Camera Geeks UNITE - or SOUND OFF - be proud of who you are!
So....we are a bit of a geeky camera family. That is what happens when two folks who were - either year book photographer, took zillion of photo electives in high school instead of calculus, worked in a photo studio - meet and marry and then have a large family! Try to parse that SENTENCE!!!!!
We refused to buy a digital camera because *we* could tell the difference between real photos and digital photos. We LIKED the ability of change "things" on our SLR cameras (Nikons and Cannons). However, in 2004 we switched to digital. We got a HP with a 12x optical zoom lens...we were happy but the lag time and such drove us nutty.
We then bought THIS camera.
We love it. All our Nikon lenses will work on it, there is simply NO comparison between the point and click lenses and these lenses, there is NO lag time, the focus is quick - really it's like taking photos with a Nikon SLR. The cons: it is clunky, it is expensive and Mike worries about me lugging it to the pool, park, up a mountain etc., it is expensive.
We love it. All our Nikon lenses will work on it, there is simply NO comparison between the point and click lenses and these lenses, there is NO lag time, the focus is quick - really it's like taking photos with a Nikon SLR. The cons: it is clunky, it is expensive and Mike worries about me lugging it to the pool, park, up a mountain etc., it is expensive.
Mike did NOT want to take it when he deployed. He bought this one. 
Office Depot allowed us to bring it back if sand ruined it. That's a good selling point. The girls each have one of these - they were on sale and we wanted them to SEND US PHOTOS! ::snort:: Everyone thought the photos on it were fine. Mike got home and brought it home so that I could have it in my purse. I imagined it would be much easier to take photos of my meals at a restaurant like some of you do (you KNOW who you are!) with THIS camera rather than the camera above. The pros: it's small, it has video, it's small. The cons: there is a noticeable second (maybe less) to focus, there is a noticeable lag time between when you click and when it takes the photo (maybe a second).
Office Depot allowed us to bring it back if sand ruined it. That's a good selling point. The girls each have one of these - they were on sale and we wanted them to SEND US PHOTOS! ::snort:: Everyone thought the photos on it were fine. Mike got home and brought it home so that I could have it in my purse. I imagined it would be much easier to take photos of my meals at a restaurant like some of you do (you KNOW who you are!) with THIS camera rather than the camera above. The pros: it's small, it has video, it's small. The cons: there is a noticeable second (maybe less) to focus, there is a noticeable lag time between when you click and when it takes the photo (maybe a second).
Our thought was that I'd use the small camera for every day. It would be fine to have in my purse and catch daily shots....saving the Nikon for those shots of glaciers, grizzlies, and water lilies. Then I noted at Cy's graduation that my photos were much more natural, well-lit, closer than some others I saw with smaller cameras.
I'm a nut. I know that. I took photos with both cameras today. Same times, lighting etc. Every photo I took - I took twice. You think YOUR kids say, "ah mom" when you grab a camera. I think there is a difference in the quality of photos. What do you all think? Am I just psychotic?
Cy and Mike checking out the car - with point and click
Cy and Mike checking out the car with Nikon
Josiah finished Jamin's book - called him in and said, "the great thing about reading this book is that I can punch the author for the ending!" ::snort:: with the point and click
Punching the author with the Nikon
I'll spare you more photos....this is representative. Is it just me? The Nikon seems to have truer colors. Also in punching 1 - they had to stay still and hold the pose....in punching 2 it was a real punch that I got in process. ::snort::
Now I'm not sure what to do...because though I love having a camera in my purse....I really want ALL my photos to be true to life. I want them all to be sharply focused and such....but maybe I can take both with me...and when I'm too lazy to pull out the Nikon I can whip out the Vivitar. Or I can whip out the Nikon with one hand for still shots and the Vivitar with the other for videos. What to do?????
12 comments:
Probably depends on the smaller camera quality. I *LOVE* mine.. I get awesome shots. I can do the rapid shoot where there is no lag time at all.. continuous mode I guess it's called, etc. I agree that you are definitely getting better photos with your bigger camera, but if you really want a smaller one to take with you (which I LOVE to do now, btw) then you might have to look for a better quality small camera...
I think it would be a good idea to have both types. Of course at the moment I have no types but I do think that a super duper one is good for most photos and the small one for throwing in the purse. Seems like they both have their purpose.
I can see the difference but I'm not there looking at your real children and real decor so I can't know which one is truer. I'll have to take your word for it. There is definitely a difference though, that's not your imagination.
