Beginner Camera from Black Friday

[ewlang]

Well I am an extreme noobie when it come to camera. My ability to describe the type of camera I want is obviously going to be hard.

Well starting off I want a camera that looks like this:
Canon - EOS Digital Rebel T3 12.2-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera Kit - Rebel T3 Kit

I want the ability to be able to control the zoom by spinning my hand, not by pressing a zoom button. I would also like this camera to be under $200, so obviously the one I posted is out of my price range. Any suggestions from Black Friday or sales? Sorry if this is a really broad way to describe a camera. Thanks for any help.

 

[cgipson1]

$200? Looks for older used, you might get lucky! Nothing new in that range!

Canon EOS Rebel XS 1000D 10.1 MP Digital SLR Camera - Black Kit w 18-55mm IS Lens 013803099256 | eBay

Nikon D60 10.2 MP Digital SLR Camera - Black Kit w 18-55mm Lens 18208254385 | eBay

 

[ewlang]

darn well this is disappointing

 

[ewlang]

any comments on this camera??

Amazon.com: Kodak 12 MP Digital Camera: Camera & Photo

 

[thierry]

Amazon.com: Used and New: Nikon COOLPIX L120 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 21x NIKKOR Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LCD (Black)



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...17145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B004LB4SAM

 

[BastiaanImages]

any comments on this camera??

Amazon.com: Kodak 12 MP Digital Camera: Camera & Photo

Probably not a bad camera but you would still zoom with a button.

 

[mangtarn]

can't spin your hand with that one im afraid. i think what you want is a DSLR paired with a zoom lens.

 

[ewlang]

Arnt these zoom with a button?

Amazon.com: Fujifilm FinePix S3200 14 MP Digital Camera with Fujinon 24x Super Wide Angle Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LCD: Camera & Photo

I have been looking at this one, but also zoom with a button? THANKS!

Amazon.com: Used and New: Nikon COOLPIX L120 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 21x NIKKOR Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LCD (Black)



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...17145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B004LB4SAM

 

[cgipson1]

all point and shoots! If you want a DSLR.. either you will have to spend more.. or buy older used gear like I posted above. I don't know of any Point and Shoots that zoom with a lens ring. (heck I actually miss the old slide zooms!

 

[SCraig]

All of the cameras that you are looking are are basically point-and-shoot cameras that are constructed to look like a DSLR. That appearance is not coincidental either.

Lenses that zoom with a control on the lens do so simply because the lens comes off the camera. There is no zoom motor connecting camera and lens, hence the zoom control has to be on the lens.

You aren't going to find a new DSLR in your price range, pure and simple. Even a new entry level DSLR body alone, without a lens, will not fit into that budget. Sorry, but that's just the way things are.

Even if you do get a used DSLR body you will find yourself collecting lenses, just like all the rest of us. There is no "One Lens Fits All Circumstances" with DSLR cameras.

There are a number of decent cameras in your price range, but if you want something that zooms with a control on the lens you are going to have to increase your budget.

 

[Destin]

your best bet may be something like a Nikon P7000, although it's still out of your price range a bit. You don't zoom by turning your hand, but its an amazing camera for the price. Amazon has an amazing deal on it right now, too.

Alot of people in your shoes make the mistake of buying a dslr thinking "it looks professional, so I'll get better photos with it." WRONG! Buying a dslr to use as a big point and shoot will actually result in you getting WORSE photos than an el cheapo point and shoot, due to the slow kit lens.

 

[Destin]

You might also look at a canon s95. It's a point and shoot, but it's THE BEST point and shoot I've ever used, and the front ring can be used to control zoom if you set it up that way.

 

[SCraig]

...if you want something that zooms with a control on the lens you are going to have to increase your budget.

... and the front ring can be used to control zoom if you set it up that way.

Yep, he's right. I stand corrected.

 

[ewlang]

"Buying a dslr to use as a big point and shoot will actually result in you getting WORSE photos than an el cheapo point and shoot, due to the slow kit lens."

Could someone explain this to me a little bit more?

What I really want to be able to do is that ability to zoom into for instance something close or the background and have the other blurred. (I hope you understand this). That is really why I wanted to control zoom by my hand...

 

[Felix0890]

What I really want to be able to do is that ability to zoom into for instance something close or the background and have the other blurred. (I hope you understand this). That is really why I wanted to control zoom by my hand...

You can do this with a point and shoot. It won't be as easy since you can't manipulate the aperture on most point and shoots but you can definitely still do it. What you need to understand is that buying a DSLR won't necessarily give you that blurry background/foreground that you want. That is usually done by having a very large aperture, which only the fast (and usually more expensive) lenses can obtain. Again, you can still do that with a kit lens (I've done it with an 18-55mm) but it's not as easy as having a fast lens.

To summarize, stick to a point and shoot camera.