Anybody know anything about Cameras?

[Aubrey64]

My 20th birthday is coming up next month, and I am trying to decide between getting a new guitar or a nice camera. I've never actually owned a camera, I've always just used my phone, so I was curious to know if it was worth it to spend money on a good camera when I will have my iphone 5S to take photos? Is the picture quality that much better to justify the purchase?

The camera would have to be in the $300 range max. Any info is appreciated!

[FenwickHockey65]

Oh hell yes. I don't have a super nice camera but the picture quality compared to my phones' is much better.

I'm not an expert by any means but Canon seems to make good cameras. I have a Powershot SX150. If you're looking for a DSLR you'll easily reach your budget.

[KeepItShut]

A $300-400 camera will take way better pictures than your iPhone. Nikon and Canon make good hybrids in that range.

[rykeith]

A "good" camera will take awesome pictures compared to the iphone camera. I only know a little about photography, but image sensor sizes in cameras give you a rough estimate of the quality of photos you can take with a particular camera. A good size image sensor on a decent ($400-$600) DSLR will produce images leaps and bounds above the comparatively small image sensor on any phone. I may be wrong, but I think you might be hard-pressed to find a brand new camera a whole lot better than the iphone in the $300-and-under range.

Here's an article I found helpful when buying a new camera: http://www.gizmag.com/camera-sensor-size-guide/26684/

[dixonk]

I would say for $300 get a camera. That would be a crappy guitar for $300 unless you found a steal in a pawn shop somewhere...PRS and ESP for me.

[Aubrey64]

Originally Posted by dixonk

I would say for $300 get a camera. That would be a crappy guitar for $300 unless you found a steal in a pawn shop somewhere...PRS and ESP for me.

Well, if I was gonna get a guitar, I would pay the difference since I want a 12 string Martin or a banjo. But since i am new to cameras, I wouldn't want to pay more than a couple hundred dollars for one.

But thanks guys for the info! I am gonna go to best buy this week and look at a couple different cameras, and then make a decision!

[Number 3]

It all depends on what you want to take pictures of and what you want to do with them.

Snapshots are fine on an 8 MP phone camera. So if you aren't making prints and you are only sharing on line then don't waste your money. For $300 you aren't getting that much better.

Now if you want to learn photography skip past any small camera and go right to a DSLR. An SLR will give you the flexibility in lens choices, shutter and aperture adjustments that will allow much better pictures.

My opinion, and I'm not an expert but I've been into photography for many years, you aren't getting much more than your iphone 5 with a little point and shoot. A point and shoot will have a better lens and a better flash. So your indoor photos will be better. You will also likely have at least a little of bit of optical zoom with a point and shoot. Your iphone will only be digital zoom. So if you plan on taking shots at a distance you will notice a bigger difference.

It's just a continuum of use. I use my iphone more and more and leave my DSLR at home more often simply for the convenience. Unless I am indoors, my iphone does a decent job. Of course my DSLR is a few years old and is only a 10 MP camera.

So can you describe the types of pictures you want to take?

[Aubrey64]

Originally Posted by Number 3

It all depends on what you want to take pictures of and what you want to do with them.

Snapshots are fine on an 8 MP phone camera. So if you aren't making prints and you are only sharing on line then don't waste your money. For $300 you aren't getting that much better.

Now if you want to learn photography skip past any small camera and go right to a DSLR. An SLR will give you the flexibility in lens choices, shutter and aperture adjustments that will allow much better pictures.

My opinion, and I'm not an expert but I've been into photography for many years, you aren't getting much more than your iphone 5 with a little point and shoot. A point and shoot will have a better lens and a better flash. So your indoor photos will be better. You will also likely have at least a little of bit of optical zoom with a point and shoot. Your iphone will only be digital zoom. So if you plan on taking shots at a distance you will notice a bigger difference.

It's just a continuum of use. I use my iphone more and more and leave my DSLR at home more often simply for the convenience. Unless I am indoors, my iphone does a decent job. Of course my DSLR is a few years old and is only a 10 MP camera.

So can you describe the types of pictures you want to take?

Really, all I will be taking pictures of is my dog and camaro The reason I started thinking about getting one is because I was looking through all the pictures I've taken of my dog over the years and thought it may be nice to have some really nice quality pictures of her while she is still young. But if the quality isn't going to be THAT much better for my budget, i don't know if it would be worth it

[batman53201]

nikon coolpix will fit your price range

[dixonk]

Originally Posted by Aubrey64

Well, if I was gonna get a guitar, I would pay the difference since I want a 12 string Martin or a banjo. But since i am new to cameras, I wouldn't want to pay more than a couple hundred dollars for one.

But thanks guys for the info! I am gonna go to best buy this week and look at a couple different cameras, and then make a decision!

In that case get the guitar. The iPhone can take really good pics.

[mikeyg36]

I photograph a lot, and I would recommend saving for a Nikon One. It's basically a dslr, point and shoot hybrid.

[hrpiii]

Originally Posted by Number 3

It all depends on what you want to take pictures of and what you want to do with them.

Snapshots are fine on an 8 MP phone camera. So if you aren't making prints and you are only sharing on line then don't waste your money. For $300 you aren't getting that much better.

Now if you want to learn photography skip past any small camera and go right to a DSLR. An SLR will give you the flexibility in lens choices, shutter and aperture adjustments that will allow much better pictures.

My opinion, and I'm not an expert but I've been into photography for many years, you aren't getting much more than your iphone 5 with a little point and shoot. A point and shoot will have a better lens and a better flash. So your indoor photos will be better. You will also likely have at least a little of bit of optical zoom with a point and shoot. Your iphone will only be digital zoom. So if you plan on taking shots at a distance you will notice a bigger difference.

It's just a continuum of use. I use my iphone more and more and leave my DSLR at home more often simply for the convenience. Unless I am indoors, my iphone does a decent job. Of course my DSLR is a few years old and is only a 10 MP camera.

So can you describe the types of pictures you want to take?

Originally Posted by Aubrey64

Really, all I will be taking pictures of is my dog and camaro The reason I started thinking about getting one is because I was looking through all the pictures I've taken of my dog over the years and thought it may be nice to have some really nice quality pictures of her while she is still young. But if the quality isn't going to be THAT much better for my budget, i don't know if it would be worth it

this! If you are not really going to be doing any medium or large prints and mainly doing pics to post online/FB/etc, then your phone will be fine.

I know we have a lot of great photographers on this site that would be more than helpful if you do ever want to go the DSLR route. I shoot mainly Nikon, have a D7000 and D90 that I love.