Like the subject states.

What are some decent camera's with the required resoultion for the Ride of the Month. For the all of those who want to post but have no clue which one to buy, because there's alot on the market.Perhaps camera's under $200, since money is tight for everyone due to the economy. Also, which camera do you use now and what are you going upgrade to next.

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1995 gs Saved from the crusher
1998 RS gone to(Dsm Heaven)
1997 gs gone to Dsm heaven

i bought a fujifilm finepix s1500. 10mp with 12x optical zoom for like 179 canadian. I dont have car pics yet because its all snowy and shit out but here are a few i took with it. They are nothing special but i didnt set the camera up at all, i was in a rush. The only thing im not happy with is the lack of long term exposure.

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Thank you mobil one for rust proofing my driveway.

taken from: http://digital-photography-school.com/should-you-buy-a-dslr-or-point-and-shoot-digital-camera

Should you buy a DSLR or Point and Shoot Digital Camera?



Are Megapixels Everything?

Before I get into the Pros and Cons of DSLRs vs Point and Shoot digital cameras I want to address a common misconception that I regularly hear among digital camera owners - that a cameras megapixel rating is the main thing to consider when determining a camera’s quality.

The fact is that megapixels are NOT everything. Despite point and shoot cameras now coming with up to 10 megapixels (Casio released one last month) their quality level is not necessarily has good as a DSLR with only 8 or so.

The main reason for this (and there are many as we’ll see below) is that the image sensor used in point and shoot digital cameras is generally much smaller than the image sensor used in a DSLR (the difference is often as much as 25 times). This means that the pixels on a point and shoot camera have to be much smaller and (without getting too technical) collect fewer photons (ok I lied about the technicalities). The long and short of it is that because of this point and shoot cameras need to work at slower ISO levels which means that they produce ‘noisier’ (or more grainy) shots.

A lot more could be said on sensor size - but trust me, smaller sensors significantly reduce the quality of an image. I’d much rather have a camera with less megapixels and a larger image sensor than the other way around.

This is one factor that needs to be considered when choosing between a DSLR and point and shoot - but let me run through some more:

DSLRs



A quick definition - unfortunately some camera manufacturers in recent months have released cameras with the DSLR label that technically are not. For the purposes of this article I’ll define DSLR’s as cameras that have removable lenses, that have a reflex mirror which allows live optical viewing through the lens taking the image. ie DSLR’s use a mirror that allows you to see the image you’re about to shoot through the view finder - when you take the shot the mirror flips up allowing the image sensor to capture the image.

Some cameras these days are being touted as DSLRs because you have ‘through lens viewing’ but they are not true DSLR’s - (Digital, Single, Lens, Reflex). This does not necessarily make them a bad camera - but in my opinion it there is a distinction between them.


DSLR Strengths:

Image Quality - I’ve already covered this above in my discussion on megapixels and image sensors - but due to the larger size of image sensors in DSLRs which allows for larger pixel sizes - DSLRs are generally able to be used at a faster ISO which will lead to faster shutter speeds and less grain.

Adaptability - DSLR’s ability to change lenses opens up a world of possibilities for photographers. While my point and shoot has a nice little 3x Optical Zoom (and many these days have longer ones) my DSLR can be fitted with many high quality lenses ranging from wide angle to super long focal lengths depending upon what I’m photographing (and of course my budget). Add to this a large range of other accessories (flashes, filters etc) and a DSLR can be adapted to many different situations. It should be noted that when it comes to lenses that the diversity in quality of lenses is great. Image quality is impacted greatly by the quality of the lens you use.

Speed - DSLR’s are generally pretty fast pieces of machinery when it comes to things like start up, focussing and shutter lag.

Optical Viewfinder - due to the reflex mirror DSLR’s are very much a what you see is what you get operation.

large ISO range - this varies between cameras but generally DSLRs offer a wide array of ISO settings which lends itself to their flexibility in shooting in different conditions.

Manual Controls - while many point and shoots come with the ability to shoot in manual mode, a DSLR is designed in such a way that it is assumed that the photographer using it will want to control their own settings. While they do come with good auto modes the manual controls are generally built in in such a way that they are at the photographers finger tips as they are shooting.

