Camera Help

[Walkin Horse]

I’m interested in buying a digital camera,but the choices are so many,I don’t know what to do. I would like to stick with Canon since I had a 35mm when I was younger. I am however open to other suggestions but with so many, Canon is all I’ve considered.
I started looking at the RebelT7 with so many bundles and lenses,I’m confused. Yesterday the R100 popped up then the R50 and R10. All with bundles and a bunch of different places to buy from and similar but different prices. Once again I’m confused.
My use will be occasional picture taking and family photos of the grandkids. I’ve realized I have very few pictures to leave my kids. Most all are on my iPhone. Which leads to my next question.
Printing photos. Is it better to buy a photo printer or use a photo print place? Will a standard printer work or does it need to be a photo printer.
So the final question would be, should I spend the money on a digital camera,or should I just keep using my iPhone. These pictures were taken with my iPhone and an example of my photography interests.

 

[soFlaNative]

I get it. Somehow handing someone a thumbdrive ain't the same.
About the only thing I can download easily will get flushed.
I like the pics, even if it hurts my neck to look, that dock shot is of a place I'd like to see.

 

[Rule3]

You can take amazing pictures with a I Phone. You can down load them your computer and the CLOUD, Copy them to a Flash drive and take that to a picture place and have real photos made.


If you get your own color printer the ink and paper are expensive. I gave up on that long ago


A good point and shoot digital camera is expensive


Canon PowerShot ELPH HS 360 Digital Camera, Silver 1078C001 - Adorama

 

[LVSteve]

You can take amazing pictures with a I Phone. You can down load them your computer and the CLOUD, Copy them to a Flash drive and take that to a picture place and have real photos made.


If you get your own color printer the ink and paper are expensive. I gave up on that long ago


A good point and shoot digital camera is expensive


Canon PowerShot ELPH HS 360 Digital Camera, Silver 1078C001 - Adorama

I just printed some stuff at CVS. I was very impressed by the quality and the fact it faithfully reproduced the pictures I had adjusted using Irfanview.

 

[Golddollar]

You can take amazing pictures with a I Phone. You can down load them your computer and the CLOUD, Copy them to a Flash drive and take that to a picture place and have real photos made.

Except when you're a Luddite like me. I have the proper cable but I can't transfer pictures from my phone to my laptop computer to save my life. My computer refuses to accept pictures from my cell phone.

 

[BKLooney]

I have an Olympus OM-1, fantastic camera, images are sharp as a tack. I have a lot invested in the glass, the one that stays on the camera 95% of the time is a 12-40mm 1:28, I will occasionally put the 40-150mm1:2.8 on there.

That said, 98% of the time I take pictures with my iPhone...

 

[Fishinfool]

Alot to cover. What camera? Canon makes a number of interchangeable lens cameras, full frame, and reduced size sensors, DSLR and mirrorless, as well as point & shoot. Prices & features vary, but just about any will give you quality pictures. Take into consideration camera size. Will it be something you want to pack around with you? Some systems can get quite bulky, hence the everyday appeal of cell phone cameras. But bear in mind most camera phones have small sensors, and will not have the pic quality or flexibility of a good DSLR / Mirrorless system. Most folks find a camera phone sufficient for everyday snap shots.

Bear in mind that most cell phone pictures look good when displayed at reduced resolution on a computer screen. Some times not so good when enlarged and printed. Small sensors, small & slow lens's, and typical overproccessing of cell phone pic come at a price.

You can print quality pictures at home with the right printer (Canon makes a series of printers designed for photographs), ink, and paper. It is though easier sometimes to just put the pics you want to print on a thumb drive and bring it somewhere like Walgreens or Walmart to have printed.

Some tips - Buy from an authorized dealer, USA designated products. Unauthorized dealers will sell "Gray Market" gear, usually a little cheaper. Problem is they probably will not be covered by the manufacturers warranty (at least so with Nikon).

"Kits" can be a good deal, just make sure they have the lens's and gear you will need.

Look for stabilized lens's and or camera bodies. It can make a big difference in low light, allowing for faster shutter speeds and less chance of a blurry photo.

Depending on your budget, in your shoes, I would look at a compact mirrorless interchangeable lens system ($$), or a compact DSLR (less $$). Frankly, either will give excellent results. Another option is a higher end point & shoot, fixed zoom lens camera. They can be a good all in one set up, with very good picture quality. For not alot of money, I think one of the Rebel kits with a wide angle zoom, as well as a mild zoom telephoto lens will give you the most bang for the buck.

