<p>My daughter and I both have Cannon Powershot digital cameras. They’re fine for everyday photo-taking, small, etc. But my daughter is taking AP Studio Art and she’d like a “better” camera. Not too big, not too many fancy lenses, etc - just better zoom and more detail.</p>
<p>My son is going to Europe for the spring semester and needs a camera, but he’s no Ansel Adams, either. He just needs a basic camera. So I’m thinking of giving him D’s Cannon Sure Shot (because it’s small, easy to carry, and holds tons of pics) and getting D a new camera.</p>
<p>Suggestions for a “better” camera for D that’s no more than $300?</p>
<p>Make sure you know everything about how a DSLR works. They are completely different beast from P&S cameras. </p>
<p>My suggestion would be to do more research at photography review forums, because 1) P&S markets are quite saturated and you will never be done trying them out yourself and 2) DSLR body+lens combo are dime a dozen but getting one that has a decent lens that does what you need to do, if you get a normal kit lens, like 18-55 it’s not going to be that much more zoom.</p>
<p>If you are going to be looking at DSLR I suggest visiting dpreview.com , they have lots of DSLR reviews, as well as some P&S reviews, although not nearly as many.</p>
<p>An entry-level DSLR with a decent auto mode would allow her to ease into using more manual controls, so it’s not like she would need to know everything right away. And even though a kit lens isn’t going to give you the most zoom, it’s still much better in quality than any P&S.</p>
<p>I’ve heard great things about the Nikon D40. If she’s even a little serious about photography, DSLR is the way to go hands down.</p>
<p>DSLR = digital single lens…??? sorry, I’m strictly a point & shoot gal myself. </p>
<p>I think an “entry-level” DSLR might be good… D’s not much for reading instruction manuals. I’ll check out dpreview.com, thanks. And any more advice would be welcome!</p>
<p>I loved the SLR Canon Rebel EOS and now love the digital version. There pretty pricey, though but you can “grow” it just like the SLR with difference lenses, etc. I’m hoping to also get a couple ideas here for my (artist) mom…who has not made the move to digital but needs to. SLR = Single Lens Reflex</p>
<p>I have a Nikon D70. I got it second hand from a guy who loves to buy new camera every 6months. He is already thinking of selling me his Nikon D90 for cheap.</p>
<p>A related thought - are you sure your D would be willing to give up her point and shoot Canon? Even if she gets a larger camera capable of taking better pictures she might still want to keep the P&S to be handy for more everyday pictures and if she ever goes to Europe or elsewhere she might prefer the P&S for that as well (take it from someone who’s lugged a Canon F1 with multiple lenses all over Europe before - I now don’t bring any camera and just let the family use their Canon P&S cameras for the photos). She might be better off with both of them but of course that would mean 2 cameras - one for the D and one for the S.</p>
<p>Many DSLRs can be used as point-and-shoot in automode. Canon Rebel line is a good entry level DSLR, but as ucsd_ ucla_dad mentioned, DSLRs are bulkier and schlepping a whole outfit with several lenses is not something that an average tourist will enjoy doing. My H left his Canon DSLR at home when we went to Europe a couple of years ago.</p>
<p>Adorama has plenty of DSLRs and “soapbar” cameras (as well as many reviews from photography enthusiasts):</p>
<p>Also check B&H - another good site for photography.</p>
<p>Do not buy through Cameras West - I’ve heard some bad reviews from people who did it. My personal experience with salespeople at one of their stores was also way below average. When I asked the sales guy to point out the diffrences in the features of the two cameras I was considering, he said, “For that, you will have to sign up for one of our DSLR classes” Needless to say, I bought my camera elsewhere.</p>
<p>Which Powershot does she use now? What are the exact shortcomings of her current camera? Additional zoom range is an unlikely requirement for studio art. Need for “more detail” usually indicates a need for a sharper lens or additional image resolution, but can also indicate need for a tripod or more deliberate exposures.</p>
<p>A new or used DSLR will cost more than $300.</p>