Hold it’s value - some argue that a DSLR will hold it’s value longer than a point and shoot. There is probably some truth in this. DSLR models do not get updated quite as often as point and shoot models (which can be updated twice a year at times). The other factor in favor of DSLRs is that the lenses you buy for them are compatible with other camera bodies if you do choose to upgrade later on (as long as you stay with your brand). This means your investment in lenses is not a waste over the years.

Depth of Field - one of the things I love about my DSLR is the versatility that it gives me in many areas, especially depth of field. I guess this is really an extension of it’s manual controls and ability to use a variety of lenses but a DSLR can give you depth of field that puts everything from forground to background in focus through to nice blurry backgrounds.

Quality Optics - I hesitate to add this point as there is a large degree of difference in quality between DSLR lenses (and point and shoot cameras are always improving) but in general the lenses that you’ll find on a DSLR are superior to a point and shoot camera. DSLR lenses are larger (more glass can add to the quality) and many of them have many hours of time put into their manufacture (especially when you get into higher end lenses). I strongly advise DSLR buyers to buy the best quality lenses that they can afford. It it’s the difference between a high end lens on a medium range camera or a medium range lens on a high end camera I’d go for quality lenses every time as they add so much to photos.

DSLR Weaknesses

Price - while they are coming down in price (especially at the lower end) DSLR’s are generally more expensive than point and shoot digital cameras. Also consider that you might want to upgrade your lens (as kit lenses are generally not of a super high quality) or you may wish to add more lenses later and that this adds to the cost of a DSLR.

Size and Weight - the only reason I take my point and shoot out with me is on those occasions when I don’t want to lug my DSLR (and it’s lenses) around with me. DSLRs are heavy and sizable and when you add a lens or two to your kit bag you can end up with quite the load!

Maintenance - a factor well worth considering if you’re going to use a DSLR with more than one lens is that every time you change lenses you run the risk of letting dust into your camera. Dust on an image sensor is a real annoyance as it will leave your images looking blotchy. Cleaning your image sensor is not a job for the faint hearted and most recommend that you get it done professionally (which of course costs). This is a problem that is being rectified in many new DSLRs which are being released with self cleaning sensors.

Noise - DSLRs are generally more noisy to use than point and shoots. This will vary depending upon the lens you use but while point and shoots can be almost silent when taking a shot a DSLR will generally have a ‘clunk’ as the mechanisms inside it do their thing. I personally quite like this sound - but it’s something that is a factor for some.

Complexity - while DSLRs are designed for manual use this of course means you need to know how to use the tools that they give you. Some friends that have bought DSLRs in the past few months have told me that they were a little overwhelmed at first by the array of settings and features. The learning curve can be quite steep. Having said this - all DSLRs have fully Automatic mode and many have the normal array of semi-auto modes that point and shoot digital cameras have.

b]No live LCD - in many DSLRs the only way to frame your shot is via the optical viewfinder. Some photographers prefer to use a camera’s LCD for this task. This is another thing that is changing with more and more new DSLRs having a ‘Live View’ LCD which enables you to frame your shots without looking through the view finder (update: please note that Live View isn’t perfect - check out the comments of NormMonkey below who shares more.

Point and Shoots



While some people write off all non DSLR’s as inferior I think they’ve got a lot going for them and would highly recommend them depending upon the level of photography that you engage in, your budget, the things that you’ll want to do with your photos and the subject matter that you will be shooting. You’ll also notice below that I note that the Point and Shoot market options available are improving. Some of the weaknesses I note are being improved by manufacturers lately on some of their models. Here’s some Pros and Cons of point and shoot digital

Point and Shoot Digital Camera Strengths

Size and Weight - to be able to slip a camera in a pocket as you dash out the door to a party is a wonderful thing. These days point and shoot cameras can be slim and light - to the point of not even knowing you’ve got them with you. This is great for parties, travel and all manner of situations. Of course some point and shoots can be quite bulky too (especially some of the super zoom models on the market).

Quiet Operation - this was the thing I noticed about my new point and shoot the most. Not only didn’t my subjects not notice I’d taken shots of them at times, once or twice it was so quiet that even I didn’t notice I’d taken a shot.

Auto Mode - the quality of images produced in point and shoots varies greatly, but in general they shoot quite well in auto mode. I guess manufacturers presume that this style of camera will be used in auto mode (or one of the other preset modes) mostly and as a result they generally come pretty well optimized for this type of shooting (as do many DSLRs these days).

