Full Version: What Camera Suits Me?
I am researching cameras and am wanting to make a purchase very soon. I still need help. All i want out of a camera is to be able to take great macros and pictures in the dark (outside, with street lights on and fog and/or frost). Can anyone recommend a good camera to achieve this? I don't want to spend more than $800. So far, i am pretty sold on the SLR Cannon EOS Rebel Xsi 12.2 megapixel. I like the macro lens that you can buy for it.
It seems like the Rebel Xsi is a good fit. A macro lens will indeed enable you to get good macro shots. About the low light situation, you can use the highest ISO, 1600, to reduce the shutter speed. Fortunately, the Xsi control noise effectively so your image would not be too noisy.
Another choice is to get the newest Rebel, the Rebel Ti. It's more expensive and cost you more than $800. What you get are the more pixels count (15MP) and higher ISO sensitivity (ISO 3200). Moreover, the Ti has an ability to capture movie clips as well.
If I were you, I would stick with the Xsi and buy additional lens or a flash unit.
Good luck with you photography!
Another choice is to get the newest Rebel, the Rebel Ti. It's more expensive and cost you more than $800. What you get are the more pixels count (15MP) and higher ISO sensitivity (ISO 3200). Moreover, the Ti has an ability to capture movie clips as well.
If I were you, I would stick with the Xsi and buy additional lens or a flash unit.
Good luck with you photography!
QUOTE (mnop.oster @ May 27 2009, 12:13 PM) 
It seems like the Rebel Xsi is a good fit. A macro lens will indeed enable you to get good macro shots. About the low light situation, you can use the highest ISO, 1600, to reduce the shutter speed. Fortunately, the Xsi control noise effectively so your image would not be too noisy.
Another choice is to get the newest Rebel, the Rebel Ti. It's more expensive and cost you more than $800. What you get are the more pixels count (15MP) and higher ISO sensitivity (ISO 3200). Moreover, the Ti has an ability to capture movie clips as well.
If I were you, I would stick with the Xsi and buy additional lens or a flash unit.
Good luck with you photography!
Another choice is to get the newest Rebel, the Rebel Ti. It's more expensive and cost you more than $800. What you get are the more pixels count (15MP) and higher ISO sensitivity (ISO 3200). Moreover, the Ti has an ability to capture movie clips as well.
If I were you, I would stick with the Xsi and buy additional lens or a flash unit.
Good luck with you photography!
Thank you very much, your advice has been helpful.
If macro is a BIG part of what you need to do, then a point and shoot is probably a better option than the Rebel.
Because of the small size of the sensor in a P&S camera you get much greater depth of focus. I have an EOS 5D MK II with a fill 35mm size sensor and a 180mm Macro lens. While the quality of the images are good, very little is in focus at and one time. Either the near part is or the middle. Even with a very small aperture the DOF is small. The Rebel sensor is not as big, but it's bigger than a point and shoot camera and will suffer the same shallow DOF but to a lesser degree.
Shallow DOF is great for portraits, but I hate it on macros
There are ways around with but it's a pain.
I often find myself using my old Casio Exilim EX-1000 for macro. Everything is in focus with that.
P&S cameras though are generally rubbish at night photography. The small sensor that helps with macro makes low light photography grainy. The 5D MK II on the other hand is one of the best low light digital cameras around at the moment.
You seem to want two opposing things from one camera. I don't think you will ever get one that does both things superbly.
I say, decide which is most important to you and get the best for THAT job.
Because of the small size of the sensor in a P&S camera you get much greater depth of focus. I have an EOS 5D MK II with a fill 35mm size sensor and a 180mm Macro lens. While the quality of the images are good, very little is in focus at and one time. Either the near part is or the middle. Even with a very small aperture the DOF is small. The Rebel sensor is not as big, but it's bigger than a point and shoot camera and will suffer the same shallow DOF but to a lesser degree.
Shallow DOF is great for portraits, but I hate it on macros
There are ways around with but it's a pain.I often find myself using my old Casio Exilim EX-1000 for macro. Everything is in focus with that.
P&S cameras though are generally rubbish at night photography. The small sensor that helps with macro makes low light photography grainy. The 5D MK II on the other hand is one of the best low light digital cameras around at the moment.
You seem to want two opposing things from one camera. I don't think you will ever get one that does both things superbly.
