Camera guidance

Beckerson1 · Jun 10, 2012

Hopefully someone here has a good idea of what camera is good and can point me in the right direction...

Basically what I'm looking for:

1) Price No more then $400 at the most

2) Crystal clear pictures at close and long range... Good zoom range as well

3) HD video and good sound recording as well (believe stereo is what I'm looking for) want to be able to shoot vids of my audio system without worrying about the bass knocking out the sound...

Here is what I'm currently looking at:

Nikon CoolPix L810

Amazon.com: Nikon COOLPIX L810 16.1 MP Digital Camera with 26x Zoom NIKKOR ED Glass Lens and 3-inch LCD (Red): Camera & Photo

Fujifilm S4500:

Amazon.com: Fujifilm S4500 Compact Digital Camera: Camera & Photo

Any suggestions welcome... I'm not to afraid to have to experiment with it to learn how to use it... Thanks in advance

StandingBear1983 · Jun 10, 2012

Take a look at the Nikon\Canon Superzooms, Like the Nikon P510 its the newest model
Amazon.com: Nikon COOLPIX P510 16.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 42x Zoom NIKKOR ED Glass Lens and GPS Record Location (Black): Electronics

has a crazy lens x42 zoom, thats about 1000mm

412 Burgh · Jun 10, 2012

sounds like a camera that they don't make. Can't have an all in one camera thats superior to others under 400... you pay for what you get. Goodluck though

Solarflare · Jun 11, 2012

Next thread: how to get a Rolls Royce with the acceleration and speed of a Maserati and it should be bulletproof and run on solar energy alone, for under 1000$ !

Orrin · Jun 11, 2012

Beckerson1 said:
Hopefully someone here has a good idea of what camera is good and can point me in the right direction...

Basically what I'm looking for:

1) Price No more then $400 at the most

2) Crystal clear pictures at close and long range... Good zoom range as well

3) HD video and good sound recording as well (believe stereo is what I'm looking for) want to be able to shoot vids of my audio system without worrying about the bass knocking out the sound...

My Canon SX130IS does all of that but the video sound is sensitive to wind noise (the mic's are just two little holes either side of the lens).
It was a lot less than $400 .

The latest version of this camera is the SX150
Amazon.com: Canon PowerShot SX150 IS 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide-Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3.0-Inch LCD (Black): Electronics

A sample clip of SD video taken with the SX130 is here
http://www.orrin.org/video/str_vib.htm
The camera will also do HD video.

Beckerson1 · Jun 11, 2012

412 Burgh said:
sounds like a camera that they don't make. Can't have an all in one camera thats superior to others under 400... you pay for what you get. Goodluck though

I'm not looking for a superior camera I'm just wanting something that will fit within the perimeters I listed and be a nice camera...

Solarflare said:
Next thread: how to get a Rolls Royce with the acceleration and speed of a Maserati and it should be bulletproof and run on solar energy alone, for under 1000$ !

Could care less about either one of those cars...

Please keep the useless comments to yourself... Thank you

Beckerson1 · Jun 11, 2012

My friend has a Nikon D3100 and I really like the video capability of this camera...

412 Burgh · Jun 11, 2012

Beckerson1 said:
My friend has a Nikon D3100 and I really like the video capability of this camera...

and then with the kit 18-55mm lens you can't get very far zoom. It's a good camera I started out with it.

Atari1977 · Jun 11, 2012

Yeah, you're not going to get "crystal clear" pictures(at least at any bigger enlargements) at that price in a fixed lens camera. In photography, you get what you paid for and good glass can cost quite a bit. Also what are you getting this camera for? If you're getting into photography then I would save up at least $1000-2000 for a good DSLR.

fjrabon · Jun 11, 2012

Beckerson1 said:
My friend has a Nikon D3100 and I really like the video capability of this camera...

It's also a few hundred dollars more than your budget.

Solarflare · Jun 12, 2012

Um, the D3100 is an old camera. You might get it used for 400$ from eBay. Still need a lens, though.

sovietdoc · Jun 12, 2012

Panasonic Lumix.

Beckerson1 · Jun 12, 2012

412 Burgh said:
Beckerson1 said:

My friend has a Nikon D3100 and I really like the video capability of this camera...

Click to expand...

and then with the kit 18-55mm lens you can't get very far zoom. It's a good camera I started out with it.

Yep... zoom isn't that great with that lens

Beckerson1 · Jun 12, 2012

fjrabon said:
Beckerson1 said:

My friend has a Nikon D3100 and I really like the video capability of this camera...

Click to expand...

It's also a few hundred dollars more than your budget.

Ya I know... I was giving a general comparison for the video side of it...

Beckerson1 · Jun 12, 2012

Atari1977 said:
Yeah, you're not going to get "crystal clear" pictures(at least at any bigger enlargements) at that price in a fixed lens camera. In photography, you get what you paid for and good glass can cost quite a bit. Also what are you getting this camera for? If you're getting into photography then I would save up at least $1000-2000 for a good DSLR.

No big enlargements, just basic...

In the near future I hope to get into storm chasing... so need something durable (fixed or lens but fixed will be easier), good zoom (22x-26x or so), decent video for footage for a camera... Also will be used for family events, random shots of things, etc... Don't want a point and shoot type camera either... from what I've read the Nikon L810 is in between a P&S and SLR with decent video and good pictures...