Price - in general point and shoot digital cameras are cheaper. Of course you can go to the top of the range and spend as much as you would on a cheaper DSLR, but most are in a much more affordable price bracket.

LCD Framing - as I mentioned above, many digital camera users prefer to frame their shots using LCDs. Point and Shoots always come with this ability and some even come with ‘flip out’ screens that enable their users to take shots from different angles and still see what they’re shooting.

Point and Shoot Digital Camera Weaknesses

Image Quality - point and shoots generally have small image sensors which means that the quality that they produce is generally lower. This is slowly changing in some point and shoots but in comparison to DSLRs they still have a way to go. It’s worth saying however - that if you’re not planning on using your images for major enlargements or in professional applications that the quality of point and shoot cameras can be more than enough for the average user. Manufacturers are making improvements all the time in their technology and even in the last year or two I’ve noticed significant image quality improvements.

Smaller ISO range - once again this is changing slowly (my point and shoot has the ability to shoot to 1600 ISO) but in general ISO ranges are more limited in point and shoot cameras - this limits them in different shooting conditions.

Speed - point and shoot digital cameras were always notorious for their slowness, particularly their ’shutter lag’ (the time between pressing the shutter and when the image is taken. This is constantly being improved but the instantaneous feel of many DSLRs is still not there with point and shoots when it comes to shutter lag, start up and even focusing time.

Reliance upon LCD - most point and shoot digital camera rely almost completely upon their LCD for framing. While some enjoy this others like to use a viewfinder. Most point and shoot cameras have view finders but they are generally so small that they are almost useless. Some models don’t have viewfinders at all (increasingly a trend).

Manual Controls Limited - many point and shoot cameras do have the ability to play with a full array of manual settings and controls (or at least make it difficult to do so). They often come with ‘aperture priority’ and ’shutter priority’ modes which are great - but quite often the manual controls are hidden in menu systems and are not as accessible as on a DSLR (if they are there at all).

Less Adaptable - while they are highly portable point and shoot cameras are generally not very adaptable. What you buy when you first get them is what you are stuck with using for years. Some do have lens adapters to give you wider angles or longer zooms but generally most people don’t go for these accessories.

Should You Buy a DSLR or a Point and Shoot Digital Camera?

This is ultimately a question that you need to answer for yourself. My answer is to have both (I’m fortunate to be able to do so) but if I had to choose between one or the other I’d get a DSLR based upon my experience level, the type of photos I take, my desire to use manual settings and the quality of image that I’m after.

If your situation is different to mine however and you want a portable camera that takes good pictures that you’ll mainly use for small prints and emailing that you’ll mainly shoot in auto mode - you’ll probably be quite happy with a cheaper point and shoot.

top 10 point and shoot cameras: http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/top-10-point-and-shoot-digital-cameras-dps-reader-favorites/

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http://www.2gnt.com/quote_db.php?id=278

Outside of Corona: "That sucks, peace out..." (jamie walks away)... "Sweeet, what we doin?" -Zac
Tim's garage (prior to motor install): "Im gonna smoke real quick, that way if you fuck up I am already nicotined up" -Tim

Every digital camera since around 1999 can take 1024x768.

Its not a huge size. Maybe go to Best Buy and ask the camera person? That would be a great place to start.

In fact, in the under 200 dollar range, they are all more or less the same.

I have a Nikon L20 that I picked up at Best Buy for 130.00. It takes HD widescreen pics, any other resolution I need, and came with a 4GB card, case, and some weird stand.

Also, the camera that I bought in 2004 CAN TAKE 1024x768 PICTURES. And thats not even on high quality. It was also under 200 dollars.

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2012 2500HD LML

the camera on my phone is at least 1024x768

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http://www.2gnt.com/quote_db.php?id=278

Outside of Corona: "That sucks, peace out..." (jamie walks away)... "Sweeet, what we doin?" -Zac
Tim's garage (prior to motor install): "Im gonna smoke real quick, that way if you fuck up I am already nicotined up" -Tim

Being married to an aspiring photog who has both DSLR and point-and-shoot, I've had a chance to play with both. If might offer a couple examples...

