New Digital Camera Recommendations?

klbyrnes · November 2014

so my old point and shoot died about 18 months ago and we mostly take pictures with our iPhones now, but with the baby coming in a few weeks we decided to get a new camera. I really just want better shots than ur typical iPhone ones. I'm not trying to buy a $1000 crazy fancy camera (I'm not that skilled a photographer haha) but I'm also not thinking of a $99 basic model either. Just something good to capture all these special moments in the high quality they should be. Has anyone else bought a camera with baby's arrival in mind? Willing to share recommendations? Thanks in advance ladies!

emmyjoy11 · November 2014

I want to buy a new camera but don't have the money for it

Meether · November 2014

You can get a canon rebel through the canon loyalty program. Just trade in your broken point and shoot, and they give you a 10-20% discount on a refurbished model. Of course, this is assuming you have a canon

aq88 · November 2014

a great deal would be Nikon: D5100 or D3200

Meether · November 2014

Target has the d3200 with 2 lens and a bag bundle for $496 on BF. It's supposedly an excellent deal!
To answer your initial question, I got a DSLR for the Christmas that DD was born and I loved having it. I have excellent images of her. For this baby, DH got me an upgrade (full frame) for my birthday since I enjoyed taking photos of DD and I had outgrown my entry level DSLR.

xc1148 · November 2014

We have DSLRs, but cnet always has good reviews for regular cameras.

RayRay007 · November 2014

I got a great deal on a Nikon dslr last Black Friday- check out those deals for a basic dslr kit.

LSauer21 · November 2014

Target has 2 dslr cameras on their Black Friday ads both in the $400s were planning on buying one then!

Nmcalhoun · November 2014

I have a Nikon D5100 and LOVE it! I think I paid around $600 - $700.

amedbery · November 2014

I would look at the Nikon line. They come in a lot of different price points with tons of features. I love mine - good quality pictures, not bulky, and it has wifi so I can email pictures right from the phone. This might be an actual good use of Black Friday deals. Check Target and Best Buy ads. Most people will be running past the cameras to get to TVs and gaming systems anyway, I'd think.

DevynLynn · November 2014

The Nikon D3200 does really well for casual photos and is only around $475 with the kit lens. It's not too bulky and is fairly light. Better than a point and shoot

There are some Pentax cameras for less, but I'm not familiar with them and can't give you a recommendation there. Canon has some decent point and shoots available if you want something basic and smaller.

soulcupcake · November 2014

There are mid-range dSLRs. I'm a Nikon and Leica girl. I shot with Nikon when I was still doing photography. I prefer Nikon glass and the way it feels in my hands.

I would suggest visiting Best Buy or even Target to get a feel for how each feel in your hands and go from there. Really, you can go wrong with Nikon or Canon, and there are other good brands as well.

beachy6 · November 2014

We just got a Canon T5 Rebel DSLR. It was $700, but we love it and it takes great pictures.

QVC and HSN have some cameras, including DSLR on easy pay or monthly payments with no interest. You just divide up your payment into 5 or 6 equal payments that are deducted from your account. That might be an option for some.

byrne15 · November 2014

The first DSLR I bought was a canon rebel when ds#1 was a baby. I have since upgraded, but the rebel is an excellent beginner DSLR and you will get better pics than any point and shoot.

mc0113 · November 2014

I would never spend the money on a DSlr if you haven't had any photography training. Just because you get a fancy camera doesn't mean you'll get good photos. So if you want to go that route I highly recommend a beginners class to learn how to use all the functions a properly. I know our local community college offers cheap and short classes on basics.

Anyways, I have a Sony Nex 6 and love it. It's a mirrorless camera so it can take dslr quality photos but it's much smaller and easier to throw in a purse and take out for shooting. But again, this can get expensive with buying lenses and accessories. So far I have the kit lens and a 35mm prime lens and really love both.

And another note is that there are tons of high quality point and shoots that are small/compact and much cheaper than a dslr that will get the job done too. Before this camera I had a Sony Cybershot and it was awesome.

beachy6 · November 2014

byrne15 said:

The first DSLR I bought was a canon rebel when ds#1 was a baby. I have since upgraded, but the rebel is an excellent beginner DSLR and you will get better pics than any point and shoot.

