Any Amatuer Photographers

angelas · 11-11-2010, 01:39 AM

Well, I am finally fed up with my old point and shoot digital camera and in a position to get a better one.

It's almost impossible to get a clear picture out of the current one, an HP Photosmart M425.

This is a typical picture:

We are 16 seats away from him in that pic. It was very frustrating to find that the pics looked ok on the 1.5 in screen but once their on the computer it is blursville.

I am trying to decide between the Fujifilm Finepix HS10 or a Canon EOS Rebel XS.

I'm looking for good quality pictures, especially movement pics (dogs don't generally sit around long waiting for you to take their picture) and easy to use. Not having to turn off the flash every time I want to take a picture would be nice too. And decent battery life-my battery was dead by the time Bon Jovi got to the stage-and that is with turning the flash off.

Anybody have experience with either, good or bad?

Melina · 11-11-2010, 07:57 AM

Kid Rock would slap you then stop on your camera after seeing that one.

Go with Canon if it's between the two. That's what I shot with all throughout High School (When I wasn't shooting film) and in College (I got my Degree in Photography), and I've been satisfied. It's too early for me to get into specifics, my mind isn't functioning, maybe I'll come back to this thread later today to give you more useful advice.

The only thing, off hand, is that the Canon you're considering is a DSLR, which means you will have the ability to change lenses. With that Fuji, you won't. It just has Optical Zoom, there's no swapping lenses. If I recall correctly, Fuji makes extension tubes that you can attach, but why bother with those when you can get a DSLR and lenses which would be of better quality?

Branca's Mom · 11-11-2010, 08:19 AM

The problem with this picture is that your camera focused on the persons head in front of you. Even with AF on a DSLR you still have to focus on the correct thing or it will be blurry. Also it could be even worse if you have a very shallow depth of field and the focus was on the head.

As for movement pictures, no camera is going to be very successful at that. The best I can tell you is that you want to set your camera to a fast shutter speed to stop them in motion, any DSLR camera can do that. On a camera that doesn't have a manual or shutter priority mode set it to sports mode.

As for P&S's, I don't like super zooms, normally really mediocre quality pictures. They look like DSLR's but they are NOT.

If you want a smaller camera, I would go with the canon G12. I have handled one for a few weeks now and really like it. I think it is the best non-DSLR out there.

Liesje · 11-11-2010, 08:34 AM

I think almost any camera (even P&S) will be an improvement over the current one. There's no reason you can't take halfway decent concert pics even with a lower quality P&S, but you have to be able to use it on manual and get one that allows you to choose ISO, shutter speed, etc (I've seen a few P&S that don't have full manual options). Also stay away from "digital zoom" it's absolutely worthless and ruins pictures. I've used up to 10x optical zoom with image stabilization and gotten decent concert shots as long as the people were not running around (see below).

These are a few pics I shot 5 years ago at U2 concerts using a P&S that would now be considered obsolete (3.2 megapixel Canon). They are not too bad considering the camera and the lighting conditions (low light, fast movements). I had to shoot on manual though, which required knowing a bit about the camera's settings and limitations. The worse problem is the noise/grain, probably because of the limitations with a P&S manual settings and the lower megapixel/censor.

If you're mainly looking to shoot concerts, be aware of the rules about cameras. For U2 shows, it tends to vary based on the venue. Many do not allow "professional" cameras or lenses, so no DSLR (and they will take them at the door). A few venues in 2009 allowed DSLRs with lenses 3" or shorter. So it depends on who you're seeing and where. Security for U2 shows tends to be very strict and your bags and pockets are searched going in. If I wanted my camera this past tour I would have had to attach it to myself in pieces, reassemble it, and then dodge security on the floor during the show.

Branca's Mom · 11-11-2010, 08:47 AM

Very nice...

those pictures just go to show that in the right hands most any camera can take some nice shots!

One other thing I would mention when camera shopping is don't buy into the more megapixals the better, "especially" regarding a point and shoot. I think with their small sensor you start losing quality past about 10 megapixals.....

StellaSquash · 11-11-2010, 08:50 AM

canon rebel. the end.

AgileGSD · 11-11-2010, 09:30 AM

I went back and forth over a P&S "mega zoom" last year and decided on a Panasonic zs3. I would definitely recommend it for your purposes - it's small, has 12x optical zoom and does pretty well at concerts (although you will need to play around with the settings to get the best shots, like any camera). An added bonus is it takes excellent quality HD video with stereo sound, better than any camcorder I have had.

Amazon.com: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black): Camera & Photo: Reviews, Prices & more

**JKlatsky** · 11-11-2010, 09:32 AM

Most amateur photographers that I know are split in 2 camps between Canon and Nikon.

If you like a P&S, I have a friend with this camera that they're very happy with. Canon Powershot SX30 IS. It's not as fast for action shots as the DSLR. But these were taken with it.

We have a Canon D30. We had the first series digital rebel before we upgraded- then lens was alright but not great for the action shots. The important part about a DSLR isn't really the camera body, but the money you invest in the lenses. For most of our movement pictures we use a EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens from Canon. That's a zoom lens because you cannot often be right up on the dogs when shooting in action. You also have to have a high quality memory card with a fast write speed. That has a lot to do with how quickly you can take pictures in a series. I remember with our first rebel the action shots weren't very quick because there was lag time as the camera copied the images to the card.

