camera advice

[color of my heart]

so i'm getting a much larger than expected refund from financial aid this semester, and i want to invest in a camera. seeing as my little p&s has been missing since our move in august :thumbdown:

i'm thinking of buying a dslr. something basic, because i don't need anything crazy fancy. however, we don't have kids yet, it's just us. so i'm wondering if i really NEED a dslr. i want one. i know that it'll last and when we do have kids, it would be nice to have. so i'm coming to you all for advice. because you lovely people know all about cameras and all of that fun stuff.

it breaks my heart, but my fiance is a nikon person, while i'm a canon person. i've never had good luck with nikon p&s cameras, i think i've had three that have broken or just not worked at all. but my last two have been canon. and a lot of friends at school have canon dslr cameras. so naturally, it's what i've used. he, on the other hand, has never liked canon, and prefers nikon.

so i'm asking-

1) is it worth it to splurge and buy a dslr now? or should i just get a better p&s?
2) is there a HUGE difference in quality/ease of use/ease of learning between nikon and canon?
3) if i don't go dslr, what p&s cameras do you recommend?

thank you! :thumbup:

 

[k23m]

1) I say if you have the funds, go for it! It would be worth the investment.
2) I think they are both equal in terms of quality/ease/learning curve. I would recommend going to a shop and HOLDING some cameras, clicking the dials, etc to see what setup is more comfortable for you. I am a Nikon girl too, but I have nothing against Canon. Its just what I was brought up with!
3) There are probably lots of good p&s options... for ALL cameras, check out Ken Rockwell's site. He has in-depth reviews of tons of cameras
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/reviews.htm

 

[alinalove]

when i looked around on dslrs, i never looked nikon up because i wasn't aware of the nikon/canon thing.
i love my dslr and would never trade it for a p&s. had/have a huge learning curve and tons of fun with it.

i understand your issues with nikon but really... if your sweet one goes for nikon just think: the lenses cost a ton. when you both got the same brand, you might use the same lenses. does he have a dslr? then i would go for nikon. he doesn't have one? go for canon, because it's the thing that you are comfortable with.

i bought the rebel t3i (hope this is right, i have the 600d, which is the european name). it's a beginners/intermediate dslr i think and it does everything i need.

 

[origami]

I think you would be very happy with a dSLR. We love ours! We bought a Canon t3i. My DH is comfortable using it in manual and I am learning slowly but surely! Of course, he had a Canon SLR from back in the days when you needed to buy film! We are really happy with it and even in auto, it's so much better than our point and shoot camera. When I suggested we get a dSLR this year he was so happy because it really is something that we both can use! We bought ours at a camera store, so probably paid more than if we'd gotten it through Amazon or elsewhere rather than a local small business, but we're happy with it because we got to try a number of different cameras in the store. Would you be able to visit a camera store and try out the different cameras and lenses?

 

[navaja77]

I personally think it's a good investment. I had the old Rebel XS for over 3 years and then I really got into photography and now have a Canon 5d. For me the Rebel XS served its purpose but when I started shooting in manual, I felt I need more than my Rebel could handle.

I think both the Nikon and Canon make great DSLRs. I've seen amazing photos from both cameras. But then again, remember that the camera is only as good as the user.

As for point and shoot, honestly, I have not touched mine since I got my DSLR. I use that primarily and occasionally my smartphone for on the fly shots.

 

[TeaWithLemon]

1. Splurging for a DSLR v. better ps - I would definitely go with something other than a point and shoot. To get a really good point and shoot that's better than your camera phone just isn't economical - the Sony is probably the best one on the market, but at nearly $700+? But, on the other hand - what do you want to do with your camera? If you're going to buy a DSLR, and keep the dial set to auto, a DSLR may not be what you want anyway. There's a big learning curve moving from a point and shoot to manual mode in a DSLR - which, if that's the way you want to go - you should probably get comfortable now before you have kids. I would want to get in the groove now before babies, so that it would be second nature by the time it really matters.

2. Learning curve Nikon/Canon - I would not judge a Nikon DSLR by their point and shoots. I've never used Nikon, but I keep up on reviews, and their point and shoots are never as well reviewed as Canon's. Their entry level DSLR's, on the other hand, are top notch. As far as learning a DSLR, they should both be the same - the basics are what they are. I'm a Canon girl, always have been, but if my husband were a Nikon guy, I'd probably go Nikon. Lenses are so expensive, I'd want to share.

3. If you don't go DSLR, I'd investigate the Olympus micro 4/3's cameras. They're compact, they have interchangeable lenses, and it really seems like this is the future. Many professional photographers are ditching their DSLR's in favor of these compact cameras as their everyday cameras (still keeping their DSLR for their professional work). Amazon has some great deals right now on early models.

Good luck! Remember, the best camera is the one that's with you.

Wendy

 

[glumirk]

Go for it! But make sure and learn how to use it or you will be sorely disappointed with it. I wish I really knew how to use mine before having kids.

I've heard of people who shoot Nikon DSLR but prefer Canon P&S. I think both are fabulous cameras. I have a Canon because that's what DH's whole family has, so that's what he bought me.

I think the major differences between them are where the buttons are, and which way they rotate (lenses and scrolls). Go to a camera store and see which one you like better. Either way you will have a huge learning curve over a P&S that you will make with the manual in your hand and reading it while fiddling with everything.

 

[kristalund]

i would recommend Digital Rebel DSLR. you will love it!

 

[nun69]

I think you will be very happy to splurge...I am personally a Canon girl, but honestly I have used a Nikon DSLR and loved it evenly....so my suggestion would be to try a few cameras out by actually going in to a camera shop and playing with them or even go so far as to rent one for a week and see what "feels right"....

 

[scrapmommaof3]

I love my Nikon D5100. Once you get your DSLR, you should learn how to shoot in manual. It makes all the difference. Then once you have kids you will have nice pictures from the start.

 

[color of my heart]

thanks everyone.

i'm gonna see if i can find a camera store out here. i know there's one at home, i had to bring my grampa's old SLR there a couple years ago for service. i'm leaning towards a DSLR. cause i know that as soon as we start packing to move home in july, we'll find my p&s.

i'll let you all know what i end up choosing. and i'm bound to have questions after i do get a camera!