Larry

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I usually do not buy used stuff, except Chiefs & Bodyguards.

Having had access to a Nikon D60 in a past life, I wanted a digital camera, but I didn't want to fork out "new" prices.

Last winter I trolled ebay until I found a Nikon D90 -- a lot more camera than the D60 -- being sold by a self-proclaimed professional photographer who had recently upgraded his gear.

Body, two Nikon lenses, filters, batteries, charger, all the cables, and it all came in a super efficient, very nice tote bag made specifically for cameras.

$150.

I was the only bidder.

Everything looks like brand new, and it takes far better photos than I can, and far, far better than my phone. I'm a happy guy.

added: I shot the photo of the willow flycatcher with the big lens
zoomed out to 210mm. My phone could never have captured him.

 

[lihpster]

Don't overlook used gear. I recently picked up a Canon Rebel T6 with 2 lenses, bag, several batteries, charger and a bunch of accessories for $100 at a pawn shop. For the uses you are concerned with, it would do wonderful. Mine came with 18-55 and 75-300 zoom lenses. That should do for most casual photography.

As to the printing, use a service. Printers and ink and paper are expensive. If you're not printing LOTS of pics, it isn't really cost effective.

 

[swsig]

About a dozen years ago, I bought my first digital camera, a Sony point-and-shoot. I hated it. It only took good outdoor photos. The flash would never synchronize with the shutter, so all my indoor photos were underexposed. I replaced it with a Nikon point-and-shoot. It has worked perfectly. It downloads easily to my Mac computer with a USB cable. So I can recommend Nikon digital cameras, but not Sony.

That said, all of my photos these days are taken with my iPhone. Even my "primitive" iPhone 7 takes excellent photos (see below). And if you have a Mac computer, they automatically download to your iCloud files and to your Photos files on your computer as soon as you take them. Easy-peasy!

Here's a "classic sunset shot" made with my iPhone 7:

 

[H Richard]

I used to be very involved with Photography, Camera Club & P.S.A International Competition, back when "Slides" were the rule. I shot a few weddings and portraits on the side.

As digital crept into our lives, the interest in creative competition seemed to expire. The digital camera let anybody create a nice picture. No special training or experience needed.

My interests were then into shooting and eventually I bought a Cannon Powershot A1100 IS. The function selection seldom ever comes off of "auto". It's a 12.1 Megapixels, and a 4X Optical zoom. It fits in my shirt pocket. It has gone to Europe three times, all the Christmas, holiday, etc.and all the pictures of my guns ever posted here. I caught one on sale for $99. No more extra lenses to lug around.

The only thing I kind of miss is long lenses for some wildlife photo's.

12/4/23
Just wanted to add, I load all my photo's to my computer, and print on card stock. Gives a nice matte finish to the photo's.

The Nikon F2 Photomic I used for years with 2 macro zooms & and wide angle lenses I tried to sell for a couple of years, took to a pawn shop and they said great outfit wouldn't give any offer as is worthless. I did sell on this forum for $150 (inc shipping).

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Many of the HP brand printers will print photos as color page prints or on special with special ink pack will print high quality photos. You get to control the size and number of copies' But for a Christmas family photo that you want to give a hundred copies away, you are better off having a shop do them.

Even regular copier prints of photos will convey the information but will fade in time, so that's why they have the special ink and paper.

Once you start you will probably end up doing 4 times your original estimated quantity!

My book of loads is full of pictures of nice guns and dead animals, none are the good quality photos. Many are 15 years old and still look good.

Ivan

ETA you can E-mail photos from your phone to your computer and print them that way

 

[AzShooter]

I'm a Nikon shooter but don't hold that against me. I do a lot of photography and am impressed with today's cell phones. I use mine as a backup camera but i love the colors from my digital cameras much better than what I can get with the phone.

The phone pictures look great on Facebook or in an attachment to a letter but printed picture colors are much brighter and sharper from the camera.

I bought my D800e a long time ago and spent a few thousand dollars on it. I bought a used D300s recently for $200. New it was over $2000 and it's still shooting like a new camera. I can even do videos with it.

So, look into used Canons since you already are familiar with them. You can probably use your old lenses.

 

[GypsmJim]

I was president of the photo club in high school, and Advertising Manager of my club in College. Back then it was all B&W and I sold many prints at the University photo shows.

Having said all that, times and technology have changed. All I can give are my present "opinions".