What is nice about DSLR is that as your needs change for pictures you can upgrade without having to go out and buy a whole new set up. Steve's Digicams Digital Camera Reviews, Canon Cameras, Nikon Cameras, DSLR and SLR Cameras is an excellent review site for digital cameras- Outlining the Pros and Cons and showing you sample pictures so you can compare.

These were taken with the Canon Rebel we had with the Kit lens.

These are from the D30 with the new lens. You can see it's much faster at capturing the movement.

Shot in a series...

It also captures nice stills...and what's cool about this is that I am across the yard. I find that I can get better more natural poses if I'm not right up on the dog. You can also see that even at that distance it has great clarity.

unloader · 11-11-2010, 09:37 AM

I have a p&s(Canon s90) and a dslr(Canon rebel xsi). Each has it's purpose.

Just remember, at some large venues, they prohibit "professional equipment". I don't even try to take my dslr with my huge white telephoto lens into any sporting event or paid concert, unless I have approval prior to the event.

Edit: JKlatsky has the same lens I am refering to as my "white telephoto". That 70-200 zoom telephoto is known as one of the sharpest zoom tele on the market.

To the OP, define your budget first and then I think people could help you out more.

angelas · 11-11-2010, 09:57 AM

Looks like it's going to be the Rebel then. It looks like its got the most options to grow with me as I learn.

I'm not too concerned about getting it into concerts and the like. I've only been to two in my life. This concert was just the straw that broke the back. A once in a lifetime event that I will never be able to get my own pics from. 99% of the pics I take are of Shania, it's probably been 2-3 years since I kept a "fun" one.

Probably the best picture from the whole concert (after I stole the then BF's camera):

11-11-2010, 01:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
angelas Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: East Central SK Posts: 1,459	Any Amatuer Photographers Well, I am finally fed up with my old point and shoot digital camera and in a position to get a better one. It's almost impossible to get a clear picture out of the current one, an HP Photosmart M425. This is a typical picture: We are 16 seats away from him in that pic. It was very frustrating to find that the pics looked ok on the 1.5 in screen but once their on the computer it is blursville. I am trying to decide between the Fujifilm Finepix HS10 or a Canon EOS Rebel XS. I'm looking for good quality pictures, especially movement pics (dogs don't generally sit around long waiting for you to take their picture) and easy to use. Not having to turn off the flash every time I want to take a picture would be nice too. And decent battery life-my battery was dead by the time Bon Jovi got to the stage-and that is with turning the flash off. Anybody have experience with either, good or bad?

11-11-2010, 07:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
Melina Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: The Surface Of The Sun Posts: 1,836	Kid Rock would slap you then stop on your camera after seeing that one. Go with Canon if it's between the two. That's what I shot with all throughout High School (When I wasn't shooting film) and in College (I got my Degree in Photography), and I've been satisfied. It's too early for me to get into specifics, my mind isn't functioning, maybe I'll come back to this thread later today to give you more useful advice. The only thing, off hand, is that the Canon you're considering is a DSLR, which means you will have the ability to change lenses. With that Fuji, you won't. It just has Optical Zoom, there's no swapping lenses. If I recall correctly, Fuji makes extension tubes that you can attach, but why bother with those when you can get a DSLR and lenses which would be of better quality? __________________ Mom To: Koda - Sable GSD, Stray Riley - Sheltie Mix, Rescue "Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring A Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."

11-11-2010, 08:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
Branca's Mom Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 6,120	The problem with this picture is that your camera focused on the persons head in front of you. Even with AF on a DSLR you still have to focus on the correct thing or it will be blurry. Also it could be even worse if you have a very shallow depth of field and the focus was on the head. As for movement pictures, no camera is going to be very successful at that. The best I can tell you is that you want to set your camera to a fast shutter speed to stop them in motion, any DSLR camera can do that. On a camera that doesn't have a manual or shutter priority mode set it to sports mode. As for P&S's, I don't like super zooms, normally really mediocre quality pictures. They look like DSLR's but they are NOT. If you want a smaller camera, I would go with the canon G12. I have handled one for a few weeks now and really like it. I think it is the best non-DSLR out there. __________________ TAMMY

