Joined: 08 Jul 2009Posts: 765Location: Right here, Right Now!
I know there is a handful of serious photographers in the group and I'm looking for advice on purchasing a new camera. I'm looking to spend $400-600 and potentially a couple hundred more on a nice telephoto lens. I don't need anything super geeked out, just a solid camera for outdoor/landscape pics. . I'll be taking it to Nepal to document my travels and won't have much time to learn all the bells and whistles.
I could get a bundled deal at Best Buy with a 55-210mm telephoto lens for ~$850. I like the size (not too large) but I have no idea what else might be out there in that price range.
Thanks for any input.
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With a big trip on the horizon it's tempting to want to go all out on a camera. I'd recommend not getting something that pushes the bounds of your budget and technical experience.
DSLRs are cumbersome and in my experience I've missed as many shots with one as I've got because of one. Traveling with one brings more attention than I like.
A breast-pocket sized camera is my favorite. Always handy.
Zoom range is not that important for landscape. More often you want to remember the surroundings rather than a specific detail.
What ever you get, practice with it before you go.
whitenhiemer
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 11:01 am
Joined: 26 Sep 2013Posts: 591Location: somewhere up north
you might want to cruise craigslist, this is where I've gotten most of my stuff
The things i look for is the easiest way to take photos and develop photos. nowadays, its pretty easy to find a camera that can wirelessly tether to your phone, so I'd make sure I knew that part. Sony has been doing some great things with their cameras, but all the point and shoot cameras have gotten so awesome that it's hard not to take a close look at them too. you could have 1 really good telephoto camera, and 1 compact camera. my favorites have been the canon s series.
also, Glazers is a great resource and sells used cameras.
caustic meatloaf
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 9:14 am
Joined: 06 Dec 2010Posts: 1235537Location: a hammy melange...
Honestly, the Galaxy S6+ Edge phone camera is pretty dang high quality. I've been able to get some nice sharp shots in low light, and good detail. The camera app allows for modifying ISO and fstop settings as well, and the panaramic feature is really addicting - I took almost exclusively panoramic shots when I was at Arches over xmas.
Phone cams, not shitty.
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tictoc
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 9:21 am
Joined: 08 Jul 2009Posts: 765Location: Right here, Right Now!
Your points about a simple (smaller) camera are well taken. In fact that was my original idea but a friend (with $) wants me to get something that would allow the pics to be blown up to small poster size. Is there a couple things I should be looking for that would signify a quality image that would allow this?
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rory
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 10:14 am
Joined: 13 Sep 2010Posts: 158
sensor size and type are what generally people talk about. the mid to higher range point and shoots will get you poster quality shots, assuming you take it in focus, which is pretty hard to mess up in this day and age.
assuming you want a wide field of view(landscape), you'd look for a shorter focal length. 24mm is a great starting point. lower then that gets you into super wide angle. iphone 6s and joe's samsung have a focal length around 29-30mm.
f stop help doing portraits because everything else turns blurry. it's a ratio of the focal length and the amount of light let onto the sensor (diameter of pupil hole). Having a lower f stop means you can take lower light pictures, but it also means your going to most likely have a limited amount in focus. f 2.0 is a fun one to start with, but figure you'll most likely want higher if you want more things in focus. I hope Andre is reading this and can correct me if i'm wrong.
the point and shoot that is everyone's darling right now is the sony rx100. after that, canon and panasonic both make good point and shoots. i suppose nikon makes something work metioning, but i don't know what that is.
I still recommend going to glazers, since you can tell them who you are, what you are doing, and they will generally give you an honest recommendation on a camera. then, you can try it out and see if you like the interface or not.
and don't listen to joe.
Alex
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 10:16 am
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
Larger sensors will typically provide higher quality photos. This matters more than the number of megapixels.
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i've got a canon t1i in excellent condition (used a handful of indoor video shoots) with lenses, gear, bags, etc (a pile of stuff) that i never use. i've been thinking of selling it and would set up a nice price if you want it. it's a great camera that can do the large format sizes you want and can take a great array of lenses (some included!). it's honestly just more camera than i usually need and haven't had the time to learn how to use a fully manual camera.
Buying a compact camera with a large sensor would be a reasonable approach. The DPreview link Alex provided is a good reference if you go that route. Beware, there are many options to help facilitate decision paralysis though.
I know there is a lot wrapped up in this trip and there can be the urgency to feel like you have get the best camera that will capture everything when you are there. It's a trap though, you can't capture everything, and no one camera will give you an edge, except for the camera you have and use.
Traveling through the mountains and valleys that Bailey traveled will give you an immense shared experience. The photos you take will be yours to share when you return. I can't see you being disappointed with the photos you take, some will end up standing out to you more though and you will cherish having them.
Sweeney
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 9:55 pm
Joined: 18 Feb 2009Posts: 851Location: English Hill, Redmond
I've been extremely happy with the pocketable Sony RX100, so much so that I hardly get out my 10 times as expesive Nikon DSLR gear
There are a few newer models of the RX, but I went with the first verison, same amazing sensor that can blow up photos, less gimmicky breakable things like rotating screens and such.
Joined: 08 Jul 2009Posts: 765Location: Right here, Right Now!
Thanks for the input everyone. And for the perspective, Andre.
I snatched the Sony RX100, seems like the consensus (friends, experts and Glazers) is that its performance is top-notch for its size/functionality. Pretty solid video quality as well.
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