I have friends and clients ask me often about what they should purchase for a camera. I am by no means a gear expert but I suppose I have a lot of knowledge lurking deep inside my brain that might help make a selection. This post is the first part of my series on this subject, which I will start by answering a question I have been asked.
I love photography and tend to photograph my baby daughter in action mode because she moves so much. I want to learn more about my camera and have been into photography for about 10 years. While I do want a point and shoot, I want something a little more substantial also. I think $250 – $400.
To me, it sounds like maybe you don’t really want a point and shoot. Why do you think you do? Are you looking for the compact size? You can get great control options on a point and shoot but they will not be as easily accessible as on a DSLR.
My husband has a Canon Powershot SD1000. It’s just a little bigger than my Razr phone, slips in a pocket, does really good photos, and excellent videos. It shoots in either all auto or has some options to control. I do have to go through the menu to change these control settings which only takes a minute but when I’m seriously shooting I don’t have a minute.
As you can see from these statements though, I do quite often grab it for quick pictures. I bought this camera for my hubby and I feel guilty with how often I throw it in my pocket. The times I use it are when I would not normally bring a camera along, for a casual stroll or to a friend’s house. I believe for most people this is all you need.
On that note, you sound like you have a real interest in photography and really want to learn. Why not go with a DSLR? The major drawback would be bulkiness. The Nikon D40 sells with kit lens for just under $500. It’s a bit above your price and it’s still not a professional camera but it could give you a lot of room for growth. I’m sure Canon makes something equally fun, I just happen to be a Nikon shooter.
You mention action. A DSLR will give you the ability to control exactly the shutter speed. I take a lot of children’s photos with fast shutter speeds. A prosumer model such as the D40 will also give you scene modes that you can use while you are learning all about shutter controls.
That said, if you really don’t see yourself exploring and truely wanting to push more, you can get great shots with a point and shoot. If I was to compare auto modes on my dslr to the Powershot, I think the Powershot does a better job. Once settings are controlled, the DSLR blows it away.
