Help me buy a camera

[tortoisesarefab]

Hi, I am after a new camera as my phone takes better pictures than my old one! Thinking of asking dh to get me one for Christmas but I just don't know what I am looking for. Do I get a big one with the big lenses or a smaller, more compact one. Also what do megapixels mean and is there any other technical data I should be looking at? I am clueless

[CoffeeandNumbers]

I am also clueless and want to high jack the thread. Sorry op.

I've bought a Nikon coolpix l830

www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/2376134.htm

Sorry I'm on phone can't do proper links!

Is it a shit camera and should I take it back? I mainly bought it cos it was half price and looked like a big proper slr but without the faff and it was purple, squeal! but I am now worried dh will say it's pants and why did I bother.

[CoffeeandNumbers]

Sorry if I killed your thread tortoise

[WhatWouldTheDoctorDo]

I have a dslr (nikon d3200) and a Panasonic lumix tz10 compact camera - I'd recommend them both, but I do love my DSLR. My lumix is a few years old, so there are newer models out now.

[tortoisesarefab]

This is what I don't understand as I have just googled
Nikon dslr and they range in price from £199 to £899! What does the latter one do that the former doesn't?

[WhatWouldTheDoctorDo]

I suspect the latter has a range of features for the serious photographer who'll choose manual settings to create professional quality pictures.

I chose my dslr after reading tons of reviews - it has a good auto setting and I'm planning to go on a manual course to help me learn to use all the other settings. I guess it comes down to how you want to use your camera?

[tortoisesarefab]

I suppose that makes sense. I mostly just want to take nice family photos so nothing too professional! Will look at the dslr's then. Hoping to get a good deal on Black Friday!

[grumpyoldgitagain]

Most think that the more megapixels the camera the better the picture but this isn't the case as the image sensor is what is more important

Can't remember why but I did a lot of research before I bought a camera a year ago and I ended up with the canon sx50hs mainly because I wanted one with the massive 50x zoom that it has and my DP already had the Nikon coolpix p510 so I didn't want to get the same

Both are good mega zoom cameras and do what we want

[Hulababy]

I like Canon cameras. I tend to now only buy Canon as I know how they work, what the little symbols they use mean, how to navigate their menus, etc. And they are reputable and good quality.

I currently have a Canon 7D SLR (body of it, bought last year) with a range of lenses (you buy separately). However that is not the cheap option - although the 7D has nearly halved in price from last year it is still over £600 without a len. It does, however, take lovely photographs.

Prior to that I had a 450D model which was a much cheaper SLR option. It came with a kit lens but you can add lenses to it depending on what you want to do. It did take very good photographs and I was able to sell it on. I know that it is still going strong now.

However, if you don't want the SLR route - and I know many people don't - then a good compact camera is great. My old one died a year or so ago but I am intending to replace it soon. A compact is great for flinging in your bag and for quick shot snaps.

In the past I have always liked the Canon Ixus range. The metal body ones are very robust and ideal for living in a bag. The photos taken with them are very very good.

[Hulababy]

If you do go down the DSLR route I would definitely recommend going on a couple of day courses. It has made such a difference to the way I take photos. I now rarely have to resort to using Auto.

Even if you do get a DSLR, try and use the P (program) setting rather than just full auto - the outcome will be far better generally.

[tortoisesarefab]

Thanks for all these tips, will have a look at the models suggested this evening. I think a course would be a good idea, will look into those too.

[WhatWouldTheDoctorDo]

It might be worth googling 'dslr reviews' or similar too - I read a lot of magazine reviews online and articles comparing different dslr's.

I do really enjoy having a DSLR and I'm looking forward to going on a course to hopefully get more out of it, but I wouldn't be without my compact camera either, although I do use it less and less these days.