New here, looking for a camera

[Dragoness]

Hi everyone, I am Amanda, I'm a mom, and I love photography. Unfortunatly I'm not very good at it yet so I plan to take a class either in spring or summer, maybe summer since my youngest is not even 6 months old yet. Tax refund is coming soon and hubby has agreed to let me buy a camera. I have a point and shoot, but I want a little more... yet SLR is out of my price range...except one, you will see it below.

I plan to photograph landscapes, children, events, possibly some portrait type photos, aquatic life in my aquarium, and whatever I need to for the class. I want to start learning now so maybe down the road I can start a birth photography company.

Here are a dozen or so cameras I am looking at. I don't know if my beginner budget will be 300.00 or 400.00 (If I get good, I will get a much bigger budget ) So please see both lists and tell me which from each (300 or 400) I should choose and why. I really want the SLR, because I know I can go farther with it, but I am not sure if its worth it for a beginner.

ok 300 range
Kodak EasyShare Z710, 7.1 Megapixel, 10x Optical/5x Digital Zoom, Digital Camera
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...442&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation


Kodak EasyShare Z650, 6.1 Megapixel, 10x Optical/5x Digital Zoom, Digital Camera
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...029&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation


Olympus SP-510 UZ, 7.1 Megapixel, 10x Optical/5x Digital Zoom, Digital Camera
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...114&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation


Fujifilm FinePix S5200, 5.1 Megapixel, 10x Optical /5.7x Digital Zoom, Digital Camera
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...344&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation


Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7, 6.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical/4x Digital Zoom, Digital Camera (Black)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...513&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation



Canon PowerShot S2 IS, 5.0 Megapixel 12x Optical/4x Digital Zoom, Digital Camera
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...301&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation


And 400.00 range

Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd, 6.0 Megapixel, 10.7x Optical/2x Digital Zoom, Digital Camera
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...825&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation


Canon PowerShot S3 IS, 6.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical/4x Digital Zoom, Digital Camera
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...379&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation


Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ8 DIGITAL CAMERA (SILVER)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...999&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation


Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5, 7.2 Megapixel, 12x Optical/2x Digital Zoom, Digital Camera
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...302&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation


Pentax K110D, 6.1 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body) (this is an SLR, the only I can afford, what do you think?)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...214&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation


Fujifilm FinePix S9100, 9.0 Megapixel, 10.7x Optical/2x Digital Zoom, Digital Camera
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...116&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation


Thank you so much!

 

[Jeremy Z]

Wow, you have been doing some shopping!

The Pentax K100D is only $80 more than the K110D, and it has the anti-shake built into the body. Wait until you can afford that, and get it. You will thank me later; it really works.

At first, looking at features, you might think you're getting more with all the fancy point & shoots. But with the SLR, you have room to grow. With the others, it is just a matter of time before the whole thing needs to be replaced. You will have the possibility of hundreds of different lenses, and dozens of different flashes. With the point & shoots, you're limited to what's on the camera, and maybe a couple of screw-on lens modifiers.

 

[Iron Flatline]

I'm partial to SLRs as they allow you to grow creatively. You have a lot more control. In the case of the Pentax, there are a LOT of great lenses to choose from, and because they are so late to the market they are presenting a very good tool for a low price.

I assume you realize the Pentax that you show there has no lens, so you'll need to spend some money on that, too.

 

[Dragoness]

OK This one

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...216&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

comes with the lens right?

I had not noticed that, thank you!

And that was FAST! WOW!!!

And I WANT SLR over point and shoot for sure!!! Does SLR have point and shoot capabilites at all? Like If I do just want to snap a quick photo someday? How does it work?

 

[Jeremy Z]

And I WANT SLR over point and shoot for sure!!! Does SLR have point and shoot capabilites at all? Like If I do just want to snap a quick photo someday? How does it work?

Yep. They are loaded with idiot modes.

But sometimes, all that's needed is a snaphot, right?

 

[Iron Flatline]

OK This one

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...216&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

comes with the lens right?

