Samsung WB35F. (A compact point-and-shoot.) My decision was mainly based on the fact that it came in purple. (I'm obsessed with purple.) It was an okay camera, but was disappointing because it did NOT come with auto-WiFi uploading, despite the claims on Samsung's website and Amazon's product page. I actually got a 20% rebate from Amazon to make up for their misleading product description. This camera worked okay for a year or so, but then it started producing shadows in the corners of every photo I took. The auto-focus didn't like to focus properly. And it was very slow to take pictures. I'd click the button, then wait a second or two for it to actually take the picture. I finally got fed up with it and started shopping around. I wanted something nicer, but everything was out of my price range.
Then, last week, I stumbled onto the Nikon Coolpix L840 (refurbished) on sale for $119, which was half the price of what Amazon was selling it for! In fact, it's only about $10 more than I paid for the Samsung, yet from what I've seen, it's normally a $300+ camera. It's a digital "bridge," so it's a hybrid between a point-and-shoot and a full DSLR. A decent lens, but you can't switch it out. Good auto features, if you want them, but you can also use your own settings, if you prefer. I'm still learning about f-stops and apertures and all that, so it's exactly what I needed. (And yes, it's purple! A gorgeous plum color.) It's refurbished, so it's not brand-new, but it was certified and guaranteed by Nikon. The only flaw I've found is a tiny scratch on the LCD screen. Other than that, it's in perfect shape . . . and it blows my Samsung WB35F out of the water! It knows how to focus, for one thing. It takes pictures instantly, with no delay. The picture quality is superb. I barely have to make any post-production adjustments in Photoshop Elements. Today was the first day I used it, and I have to say, I'm pretty thrilled!
I'm sorely tempted to see what it can do with flowers, sunsets, and whatnot. But I don't have a carry-case for it yet, so I'm hesitant to take it anywhere. I've ordered a case, but it won't arrive until next week.
My first digital camera was some cheap Sony, which gave every photo a green tinge along the upper portion of the photo. Most peculiar. (Any idea what causes that sort of malfunction?) My husband bought an expensive DSLR, but it's too fancy for me. It's bulky and heavy, and way too complicated to use. For awhile, I just used my old cellphone's camera (very poor quality) but once I realized I needed decent photos to submit with my articles, I bought a Samsung WB35F. (A compact point-and-shoot.) My decision was mainly based on the fact that it came in purple. (I'm obsessed with purple.) It was an okay camera, but was disappointing because it did NOT come with auto-WiFi uploading, despite the claims on Samsung's website and Amazon's product page. I actually got a 20% rebate from Amazon to make up for their misleading product description. This camera worked okay for a year or so, but then it started producing shadows in the corners of every photo I took. The auto-focus didn't like to focus properly. And it was very slow to take pictures. I'd click the button, then wait a second or two for it to actually take the picture. I finally got fed up with it and started shopping around. I wanted something nicer, but everything was out of my price range.
Then, last week, I stumbled onto the Nikon Coolpix L840 (refurbished) on sale for $119, which was half the price of what Amazon was selling it for! In fact, it's only about $10 more than I paid for the Samsung, yet from what I've seen, it's normally a $300+ camera. It's a digital "bridge," so it's a hybrid between a point-and-shoot and a full DSLR. A decent lens, but you can't switch it out. Good auto features, if you want them, but you can also use your own settings, if you prefer. I'm still learning about f-stops and apertures and all that, so it's exactly what I needed. (And yes, it's purple! A gorgeous plum color.) It's refurbished, so it's not brand-new, but it was certified and guaranteed by Nikon. The only flaw I've found is a tiny scratch on the LCD screen. Other than that, it's in perfect shape . . . and it blows my Samsung WB35F out of the water! It knows how to focus, for one thing. It takes pictures instantly, with no delay. The picture quality is superb. I barely have to make any post-production adjustments in Photoshop Elements. Today was the first day I used it, and I have to say, I'm pretty thrilled!
I'm sorely tempted to see what it can do with flowers, sunsets, and whatnot. But I don't have a carry-case for it yet, so I'm hesitant to take it anywhere. I've ordered a case, but it won't arrive until next week.