This is good to know since this is our first DSLR. DH knows way more about than I do since he took a few photography classes awhile ago. Me on the other hand? No clue. Lots of buttons and other things that I have no clue about. Although it is our Christmas gift to each other this year, he'll get to use it and I plan on benefiting from the pictures that he takes

beachy6 · November 2014

@Ainslie325 Thanks! I have no clue how to use any of it, so I've just been using it in auto. DH knows all about it from a few classes he has taken in the past. Luckily, the camera came with a DVD so when I have time (HA! What's that?!) I can figure it out a little more. There are also a couple of books that came with it. I'll delve into those someday. Or, I'll just continue to let DH take pics since I'm way okay with that!

Cryssteen · November 2014

I was a Nikon cool pix diehard for point and shoot for years... I've owned 5 since somewhere around 2000. But the last two models Ive owned have been crap. Really review in cnet.

katnine · November 2014

I have a Sony NEX-6 and love it! I have had other DSLR's but like how small the camera is and I can change my lenses out. It makes it easy to travel with since it isn't bulky like most. It has auto and manual functions.

soulcupcake · November 2014

Ainslie325 said:

@beachy6, I actually disagree that DSLRs are inherently better cameras--with better lenses-- than all point and shoots. I own both, and can honestly say that when I'm shooting the DSLR in auto and paying attention to things like composition, light, etc., the cameras shoot images of very comparable quality. A camera is only as good as its operator. An entry level DSLR may be better for some who wants to learn about maximizing its capabilities (taking it off auto), but, if that person never intends to learn how to shoot in manual, the flexibility it allows will be lost on an owner. The owner could instead use a high quality point and shoot with results equal to that of her SLR on auto (plus portability--and zoom potentially greater than that of an SLR kit lens-- to boot). All that said, since you already have one, eventually, you should read a book or take a class! It's worth it. You'll have a lot of fun.

Absolutely. I adored my Leica D-Lux 5. I shot in manual. It's an amazing camera, and was nearly as much as my D90 when I bought it. I actually used it more than my Nikon on many occasions.

Obviously, for those who want versatility with lens and gear options then dSLR is a good option, but a nice P&S can still take amazing photos.

The top was taken with the D90 and the bottom (for a self-port challenge) with the P&S Leica. It's my favorite for its sharpness. It has that 35mm quality that I like in B&W photos.

klbyrnes · November 2014

Thank you ladies!!! Lots to research and check out before a final purchase but least now I feel like I have some solid recommendations and a good sense of direction

2JEL · November 2014

You've been given a lot of DSLR options (we have one that DH loves, but we use it so rarely I honestly can't remember if it's a Canon or Nikon) but having never taken the time to master photography, I love our Panasonic Lumix. I've actually had two over the years and they take punishment pretty well, charge lasts as well or better than average and they have great range.

Our very best pictures are taken with the DSLR BUT when it's the primary camera we are shooting with we take so many fewer pictures-- I plan on using my iPhone for day to day photos, the Lumix for things like first zoo trip, etc. and then making DH take shots of LO for major milestones with the DSLR. Sorry that was a bit rambly, my original point in posting was just to say that if you aren't very comfortable with DSLR you could miss a lot of photos while getting it out, setting it up, etc. Oh, and Amazon is an amazing resource for camera reviews, I always check it out before buying any major tech item.

passionfruit1234 · November 2014

We just bought a Cannon 600D.

Does video and stills (it's a DSLR).

We quite affordable as now the 700D is out (the 700D had reviews online suggesting it wasn't all that much of an upgrade so we stuck with the 600D).

LSauer21 · November 2014

Hubby surprised me with Nikon dslr 5200 camera for my birthday this week! Anyone have suggestions on a lens to go with it??? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

LSauer21 · November 2014

@Ainslie325‌ it didn't come with a lens, I wasn't sure if there was something basic for pics of the baby n such now then later getting a lens for sporting events etc.

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