Help a newbie decide!

[Kalypso]

Hello everyone. This is my first post. What i want to achieve is some help from those that have more ezperience than i. Im currently eyeing two cameras. Thr Nikon P600 and the Pentax Q-S1. Ive been researching both but i cant decide which. Im looking for the best qualiry images possible with my budget ehich is around 290$. I can get the nikon for about 209 and the pentax for 290 with 02 standard zoom lens. Any thoughts or insight to my introduction in photovraphy is welcome.

 

[rudimaes]

This are two very different cameras; The P600 is a superzoom, the Q-S1 a small sensor mirrorless. The quality on the Pentax will
be better.
But for a cheap decent mirrorless take also a look at the Samsung NX mini. (will be better than the Q-S1, but has less controls)
If you more zoom, the Panasonic ZS50 (TZ70) is a decent travel zoom.
Rudi

 

[Kalypso]

This are two very different cameras; The P600 is a superzoom, the Q-S1 a small sensor mirrorless. The quality on the Pentax will
be better.
But for a cheap decent mirrorless take also a look at the Samsung NX mini. (will be better than the Q-S1, but has less controls)
If you more zoom, the Panasonic ZS50 (TZ70) is a decent travel zoom.
Rudi

I don't think i'd really need the zoom. I'm more for portraits and general scenery (architecture/nature). I'm looking for image quality first and foremost, and controls/settings right behind that. Does the NX Mini offer similar control over the shot as the Pentax. I've looked it up and one could be had for a little cheaper than the Q-S1.

Edit: That and close shots.

 

[rudimaes]

Although a good camera, the NX Mini offers less control than the Q-S1.
For close-up you need a macro lens on this type of cameras.
On a fixed lens camera like the Panasonic TZ70 (ZS50) and Nikon P600 it is "build" in.
Rudi

 

[rudimaes]

For many controls and good macro, take a look at the Panasonic FZ200.
Its has a fast Leica zoomlens (25-600mm eq, F2.8 al the way)
Or you could look at a cheap DSLR like the Nikon D3100 or D3200
Rudi

 

[Kalypso]

For many controls and good macro, take a look at the Panasonic FZ200.
Its has a fast Leica zoomlens (25-600mm eq, F2.8 al the way)
Or you could look at a cheap DSLR like the Nikon D3100 or D3200
Rudi

Do like the look and idea of that Nikon D3200. If i do wait until next week i could also up my budget, but i don't want to invest entirely too much, lest i lose interest for whatever reason i'd hate it to sit unused.

 

[rudimaes]

A DSLR is indeed a good choice. The D3200 will have the best image quality of the cameras mentioned.
Rudi

 

[Kalypso]

Im curious has anyone played with or use a pentax k-s1. Not a bad price and from what i can tell (and thats not much) just as good as a d3300.

 

[Dao]

The little refurbished canon T5 camera with kit lens is currently selling for $200 from Canon USA directly. (If live in USA)
Canon EOS Rebel T5 EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens Kit Refurbished | Canon Online Store


Few other packages also under $300
Canon Refurbished EOS Digital SLR Cameras | Canon Online Store

 

[Kalypso]

The little refurbished canon T5 camera with kit lens is currently selling for $200 from Canon USA directly. (If live in USA)
Canon EOS Rebel T5 EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens Kit Refurbished | Canon Online Store


Few other packages also under $300
Canon Refurbished EOS Digital SLR Cameras | Canon Online Store

Thank you everyone. Dao i decided on that canon. From what i've read about and watched videos of. It seems to be the "best" choice for me, despite lacking a couple things i was interested in. Now i'm looking at lenses.

 

[beagle100]

The little refurbished canon T5 camera with kit lens is currently selling for $200 from Canon USA directly. (If live in USA)
Canon EOS Rebel T5 EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens Kit Refurbished | Canon Online Store


Few other packages also under $300
Canon Refurbished EOS Digital SLR Cameras | Canon Online Store

Thank you everyone. Dao i decided on that canon. From what i've read about and watched videos of. It seems to be the "best" choice for me, despite lacking a couple things i was interested in. Now i'm looking at lenses.

refurbished is good (same warranty as new) but instead of the T5 look at the T5i

 

[DigitalDolf]

I'm all confused about the Canon models in the U.S. They have different names in Europe, but I have Canon cameras myself and they are a good choice. Start off with a cheap body and buy the most expensive lenses that you can afford. Lenses are more important than bodies. If you can't afford L lenses, go for prime. A 50mm 1.8 is the cheapest but not very sturdy. The 50mm 1.4 is better but also more expensive. This is a great portrait lens on a crop sensor. For landscapes and buildings, you can use the standard 18 - 50 mm kit lens and upgrade to a L wide-angle zoom when you have the money.

 

[Kalypso]

I'm all confused about the Canon models in the U.S. They have different names in Europe, but I have Canon cameras myself and they are a good choice. Start off with a cheap body and buy the most expensive lenses that you can afford. Lenses are more important than bodies. If you can't afford L lenses, go for prime. A 50mm 1.8 is the cheapest but not very sturdy. The 50mm 1.4 is better but also more expensive. This is a great portrait lens on a crop sensor. For landscapes and buildings, you can use the standard 18 - 50 mm kit lens and upgrade to a L wide-angle zoom when you have the money.