11-11-2010, 08:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
Liesje Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 12,962	I think almost any camera (even P&S) will be an improvement over the current one. There's no reason you can't take halfway decent concert pics even with a lower quality P&S, but you have to be able to use it on manual and get one that allows you to choose ISO, shutter speed, etc (I've seen a few P&S that don't have full manual options). Also stay away from "digital zoom" it's absolutely worthless and ruins pictures. I've used up to 10x optical zoom with image stabilization and gotten decent concert shots as long as the people were not running around (see below). These are a few pics I shot 5 years ago at U2 concerts using a P&S that would now be considered obsolete (3.2 megapixel Canon). They are not too bad considering the camera and the lighting conditions (low light, fast movements). I had to shoot on manual though, which required knowing a bit about the camera's settings and limitations. The worse problem is the noise/grain, probably because of the limitations with a P&S manual settings and the lower megapixel/censor. If you're mainly looking to shoot concerts, be aware of the rules about cameras. For U2 shows, it tends to vary based on the venue. Many do not allow "professional" cameras or lenses, so no DSLR (and they will take them at the door). A few venues in 2009 allowed DSLRs with lenses 3" or shorter. So it depends on who you're seeing and where. Security for U2 shows tends to be very strict and your bags and pockets are searched going in. If I wanted my camera this past tour I would have had to attach it to myself in pieces, reassemble it, and then dodge security on the floor during the show. __________________ UCH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop FO OB1 CL1R CL1F RA TT HIT TDI CGC VPC's Coca-Cola HIT CGC SG UCH Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 AD T1 FO PA CL1R UNJ UCA HIT TT CGC OFA SG Pantalaimon vom Geistwasser BH AD HIT CGC

11-11-2010, 08:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
StellaSquash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 343	canon rebel. the end. __________________ Jennifer Riley 2/25/10 Tucker (Lab) 10/10/03 plus assorted cats in different flavors

11-11-2010, 08:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
Branca's Mom Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 6,120	Very nice... those pictures just go to show that in the right hands most any camera can take some nice shots! One other thing I would mention when camera shopping is don't buy into the more megapixals the better, "especially" regarding a point and shoot. I think with their small sensor you start losing quality past about 10 megapixals.....

11-11-2010, 09:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
AgileGSD Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 1,645	I went back and forth over a P&S "mega zoom" last year and decided on a Panasonic zs3. I would definitely recommend it for your purposes - it's small, has 12x optical zoom and does pretty well at concerts (although you will need to play around with the settings to get the best shots, like any camera). An added bonus is it takes excellent quality HD video with stereo sound, better than any camcorder I have had. Amazon.com: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black): Camera & Photo: Reviews, Prices & more Amazon.com: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black): Camera & Photo: Reviews, Prices & more

11-11-2010, 09:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
JKlatsky Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,985	Most amateur photographers that I know are split in 2 camps between Canon and Nikon. If you like a P&S, I have a friend with this camera that they're very happy with. Canon Powershot SX30 IS. It's not as fast for action shots as the DSLR. But these were taken with it. We have a Canon D30. We had the first series digital rebel before we upgraded- then lens was alright but not great for the action shots. The important part about a DSLR isn't really the camera body, but the money you invest in the lenses. For most of our movement pictures we use a EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens from Canon. That's a zoom lens because you cannot often be right up on the dogs when shooting in action. You also have to have a high quality memory card with a fast write speed. That has a lot to do with how quickly you can take pictures in a series. I remember with our first rebel the action shots weren't very quick because there was lag time as the camera copied the images to the card. What is nice about DSLR is that as your needs change for pictures you can upgrade without having to go out and buy a whole new set up. Steve's Digicams Digital Camera Reviews, Canon Cameras, Nikon Cameras, DSLR and SLR Cameras is an excellent review site for digital cameras- Outlining the Pros and Cons and showing you sample pictures so you can compare. These were taken with the Canon Rebel we had with the Kit lens. These are from the D30 with the new lens. You can see it's much faster at capturing the movement. Shot in a series... It also captures nice stills...and what's cool about this is that I am across the yard. I find that I can get better more natural poses if I'm not right up on the dog. You can also see that even at that distance it has great clarity. __________________ Argos vom Eisernen Loewen VPG1, CGC, TC 3-3-07 Bianka vom Eisernen Loewen BH, CGC, TC 1-3-08 Cade vom Eisernen Loewen CGC 3-25-09 D'Artagnan (Tag) vom Eisernen Loewen 2-2-10 G Aiko von Burkndeiros SchH 3, IPO3, FH, TC, KKL2 9-17-02 Last edited by JKlatsky; 11-11-2010 at 09:36 AM.

11-11-2010, 09:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
unloader Master Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 507	I have a p&s(Canon s90) and a dslr(Canon rebel xsi). Each has it's purpose. Just remember, at some large venues, they prohibit "professional equipment". I don't even try to take my dslr with my huge white telephoto lens into any sporting event or paid concert, unless I have approval prior to the event. Edit: JKlatsky has the same lens I am refering to as my "white telephoto". That 70-200 zoom telephoto is known as one of the sharpest zoom tele on the market. To the OP, define your budget first and then I think people could help you out more. __________________ Michael See Remy Run Blog Last edited by unloader; 11-11-2010 at 09:44 AM. Reason: Added content

11-11-2010, 09:57 AM	#10 (permalink)
angelas Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: East Central SK Posts: 1,459	Looks like it's going to be the Rebel then. It looks like its got the most options to grow with me as I learn. I'm not too concerned about getting it into concerts and the like. I've only been to two in my life. This concert was just the straw that broke the back. A once in a lifetime event that I will never be able to get my own pics from. 99% of the pics I take are of Shania, it's probably been 2-3 years since I kept a "fun" one. Probably the best picture from the whole concert (after I stole the then BF's camera):

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