Help! I need a new camera!

[Tinkerfan4ever]

Hello all - I am looking at getting a new camera and need some help. A little history... I have always owned a point and shoot camera. Mostly of the Kodak variety.

I am not looking to go crazy and get something that is way over my head! I want a camera that has wifi (I love the idea of uploading pictures while on vacation... no longer lugging around a laptop to backup!). I want the camera to have 'burst' mode (I know it has a more technical name...), I want to be able to take good sports pictures, as my kids are in a ton of sports. I would also like something that can take decent pics with no flash (ie... on Disney rides!). Last requirement... it has to be portable. I don't want to have something that is hard to carry around. My main uses for the camera are capturing my kids, sports, holidays and vacations.

I was really excited about the Samsung Galaxy Camera... but now that I am reading reviews I am not so excited. Seems the pictures are quite grainy.
I really like the Samsung NX300 and NX1000. But I have never had a camera that needed different lenses before. (Am willing to learn)
We have a Nikon where I work. I know it is a DSLR... but have no idea which one. I have used that before and did like it, but it was a little bigger than I would want for personal use. (I also know I didn't even touch the surface of all of the capibilities of this camera)

I know I am not giving much to go on... but any suggestions are welcome! Thanks in advance!

 

[Jboccuzzi]

Check out reviews on cnet.com that's how I decided on my canon... It's a compact megazoom. I love it! The site has great reviews for ever camera in ever category.

 

[WDI 1998]

Also, there are lots of good threads here with advice on choosing a camera.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but with your budget and size requirements it's difficult to meet all of those requirements. There are a few systems that COULD meet them all but is well outside your budget.

 

[Tinkerfan4ever]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but with your budget and size requirements it's difficult to meet all of those requirements. There are a few systems that COULD meet them all but is well outside your budget.

I am not sure this comment was meant for me. My only requirements are listed above, and budget was not one of them.

I have been looking at lots of the other threads on the cameras and the reviews on cnet as well. I keep going back to the Samsung NX300. It gets great reviews on cnet. There are not many constomer reviews out on it yet as it is pretty new. The changing lenses makes me nervous, as all of my previous cameras never had to do this... but I am sure I can learn.

 

[sporadic]

I am not sure this comment was meant for me. My only requirements are listed above, and budget was not one of them.

I have been looking at lots of the other threads on the cameras and the reviews on cnet as well. I keep going back to the Samsung NX300. It gets great reviews on cnet. There are not many constomer reviews out on it yet as it is pretty new. The changing lenses makes me nervous, as all of my previous cameras never had to do this... but I am sure I can learn.

For the requirements you listed in your first post, nothing really exists that excels at all of the above. Even pushing into the $7k-$10k territory. There's always going to be a compromise. With a defined budget, it'd be easier to narrow in on some options.

I am not looking to go crazy and get something that is way over my head!

Is this in regards to usability or price? If you're staying in automatic modes, you'll be just as good off with a nice point and shoot or maybe one of the cheaper mirrorless systems to let you grow some in photography. Canon has an excellent tutorial on learning the triangle of exposure, along with a simulator that allows you to see how ISO, shutter speed, aperture are all related, along with examples of why you would give priority to one over the other - http://www.canonoutsideofauto.ca/learn/ and http://www.canonoutsideofauto.ca/play/

I want a camera that has wifi (I love the idea of uploading pictures while on vacation... no longer lugging around a laptop to backup!).

I can't speak to this as the only WiFi options I'm familiar with are tethering and uploading to host like a laptop. I'm guessing some of the p&s cameras and other can upload to cloud / social services similar to phones now.

I want the camera to have 'burst' mode (I know it has a more technical name...), I want to be able to take good sports pictures, as my kids are in a ton of sports.

Burst is correct. You may also hear it referred to as "motor drive" from back in the 35mm days when an external motor in a grip would actually drive the film at high rates for bursts. For sports, burst is only part of the equation. You also need high shutter speeds, which means shooting with faster (wide aperture) lenses and/or higher ISO (sensor sensitivity). Naturally, fast lenses and a camera which excels in low noise at high ISO's can be pricey. Your best bet for shooting sports will be a DSLR in your budget along with the fastest lens you can afford at the appropriate focal length. One of my kids plays soccer and another does dance. For me, this is a Canon 7D and EF 70-200 2.8 mkII IS.

