I'm looking to buy a camera in the $250-450 price range. I am not looking for a universal camera that takes videos and does this and that and all this. If it takes videos then cool, but I want something that takes good/great quality photos up close-medium range (mostly close).
I can go higher than 450, but that is my starting range. I'm not doing it professionally or anything like that, it's just for personal use, but I am seriously sick and tired of the horrible camera's that are on my phone/ipad/ipod, etc.
Can some of you Camera/photography guys give me some links of some of the best camera's I can get in this price range (focusing on pictures not video or anything else) and even ones that might be more expensive but not overly so (not going to pay a thousand plus or anything like that).
Thanks guys.
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I have this one (I think) it's at the house I was scared to bring it over here. Oldie has it also but he has trouble with the focus I believe but it din't give me any problems the little I got to use it.
Im right there with you man. I think you can't go wrong with that Cannon or Nikon. I say go to a place that has both (bestBuy,Walmart,RadioShack,ect) And try out both. Cannons tend to be a lil complicated for a non ecperienced operator (AKA Me) Try them out in both low light and outside settings.
Here's a video of the zoom on the camera I posted (Canon SX40 HS) and a link to a huge gallery of photos that were all taken by the camera, to see the kind of pictures it can take.
I can get it for $360 roughly from Amazon, let me know if it's worth the price/if I could pay a little more for something better, etc.
The first pic has 0 zoom, the red dot is where the sign is. The bottom pic is the sign from the same position, zoomed in.
I watched a few video reviews on it, and pretty much everyone says it's the best "bridge camera", which I guess means between novice and professional, and that it's the best camera you can get for the $400 price range.
So I will be picking this up tomorrow unless KRY has some inside knowledge to hit me with.
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I was going to recommend a bridge camera. You're never going to get full, true macro images without spending $400-500 minimum on JUST a lens. But for just close ups and a versatile lens? Bridges are fantastic for that.
Their zoom range, is just phenomenal. You do however, due to the lens length and build quality compared to higher end dslr lenses, have to deal with a lot of lens faults, like distortion at the wide end.
That said, I was going to recommend either the Canon SX40 or the Panasonic Lumix FZ150. The Lumix range of bridge cameras, easily compete with Canon and Nikon, they are incredible.
You get a shorter zoom with the Lumix (24x compared to 36x) but you gain 0.7 Megapixels, which may help you 'get closer' with cropping. Otherwise, never believe the Megapixel hype. More MP does not = better camera. Never has, never will.
Unless you want to spend a lot more, either of those two cameras will do you proud. Both have their own in built Image stabilization, which will help with movies, and shots being taken at the longer zoom length.
For zoom lengths, the general rule is ' Focal length = Minimum Shutter speed'. So on the canon, it extends to around 800mm (equivilent). So you'd need 1/800th of a second. In low light, that will be a problem.
With the image stabilization, it effectively gives you around 3 'stops' of leeway. Meaning you can shoot at around 1/100th of a second, at 800mm, and still retain a sharp image with no motion blur (from your hands holding the camera, it won't freeze action in the frame).
I can explain all that jargon in much more depth if you want, but tbh I can hear people falling asleep .
tl:dr version - SX40 or Lumix FZ150 = YAY DO IT.
A bridge camera is called that because it bridges the gap between a Point and shoot, and a DSLR. Not every dslr is considered a professional camera though, in fact, most aren't.
Also have a look at the Canon GX1. The zoom range, will be FAR less than the bridges, but the image quality will be far better(because it uses a bigger sensor than the bridges), and it's a lot smaller.
Need a new camera
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