I had not noticed that, thank you!

And that was FAST! WOW!!!

And I WANT SLR over point and shoot for sure!!! Does SLR have point and shoot capabilites at all? Like If I do just want to snap a quick photo someday? How does it work?

Yup, lens included. And Jeremy is right, there is a Full Auto mode, and often that is good enough.... though I assume after a (short) while it will become second nature to you, and you'll leave auto-mode for your spouse while you shoot in Aperture Priority (a.k.a. Av) mode.

 

[Dragoness]

Boy do I have a LOT to learn!

 

[Alex_B]

Yep. They are loaded with idiot modes.

Well it happened to me once last year, that I just could not get the exposure right for one particular shot. I was rather fed up then and did something I had not done for over 10 years: I switched on the idiot mode (full auto) ! took the shot, and whooha, it was perfect!

Well, I then looked at the setting the camera had chosen for me... set them manually and took the shot again of course

Guess we all are idiots sometimes and need that mode

 

[Dragoness]

If I buy this with it, can it work with what I will have? I mean, the lenses... I am so new to all this.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...e=438216_REG&addedTroughType=accessory_detail

Better yet, tell me what accessories I will need, I can buy a little at a time.

 

[Dragoness]

Uh Oh, I didn't realize lenses were hundreds of dollars each, I don't know if I can do that.,

 

[Sw1tchFX]

I've never used any of the canned idiot modes on my D70s. It's when i hand the camera to someone else that I set it to an idiot mode.

 

[Alex_B]

Uh Oh, I didn't realize lenses were hundreds of dollars each, I don't know if I can do that.,

But a good lens can often last long. My current telephoto lens was designed more than 10 years ago. Normally lenses last longer than cameras

But still, the initial investment is rather high

You can get some good prime (non-zoom) lenses for less than zooms cost though. And for lenses there is a good second-hand opportunities out there.

 

[Alex_B]

I've never used any of the canned idiot modes on my D70s. It's when i hand the camera to someone else that I set it to an idiot mode.

well, than consider yourself lucky to be better than I was in that moment (not meant offensive )

 

[Don Simon]

Uh Oh, I didn't realize lenses were hundreds of dollars each, I don't know if I can do that.,

Ah... there's a problem with SLR systems, you can end up buying lenses, flashes, filters, tripod systems, and fairly soon the cost of the camera seems cheap. The ability to do that is actually the main benefit of owning an SLR. Of course you don't have to do spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on those things. You could buy the camera with that 18-55mm lens and it may be entirely adequate for your needs. But there may also come a point where you realise the potential need for a particular lens or a certain flash. It's good to have room to grow. The good news is that if you do buy those expensive lenses or accessories... they keep their value. With a fixed-lens digital compact camera you might get 12 months before it's halved in value and not worth the cost of servicing if something goes wrong. A good lens however will keep its value well, right up until they stop making cameras to put it on which is unlikely to be very soon. Whether you go for the Pentax or for a Nikon, Canon, Olympus or Sony, I would definitely go for a dSLR if your budget can stretch.

 

[Dragoness]

I spoke to my mom tonight and she is giving me her SLR (35mm) which is also Pentax and the camera I was looking at says its compatible with 'every pentax lens ever made" so it seems reasonable that whatever lenses I do buy can be used for either camera. She also has filters for that one. In fact she has had that camera since I was a child, I remember her taking me places to use it and letting me take pictures, that means its over 20 years old! I am thinking its about 21 years old, I remember it from age 6 or 7, but its still perfectly functioning. In fact I remember picking it up from a camera repair for her about 8 years ago. I spoke to my husband tonight and he said I could spend 300.00, I said "how about 350.00?" and I think he will go for it.

So I am leaning towards the pentax slr, but we shall see. I still have to wait about 2 weeks though, there was a snag getting my youngest sons SS card for taxes (someone failed to submit paperwork at the hospital) so as soon as the card is in we can file and get a rapid refund.

Oh I keep seeing *ist in camera listings, what does that mean?