Camera advice please?

Supafly · Guru

Camera advice please?

Sara · Guru

Love that we got our SLR. Yes, it is a bit bigger to carry around. But after spending the money on it you better believe I haul that sucker and take pictures and am always glad I did.

I have the Nikon D40. They are now D3000s though since they phased the D40 out.

kris · Guru

I have the Nikon D3000 and I love it.

I got it on a best buy deal with 18 months no interest so I have been making payments on it for awhile now.

There have been times I've left it at home because it is a bit bulky to carry around and I just don't want to mess with it. It is not something you can toss in your purse and go, that is for sure.

Also, I tend to worry about it more than I ever did a point and shoot.   I don't just leave it laying in the wagon at the zoo while I wander off to look at something with the kids!

Mine does not shoot video - I loved getting those little 30 second snipits of cuteness so I do miss that by having an SLR as opposed to a point and shoot.

I don't regret buying it. It takes great pictures and I'm still learning things about it and all of the editing I can do to the pictures with the camera itself. I am really wanting the 18-200 mm lens but haven't gotten it yet - I think that will make me even happier as I can shoot things farther away (i.e., my kid on the stage at school!).

Supafly · Guru

Thank you both for your input!! The Nikon's definitely seem to be the most popular, and with good reason. And I am glad to hear you both like having them. They take SUCH better pics! And with the girls doing dance and having recitals, and Anna wants to do soccer, I just feel like I need something better.

I am surprised about the video though-my neighbor has a Canon SLR (granted she is a photog, so it isn't exactly the baseline model) and it takes video. I will have to look into that because I would really like to be able to take video!

apies · Guru

Mine takes video but I have the d90 and it is quite a bit more then the d40.

I'm planning on asking for a nikon s4000 for my bday next month just for times when I don't want to lug my slr. They have gotten rave reviews.

-- Edited by apies on Wednesday 16th of June 2010 03:28:41 PM

happylib · Guru

I don't have one but would love to own one. I don't think I want to get rid of my point and shoot but I like to play around with photography. I had a great camera way back when that was stolen and still miss it.

I think there are times, like at Christams for family portraits and Christmas cards, that it would be beyond helpful. I also like close up shots. I like capturing the twinkle in someone's eye or the little creases in baby hands or a good shot of the first toothless grin. I also agree that for action and far away shots, it is wonderful. It would also come in handy at weddings when I want pictures of certain things too.

So go for it! Cameras are kind of like little black dresses. It's good to own a couple that you can dress up or dress down to suit the occassion. biggrin

Cuppycake · Guru

I'm totally a Nikon girl, after getting a d40 a while back. My point and shoot, and all our cameras at the studio I work for are Nikons. No complaints... there are times when I don't take it with me because of it's size, but when I get home, I'm usually immediately saddened with any pictures I take, just because it's so superior to my pocket camera.

Really, I think the first few weeks were when I weighed the option the most of "Do I really want to take this. It's so big!" and those are also the weeks where the newness and excitement are still there, and so it was an easy decision to take it along. After the first few weeks, I barely realized how big it was until someone else pointed it out. You get used to it really quickly, and I'm sure you'll use it all the time!

Jo · Guru

I say go for it! I've had a Canon Rebel for a few years now and love it and hope to upgrade to a newer model sometime soon.

As for video, I would suggest getting a Flip Camera like this one - there are HD models too, and you can find them at Costco. A bit pricey and sure it's another device to carry around, but it's small and can fit in your purse or pocket, and it's super easy to use and share videos. Love it.

Alison · Guru

I loooooooooooove my Canon Rebel. And you know I take about a billion pictures, so that sucker goes everywhere I do!

When I think I might want to take video too, I'll bring my Canon PowerShot in addition to the Rebel. It's a lot to carry around, but IMO it's worth it! I love that I can upgrade my camera with new lenses instead of getting a new camera every couple of years. I told John that he's getting me the telephoto lens for Christmas, LOL. I currently have a small lens that takes shots that are close to how the human eye sees, in addition to the regular lens the camera comes with. It takes great pictures but doesn't zoom in or out, so I don't use it all the time. John got it for me for Christmas 2008 and I think it was about $100.

Bill's wrong, LOL. If you have an SLR, you will use it all the time!

Supafly · Guru

Alison wrote:

I loooooooooooove my Canon Rebel. And you know I take about a billion pictures, so that sucker goes everywhere I do!

When I think I might want to take video too, I'll bring my Canon PowerShot in addition to the Rebel. It's a lot to carry around, but IMO it's worth it! I love that I can upgrade my camera with new lenses instead of getting a new camera every couple of years. I told John that he's getting me the telephoto lens for Christmas, LOL. I currently have a small lens that takes shots that are close to how the human eye sees, in addition to the regular lens the camera comes with. It takes great pictures but doesn't zoom in or out, so I don't use it all the time. John got it for me for Christmas 2008 and I think it was about $100.

Bill's wrong, LOL. If you have an SLR, you will use it all the time!

Well, we all know it wouldn't be the first time, lmao!!!

Thanks all!! I know my neighbors is a Canon and she is really happy with it, but everyone I know who has a Nikon says the same thing. I am not sure how to compare, but I guess you can't go wrong either way!

Supafly · Guru

So it looks like the Canon Rebel T1i and the Nikon D5000 both come with the video feature. They aren't a lot more than the next models down, so I think I will keep saving and aim for one of those. Yay!!

My neighbor's camera fo sho isn't the base model, lol-one of hers is like $2400!!! (but again, she is a photographer)

crystal · Guru

if i wasn't married, i would marry my Nikon D40. that is how much i love it. i would never have it as my only camera though. i have a p&s that i carry in my purse if i don't feel like taking the big one. it is a little annoying to carry, but the pictures are so much better that it is WORTH it.

sbucking · Guru

You will never regret an SLR!!!! I started with a D40 and now have a D300. It's HUGE compared to my D40 and I still take it everywhere. Plus, with my new lense (70-200 2.8) it's heavy, but oh do I LOVE it!!

The D5000's are great little cameras!!