what brand to get???

[marissa21]

i am looking to buy a new camera and im just wondering which one to get. i would like to take every day shots with the family and even try to take some pictures of the tank, but i just dont know what brands are good and which has more accessories. if you all wouldn't mind helping me out with a little information to what u have and what u think would be good for my use let me know.


P.S. if u could get the chance to get a different camera then the one u have, would you and why?

[Regric25]

I personally use a Nikon D60 DSLR camera. It depends on what type of camera you want to own. Do you want a point and shoot or a DSLR? Both are good camera types. DSLRS can be bulky and heavy but have alot of different lenses and accessories you can get for it. Plus they allow you to control the settings. A point and shoot is light, compact, conveniant, and simple to use/user friendly.

I would keep the camera I own now lol If I could afford it I would get a Nikon D300s because its compact compared to full size DSLRs is has a higher megapixel at 12.2 Mp and best of all it records HD video. With this I would not have to carry my Samsung HMX20 HD camcorder lol. Less in tow and convenience.

[Robb_in_Austin]

Go to the local camera shop(not Best Buy or Ritz) and give them the above information you gave us, put your hands on whatever they recommend, and be happy. Isn't there a sticky about this also? Based on your question I'd say you need a point and shoot. Just about any camera you buy is going to take good photos(SLR or point and shoot).

Digital SLR's can get expensive in a hurry. Especially once you add a good macro lens which you will probably want very quickly to get the killer coral shots you see everywhere.


I use a Nikon D40. I would like to upgrade, but I haven't pushed the limits of it yet so no upgrades needed. Want to upgrade yes, need to no.

[Europhyllia]

I think both Canon and Nikon offer nice started packages. I chose the Canon Ti1 and am happy with it. I think any upgrades will be lenses rather than a new camera body.

[CoryDude]

DSLR's are great, but they only take as good a picture as the person pushing the shutter button. You have to practice, read tutorials, and just play around with it to really get comfortable. My wife hated our Nikon at first. The learning curve for both of us was about 2 months, and we still have LOTS of room for improvement.

As far as which type of dslr...Canon vs. Nikon = Coke vs. Pepsi.

If you don't want to invest the time or money, then there are some really good point-n-shoot cameras out there. My sister has a sony cybershot and we like the pics she sends us. Good quality pics w/o the hassle of a DSLR.

[txg8gxp]

Depending on what you are looking for, I have a sony xr200v video camera...that take really good pics and is easy to use.

[Europhyllia]

DSLR's are great, but they only take as good a picture as the person pushing the shutter button. You have to practice, read tutorials, and just play around with it to really get comfortable. My wife hated our Nikon at first. The learning curve for both of us was about 2 months, and we still have LOTS of room for improvement.


I loved my new camera from the start and felt it took beautiful crisp pictures on the automated settings (like portrait for kids) exceeding the quality I got from my old camera right away. I am sure as far as custom settings goes I will learn much more and take better pictures but I didn't find the DSLR frustrating at all (and I don't like to read manuals very much)

[marissa21]

ok im looking at a nikon p80 does any one know any thing on this modle?

[apedroza]

I just bought my wife an olympus tough camera. Its waterproof and very well built. It takes really nice pictures as well. When I have my tank set up I want to test how well this thing takes pictures underwater!!!

[ErikH]

A D80? They're great. My wife uses a D90 now. www.tabsvisions.com

[ErikH]

OH and with a nikon, just use the thumb wheels. After you learn how to use them properly, WOW! Ask my wife, my pictures still suck. haha.

[Europhyllia]

Here's something interesting (just read that in my husband's Astronomy Magazine this morning -wow we are a geeky family. lol):
For star and sky shooting people prefer Canons over Nikons because Nikon's have some kind of noise remover feature that can not be turned off and in sky pictures the camera might just nix out small stars.
Thought that was interesting. Not sure how much that carries over into aquarium stuff but figured I'll mention it.

[allan]

There is absolutely nothing geeky about astronomy and cosmology. :-)

[brewercm]

Here's something interesting (just read that in my husband's Astronomy Magazine this morning -wow we are a geeky family. lol):
For star and sky shooting people prefer Canons over Nikons because Nikon's have some kind of noise remover feature that can not be turned off and in sky pictures the camera might just nix out small stars.
Thought that was interesting. Not sure how much that carries over into aquarium stuff but figured I'll mention it.

Not sure what Nikon they are talking about on my D90 I can turn it off, put on low, regular, or high. Wanting to upgrade to the D700 FF sensor myself but the new D7000 looks interesting once there are some good tests on how well it works in low light.