New camera

[Sixguns]

My wife has stated that she wants a new camera for Christmas which means I need to find her one. Now that we have our son, she is taking a crap ton of pictures if him. My limit is around 500.00. Also looking to get a photo edit program for my computer to work with it. Help me make the right choice for Christmas this year.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Before all the serious photophiles chime in, I will throw out that I recently purchased a Nokia D3200 with the stock 18-55 lens for $329 and I believe you can still get them for that price (via a seller on ebay). The lens will do your normal close/mid range photos. It is a great camera for the price and does way more than I will ever use. I also bought a Tamron 18-200 telephoto lens for around $160 that is a nice all around multipurpose lens.

I had also considered the Canon T3i which is about the same range - but has an adjustable viewing screen, and costs a bit more due to that.

 

[SKORPI0]

I recently purchased a Nokia D3200 with the stock 18-55 lens for $329 and I believe you can still get them for that price (via a seller on ebay).

Not familiar with that model. :\

Get a camera that can mount a 50mm lens, perfect for portraits.

 

[sdifox]

My wife has stated that she wants a new camera for Christmas which means I need to find her one. Now that we have our son, she is taking a crap ton of pictures if him. My limit is around 500.00. Also looking to get a photo edit program for my computer to work with it. Help me make the right choice for Christmas this year.

a few entry level dslr are in that range, Canon or Nikon, pick one.

something like this

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-T3i-Digi...rds=canon+dslr

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Rebel-18...anon+ef-s+body

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital-...rds=nikon+dslr

You sure she wants a DSLR though?

 

[Kaido]

I'm a really big fan of the 5th-generation iPod Touches:

http://www.apple.com/ipod-touch/

1080p video + 5-megapixel stills. Tap to focus. Edit right on the device using software like Camera+ (crop, basic color grading, etc.). Email or upload to Facebook. Slim enough to keep in your pocket at all times.

This is assuming you don't have a smartphone with a decent camera. If you don't, this is seriously the best thing to have with a kid - you can keep it handy all the time and get a ton of shots that you wouldn't normally get with a bigger camera that you have to go & get out.

 

[Sixguns]

She has an iPhone 5 but is wanting an actual camera.

 

[Kaido]

She has an iPhone 5 but is wanting an actual camera.

Does she want something with a removable lens, and if so, does she want a zoom?

 

[Kaido]

Canon PowerShots come in a higher-end flavor with a nice zoom & great image quality:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSho...dp/B009B0MY6S/

 

[vi edit]

At that price point you really need to figure out what she'll use the most.

You are at the edge of entry level DSL-R and the kit lens. Obvious upgrade paths and excellent manual control. Or you are in the range of the psuedo DSL-R like the Sony NEX series. Or you can go with the micro-mights with point and shoot compact bodies but uber guts like the Sony RX100.

The RX100 is a interesting choice. The pictures you can pull out of out with the size it takes up are pretty incredible.

 

[Printer Bandit]

 

[tfinch2]

I'll ask you what I ask everyone else who asks me advice on this. Does your wife want a camera with interchangeable lenses? If not, and you get it, when it stays at home all the time you're buying a $500+ paperweight.

 

[Fayd]

i'm confused. what just happened here?

 

[Sixguns]

No removable lenses. She would either misplace or break them.

 

[iGas]

Check the cameras out a local store that have cameras on display, to see what she like. Size, comfort, and features are the most important thing.

A point and shoot Panasonic LX7 have most if not all the features that the average mom/pop need to take pictures of their kids playing outside, and in low light situation.

 

[Doppel]

I'm a really big fan of the 5th-generation iPod Touches:

http://www.apple.com/ipod-touch/

1080p video + 5-megapixel stills. Tap to focus. Edit right on the device using software like Camera+ (crop, basic color grading, etc.). Email or upload to Facebook. Slim enough to keep in your pocket at all times.

This is assuming you don't have a smartphone with a decent camera. If you don't, this is seriously the best thing to have with a kid - you can keep it handy all the time and get a ton of shots that you wouldn't normally get with a bigger camera that you have to go & get out.

This isn't terrible advice. I have an ipod 5th gen and a nikon D5100. Obviously the nikon obliterates it for image quality, but the ipod is not bad--better for video. The D5100, at least, has pretty crap auto-focus. It takes gorgeous 1080P video (way better than the iPod), but only if you manual focus. And, of course, it's just not around often. An iPod fits in a purse and its video is pretty good. Pictures are decent, but not good for movement, as it focuses far too slowly.

Get an entry DSLR from canon or nikon.

I think it's important for the OP to realize that, no matter what his wife may be saying, she'll never be into photography (if she had any chance, she'd already know what she wants). 99% of moms who get a DSLR leave it on auto. They still take killer pictures, but the faux DSLR cameras, which are much cheaper, and at least compared to the D5100 take easier video (focusing) are worth considering. They also have very powerful optical zoom built in without needing to change lenses.

