What camera do you use?

[WAS]

08Sunburst: I see the purple fringing and hue, lol. Like you, I NEVER noticed these kinds of things with a point and shoot, until a friend who is a photography expert and studying professional photography in a technical school pointed it out to me. Ever since then, I dissect every picture I look at. I can't help it, but ever since I learned what to look for, my eyes just see that stuff everywhere. Kind of like how us detailers see swirls when the average customer can't.



Anyways, just to be clear, I'm not slagging your photography skills at all, I just can't stand how point and shoots do such a poor job of image capturing. I know the limitations are due to the physical size of the devices themselves, but common manufacturers, forget the megapixel number and get some better quality in there so those of us who don't want to buy / can't justify the cost of a DSLR can still have nice pictures.

 

[08Sunburst]

08Sunburst: I see the purple fringing and hue, lol. Like you, I NEVER noticed these kinds of things with a point and shoot, until a friend who is a photography expert and studying professional photography in a technical school pointed it out to me. Ever since then, I dissect every picture I look at. I can't help it, but ever since I learned what to look for, my eyes just see that stuff everywhere. Kind of like how us detailers see swirls when the average customer can't.



Anyways, just to be clear, I'm not slagging your photography skills at all, I just can't stand how point and shoots do such a poor job of image capturing. I know the limitations are due to the physical size of the devices themselves, but common manufacturers, forget the megapixel number and get some better quality in there so those of us who don't want to buy / can't justify the cost of a DSLR can still have nice pictures.

Yea, i completely don't see it, but i believe it. Point and shoots definitely have their disadvantages, but its nice to be able to throw it in my pocket, or in my glovebox and when i need it its there. Before i bought this camera, i was wanting an SLR, but price wise, and for the amount of photos i take, i couldn't justify spending the money, at least not at this point. Some day when i have some money to blow ill pick one up though.

 

[Brad B]

I must say that everones pictures here blow away what I am able to do. And while I do have a discerning eye. (I spent 15 years as an art director and work with ad agencies earlier in my career. So I have worked with many pro photographers and bought a lot of images.) Anyway, for the last few years I abandonded my film cameras (Nikon and Minolta both with many lenses) and wanted pocket cameras for convenience and just taking snaps. Lately however, all these great car photos have made me feel bad for having such lame photos. (Damn you all!!!) and really, it will be used for nothing more. But I am on a budget so I just picked an arbitrary $200-$400 to upgrade to some sort of camera.



This discussion is great. And it led me to search the web for a couple days but the amount of info out there is overwhelming. The technology and naming of all the cameras changes so fast that I am really having a hard time figuring this all out. I feel like a detailing newbie asking "What is the best wax?" and waiting for the forums to come kill me! LOL!



I generally would prefer to buy new just for the safety of a warranty, but would consider used this time just to save money. Trouble is, I am unable to tell if a camera someone is selling is two years old or six years old.



I'll keep reading. This may take me a while. Until then, I will just drool over what you guys are able to produce with your high quality point and shoots as wel as awesome slr's. I'm jealous!!

 

[Dan]

Ive used DSLR's that loose quality when you zoom in that much, it depends on how much you zoom though. I can zoom and crop the majority of my pictures with decent results, slr quality, no.. The OP asked about camera's in the $200 range. I think he can get something better than what he has for 200 bucks. The other thing to consider is the size. Yes, you cant beat the picture quality of an slr, but if you are traveling to work on a customers vehicle, thats just one more bag to carry around. P+S is pocket sized, which is nice to not have to worry about carrying around an slr body, flashes, lenses, etc etc.

I'm not sure if you are just trying to save face (for your camera) or you are just ignorant.

 

[Brad B]

I'm not sure if you are just trying to save face (for your camera) or you are just ignorant.

Hey, hey, let's be cool.



His comments are well received. After all, I did claim a low budget and only a desire to upgrade the camera I had. It's pretty limiting!



And every camera mentioned here is better than mine so I am making progress in figuring things out...slowly!

 

[Dan]

Hey, hey, let's be cool.



His comments are well received. After all, I did claim a low budget and only a desire to upgrade the camera I had. It's pretty limiting!



And every camera mentioned here is better than mine so I am making progress in figuring things out...slowly!

And that's the problem. You have a couple of people trying to get you to save your money, and one that is hell bent on saying his camera is great. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with a compact camera, I'm really saying (and at this point screaming!) to really do your homework on a compact because quality is all over the place. Anyway, I guess that's what you get for asking for camera advice on a detailing forum.

