First Post/ Looking for new camera

[biggoron]

Hello. I stumbled on this forum while looking for information about cakesmashes actually.

My daughter is turning one and my wife wants to do a cakesmash for her. I cannot imagine paying $150 for someone to take a few pictures and put them on a CD. For that price i'd rather buy a camera, and do it myself. We are having daughter #2 in September and would be doing the same thing in another year.

My question:

I was looking for a better camera than the P&S I have now. Had looked at the Nikon CoolPix L120, but heard mixed reviews because the auto shutter speed making it hard to get good pictures of kids.

I wasn't looking to spend more than about $300 or so on a new camera. Does anyone have any advice? Has anyone used this camera before? Is there a P&S that has manual shutter settings?

Thank you.

 

[Scoody]

There is no such animal. An entry level DSLR worth a crap will run you at the very least around $100 bucks. Gonna be kinda hard to get familiar enough with it to take descent photos with it in time for her birthday. Unless you are flush with natural talent, paying the $150 is probably the way to go.

 

[PJL]

Actually, there are some high end P&S cameras that have a manual mode. The Canon S95, for example, has manual mode and a max aperture of f/2.0. It'll run you $400 new. The Nikon P300 also has a manual mode and a max aperture of f/1.8. Those are about $330. If you're using a flash, though, your shutter speed will be limited by flash sync speed (not to mention flash recycling times). You're better off getting a cheap DSLR and an external flash, though, if you want truly good results.

 

[KmH]

However, when using flash the short duration of the flash of light takes over the shutter speed's job of stopping motion, and the shutter speed can instead be used to control the ambient light exposure separately from the strobed light exposure, which is controled by the lens aperture.

I cannot imagine paying $150 for someone to take a few pictures and put them on a CD. For that price i'd rather buy a camera, and do it myself. .

No doubt, for $150 you won't likely be getting a professional photographer, you'll more likely be getting a professional (as in paid, but no where near being an expert) fauxtographer.

But, it's also likely that $150 shooter will know more about photography than you do, and have better camera gear than a $300 P&S that you buy.

But it seems readily apparent, high quality photographs is not your goal, snapshots made by you will work.

One of the keys to high quality photography is the lighting. On camera flash is harsh and because the light is so small, produces hard, sharp edged shadows.

Any of the camera recommendations made so far will work fine for your purposes.

 

[MissCream]

You do realize you won't get the same quality photos as the pro that you would pay $150 right? It's not all about the camera

 

[biggoron]

I didnt say i was looking for a camera for 150. i said i was willing to spend around 300 for a camera. I know any camera for 150 is going to be trash

 

[DiskoJoe]

canon elph Canon PowerShot Digital ELPH SD1300 IS IXUS 105 | eBay

i have an old 6mp version of this camera and it was very good to me prior to the dslr days. nice pictures and color. easy to use. the 12.1 mp version is even better. ebay had used one starting at $80.

or if you must spend $300

Sigma DP1 | eBay

 

[Neiby]

If you're willing to spend a bit more, I also highly recommend the Canon S95. I don't mean to pimp my own images, especially since I'm a total beginner, but all of the pictures here were taken recently with my S95:

http://500px.com/neiby

Granted, they all have been post-processed to varying degrees, but it truly is a pretty fantastic camera for a point and shoot and it has semi-manual and fully manual modes if you want.

 

[DiskoJoe]

Another decent p&c

Leica D-LUX 3 10.0 MP Digital Camera - Black | eBay

 

[DiskoJoe]

If you're willing to spend a bit more, I also highly recommend the Canon S95. I don't mean to pimp my own images, especially since I'm a total beginner, but all of the pictures here were taken recently with my S95:

http://500px.com/neiby

Granted, they all have been post-processed to varying degrees, but it truly is a pretty fantastic camera for a point and shoot and it has semi-manual and fully manual modes if you want.

sorry neiby, but i would not suggest this. the sigma or the elph are both better quality and cheaper.