 

[mikeford]

My wife has stated that she wants a new camera for Christmas which means I need to find her one. Now that we have our son, she is taking a crap ton of pictures if him. My limit is around 500.00. Also looking to get a photo edit program for my computer to work with it. Help me make the right choice for Christmas this year.

What is her skill level with a camera?

My pref is good automatic camera, plus a fair amount of "stuff" like external strobes, diffusers.

With kids if you don't have the camera with you and "ready" to use, you miss stuff. Any real camera quality issue picts are going to be the opposite, posed and with good lighting.

 

[blastingcap]

No removable lenses. She would either misplace or break them.

In that case, the Nikon P330, Panasonic LF1, and Sony RX100. They are small, light, and have good zoom ranges, though the RX100 has the weakest zoom range. RX100 has low-light performance equal to most crop-body DSLRs with kit lenses, at least at the wideangle setting, but it also costs the most. The P330/LF1 are somewhat worse but still far better than the iPhone 5 camera when you're in low light and can't flash.

I would avoid the Canon S-series as overpriced for what you get. People still recommend them out of inertia because they were the best option for small+light+good performance+manual controls for a long time, but they have since attracted tons of competitors with better products such as the Nikon P330. http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-.../dp/B00BOZCSQE

 

[sdifox]

No removable lenses. She would either misplace or break them.

you don't have to show her how to change lenses :whiste:

 

[Berliner]

No removable lenses. She would either misplace or break them.

That's a bummer. She would really get the best results, especially indoors, if you went with a DSLR. Best noise performance and best AF.

I would suggest a Nikon D3100 (or D3200 if budget permits) with a single Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 lens. Then you don't have to change lenses at all and have a very nice lens for indoor (f/1.8) and outdoor portraits of your son.

A very good editing software would be Lightroom 5.

 

[sdifox]

I would suggest DSLR for shooting kids because they are not very good at staying still. And P&S are just too slow to catch up to kids. Even if you are just going with the standard kit telephoto lens you will be able to change zoom much faster than the P&S cameras.

 

[Smoove910]

I have a Nikon J1 and love that thing for 'candid' type shots. Very fast, (and mirrorless). Give it a look

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital-...words=nikon+j1

 

[iGas]

IMHO, the Panasonic LX7 is no slough for a point-n-shoot, and it is 34% quicker than the Nikon D800 at multi-points auto-focusing.

Panasonic LX7 Performance

Full Autofocus 1-area (center)
0.241 second
Time from fully pressing shutter button to image capture.

Full Autofocus 23-area mode
0.228 second
Time from fully pressing shutter button to image capture.

Nikon D800 Performance

Full Autofocus Single Point (Center) AF
0.209 second
Time from fully pressing shutter button to image capture using optical viewfinder. All timing performed with Sigma 70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro lens.

Full Autofocus 51-point Auto Area
0.306 second
Time from fully pressing shutter button to image capture using optical viewfinder.

 

[sdifox]

IMHO, the Panasonic LX7 is no slough for a point-n-shoot, and it is 34% quicker than the Nikon D800 at multi-points auto-focusing.

Panasonic LX7 Performance

Full Autofocus 1-area (center)
0.241 second
Time from fully pressing shutter button to image capture.

Full Autofocus 23-area mode
0.228 second
Time from fully pressing shutter button to image capture.

Nikon D800 Performance

Full Autofocus Single Point (Center) AF
0.209 second
Time from fully pressing shutter button to image capture using optical viewfinder. All timing performed with Sigma 70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro lens.

Full Autofocus 51-point Auto Area
0.306 second
Time from fully pressing shutter button to image capture using optical viewfinder.

zoom is the biggest weakness of P&S. Whenever you change the zoom, you have to re-focus. That is just too much time when it comes to shooting kids.

 

[CuriousMike]

That's a bummer. She would really get the best results, especially indoors, if you went with a DSLR. Best noise performance and best AF.

I would suggest a Nikon D3100 (or D3200 if budget permits) with a single Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 lens. Then you don't have to change lenses at all and have a very nice lens for indoor (f/1.8) and outdoor portraits of your son.

A very good editing software would be Lightroom 5.

This is exactly what I would say.
I really, really wish I would have gone DSLR sooner with our kids.

 

[iGas]

zoom is the biggest weakness of P&S. Whenever you change the zoom, you have to re-focus. That is just too much time when it comes to shooting kids.

I agree, hence I have 2 fast primes, 1L macro, and 2L zooms to aid with the focusing on my FF camera.

I resisted DSLR for many years, because I have many perfectly working 35mm films cameras, and still have a Mamiya medium format camera.

In 2011 I traveled to Central America and SE Asia with just a Canon S95, and I it served me well but I found that there are times that I need quicker focusing and shutter speed, hence I purchased the Canon 5D mkII for my recent trip to Vietnam & Cambodia. However, today I think the Panasonic LX7 would full fill 99% of my need, because it focus and shutter is just as quick as a DSLR.