Posted on 07/22/2012 11:44:11 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
Looking for a good digital camera for primarily night photos and videos. Any thoughts??
Cybershots are inexpensive and easy to use. I have an 8mp on my DROID phone. It is more than I need and easy to share and print to my Kodak printer with the correct paper. Im just biased. Who needs more than 8mp unless you are a pro or blowing something up(that didn’t sound right). You know what I mean. ;0)
The old Kodak did fine at night - just kind of big to carry around casually.
Canon A2300 on eBay now for $99.00 16mps .
My Canon G9 Power Shot, which is basically a point and shoot with many advanced features including different ISO settings, has several "night shot" settings and shoots great scenes at night.
What do you want to do with it?
/johnny
It’s a little outside your price break but I got my wife a Nikon Coolpix P300 for Christmas and it takes awesome pics even in low light. Movies are good too.
$348 at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M8SVGG/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i06
It has been superceded by the P310 but P300 is still available at Amazon
We always had Sony before but this Nikon way outperforms any Sony we have ever had.
I am a big fan of the Sony Cybershot. I have a model HX9V.
16.2 megapixel and it takes HD video.
You mentioned night shots. It has this feature to shoot photos in very low light. It takes about ten rapid images, then the internal chip in it, processes then together somehow. While on a trip last fall to the Holy Land, I got amazing shots inside in very low light.
Also has a cool auto feature for panoramic shots. You click, then just move your camera from left to right across the scene you want. No need to line up anything. The camera’s internal GPS “stitches” the horizontal scene together seamlessly.
-PJ
The G-9 was one of the better P&S cameras but it cost nearly as much as most beginner DSLRs and the DSLRs will beat the heck out of it in very low light.
It is also getting a bit long in the tooth but I agree, still capable of excellent results under most conditions.
I use the Canon SD4000 which is designed for low light situations. As an artist I shoot paintings in museums and the camera does a much better job delivering detail in dark areas. I got mine on sale for about $160.00
A good way to asses a product is to go to Amazon and read reviews.
Or Newegg.
You can do that in software, along with stitching panoramas.
Google exposure stacking software and panorama stitching software.
A program called Image Stacker can be had for less than $20 and can do wonderful things.
I would also recommend becoming familiar with Gimp, the free Photoshop clone.
For your price range, just stay with one name-brands and you'll do fine. Today's $100 cameras will give you roughly the same electronic performance of cameras costing 10 times that much 5 or six years ago, the only difference is, in all probability, the older cameras had better glass.
If you really want to maximize your money, buy used from a reputable dealer, just don't go too far back as your performance at high ISO will probably suffer.
I think I’m through with Nikon - the one I have is just too much of a disappointment.
Yeah, after I posted I read your comments and figured my recommendation was no good for you.
I’ve had a lot of Sony point and shoots. They take good pictures but they are REALLY susceptable to dirt contamination in the lens iris and focus motor. Everytime we go to the beach, I have to spend hours cleaning the lens mechanism and eventually it just wears out.
Good luck in your search!
“Check out www.dpreview.com for comprehensive camera reviews. I’ve been partial to the Panasonic Lumix line.”
Me too. I own an older ZS3 Panasonic the PQ is better than the newer models.
I take along a Panasonic DMC-ZS5 on my morning runs. It is small enough to carry in some shirt pockets and has manual options for f stops & exposure (1/2000 to 60 sec.) It has a LEICA lens with good macro capability. It is versatile enough that I use it for everything. It’s a few years old & probably outdated.
Haven’t tried the video or sound recording.
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