Not too partial to dropping that much into a lens, not at least for a while. I did take the time to look though and i did come across the Tamron SP 70-300MM F/4-5.6 Di which looks like it would match me well, with the nice zoom and macro capability. Do you or any others have a thought of that, because i could definitely purchase this very soon.

Edit: Only problem i can see is the lack of image stabilization.

 

[DigitalDolf]

You are buying a crop sensor body and Canon uses 1.6 APS-C sensors. The focal lengths are based on a 35 mm camera so with a smaller, 1.6 sensor the zoom range changes as followed:
10-20 is like a 16-32
18-55 is like a 29-88
24-70 is like a 38-112
55-250 is like a 88-400
70-300 is like a 112 - 480

For landscape photography, a wide angle zoom would be good. 18-55mm is a often the kit lens and when you have to buy it seperately, its not expensive. Just try and use it at lens openings from 6.3 - 11 where it is at its best. A 50mm prime (a 1.8 is really cheap) would have higher quality because there are fewer glass elements involved. This would be the equivalent of an 80 mm lens and is good for portraits. You do cover that with an 18-55mm lens or a 24-70mm lens, which would be even better for portraits (Tamron has a 24-75mm F2.8 with a macro function). A 70-300mm is not so easy to use without image stabiliser unless you have plenty of light or use it on a tripod. A macro function on a lens is even better on a prime, like a 100mm lens, but you could also use a cheap prime with rings to get good macro shots. Reverse mounting can give good results. Here is a link for cheap solutions for macro: A Poor Man's Guide to Budget Macro Photography - Envato Tuts+ Photo & Video Article. Here's another link: 5 Cheap Alternatives to a Macro Lens and another one: How to Enjoy Macro Photography on the Cheap (use Google to read up on other macro solutions). Really, the choice of lenses all depends on the photography that you think you are going to do a lot. Because you said that you were looking for portrait and general scenery + architecture, I would recommend a wide-angle zoom, combined with a prime (maybe with extension tubes or reversing ring for macro?). For lens reviews, I can recommend dpreview

Here is also a prime crop conversion with the 1.6 crop on the right:
8mm = 12.8mm
10mm = 16mm
14mm = 22.4mm
17mm = 27.2mm
20mm = 32mm
28mm = 44.8mm
35mm = 56mm
50mm = 80mm
85mm = 136mm
105mm = 168mm
135mm = 216mm
200mm = 320mm
400mm = 640mm
500mm = 800mm
600mm = 960mm

 

[Kalypso]

You are buying a crop sensor body and Canon uses 1.6 APS-C sensors. The focal lengths are based on a 35 mm camera so with a smaller, 1.6 sensor the zoom range changes as followed:
10-20 is like a 16-32
18-55 is like a 29-88
24-70 is like a 38-112
55-250 is like a 88-400
70-300 is like a 112 - 480

For landscape photography, a wide angle zoom would be good. 18-55mm is a often the kit lens and when you have to buy it seperately, its not expensive. Just try and use it at lens openings from 6.3 - 11 where it is at its best. A 50mm prime (a 1.8 is really cheap) would have higher quality because there are fewer glass elements involved. This would be the equivalent of an 80 mm lens and is good for portraits. You do cover that with an 18-55mm lens or a 24-70mm lens, which would be even better for portraits (Tamron has a 24-75mm F2.8 with a macro function). A 70-300mm is not so easy to use without image stabiliser unless you have plenty of light or use it on a tripod. A macro function on a lens is even better on a prime, like a 100mm lens, but you could also use a cheap prime with rings to get good macro shots. Reverse mounting can give good results. Here is a link for cheap solutions for macro: A Poor Man's Guide to Budget Macro Photography - Envato Tuts+ Photo & Video Article. Here's another link: 5 Cheap Alternatives to a Macro Lens and another one: How to Enjoy Macro Photography on the Cheap (use Google to read up on other macro solutions). Really, the choice of lenses all depends on the photography that you thing you are going to do a lot. Because you said that you were looking for portrait and general scenery + architecture, I would recommend a wide-angle zoom, combined with a prime (maybe with extension tubes or reversing ring for macro?). For lens reviews, I can recommend dpreview

Here is also a prime crop conversion with the 1.6 crop on the right:
8mm = 12.8mm
10mm = 16mm
14mm = 22.4mm
17mm = 27.2mm
20mm = 32mm
28mm = 44.8mm
35mm = 56mm
50mm = 80mm
85mm = 136mm
105mm = 168mm
135mm = 216mm
200mm = 320mm
400mm = 640mm
500mm = 800mm
600mm = 960mm

Dolf you are simply amazing. A lot of this information was just what i needed. I was able to find some extension tubes that also carried the lens contacts through all of them for an awesome price. I believe i will also pick up that 50MM Prime, as i've heard many people like it, and the price is hardly arguable. And i get to keep AF and IS!