I've been hanging out miserably in bed for days upon days now, but it seems as though I'm actually on the mend, and feeling like I may survive this horrid bronchitis/sinus infection/asthma flare up/king of all colds/black plague after all. I'm still not quite 100% -- more like 60%, really, but with the way I've been feeling... 60% ain't bad, and I'm ready to put some real clothes on and attempt to get this place back in order today. (Leaving 12 boys and a 7-year-old girl to their own devices for about a week hasn't resulted in a very tidy home, as you can imagine).
There's something on my mind though, that I hope you lovely readers and bloggers can help me with.
Image courtesy of http://news.cnet.com
In the coming months, I'll have the opportunity to finally invest a chunk-a-change into a real camera again, but I'm kinda clueless about my options. Requirements are that 1) it costs less than $1000 (including any additional lenses I will need for basic indoor shooting), 2) it has some "auto" settings for basic, run of the mill photos before I learn to really use the thing, and 3) (obviously) the flash can be turned off easily.
I'd love to have an ever-coveted DSLR camera, but not entirely sure whether I need one or if having one with my limited skill will mess me up even more. I consider myself to have a decent eye for photos, but I know *nothing* about cameras and lack the option to take a class on how to use my camera (a "how to" book or other DIY tutorial has to be the most education I can devote to it, for now). I avoided buying Canon for awhile because I was so slighted by the way they handled the bad chip thing, but I'm over it enough to realize that it was the only camera whose performance met my expectations, and I've tried a few Kodaks, an HP (which was REALLY terrible), and a Sony something or other, so I'm probably partial to a Canon or Nikon, for those reasons.
I'm looking for recommendations on cameras that an average Joe can figure out how to take a normal photo with, and particularly something that can help me get better quality indoor shots. I know the trick to indoor photography is lighting, lighting, lighting, but I kind of live in a dark shoe box with a few overly-saturated-with-light rooms, so this is much trickier than one might imagine.
Anyway, recommendations are appreciated. I'm not married to the DSLR idea -- a nice point and shoot might do the trick, but if I'm investing the money into a nice camera, I'd like it to be one that can serve as my standby and sidekick for several years to come.
Anyone? Bueller?
Thanks!
Ok I know NOTHING about cameras but I am in the market as well! I'm gonna tell my friend Cassidy to look at your post and suggest something--she might as well put that photography school to good use...am I right??
ReplyDeleteOoooooooo... cameras. What a tricky subject. People have so many different preferences when it comes to cameras, I know I do. I will suggest to you, and really, this is the only way to go about purchasing a camera you are HAPPY with, is go to a photo supply store. I'm not sure where you are located, but I would try something a little more off the franchise path (i.e. NOT Wolf Camera). Here in Atlanta, we have two awesome places, Showcase and PPR, and there you can go and try out any camera they have and ask ANY question you could possibly ask- and they can answer it! If you have previously had a Canon, I would definitely stick to it because it's more familiar, not to mention much more user friendly than Nikon, in my opinion. I only use Canon, and I love them! Customer support is pretty awesome too, however, Nikon could be just as rad.
ReplyDeleteI know this probably isn't the answer you wanted... I would love to have had the camera, style, lenses, price and location to by one to give to you... but this is really the best option when it comes to buying something so personal, like a GOOD, RELIABLE camera.
Good luck!
-Cassidy
I'm also currently researching this question. Have you stopped by CNET? I'm a fan of this post: http://reviews.cnet.com/budget-slr-cameras/?tag=featuredStory
ReplyDeleteOoooooooo... cameras. What a tricky subject. People have so many different preferences when it comes to cameras, I know I do. I will suggest to you, and really, this is the only way to go about purchasing a camera you are HAPPY with, is go to a photo supply store. I'm not sure where you are located, but I would try something a little more off the franchise path (i.e. NOT Wolf Camera). Here in Atlanta, we have two awesome places, Showcase and PPR, and there you can go and try out any camera they have and ask ANY question you could possibly ask- and they can answer it! If you have previously had a Canon, I would definitely stick to it because it's more familiar, not to mention much more user friendly than Nikon, in my opinion. I only use Canon, and I love them! Customer support is pretty awesome too, however, Nikon could be just as rad.
ReplyDeleteI know this probably isn't the answer you wanted... I would love to have had the camera, style, lenses, price and location to by one to give to you... but this is really the best option when it comes to buying something so personal, like a GOOD, RELIABLE camera.
Good luck!
-Cassidy