Sis:
In comparing your two camera's there is no comparison. Even a blind person can tell the difference..... BUT I like the smaller ones and thus would look for the best smaller one there was etc.
l/p
Ok, I'm a camera geek too. We had a darkroom in our basement when I was growing up ~ I won my first photography contest when I was 9 years old (took the picture, developed the film, and made the print all by myself in "my" darkroom!). I still have the prize my dad gave me for winning that contest ~ a Canon AEProgram. I still use it (yes, with actual FILM), I still love it, and it STILL takes the best black and white photos I've ever seen (Ansel Adams, watch out! LOL).
Now, we have a couple of digital cameras since I, too, had to make the jump into the 21st century. Patrick has an Olympus his grandmother gave him ~ probably an $85 camera. The pics are so-so. Sawyer saved his money and bought a Canon PowerShot S3 ~ it takes good pictures for a point and shoot. My dad has Parkinsons, so he has "loaned" me (basically given me) his Konica/Minolta he used professionally before the Parkinsons got too bad. I can tell the difference between pics taken with the boys' cameras and Dad's ~ pics taken with Dad's camera are definitely better quality.
Someday I'll have a Canon or Nikon digital camera ~ like your Nikon, with changable lenses and some settings I can mess with. But for now I'll just keep using the digitals that belong to the rest of my family and stick with my FILM camera (gasp! LOL).
For everyday pics, Sawyer's camera is fine, although I will admit to being a photography snob and preferring to take my pics with the Konica/Minolta.
So, all of that to say ~ carry the point and shoot in your purse and use it when you have to. But if you have the chance to grab the Nikon and take the shot, definitely go for it!
Oh - I know there are better smaller cameras but I doubt I really want to may another $3 - 500 for another camera. So my options are these two. LOL
Yeah - Trish - I think I'm thinking the same thing you are.
If we're going out - say a picnic etc. I'll take the Nikon along because even on the continuous mode with the small one the nikon is simply better (of course it DID cost over 6x the price of the small one) ::snort:: BUT I'll have the little one with me for whenever.... That should work.
Interesting. I love the side by side (or top/bottom) shots so we can compare. Helpful. Did you have the settings the same on both cameras?
I have a small camera that dh bought for the same reason as Cynthia - he wanted me to have one that I could easily take with me. I love that you can get great video with it as well. Adds to the spontaneous capturing of life.
I am still working with the different settings to figure out how to get the best pictures. I feel like there are choices within the camera that I could do to make things better (ie using different ISO or flash or whatever settings in different lighting situations, etc). There are obviously limits to a little point and shoot digital camera but the size is nice.
Good conversation!
Well, I'm just a geek in general, lol. I liked the Nikon shot best in the first pic, but the other shot better in the second.
I have a regular point and shoot, which is a good fit for ME. I always turn the flash off for every single shot, and then I usually zoom. I adjust almost all photos with software before posting to my blog.
I'd love to get a fancier camera, but I'd probably be too chicken to use it!
You're not crazy. The Nikon has better exposure/light control-I'm not a camera person and don't know the correct terminology.
I'm surprised your children aren't clamoring for the pocket camera. Mine ask for ours any chance they get. They take some interesting ones. Seeing life through their perspective is fun.
If you take both, you can use the expensive one and let the children experiment w/the other and open a whold new dimension to the photos you share on the blog!
I'm sure you get better pictures with your big camera.
For me, the point is getting the shot and I know I would not get half the pictures I do if I had to "lug" around the bigger camera. I always, always have my small camera with me, in my purse, my totebag or even just my pocket.
I did just upgrade to a better one and I am very happy with the pictures I get. I've see the model I have for just about $200.
We just bought a new digital camera about 7 months ago and I really like it.
I like the fact when you zoom in the picture continues to be clear, in our old camera the quality was terrible. I should post some pictures on my blog to show the difference.
W/ the newer digital camera it has a setting where you can just shoot and keep snapping away. It works great and the quality of the pictures is still wonderful.
The new camera was pretty expensive, it also a warranty, which is very important around here. lol
Laura
I'm guessing - like many of you that I will keep the small one in my purse for ready use and continue to use the Nikon as often as feasible. LOL
IF I ever have the $ to buy a nicer small one I will want to know which ones you all have that you enjoy. This one HAS all the features that many mention - opitcal lens,the sports mode, the video etc.... and maybe if I didn't have photos side by side....but anyway....because its obvious that it CAN have the features and still take photos you don't like - I'll check with y'all for your favorites if I'm ever in the market for another digital.
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