What camera do you have?

8 years ago

Right now I have a Nikon Coolpix S8200 which is beginning to have problems. I like the 16MP and 14X optical zoom and Image Stabilization. Disappointed in that it only lasted 3 1/2 years. I had problems with the flash only 8 months after I bought it. So not sure if I want to buy another Coolpix.

I have been doing lots of searching and reading reviews online. And spent the day yesterday looking at 3 stores, Costco, Best Buy and Target. There are a lot of cameras out there but not a lot of inexpensive ones. I don't want to spend a lot of money because of tremors with my Parkinsons. I don't know how much longer I will be able to take pictures.

So what do you use, price, and good/bad points about your camera?

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caflowerluver
Original Author

8 years ago

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I will look up the different models and read about them. I just want a small camera for quick shots of my flowers, dog and holiday pictures. I use to be really into photography, since the 1970's, even had a dark room for awhile. I have always used a tripod when doing macro shots. It is a hassle when you want to just do a quick shot on the fly. And my old 2004 Nikon Coolpix 8800 has a remote. It was such a great camera, that is why I bought the Coolpix S8200 in 2012. The quality really went down in 8 years. I should dig up my old 8800 out of the mothballs and use that again.

I worry about buying used digital cameras because they are so complicated with sensors, IC motherboard and other electronic parts. My current camera still works fine most of the time, but could go south at any time. I wouldn't sell it because I wouldn't want to dump my problem on someone else.

I have bought used film, 35mm and medium format, cameras because they can be fixed forever. I have some medium format cameras that go back to the 1940's and are so simple that DH could fix them when the shutter got stuck or had some other mechanical problem. Imagine, a camera that is 70 years old and still works and takes good pictures.

It is not worth getting the current digital camera fixed. I called several camera stores and they said the cost would start at $120. It really bothers me that we live in such a throw away world.

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Comments (10)

Lindsey_CA
8 years ago
I have a Canon EOS Rebel T2i with several different lenses. My husband gave it to me several years ago (I think the T5i or T6i is the current model). I don' take nearly as many photos as I used to, so it's perfect for me. I have a macro lens for closeups, a couple of telephoto lenses for those distance shots, and a couple of "every day" lenses. It's an easy camera to use, and has all the features that I need.
JoanMN
8 years ago
check out camera reviews on stevesdigicams.com and other camera sites. I have a Canon T5i and a Canon Powershot SX280 HS. Lots of zoom and is a smaller camera than my Rebel. Sometimes, I don't need to change lenses, just nice to have a smaller cam that takes good shots.
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The December issue of Consumer Reports had a review of Basic Cameras that should be pretty helpful. I haven't seen the article yet, just the heading when I was trying to look it up on the library website. The model numbers of the cameras change so fast, you have to find a current review like that for it to be helpful. Your local library should have it. I have a Sony Cyber-Shot that I bought three years ago but the model number isn't available anymore. A camera with the same features would probably be cheaper now. At the time, I had decided to get either a Sony Cyber-Shot or a Cannon Powershot after reading reviews, and the Sony was the one I found on sale. I got it at Best Buy. Actually I bought a Panasonic first and it was defective so I returned it and got the Sony. The Panasonic had good reviews but I didn't want to take a chance on getting another one. That Home Site has a Photography forum. They should be able to give you some advice on enlarging photos to mount. I think the type of software you use to enlarge the photo makes a difference. The link below is top rated "point & shoot" cameras at Best Buy. I wonder if any of these models are mentioned in the Best Buy article. Here is a link that might be useful: Best Buy top rated Point and Shoots
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Irish, if you take pictures for a living, I think you can call yourself a photographer. :-) Briefly, you've been using a compact P&S. I think you would do better with a camera that has a wide-angle lens and good low-light capability. I've seen some gorgeous images with the Panasonic LX3 and hear great things about it all the time, but unfortunately the price has been rising. Also, it has no viewfinder (only an LCD screen), but that might not be a problem for you. (It is for me.) Another possibility is one of the super-zooms. One of the best of these is the Panasonic FZ28, soon to be replaced (next month, I think) by the FZ35. This lens starts out as a wide-angle, but has a very long zoom so you can get good results far from your subject. It has an electronic viewfinder, which I like. Another good camera is the new Pentax X70. It's producing some excellent images, but it, too, has no viewfinder. Unfortunately, the super-zooms aren't noted for their low-light performance. But you could try one and see if it does what you need it to do. The price range on the models I mentioned is $300-400. The last time I looked, Amazon was selling the Pentax for $319. If you go up to a DSLR you're going to paying in the $1,000-and-up range, depending on how many lenses you'll need. Hope this helps. Susan
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Juanita, I have only taken a few pictures with the SP500, then my dad borrowed for trip, I haven't seen it since. I dig them out when I get home. It is a good camera with a decent lens on it. The image processor is great too. .raw - 'raw' is a file type like '.jpg', '.gif', & 'bmp'. It allows more flexibility when editing photos. It helps for better manipulation when you need to manipulate the White Balance or recover details in shadows and highlights, the files are HUGE though. An 8MP raw file is 3-4mb and it slows down your camera when taking pictures if you donÂt have decent buffer or a high write speed card. As far as not doing any editing, I hate it too, that depends on how good of a photographer you become. The only photo that has any editing is the one of the couple, I increased the exposure +.11 and that was it. The only my camera forced me to edit my pictures is when I am at ISO 1000, which I donÂt do very often anyhow. Here is a link to a review a photographer did of the SP510 and links to his gallery are included in the post, very impressive. I might just give the SP500 to my dad and get the SP510. http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1008&message=20581640 here are some shots I found taken by a SP510uz as well. > Joe
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User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I'm a fan of Canon, always have been. A few years ago, my older sister got me a Canon Powershot SX260 with 20x zoom and video capabilities as a gift and it's been a great little camera. When I was in real estate, I used an expensive Canon SLR to photo houses for my job and at least for this layman, this camera offers pics that are just as good if not better. For the 165.00 price tag it's a great little camera. Liked it so much I got one for my DD for Christmas too. :c)
Alisande
8 years ago
A tripod could help with the Parkinson's. You don't have to spend a fortune one either. Another useful tool would be a remote control for whatever camera you get. I have one for my Olympus DSLR. It's made by Opteka, and I think it cost $9.