 

[08Sunburst]

I'm not sure if you are just trying to save face (for your camera) or you are just ignorant.

And that's the problem. You have a couple of people trying to get you to save your money, and one that is hell bent on saying his camera is great. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with a compact camera, I'm really saying (and at this point screaming!) to really do your homework on a compact because quality is all over the place. Anyway, I guess that's what you get for asking for camera advice on a detailing forum.

I have a sub $200 point and shoot.. Its far from great. Im not hell bent on anything. My point was that for the budget he said he has, I personally feel he can get better than what he has. I KNOW that there are much better camera's than what i have, LOTS of better cameras, but i was i the same place that the OP was in a year ago. Needed to replace my 4- year old camera, and couldnt spend the money on an slr..



Calm down man... I just gave him my personal experience, nothing wrong with that...

 

[Dan]

I have a sub $200 point and shoot.. Its far from great. Im not hell bent on anything. My point was that for the budget he said he has, I personally feel he can get better than what he has. I KNOW that there are much better camera's than what i have, LOTS of better cameras, but i was i the same place that the OP was in a year ago. Needed to replace my 4- year old camera, and couldnt spend the money on an slr..



Calm down man... I just gave him my personal experience, nothing wrong with that...

I'm not getting upset, your just missig the point entirely. You feel he can get a better camera for $200? That's what I'm trying to show, he probably won't get better pictures. Did you compare shots out of your old camera vs new? I'm not saying your camera is crappy because it was $200. I'm saying new cameras are crappy because of the physics of having a light sensor that is overloaded with photosites. I've taken pictures with new cameras and compared them with my older cameras. Same shot, same place, same time.



Yet another example:

Why is the 3 year newer camera much softer at full crop? Is that what everyone wants, more pixels and more noise? All you end up doing is wasting your money and then more space on your harddrive.

 

[Accumulator]

I generally would prefer to buy new just for the safety of a warranty, but would consider used this time just to save money. Trouble is, I am unable to tell if a camera someone is selling is two years old or six years old..

Google up KEH Camera Brokers (I think that's their full name, the "KEH" part is definitely right). I've bought/sold with them before and their used equipment wouldn't worry me. No digital-photog exerience with them, but they were fine with film stuff.

 

[08Sunburst]

I'm not getting upset, your just missig the point entirely. You feel he can get a better camera for $200? That's what I'm trying to show, he probably won't get better pictures. Did you compare shots out of your old camera vs new?

I have compared previously, but grabbed a quick couple shots a few minutes ago for comparison.



Old camera is a Sony S750, 7.2 Megapixel, standard Sony lens.



New camera is a Sony W350, 14.1 megapizel, Carl Zeiss Lens.



Being that were mostly taking pictures of cars on here, thats what i shot. Old camera was set at its highest setting of 7.2 megapixel, and a 4:3 aspect ratio. The new camera was set at 11MP and a 16:9 aspect ratio(highest 16:9 can go is 11MP).





Old camera:

New Camera:

Now yea, i have done some crops where the old was better than the new. The new camera also has more user adjustability than my old. Old camera the ISO was non-adjustable, as well as the metering and focus being non-adjustable. The purpose for me buying a better camera was to have more adjustability, and get good overall pictures, and i think the new camera i bought got that for me.

 

[Dan]

The purpose for me buying a better camera was to have more adjustability, and get good overall pictures, and i think the new camera i bought got that for me.

I can totally respect that, plus you got a better lens. Though looking at the crops, what the marketing guys want you to believe vs what you get is totally the opposite.

 

[08Sunburst]

I can totally respect that, plus you got a better lens. Though looking at the crops, what the marketing guys want you to believe vs what you get is totally the opposite.

Yea, its not bad for what i use it for, and i hardly ever crop photos, maybe to trim the edges off, but normally nothing more than that.



Some day i'll get an SLR, but when i do buy one, i want it to be good, so however long it takes me to save the extra cash is ok with me.

 

[Brad B]

Google up KEH Camera Brokers (I think that's their full name, the "KEH" part is definitely right). I've bought/sold with them before and their used equipment wouldn't worry me. No digital-photog exerience with them, but they were fine with film stuff.

Will do. Thanks. Great place to start.

 

[Dan]

There are always good SLR deals that pop up on the shopping sites, keep an eye on techbargains, dealspl.us and fatwallet. A good example:



Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm VR Lens - dealspl.us

 

[Brad B]

Cool. I had never heard of any of those sites. And I didn't realize I could touch a new slr for $400. Thanks!