Nikon D200 w/ 50mm/f1.4 "prime" 10.2MP (about $1800 camera body + $50 lens)
Local Motors Rally Fighter shot taken up close without a flash.

Full size image (huge) to show image quality: http://mitsubishi.gearboxmagazine.com/Brian/VJD0346.jp g

Nikon S220 point-and-shoot 10.0MP (about $180 right now)
195/2000 in the garage (shade) during the day.

Full size image (equally huge) to show image quality: http://mitsubishi.gearboxmagazine.com/Brian/195-dash-removal-026.jp g

If you compare the full sized images linked above, you will notice they're almost the exact same size, but the one taken with the DSLR has much finer detail. This is a function of the larger image processor mentioned in the article pasted above.

At the same time, notice how the resized images are relatively close in quality. Yes, the Rally Fighter is more photogenic and the composition is better, but if you look at light, shadow, contrast, and depth of field, you'll see they're pretty close. (EDIT: The Galant is painted flat black, has about 12 months of dust all over it, and I was smoking a cigarette when I took the picture.)

The S220 is a piece of cake to use, but you can run into it's limitations from time to time. When the lights get low, you'll still want a tripod to snap the best shots without a flash or you get blurriness. Even so, while the D200 can take some incredible shots without a flash, much of that has to do with the "nifty fifty," fixed 50mm lens I used.

A point-and-shoot will have you covered for the majority of your picture taking needs if you're wanting to document hanging out with friends or sharing the random picture of your car online for ride of the month or a calendar or something. More often than not, it's a piece of cake to use and get good pictures.

The DSLR, on the other hand, has more bells, whistles, and settings than you can imagine. You can take a picture of the car from one end and have it turn out spectacular, but when you take a picture of the same car from the other direction, the picture looks like complete shit. My wife's DSLR has more settings than Megasquirt, I tell you.

So, if you're looking to take pictures of good times with friends, the car out and about, don't want to spend an arm and a leg or have to obsess over camera settings all the time, get the point-and-shoot. I highly recommend the Nikon Coolpix line. They're small, light, take awesome pictures, and don't cost a whole lot.

If you want to take professional quality shots that you could print out on photo paper full sized for like a framed 8x10 for grandma, or want to seriously get into photography with the option of buying super awesome lenses (which can cost upwards of $1800, depending on what you want), then start comparing features and benefits of the DSLRs. I don't know that I would suggest starting with the Nikon D200, as it does tend to struggle in low light situations, but a D40 or D80 would be a good start and keep your entire kit under $1000 imo.

Hope this helps.

Luv, the quailty if the first picture, DR. I've priced the DSLR and the D series on ebay. Holy crap, batman. I could buy a decent turbo kit for that price. I'm kinda liking the cool pix, picture quailty resolution abit similar to the DSLR.

__
1995 gs Saved from the crusher
1998 RS gone to(Dsm Heaven)
1997 gs gone to Dsm heaven

I'm non pro with the pics. I find the Kodak Easy Share to deliver a lot for the price range.

__
1995 gs Saved from the crusher
1998 RS gone to(Dsm Heaven)
1997 gs gone to Dsm heaven

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2012 2500HD LML

I'm happy with my Nexus One. It's nice enough to take point and shoot quality photos but not DSLR "wash your fucking car" quality pictures.



The N1 has the added bonus of being a phone too.

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~Chris
03 SRT-4

Congrats, on your 10k post Uberingram.

I just did an ebay search on your Nexus one, too much for me. It looks like a palm datalogger, and I bet it does it all.

I won a nikon coolpix L1 from ebay this afternoon, bid started at 35 out bid at 43 free ship. I also did a little image search homework for this coolpix L1 on google, before bid on it. Photo quailty is about the same as yours, and good newb camera. Plus, it has adjustable resolution, lowest being the required resoultion for ROTM, also does video too and comes with usb cable/batteries/software.

__
1995 gs Saved from the crusher
1998 RS gone to(Dsm Heaven)
1997 gs gone to Dsm heaven

Originally posted by dalesmitsu
Congrats, on your 10k post Uberingram. I just did an ebay search on your Nexus one, too much for me. It looks like a palm datalogger, and I bet it does it all. I won a nikon coolpix L1 from ebay this afternoon, bid started at 35 out bid at 43 free ship. I also did a little image search homework for this coolpix L1 on google, before bid on it. Photo quailty is about the same as yours, and good newb camera. Plus, it has adjustable resolution, lowest being the required resoultion for ROTM, also does video too and comes with usb cable/batteries/software.

