Don’t Point and Shoot!!
January 30, 2008 – 11:05 pm
This is for the parents out there that are about to buy a new camera to takes pictures of their children. Unless you absolutely have to have a compact camera, spend the money on DSLR. SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras will take much better action pictures and pictures is low light, but it’s the lens that makes the difference here. I’m sure most of you parents out there want clear beautiful shots of your children and it’s just really hard to do that with a point and shoot. Of course a SLR is a litte more complex, but if you want to take your time, you will take some beautiful picks. If you are just going to use Auto all the time, you might as well get a point and shoot because the pictures will pretty much stay the same. You must learn what aperture and shutter speed are and be able to eventually shoot in manuel. It sounds hard, but it really isn’t.
Here is a great book to help you learn how to take good pictures.
Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera
If I was going to get a compact digtal camera, I would most likely get a Canon Elph. They are just known to take great pictures and I’ve owned a Canon in the past. For a beginner SLR, I would definitely recommend the Pentax K100D Super ($329 w/o lens after rebate) (review) or Pentax K10D ($509 w/o lens after rebate) (review) if you have a bigger budget. The controls are just laid out better in my opinion and the Pentax cameras are easier to operate and understand. Of course, everyone will have their own opinion. : - ) By the way, the reason I list the cameras without the lens is because I think the kit lens is not that useful and if you do want it, then get it from Ebay.
A new Pentax K20D just came out with 14mp! If you have the cash, go for it. : - )
If you do decided to get one of the Pentax cameras, I would recommend the following lenses.
Small Budget
Pentax 18mm - 55mm Kit Lens. About $50 on Ebay.
Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4 Lens ($194.95) - one of the best lenses for pictures with low light. You will definitely be amazed.
Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Asperical Macro Ultra Zoom Digital Lens ($340.00) - Great all around zoom lens. You will have to use a flash indoors to take good pictures.
BIG Budget
Pentax smc 16-50 F/2.8 ED AL(IF) SDM Lens ($729)
Pentax smc 50-135 F/2.8 ED(IF)SDM Lens ($749)
Both of the SDM lenses above are exceptional. They have a super fast auto-focus and the glass on it is unbelievable. You will get super sharp pictures with either one of those.
Make sure you get some UV filters for your expensive lens. You just screw these on to the front of the lens to keep the glass from getting scratched.
If you have any questions at all about buying a camera, don’t hesitate.
Head over to my wife’s flickr account to see some pictures taken with the Pentax K100D and K10D.
3 Responses to “Don’t Point and Shoot!!”
Great advice, thanks!
By Dave Haynes on Jan 30, 2008
more specifically, it is the focal length and aperature that determine whether the picture will be good or great. If you can get a point-n-shoot with the appropriate focal length/aperature, then it should also take great pictures. The problem is that p-n-s cameras attempt to be all-purpose and probably don’t offer the ability to adjust those settings.
Good explanation with recomendations for various digital and film SLRs.
http://www.digital-slr-guide.com/best-portrait-lens.html
By Robert on Feb 27, 2008
Most point and shoot do let you adjust aperature now, but the lens on the p-n-s camera usually don’t have a big of enough aperature to let enough light in to shoot great shots indoor without a flash.
By howard on Feb 28, 2008