I say, decide which is most important to you and get the best for THAT job.
QUOTE (Dr. Nostaw @ May 29 2009, 03:28 PM)
If macro is a BIG part of what you need to do, then a point and shoot is probably a better option than the Rebel.
Because of the small size of the sensor in a P&S camera you get much greater depth of focus. I have an EOS 5D MK II with a fill 35mm size sensor and a 180mm Macro lens. While the quality of the images are good, very little is in focus at and one time. Either the near part is or the middle. Even with a very small aperture the DOF is small. The Rebel sensor is not as big, but it's bigger than a point and shoot camera and will suffer the same shallow DOF but to a lesser degree.
Shallow DOF is great for portraits, but I hate it on macros There are ways around with but it's a pain.
I often find myself using my old Casio Exilim EX-1000 for macro. Everything is in focus with that.
P&S cameras though are generally rubbish at night photography. The small sensor that helps with macro makes low light photography grainy. The 5D MK II on the other hand is one of the best low light digital cameras around at the moment.
You seem to want two opposing things from one camera. I don't think you will ever get one that does both things superbly.
I say, decide which is most important to you and get the best for THAT job.
Because of the small size of the sensor in a P&S camera you get much greater depth of focus. I have an EOS 5D MK II with a fill 35mm size sensor and a 180mm Macro lens. While the quality of the images are good, very little is in focus at and one time. Either the near part is or the middle. Even with a very small aperture the DOF is small. The Rebel sensor is not as big, but it's bigger than a point and shoot camera and will suffer the same shallow DOF but to a lesser degree.
Shallow DOF is great for portraits, but I hate it on macros
There are ways around with but it's a pain.I often find myself using my old Casio Exilim EX-1000 for macro. Everything is in focus with that.
P&S cameras though are generally rubbish at night photography. The small sensor that helps with macro makes low light photography grainy. The 5D MK II on the other hand is one of the best low light digital cameras around at the moment.
You seem to want two opposing things from one camera. I don't think you will ever get one that does both things superbly.
I say, decide which is most important to you and get the best for THAT job.
This is a good option for you. anything you want in it.
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
10-megapixel Digital Still Camera
Superb still images powered by Canon's DIGIC 4 Image processor, evolved Face Detection Technology and a wide-angle 20x optical zoom are only the beginning. You can also create Full HD movies and see every detail on your HDTV thanks to HDMI output. The 10.0-megapixel SX1 IS is the very first PowerShot equipped with a CMOS sensor, a hallmark of Canon's lauded EOS line.
price = $549.94
10-megapixel Digital Still Camera
Superb still images powered by Canon's DIGIC 4 Image processor, evolved Face Detection Technology and a wide-angle 20x optical zoom are only the beginning. You can also create Full HD movies and see every detail on your HDTV thanks to HDMI output. The 10.0-megapixel SX1 IS is the very first PowerShot equipped with a CMOS sensor, a hallmark of Canon's lauded EOS line.
price = $549.94
On the subject on low light photography, one of the best purchases you could ever make would be a 50mm 1.8 lens. it sells for $100 and allows you to gather much more light than the lit lens that comes with the camera.
in addition, the large aperture means very good portrait pictures as well.
On the subject of macro, i would agree that if the best magnification is a critera, a P/S can get much closer than any SLR. on the other hand the higher quality pictures of a SLR may make up for it, it depends a lot on your use of the camera.
in addition, the large aperture means very good portrait pictures as well.
On the subject of macro, i would agree that if the best magnification is a critera, a P/S can get much closer than any SLR. on the other hand the higher quality pictures of a SLR may make up for it, it depends a lot on your use of the camera.
I agree with Mike Criss on the Canon SX1 IS. Great camera. I own one after researching over a hundred cameras.
See my moon shot tests using the Canon SX1 comparing the quality of the 20x optical zoom and the 80x digital zoom.
On the same website you will find my review of the Canon SX1 and other top rated cameras in 2009, in case you're thinking of another format, size, or features not mentioned.
David
See my moon shot tests using the Canon SX1 comparing the quality of the 20x optical zoom and the 80x digital zoom.
On the same website you will find my review of the Canon SX1 and other top rated cameras in 2009, in case you're thinking of another format, size, or features not mentioned.
David
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