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Built. That's All...
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www.monkeybuttpirate.com
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2 Fingers of Scotch with a milk back... Stat!

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~Chris
03 SRT-4

Originally posted by djtrickee

Originally posted by dalesmitsu Congrats, on your 10k post Uberingram. I just did an ebay search on your Nexus one, too much for me. It looks like a palm datalogger, and I bet it does it all. I won a nikon coolpix L1 from ebay this afternoon, bid started at 35 out bid at 43 free ship. I also did a little image search homework for this coolpix L1 on google, before bid on it. Photo quailty is about the same as yours, and good newb camera. Plus, it has adjustable resolution, lowest being the required resoultion for ROTM, also does video too and comes with usb cable/batteries/software.

Lead paint or gasoline? EDIT: Wait I got it... Gold spray paint into a plastic bag.

__
1995 gs Saved from the crusher
1998 RS gone to(Dsm Heaven)
1997 gs gone to Dsm heaven

Originally posted by teklein

Originally posted by dalesmitsu

Originally posted by djtrickee

Originally posted by dalesmitsu Congrats, on your 10k post Uberingram. I just did an ebay search on your Nexus one, too much for me. It looks like a palm datalogger, and I bet it does it all. I won a nikon coolpix L1 from ebay this afternoon, bid started at 35 out bid at 43 free ship. I also did a little image search homework for this coolpix L1 on google, before bid on it. Photo quailty is about the same as yours, and good newb camera. Plus, it has adjustable resolution, lowest being the required resoultion for ROTM, also does video too and comes with usb cable/batteries/software.

Lead paint or gasoline? EDIT: Wait I got it... Gold spray paint into a plastic bag.

Whatever, sorry I don't use drugs. Only thing would be beer or cigs thats it but I'm not much of a drinking or smoker. Look at Uberingram's post count and you'll see what I meant.

I think you were missing a few words there, Grammar Nazi. You are also missing some punctuation, but I just wanted to make it readable.

__
1995 gs Saved from the crusher
1998 RS gone to(Dsm Heaven)
1997 gs gone to Dsm heaven

Originally posted by DR1665

Originally posted by dalesmitsu Look at Uberingram's post count you'll see what I meant.

Um, Dale? Uber hit 10,000 posts about five years ago. Dino cut him off on account he was a post whore (like somebody else around here). His post count is probably on the order of 15,000 or so by now.

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http://www.2gnt.com/quote_db.php?id=278

Outside of Corona: "That sucks, peace out..." (jamie walks away)... "Sweeet, what we doin?" -Zac
Tim's garage (prior to motor install): "Im gonna smoke real quick, that way if you fuck up I am already nicotined up" -Tim

Originally posted by DR1665

Originally posted by dalesmitsu Look at Uberingram's post count you'll see what I meant.

Um, Dale? Uber hit 10,000 posts about five years ago. Dino cut him off on account he was a post whore (like somebody else around here). His post count is probably on the order of 15,000 or so by now.

__________________________________________
~Chris
03 SRT-4

Originally posted by DR1665

Originally posted by dalesmitsu Look at Uberingram's post count you'll see what I meant.

Um, Dale? Uber hit 10,000 posts about five years ago. Dino cut him off on account he was a post whore (like somebody else around here). His post count is probably on the order of 15,000 or so by now.

__
1995 gs Saved from the crusher
1998 RS gone to(Dsm Heaven)
1997 gs gone to Dsm heaven

I picked up an used Nikon coolpix L series from ebay dirt cheap. Little bigger than a credit card an smaller than my DSM key. Received in the mail week before I left for Detroit, to see my aunt and grandmother haven't seen them since 1996 when my father died.

Well, tonight I did a quick practice random shoot before dark, date-time you see is accurate.

This is my first time using a real digital camera. I used the macro, zoom also had the anti shock on, for each picture.







What do you think..

__
1995 gs Saved from the crusher
1998 RS gone to(Dsm Heaven)
1997 gs gone to Dsm heaven