Shopping for a new camera
 

I am looking for a new camera. My son is really pushing me to get a DSLR. I am always taking photos but until now I have used point and shoot cameras. I want a light weight camera. He suggested the D3100. I was at Best Buy yesterday and was amazed at the light weight of this camera. Unfortunately I was distracted by the display of the Sony NEX5 (not a DSLR). Has anyone had experience with either of these? Are they easy to use and learn about? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry... I can't offer any suggestions on either camera's. Perhaps some of the other ladies will have some good insight for you.

I love my Sony camera, but it can be big and bulky. ;)

DH bought me a new camera back in December. He wanted to get me the Nex5. But after talking to the salesman at the camera store, and checking it out myself, I came to the conclusion that the NEX5 is just a P&S on steroids. It really doesn't do much more than a regular P&S, certainly not any of the really cool things you can do with a real DSLR.

In the end I got a Sony a55, and I LOVE IT!

We have a Nikon D500 and we don't use it like we should. We still take most of our photos in automatic, but they are by far better than our P&S which is a Sony Cybershot. We are working through a blog now on how to use your DSLR over the next 30 days so we can take better advantage of it. If you get a DSLR, I'd recommend putting some time into a class or online tutorials. Good luck!

We looked very seriously at the NEX series and Olympus Pen series of cameras. They are very much like a P&S but do have the ability to use interchangeable lenses. The biggest downfall for us was that while they take great photos, they don't do so well in action mode (ie if you have kids that move a lot, its much harder to get a non-blurry picture than it is with a DSLR). I am a short person with small hands so for me I needed to find the smallest most light weight camera I could. I ended up with the Pentax k-x and I love it. It is a bit smaller and more light weight than anything else I looked at (which was all of the models in the beginner level DSLRs). The best piece of advice I got was that at my price point the cameras were all mostly the same in features, and what it really boils down to is how it feels in your hands. Don't forget too that cameras take on extra weight with the type of battery it has and the size lenses you use. Bigger lenses can be much heavier, especially if you are going to want to carry more than the one on the camera around. I got lucky this past Christmas and my husband got me a 18-270 lens so I really only have to carry that one around.

Thank you so much for the input. I think I am going to have to take the DSLR plunge. After cruising on the Dream in January I thought several of my pictures using my Nikon coolpix disappointed me. I love to travel and want better quality photos.

I have the Nikon D40 and D90, and I love them both. Look into this site it may help u

http://www.kenrockwell.com/index.htm

Yup, that's the reason I got my camera too. We went on the Disney Wonder through the Panama Canal and I wanted awesome pics like I saw other's had taken on our previous cruise. My P&S cameras are fine for day-to-day stuff, but for the major moments in life (and on vacation) I want great pics to look at and to share.

I am so glad scrappers think the same. My husband is amazed how particular I am for my photos. At this point I am leaning toward the D3100. I have made 2 trips to the Best Buy store in 2 days. I am really getting excited at the better quality photos from this DSLR. Thanks for all your input.

My dh bought me a D3000 for Christmas. The only difference is that the D3100 has a camcorder feature which does videos. I absolutely love the D3000. Great pictures. I've taken almost 2000 since Christmas day. I used it for my dd's softball games and with the addition of a lens, it took outfield shots from the bleachers great. I like the sports setting which allows you to hold the button down and it keeps snapping pics. The only thing I have had to adjust to is not being able to slip it in my pocket, or a tiny pocket book. I have to have a backpack or carry it around my neck. But, I can either have my little one to slip in my pocket and take so-so pics or my big one and take great pics!

Sounds great. Do you have or know of anyone who has used other lenses on this camera. I'm hoping to make my decision this week as my husband is considering it as a birthday gift for next week. I am receiving such great reviews on the nikons and my son is a Nikon supporter. At this point the D3100 is in the lead. I was just wondering if anyone has used other lenses with great results. I was looking on-line and saw a 55-200mm f/4-5.8G IF-ED. Thanks so much for your advice.

Yep, the 18-55 (or similar) comes with the camera and I bought the 55-200 so I could take pics outside and of my daughters softball games. I have 2 kids and it is great for sports, swimming etc. I've taken closeups inside, closeups outside, pics of swimming, softball, night pics, etc. My dd9 uses it too and it's simple enough that I can ask someone else to take a pic of our family and they have no trouble using it. I have also used the self timer although it took me a few times to figure it out. We were really laughing by the time we got it to work. The only thing is changing the lens for different shots. One day......long time from now.....I would like to get the all in one lens, but it's about $800 and I cannot afford that with 2 kids in summer/afterschool care. Oh and make sure its the VR lens. Dh saw the 3100 a couple weeks after he bought mine and wished he'd seen that one before Chrsitmas! I'm definatly not a professional or anything, just someone who's hobby is taking lots and lots of pics of my family, pets and kids for my scrapbooks. I'll be glad to answer any questions I can. First vacation with the new camera is this weekend. I'll be taking pics of mountains and I'll let you know how it works.

