Need a new camera

THEPAIN73

http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=114244

Looking at these photos makes me yearn for a better type of camera.

I have this camera which is fine for going to friends houses and things like that.

I want a finer resolution that isn't so grainy though.

I want a fancy one that can be used for real photography.

Advice?

embrik

Well, checking the EXIF on one of those pics tells me it was taken with a Nikon D40, a DSLR.

First things first, which is what everyone else will ask - how much are you looking to spend?

Any brand loyalty?

As far as DSLRs, there are two main brands - Canon and Nikon, but they're not the beginning and end.

Each brand and model has their strengths and weaknesses.

So secondly - what kind of features are you looking for? What subject matter are you wanting the camera for? Macro? Portrait? Landscapes? Fast Action?

Hlubocky

My wife bought a Nikon D90 a year or so ago and really loves it. Those DSLR cameras have a ton of options that I know nothing about, but it sure takes good pictures.

THEPAIN73

Landscapes and macro mostly. (I know, it's a wide range.)

I am looking to spend about $150.

No brand loyalty mostly because I have never bought a super nice camera before.

I don't need video, I just want to take beautiful photos. Not grainy crap.

Wezoin

Mmmm, $150 won't get you a DSLR. It would probably get you a nice point and shoot though.

THEPAIN73

Yeah a simple crisp point and shoot would be ok by me.

Anyone care to upload photos from their cameras to show me how nice we are talking here?

Felix

Some good info here along with example pictures:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm

I'm in a similar situation, trying to decide what to get.

Backstop

After going through three other cameras I am so happy with my Canon SD 1200 IS. Slips right in the pocket, nice bright screen, ready to snap right away, point-and-shoot in any situation comes out nice and crisp. It goes into Macro mode very quickly and it always seems to pick the right setting for the job. This is the only camera I've ever gotten a clean shot of my dog with, others seem to lose focus on the fur and can't get him while he's moving.

Prior to this I tried a Fuji mini-dSLR (clumsy and slow), a Pentax point-and shoot (focus sucked, mysterious spots on the picture) and a Nikon ultra-slim (spots, no stabilization left blurs).

Sheri

You want a "fancy" one for "real" photography, and you want to spend $150?

As a photographer, I'm just going to ignore that. :P

However I will offer what advice I can!

You could always go for my favorite standby, the Canon Powershot series. Not the Elphs, those are tiny and adorable, but have no real control. If you want to be able to control your camera (for example, how grainy it is), you need a P&S with a good manual mode, and the Canon Powershots really do have those. It's what I started with. To get it into that price range, you may need a slightly older model, but you do what you gotta do.

You're going to want a camera with modes that show a little flower (macro) and mountains (landscape). If you can't choose any shooting mode, don't buy that camera. Lots of them come with three or four modes, mostly Auto, Indoor, and Party or some other BS. Those are not what you're looking for. If you want to try to do REAL photography, look for one with an M (manual) and learn how everything works. Part of your grain issue is the camera, part is not knowing what ISO it defaults to in low light (related, not knowing what ISO means).

If you check out the link Felix posted, you'll see that MOST of the cameras listed there run above what you're looking to pay. But that's just a list of examples, there's a ton to choose from. I vote for going to your local Best Buy, fiddling around with cameras in your price range (hopefully they'll actually let you SHOOT with them), and seeing what you like best.

P.S. Oh god I want the G11 so bad

EDIT: Backstop knows what's up