My go-to camera is a Panasonic FZ-35 superzoom. It's several years old and no longer manufactured. A couple of years ago I helped a friend buy it used, and that worked out well, but I just took a look at the used ones available on Amazon, and the pickings didn't look good. Among them, three just-launched sellers claiming theirs were "like new." Yeah, sure. I am such a fan of this camera, which has gotten so much use. I hope it keeps going and going.

The camera I keep in my car is another Panasonic, an LX3. Not much zoom, but excellent performance in low light. Both these Panasonics have terrific Leica lenses.

Whatever you get, if you want to keep costs down consider buying used. There's always been a big market in used cameras, and today it's also fed by many people getting rid of their cameras because they take all photos with their phones. BHPhotoVideo.com has a used department online, but there are lots of others.
Lindsey_CA
8 years ago
If you were to purchase a Factory Refurbished digital SLR camera directly from the manufacturer, you wouldn't have to worry about the sensors, etc.
ntt_hou
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I too have been a Canon fan. Currently, I have 3: Canon 6D (full frame), Canon 40D (crop), and a Canon SX280 HS that I often use it for craft projects. The SX280 is small and it can be mixed in with the craft tools as I'm working; thus, it's convenient in that respect. Obviously, this little one cannot be compared to the 2 DSLRs.

Anyway, that's my preference. However, everyone's preference and priority are different.

You mentioned that you've been to the local stores such as Best Buy, Costo and Target. Regardless of the price, was there one that you like more than the others? You may want to jot down a few models then, compare the prices of the same model sold over the internet. You'd be surprised of how much less they cost than the local stores.

I often purchase from B&H Photo & Video: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/. I do compare their prices with Amazon, Canon refurbished, and other online vendors.

I mentioned Canon refurbished because their warranty is no longer 90 days but rather 1 year just as the new products. That is, if you chose to go with the Canon brand.

As for stability, someone mentioned about a tripod. There's another option, a camera stabilizer that is mounted on your upper body. Check some of these out: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=camera+stabilizer+body+mount&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

https://www.google.com/search?q=camera+holder&biw=1280&bih=606&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMI_rjLkaPSxwIVly2ICh1tkAnL#tbm=isch&q=camera+stabilizer+body+mount
caflowerluver
Original Author
8 years ago
ntt-hou - Thanks for the link and information. I never knew such a thing existed. It looks interesting. I will have to read more about it. Nice to know about the one year warranty with Canon used cameras.
jemdandy
8 years ago
I have a Canon PowerShot SX50 HS and it does about everything I need.

50x optical zoom

Image stabalizer

12.1 MegaPixels

Pop up flash

Fast boot up

Lithium ion battery - holds charge well.

It has a hot shoe, unusual for a compact zoom. Most do not have an accessory shoe.

A tripod or monopod is a great aid for steadying a canera. It really cuts down on the blur factor.

The main difference between the compact Canon zoom and equivalent Nikon is the sensor. I like the color rendition of the Nikon better.. I've used mine for 2 years without any mechanical; failure.
charleemo
8 years ago
I have a Nikon Coolpix L830. I just got it a couple of months ago but so far I like it. It came with a table top tripod, lens cleaner & strap. I paid $169. It's been refurbished. I bought it through Choxi.

What camera do you have?

caflowerluver
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What camera do you have?

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