So, I want a REAL camera.

[CaptainHenreh]

If you can't take decent pictures with a nice P&S they won't be magically better for 4x the price in a DSLR. And if you're documenting garage bullshit, a nice P&S is worth its weight in gold, whereas a DSLR is going to be cumbersome, bulky, and not-something-you-want-to-get-dirty.

Buy a nice 100ish dollar P&S and if you truly despise it I'll buy it off of you.

[.RJ]

Here:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/Digital-Cameras-/31388/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=canon+s90">http://www.ebay.com/sch/Digital-Cameras ... =canon+s90</a><!-- m -->

[Dave]

For what you described, a DSLR is going to be bulky and cumbersome, but take fantastic pictures. I would highly advise going with a nice P&S, especially since you said you didn't want to get into photography. I love my Canon S95, and while it doesn't get the crispness or depth of our Canon T3i, it still takes fantastic pictures that are WAY better than what you get out of a smartphone.
That's the route I would recommend. As a side benefit, if you get good at taking quality pictures with a P&S, a lot of the principles transfer right over to a DSLR if/when you move up.

[DavidL]

Paging Cabell? We did this same DSLR vs. high end P&S discussion with him. I think he ended up getting a Canon G10 and was very happy with it.

That would be my recommendation again - get a high end P&S such that you can mess around with manual settings if you want, but also something that you can throw in a bag, pocket, etc for convenience. Best of both worlds for a casual photographer.

[Senor_Taylor]

You guys are tossing me back and forth right now.

I'll look into a nice point and shoot. I'll check with Jake on his and see if I like it.

[Mike]

A $100 P+S is a waste. Your pictures will look marginally better than a modern phone. Save your money and do it right once.

Eeeehhh... disagree. There's a lot to be said for optical zoom, which is basically what you're buying for $100.

SMB. You're stupid :finger:

Nah, we're talking $100 here. I know prices have come way down, but I feel the money is better saved for something that isn't a $100 P+S. Not saying P+S is a terrible idea, but I feel the difference between a budget one and a decent camera phone isn't worth it. A DSLR isn't for everyone. Finding a deal on a nice used P+S is a great way to get your feet wet and not break the bank.

[.RJ]

Finding a deal on a nice used P+S is a great way to get your feet wet and not break the bank.

If its the right P&S, yes - most of them are garbage, stuffing as many MP into the image capture as they can (because moar is better!!!!!) meant to be used in program mode only, with various built in instagram filters. Something like the Canon s90 has all the controls of an SLR, I'm sure there are others out there too but its just the one I've used.

All of my photos in this gallery came from my S95 - it does not suck.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.photodromo.com/Galleries/Travel/French-Alps/21455209_H9sM4s#!i=1709874894&k=JgtGfmF">http://www.photodromo.com/Galleries/Tra ... &k=JgtGfmF</a><!-- m -->

[Apoc]

This is probably where I'd spend my money, if I wanted a nice P&S.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.costco.com/Canon-Powershot-SX510-HS-Digital-Camera-Bundle.product.100072510.html">http://www.costco.com/Canon-Powershot-S ... 72510.html</a><!-- m -->

If you don't need that much zoom or want something smaller, you can def find S models for ~$100.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-Digital-Wide-Angle-Recording/dp/B00AWYN0BU/">http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-D ... 00AWYN0BU/</a><!-- m -->

[V1GiLaNtE]

Paging Cabell? We did this same DSLR vs. high end P&S discussion with him. I think he ended up getting a Canon G10 and was very happy with it.

That would be my recommendation again - get a high end P&S such that you can mess around with manual settings if you want, but also something that you can throw in a bag, pocket, etc for convenience. Best of both worlds for a casual photographer.

You're right David. I picked up the Canon G11 for about $180 from a guy off CL. It's a very powerful camera in its form factor. Full manual mode for Aperture, ISO, and Shutter speed if you want to actually start learning photography. It has served me extremely well for both P&S and letting me play with the more detailed aspects of photography. It's not bulky at all and I have taken it everywhere.. San Fransisco, Yosemite National Park, various hiking trips, offroad trips, and will be accompanying me to AZ and the Grand Canyons in May.

I think the latest model is the G15 but you can find any one of the other models in or around $200 and have a very versatile camera.

Some shots I've taken without any post production.











By no means am I an *experienced photographer but I do enjoy getting artsy farsty here and there without knowing I spent $600+ for a camera body/lens/more lenses/gear bag/ flash etc..

My 2cent.

[Mike]

http://www.photodromo.com/Galleries/Trav...&k=JgtGfmF

S9x ++ buy now.

But... dude... do you even have that girlfriend any more?

[.RJ]

[Senor_Taylor]

If you don't need that much zoom or want something smaller, you can def find S models for ~$100.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-Digital-Wide-Angle-Recording/dp/B00AWYN0BU/">http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-D ... 00AWYN0BU/</a><!-- m -->

That camera doesn't look bad. What's everyone's opinion on that?

[Apoc]

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_PowerShot_ELPH_130_IS_IXUS_140/verdict.shtml">http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon ... dict.shtml</a><!-- m -->

They say to get the ELPH 330 if you can afford it, but it's double the price.

[Senor_Taylor]

Is the first one still okay? I like the features.

I can't see myself spending $200 on a camera to take pictures of my truck.

[JustinG]

Elph 520? $120

2012 model technology may be a little dated, good reviews, does video, small, 12x optical, durable if its anything like our elph.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-Stabilized-Wide-Angle-Recording/dp/B006UMM15O/ref=sr_1_6?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1398799500&sr=1-6">http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-S ... 500&sr=1-6</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/838756-REG/Canon_520_B_PowerShot_ELPH_520_HS.html">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8 ... 20_HS.html</a><!-- m -->

[Mike]

I can't see myself spending $200 on a camera to take pictures of my truck.

What do you want a "real" camera for again? :roll:

[Senor_Taylor]

I said taking pictures of my duck. Can't you read? Gosh. Them ducks don't need no DSLR.

Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk

[Evan]

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-powershot-digital-cameras/powershot-a4000-is-silver-refurbished?WT.mc_id=C126149">http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catal ... id=C126149</a><!-- m -->

doesnt get any cheaper than that

[Senor_Taylor]

I ended up finding my sister's old camera and trying that out. Works pretty okay.