ETA: I found a nice camera bag at Best Buy that holds the camera, extra lens, power cord, my keys, snacks for kids etc for around $35. They had one made just for that camera, but it was around $65.

We also the 55-200 Nikon and it's nice to get some further away shots. I second the VR recommendation. We also got the cheaper camera bag, and we have a backpack one that we use when DH shoots races that carries video cameras too.

Thanks for the information. Like yourself I am not a professional but enjoy taking photos to frame and scrapbook. My camera is always with me. The light weight is a requirement because I carry the camera to any event. I don't mind having a larger bag or backpack in tow. I would hate to miss a photo opportunity. I will read about the VR lens. I would love to hear how your first vacation photos come out. Keep me posted.

I have the Nikon D60. On the rare occasion that I pull out my P&S, I wish I'd used the D60. The quality of a DSLR is so much crisper. The quick shutter helps SO much- I have a busy 3 year old boy.
Lenses- I have the standard VR 18-55. For most shots, it's what I use. However, I'm really falling in love with what I can do (trying to be more artistic with photos) using my 55-200 (also VR). I would love to get something that is more like both lenses in one, but they're expensive. At Disney, I use the 18-55 most of the time, the bigger lens at AK for the safari.
Good luck and have fun!
Oh, one thing I suggest is buying a padded strap. Makes a huge difference on your neck all day!

Thank you for the advice. Do you find that your DSLR is heavy and difficult to carry around on you Disney trips. After picture quality the weight is the next feature that I am concerned with. It so nice to get these great tips from experienced DSLR users. I will definitely invest in the padded neck strap as you suggested.

Well, 5 days on vacation and I took 320 photos. In looking back through them, I found that the ones dh took were'n't as clear because he didn't always have it on the correct setting. But the ones me and dd took are great. I have some really nice closeups and some really pretty shots of the mountains in the distance. We saw Thomas the Tank Engine at Tweetsie Railroad and some of the shots we got are as clear as the postcards. Very pleased with the camera other than not being able to stick it in my pocket.

:blush:Oh, and at one point we were walking down the "main street" and I noticed my camera wasn't around my neck. I asked dh where he had it and he said he didn't have it. DD dind't have it, only her cam corder. DS of course dind't have it! We had left it in a store!!!!!!! :ack: Dh of course panicked, but I just walked back and asked about it and they said one of the staff had it and was taking it to lost and found, but I found them still in the store. WHEW!!! :eek:

Wow! What a story. I am so glad you found your camera. I am really excited about bringing my photos to the next level. Hoping my birthday this week will bring a DSLR surprise.

My husband is wonderful. Yesterday was by BD and I received the D3100--I am officially entering the DSLR photography scene. Sons x 2 graduating this week (8th grade and hs) will get to try it out. Thanks for all the advise from everyone. Hope to be posting some pages from the Maiden Dream Voyage next week.

Congratulations! Enjoy!!!

Thanks. I can't wait to get started.

Yeah!!! glad you got your camera! Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine!!!:yeah:

Thanks. I am sure I will. Can't wait for my first vacation.

So happy you got your camera! Have fun with it! I'm also considering getting a DSLR, so the advise in this thread will be very helpful.

Thanks to everyone who posted here! I took the plunge and got the D3100 also. The package was really nice at Best Buy and it came with the 55-200 VR lens, camera bag and SD card. I loved my Canon Powershot (had a 20x optical zoom which was great) but in low light and a few other areas the shutter speed is not there like a dSLR. We are going on the Dream and to WDW this summer. Now off to learn how to use the manual settings!!

That is great! I have been enjoying taking photos at my sons' graduation ceremonies over the past several days. I am going to begin learning the manual settings also. I just purchased a book from Barnes and Noble: Nikon 3100 From Snapshot to Great Shots byJeff Revell. It received a 5 star rating on Amazon and B&N and boasts its approach to picture composition rather than all the little details that the manual discusses. It breaks the chapters into lessons. Just finished the first lesson and found it very informative. Check it out online. You can see some pages on Amazon.com.

That was a recommendation at the D3100 group on Flikr. I was thinking about getting it. I'm glad to hear you found it imformative as well.

Sorry- been vacationing and haven't been online much.
From the backpack (you know, the things mommys carry) and the camera, my neck and shoulders are tired at the end of a full day at Disney. A lot of times, I'll do the one shoulder cross-over thing. I can still grab and easily use the camera. But, it's much easier on my neck.

Oh, I kept reading. Congrats on your new camera! Have fun! Just get in there and try things!

Hope you are enjoying Disney. Say hello to Mickey! I remember the days when my children were younger--the aching neck from camera and bags of child necessities--all worth the great times and amazing memories.

We're not at Disney. We did the beach thing. No pain from carrying too much there! We get to Disney in less than 3 months!

Enjoy the beach and your family. Hope you are having a great time.