So wth is the difference between a regular camera and this DSLR crap?

Cause forreal...I don't think I can blow $600 on a camera..maybe $300 but not 6..

No, my pictures won't look as pretty as yours..but i'll be able to take pictures..that won't be on my cell phone..right?

I'm lookin at the Nikon Coolpix 10.0 megapixel camera 5x optical/4x digital zoom; 3.5" LCD screen; PictBridge compatible

maybe a little help for a dude not willing to spend 600 bucks?

 

An SLR (Single Lens Reflex) uses a single moving mirror that lets you see EXACTLY what will come out when you take the picture. NonSLR cameras can produce pictures VERY different than what you think you are taking. They also almost always have much higher quality sensors (in the case of digital cameras). They are pretty much just better quality all around.

Also, don't worry about megapixels. If you have at least 8 you will be fine. You don't even notice the difference on standard size pictures unless you double the megapixels (IE 10.1 to 20). You also won't be blowing your pictures up poster size so it doesn't matter. Don't use digital zoom either. It looks like ****. It basically just takes the picture you have and blows up the little pixels. Get a good optical zoom.

 

The image sensor in a DLSR is about the size of a postage stamp, while the size of the sensor on a P&S camera is about the size of a tictac, far smaller than the sensor in the DSLR

That is the main reason DSLR's take such better photo's They are far more accurate in color reproduction and the lenses beat the tar out of the built in P&S lenses, ensuring better accuracy and control of the photo.

As for is it worth buying a P&S? well that depends on what you plan to do with it. Ill take my P&S to the bar with me, but i sure as hell will not be bringing my Nikon D40

So it depends on what you want. My parents are retired and do a lot of traveling. My dads camera broke and he went out and bought a 10mp sony cybershot, because he doesent want to lug around a camera bag and several lenses.


Personally the price for me is the biggest reason to get a DSLR. A Nikon D40 costs about $400 new and will do about 90% of what the top of the line $5,000+ cameras will do.

the uber expencive ones just boast insane megapixel count, the ability to put out crisp photos at incredibly high ISO speeds like 6400... plus they can snap off 8-10pics a second.


There is nothing wrong with a 10mp $300 cybershot, but somebody who knows how to use a DSLR will almost consistantly put out higher quality pictures.

as for picture composition, a creative person with a $150 P&S camera will still get far more interesting pictures than a moron with a $5000 upper end DSLR.

So get what feels right for you. If you want to learn about photography and are willing to spend time learning the camera, definatly go for a DSLR. If you just want to be able to pull out a camera and snap off some good pics and let the camera do all the grunt work then the P&S is right for you.

 

I agree and disagree with this statement. My D40 is only 6.1mp and i have printed off 11x17inch photos with no trace of pixelization.

I certainly wouldnt go any less than 6.1, but unless you plan to do some serious cropping, or plan to print poster size images you will never know the pixels are missing.

sometimes more megapixels are not better also. Switch has a Nikon D60, i have a D40. The D60 is 10mp, mine is 6mp. We both have the exact same sensor, since mine is only devided into 6mp instead of 10 i can pull off pictures in lower light with less noise in the photo. Then again, switch can crop in tighter than i can so i have to be more careful about composition than he does, plus he can print at 20x30inches while my pics would start showing some pixelization.

so while his camera has 10mp and mine has 6, i think to say his is better than mine is a bit of a stretch. its a trade off in low light ability to have more pixels in this case.

 

Well just made my purchase. Nikon P80. 300 bucks. not bad.

I think I have this problem...with buying stuff...its like..compulsive buying or whatever..

 

Looks like a good camera!

 

hope so. i just want to take good quality pictures.

Especially while my motor ect is being built as proof of work done ect. photo documentation

and then...videos of after >=)

 

I can honestly say that I've never seen your car before...other than your sig that has been there since before I signed up...

 

A few pictures have been taken of it.. but none are very good.. i'm buying the camera initially for pictures of all work done all parts that come in.

Pistons Rods Cam Ported Heads Ported Intakes ect... before and after pics of the internals and pre - port and polish

I'm having a peice (hopefully) fabricated for the nitrous kit. Throttle body plate. Which NO ONE I have found makes. I even called up accufab, and they said they couldn't/wouldn't do it. As well as a few other places that normally do stuff like that.

I want pictures of that.

And videos, of when after the car is finished. To make Stephen feel bad, that my v6 has more base horsepower then his v8 does, without the nitrous. LOL.

But yea, I NEED a camera. Maybe this way I won't feel embarassed to send companies I frequently talk to pictures of my car with their parts on it, ect.

 

I hear ya. And since Stephen was mentioned, he told me that he's trying to get mach 1 gauges.

Anyway, best of luck with the new camera. I'm still figuring mine out. I'm not officially going to post any pics until I take some good ones. Currently I'm struggling to achieve a decent dynamic range because light has been so bright lately. But tomorrow is supposed to be pretty dull and cloud covered so maybe I'll have better luck then.

 

haha goodluck. I'm not trying to be a pro..but i think this thing will kick my cellphones *** in a camera fight LOL