<p>Handing down the old camera to your son is a great idea, since the camera has little resale value. Make sure that he has plenty of memory cards and that he employs a swapping scheme to minimize data loss in the event of camera theft.</p>
<p>Both D and I have Cannon PowerShots (mine is 1000, hers is 1100), so even if S takes one of our cameras to Europe there will still be another P&S here at home for D to take to parties or concerts, etc. </p>
<p>I had offered to by S a camera to take to college and his response was, “Why? I have a camera in my phone.” Like many boys, he’s not much for taking pictures. I’m thrilled that he even wants to take a camera to Europe. He told me he wants a basic camera that holds a lot of pictures and he would be fine with borrowing his sister’s or mine. I may buy him a bigger memory card, and I will insist that he bring a cord with him so he can upload these pictures, and not just leave them all in the camera. </p>
<p>I’ll check out the “better” cameras for D but I don’t want to spend a ton of money. She claims she likes digital photography and she loves to play with picnik on Facebook - she’s REALLY good at it, playing with effects and multiple fonts, the stuff ends up looking like its a professional Hallmark card. I ordered her Photoshop for Christmas (just the basic Elements one), so she may be able to “fix up” the powershot photos enough for her AP Studio class. She may or may not pursue art as a minor or just take a few art classes as an interest in college. So if I buy her a higher quality camera, it may become a passion for her, or it may just be a passing fancy. She doesn’t want a whole bunch of lenses to lug around - at least not yet.</p>
<p>If you want a good soapbar camera, forget about Canons and Nikons - get a Sony; but when it comes to DSLRs, your best bet is still a Canon or a Nikon. Maybe Olympus. The reason? Optics.</p>
<p>Well, not to buck all the wonderful advice I’ve been given, but knowing my D I think we’re going to get her 2 things: Photoshop Elements, and a P&S with a higher pixel count and zoom capability. Her PowerShot has 8 megapixels and a 3x zoom, I found a P&S with 12 megapixels and a 10x zoom on sale for just under $200, and Consumer Reports rated it a “best buy.” Their only negative comment was its short battery life. It’s a little bigger than her PowerShot, but not too much. </p>
<p>If D really wants to try a DSLR for an art project she can borrow her friend’s camera (actually the friend’s dad’s camera) and see how she likes it. D likes to carry a tiny wallet in her pocket and only carries a small purse if she HAS to, I have a hard time picturing her carrying around a big camera with a big lens sticking out the front. And she really hates to read direction booklets. :o So as much as I know those cameras would be necessary IF she becomes serious about photography, it’s way more money than I want to spend now, because I kind of doubt she’d use it much.</p>
<p>So I’ll send S off to Europe with D’s Powershot and a couple of memory cards. He’ll have to bring the cord to upload the pics, hopefully to Snapfish or someplace so he can’t lose them if he loses the camera or his laptop dies. We’ll keep my Powershot, and get D a more powerful P&S. If photography becomes a passion she pursues in college, I’ll invest in a DSLR.</p>
<p>But thanks again for all the wonderful advice, and hopefully it will help other readers who are camera shopping. (momofthreeboys?)</p>
<p>I bought a Nikon D60 last spring and love it. My D is an art major with her concentration in Photo. She needed a digital SLR this term for her class. I went on e-bay and bought another D60 from a company called Cameta Camera. They sell factory demo models from Nikon (and others). We saved hundreds of dollars. It still has the warranty and is in perfect condition. My daughter was thrilled!</p>
<p>^^^
Some cameras have the image stabilization in the camera body and some have it in the lenses. My Nikon D60 has it is the lenses. I’m not sure if there is a significant difference between the two options but if you buy a Nikon, make sure that the lens has the image stabilization. They sell lenses without it, as well, so it is important to check. I also agree that B&H is a good outfit. As is Hunt’s photo if you live in MA. One in Cambridge and one in Amherst(or Hadley?).</p>