Camera recommendation for Hawaii

[lisav018]

Thank you everyone for your responses! You've all given me good suggestions and some things to think about.

My current camera is a DSCW55, 7.2 megapixels. For the most part, the photos are good but it doesn't have the manual options that I'm learning about to make them great. I have gone to a couple of big box stores and handled some cameras. After some thinking, I'm leaning toward something more than a point & shoot, but not as bulky as a DSLR. I think the stores refer to them as Compact Cameras? Is that the same thing as a bridge camera?

My original wishlist included a viewfinder because I have difficulty seeing the screen in daylight, but I see that most cameras do not have this anymore. Are there improvements in the screens that this is not as big of a deal these days?

What are your thoughts on refurbished? Maybe I'm way off base here, but if I lowered my budget to $300, would I be able to get what I'm looking for?

Mishele - This will be our first trip to the islands. We're going to the Big Island and Oahu, one week on each, to celebrate our 10th anniversary! Have you been?

 

[lisav018]

I'm sorry, I'm just figuring out what all of these camera classes mean. Maybe what I really want is just a point & shoot with manual controls?

 

[oldhippy]

Was on the islands last year. My recommendation is something like the D 3200 with a 16-85. And a 70-300.
did 5 islands, and that would be my minimum going there.
post before you last post, sorry.

 

[mishele]

I have not yet been to the Big Island!! So want to go though!! A little advice, try to remember you're on vacation!! It's way too easy to get caught up on getting a perfect shot. You can literaly waste hours that you could of been off exploring somewhere. Look at photo galleries of the islands and have an idea of what shots you want. That will help save time. =) HAVE FUN!!

 

[lisav018]

I'm sure I won't get caught up in the perfect shot! I often forget to even take pictures. That's probably where most of my hesitation comes from. Although when we went to the Grand Canyon a few years ago, I took lots of pictures. So maybe it just depends on if I've got a good subject.

Thanks for the tip about the photo galleries! I'll definitely do that!

 

[hirejn]

From what you're saying, it sounds like you don't need a DSLR, and if you got one you wouldn't really have time to learn and practice the fundamentals of photography enough to make it worth the investment. It's also an investment of lenses, though you can get a do-all lens like the 28-200. The simplest way to put it -- and I know it's not a complete answer -- is that P&S cameras are designed to give control over the image making process to the camera, while DSLRs are designed to put control in the photographer's hands. In that light, the trade-offs and benefits of each become more apparent and it gives you perspective on what you need. If you want to start controlling photography to create improved images, then you're entering the realm of DSLRs. If not, a DSLR has limited advantages and a P&S will be fine. In either case, I recommend checking out Nikon or Canon. There's an in-between market of MILC cameras, but they're still pretty much smaller DSLRs and cost more than P&S's. They're like DSLRs without the "SLR." This gallery was shot entirely with a Nikon D200, the second generation digital, which puts into perspective what you actually need to make creative images vs. what the marketing VPs want you to buy.

 

[goodguy]

I still think best is the Nikon D3200 DLSR, the view finder on a DLSR is much bigger and easier to work with then a Point and Shoot but indeed it is bigger and bulkier.

If you want a good point and shoot with the ability to go full manual control or full auto according to your will then I would recommend the Canon G15 or Canon G16.
I own the Canon G15, it has a view finder but its not as big as the one on a DLSR so its harder to use but still as you mentioned most point and shoot cameras dont have a view finder at all so its a great help if you want to use it.

Canon G15/G16 is a good camera, it has all the function that a DSLR has and a good fast lens that will help in low light situation.

 

[luisanchez]

Why not go for a underwater camera like Go-Pro Hero 3+, since you are going for a island for holiday and should have many opportunity to go out to the sea..