I still have $1000's in Canon 35mm stuff, which hasn't been used in years. I carry a digital camera most times I'm out and about, but if I don't have one with me, my cell phone will suffice.

Current phones have the resolution that most people need. I have used current digital Canons and they take beautiful photos. But I don't use one....why? Because my pocket sized Olympus Stylus has equal MP and does everything a hang-around-neck camera does.

If I go to a wedding or take a cruise, and thus have dozens of pics to print, I send them to a photo shop. If I have only a few 8x10's I print them at home.

My state-of-the-art Epson Printer with Premium Photo paper, IMHO, is as good as a professional studio. That said, what I mean is that I can't see a difference.

My only caveat is that I don't print larger than 8x10.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Yeah, don't be afraid to overlook the refurbished equipment. I bought a refurbed Canon, I think, last summer for his birthday. I saved about $4-500 and got the new equipment warranty. I bought an extension warranty for pocket change. So far I've bought refurbed IPads and the I Phone I bought for one of the girls lasted 5 years.
I'm also on the hunt for a camera for my grand daughter for Christmas. I found one that's not too much cash to spend on an 11 year old.

 

[GypsmJim]

Yeah, don't be afraid to overlook the refurbished equipment. I bought a refurbed Canon, I think, last summer for his birthday. I saved about $4-500 and got the new equipment warranty. I bought an extension warranty for pocket change. So far I've bought refurbed IPads and the I Phone I bought for one of the girls lasted 5 years.
I'm also on the hunt for a camera for my grand daughter for Christmas. I found one that's not too much cash to spend on an 11 year old.

When the first PC was introduced I bought a desktop. When I first went into business for myself and had to travel a lot, I bought a laptop. With unknown profitability and customer base I didn't want to over extend myself, so my first laptop was a refurb. As such it was not a current model and soon became obsolete.

It didn't take long for me to need to buy a new state-of-the-art computer. Cameras are similar. Every time you turn around a better mousetrap is invented, thus you want to upgrade.

For those reasons I don't buy used any more.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

All of the current Smart Phones have excellent cameras.
And you usually have it with you!
I also tried printing Color Pics but finally gave up the ghost!
The long glass is handy for objects far away, especially those you can’t move in on.
Most of the time I use the Zoom Kit Lens on my Nikon SLRs.

 

[Faulkner]

I've been into photography since I was a youngun' in the '80's. I made the transition from 35mm SLR over to digital around 2003 in preparation for my first trip to Alaska. I'm on my third Nikon DSLR and have a humble selectin of lenses. I like Nikon gear and you can get a DSLR with lens starter kit for between $500 and $600 that is very versatile and easy to use. About half the time I put my camera in PHD program mode (push here dummy).

I also have an iPhone 14 pro that I take quite a few pictures with, mainly on the job. It takes very good quality pictures up close and with good light. In my opinion, it's not a substitute for or as versatile as a good DSLR.

As for printing, Mrs. Faulkner has a good photo printer that she uses in house to print out photos. She is a very active wildlife photographer and shoots and gives away pictures all the time. She is a multiple county fair grand champion photo winner and each of them she printed out herself on her in home Canon printer.

 

[DWalt]

I own two elderly but low mileage Nikon D90s with a flock of about every Nikon lens anyone could possibly need. But by far, my most-used camera is an older Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 SLR with the 35-420mm (equiv.) Leica non-interchangeable zoom. Even though it has low resolution and a small image sensor (8 MP) by today's standards, it is more than good enough for my frequent use. And that and similar and newer Lumix cameras are dirt cheap on eBay. It simply cannot be beat as a starter digital SLR. It will meet all challenges. If I need prints, which is not too often, I usually go to Walgreens or WalMart to print them. Printing is something I have no desire to get into. I'd also recommend getting a cheap older version of Photoshop. I use PS7, got a copy free many years back, and I have it installed on all of my computers. Unless you plan to become a Pro, PS v.7 will do anything you are likely to ever need. Today's PS is by subscription only and is very expensive.

 

[riverrat38]

The new smart phone camera functions give very good results. No need to apologize for poor cell phone photos anymore. If you have one; I don't, and won't. My phone is for emergency calls only, and doesn't have a screen for photos. No flip cover either, just senior folk sized buttons.
I bought a Fuji film X100 S camera at the recommendation of Ken Rockwell, and like it very much. Its is a pocket size camera, with a fixed lens. The lens is very high quality. It looks rather like a small Leica rangefinder camera, but the controls are mostly for different functions.

https://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm

73,
Rick