I would also like something that can take decent pics with no flash (ie... on Disney rides!).

What you're looking for is high ISO performance. This is where full frame (35mm equivalent) cameras like the Leica's and high end DSLRs really excel. Most of the newer crop body DSLRs have very good high ISO performance as well. A lot of strides have been made in the past few years in regards to low light performance in smaller cameras. Depending on your budget, I'd look at Leica's (starting ~$7k), Sony RX1 (~$2800), Fuji X100s (~$1300), Sony RX100 (~$650), or any SLR. Again, size / portability and cost are all compromises / trade-offs.

Last requirement... it has to be portable. I don't want to have something that is hard to carry around. My main uses for the camera are capturing my kids, sports, holidays and vacations.

Many people don't consider a DSLR portable, but for me it's about choosing the appropriate lenses for the trip / event. When shooting my kids sports events, my body and lens combination is around 5lbs. For my upcoming Disney trip, I'll leave the 70-200 and only take my 17-55 and 11-16 which is more portable. Although the EF-S 17-55 2.8 is kinda heavy, the whole kit weighs less than the 70-200 lens. Again the weight for me is worth it for the sharpness and wide aperture when doing character photos. If I had money to burn, I'd consider grabbing something like the Fuji X100s for Disney. But at $1300, I can't justify the cost as I could buy some nice glass for the DSLR with the same money. I've considered grabbing a higher-end p&s w/ manual mode like the Canon S110 as well (been considering since the S90), but always end up deciding against it.

Dunno if that really helps any, but in my ideal world I'd pickup a nice larger sensor / low noise budget-friendly camera like the Fuji X100s for travelling, but always have my DSLR and fast lenses for sports and indoor events like recitals. I've been a Canon guy for years and you can probably get that from some of my recommendations. I would however, stay away from their EOS-M mirror-less system. Haven't heard too many good things about it. And if you're considering jumping into the DSLR world, my first criteria on brand selection would be picking what your friends use. Canon and Nikon both make very nice and capable DSLR systems and you really can't go wrong with either one. Whoever you know with the most lenses, go with that one

And just one more thing... A camera is just a tool and its recommending settings for you. It's up to you to determine if those are correct and take the picture. If you're in auto, you're not taking the picture. The camera is. Takes a bit to learn a camera and figure out what its thinking. Let us know what you decide on, and more importantly.. take pictures!

 

[ddbowdoin]

I apologize, I thought I had seen something about a budget... I originally responded on my iphone, which I hate doing.

I'll say this, I see countless threads pop up on here where people want so much performance in a small package. It just doesn't exist in what most people would deem an acceptable budget range. Leica M9 with a 50 .95 would run you 17,000 USD new.

When it comes to portability it becomes a game of sacrifices.

 

[fractal]

Check out the Sony NEX-6.

Compact. APS-C sensor. Can shoot 10 fps (even in RAW). Wi-fi. Good high-ISO performance.

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/117198-sony-nex-6-compact-system-camera-pictures-and-hands-on

The Samsung NX series also seems interesting but I don't know enough about those cameras.

 

[thomas998]

Check out the Sony NEX-6.

Compact. APS-C sensor. Can shoot 10 fps (even in RAW). Wi-fi. Good high-ISO performance.

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/117198-sony-nex-6-compact-system-camera-pictures-and-hands-on

The Samsung NX series also seems interesting but I don't know enough about those cameras.

I was going to suggest the same thing. I have seen photos from a Samsung NX and they were on the grainy side when you started moving up the ISO. Have a friend with a Nex 5 and even it would probably be good enough for what she is listing... The real problem that isn't going to be easy to solve is the photos on rides without a flash... In order to do that you need a very fast lens and a very good camera... If you are truly looking for the dark rides with no flash you are probably going to have to step up to a dslr and a very fast lens... Those things would put you into the $2,000-3,000 range for the camera and then maybe $2,000-3,000 for a fast wide angle lens (was thinking maybe an old nikon 28mm 1.4), you could get a cheaper lens like a 50mm 1.2 or 1.4 but unless you get a full frame sensor DSLR you are going to be a little tight for some of the rides...

I really think the OP needs to prioritize the list of features and provide a budget... given that I think people could give a better answer... as it is, what isn't a deal killer for one person would be insane for another.