Recommend Cameras under $300

gibson12

gibson12

Active Member
Original Poster
My budget is around 300 bucks. I'm starting to do some research, but I thought since I mostly want a camera for taking pictures in the parks, the best folks to ask would be the group that posts the best park photos out there.

Features I am most interested in:
--able to take low light photos, such as dark rides/Main Street at night
--clear looking photos
--some ability to capture movie objects
--good video
--plan to take a lot of close-ups, such as little details in the Main Street architecture

Not interested in bells and whistles such as
--waterproof
--touch screen
--web/wifi capabilities
--filters (fisheye, miniature, etc.)
--look/design of camera (only performance)


Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
 
KeithVH

KeithVH

Well-Known Member
You're question has two different kind of answers. Based on an interpretation of your wants, a DSLR is pretty much the only fitting answer. Such as this one. And that's cheap. However, even above your budget that will not get your dark ride pics or real close ups. You'll need at least one more lens, a "fast" one, another $100.

If you can deal with a point and shoot, then this one. For under your price range, no other camera will match the image quality. It's a function of the sensor. Yes, it is feature loaded, but worth the price.

The difference really comes in your knowledge of the camera, general photo knowledge (light, aperture, ISO, etc), and technique. Maybe even some post-processing skill. Please note that there are pics on dark rides and then there are pics on dark rides. Besides lack of light, dealing with movement on multiple planes, is a pain. Pirates is one thing, HM is another beast though. Decent HM pics will probably cost you $1K.

Your best bet is to recognize you can get some of the shots you want but not all of them. Good technique can get you a lot of them with the P&S. It'll just take practice and learning what to do with the settings under the various park conditions.
 
fractal

fractal

Well-Known Member
Last week Amazon had a special on the Sony NEX-3 with kit lens for $299.00. APS-C , 16mp sensor for that price is hard to beat. But you'll need an very steady hand to get great dark ride shots with the kit lens. It is a great carry around camera for the parks - Image quality is DSLR level, and the small size and weight doesn't make it a burden.

It's an interchangeable lens camera so if down the rode you want to grow with the camera by buying another lens ( or two) you can.

Right now however it's back up to $399.00. Keep an eye out for special deals. Sony is changing the name of their NEX cameras by rolling out new ones so more specials are likely.
 
gibson12

gibson12

Active Member
Original Poster
This information has been really helpful. I was looking into the Canon Powershot G series, since I had used a G7 and really like the image quality. Right now, I have an ELPH 110, and while I am ok with the photos I get in low light, outdoor/full light photos lack any crispness.
 
CP_alum08

CP_alum08

Well-Known Member
Yeah, unfortunately you're expectations and your budget don't really match, with the major one being dark ride photos. Dark ride photos are a beast, not only do they require the right gear but also the right know how. The s100 is a nice little camera, any of the Canon G cameras are good, stay away from Nikon p&s, and just enjoy the dark rides sans photography and you should be good.
 
M

Minnie_girl

Active Member
fractal said:
Last week Amazon had a special on the Sony NEX-3 with kit lens for $299.00. APS-C , 16mp sensor for that price is hard to beat. But you'll need an very steady hand to get great dark ride shots with the kit lens. It is a great carry around camera for the parks - Image quality is DSLR level, and the small size and weight doesn't make it a burden.

It's an interchangeable lens camera so if down the rode you want to grow with the camera by buying another lens ( or two) you can.

Right now however it's back up to $399.00. Keep an eye out for special deals. Sony is changing the name of their NEX cameras by rolling out new ones so more specials are likely.
75.gif
Click to expand...

$29.....I will keep my eye out for that.
 
T

thomas998

Well-Known Member
I think if you want to come close to your wish list of abilities and your budget you are going to have to look at a used camera. To get a new camera that does all you want would be several hundred above your budget.

I might consider an Olympus xz-1 or xz-2... they are point an shoot cameras that have relatively fast lenses which is what you really need for the dark rides... the 1 only does 720p video the 2 does 1080... I have used the xz-1 for concert photos because in those venues you can't take a dslr and it seems to work well... the upside is you can probably find one on Ebay for less than 150 because they are about 2 or 3 years old and some people continually upgrade their camera... They would also work well for the close up photos you say you want, but known that they do not have substantial zooms on them but honestly at Disney zooms aren't that useful unless you are at animal Kingdom.
 
gibson12

gibson12

Active Member
Original Poster
Thanks Thomas. These are all good suggestions. I think some of the folks responding to my post have different expectations from their photography that what I'm hoping to accomplish. When I said I wanted to take pictures on dark rides, I wasnt expecting to find a budget camera that wouldn't have any noise in the photos. But the information I'm getting has helped my decision and informed me a little about shooting the parks.
 
ddbowdoin

ddbowdoin

Well-Known Member
gibson12 said:
Thanks Thomas. These are all good suggestions. I think some of the folks responding to my post have different expectations from their photography that what I'm hoping to accomplish. When I said I wanted to take pictures on dark rides, I wasnt expecting to find a budget camera that wouldn't have any noise in the photos. But the information I'm getting has helped my decision and informed me a little about shooting the parks.
Click to expand...

Can I ask you an honest question... I know people want the satisfaction of saying "I took that shot" but if you aren't willing, or able, to make the necessary financial commitments to be able to achieve the said goal of "dark ride photography" then why try at all? If you're making a personal scrap book you're better off just downloading and using images from the internet. I for one, as a photographer myself, have no qualms with people using my images for personal use. If you're profiting off another persons work that is one thing, but to complete a scrap book page I see no harm. I'm just being brutally honest.
 
gibson12

gibson12

Active Member
Original Poster
I'm actually doing the scrapbook with internet images thing, too. I guess that since I can only spend a little bit on a camera right now, I'd try to pick the best for the money and start learning what I can. Maybe I can invest more later if things improve financially and I've made some progress.
 
englanddg

englanddg

One Little Spark...
I'm gonna get flamed (potentially) for this, but...have you looked at the Sony Cybershot?

I have a WX-50 that I got a few years ago, and I'm very happy with it as a camera, and it's an excellent video recorder (not as good as my GoPro, but...).

You can get a WX-300 for under $300. 20x optical zoom, 18.2 megapixal, 1080/60i video, and (this is what I like best about using it for vacation footage) dual recording of still and movies. This is great for meet and greets especially...no need to switch camera modes or interrupt the video as your taking it.

It does pretty well in low light. Anyhow, it is a point and shoot. Can't control shutter speed or aperture. But, just a thought.

If you want a sample of what the WX-50 can do...here are some shots. I see no reason why the WX-300 would be any worse...and, I may actually pick up a WX-300 for myself for the next trip (I want the zoom!)

VERY Low Light (Disney Quest)


Close Up (using zoom and leaning over the fence, Legoland)


Panorama Low Light (Coral Reef Restaurant)


Close up, no flash, no zoom (I tend not to use flash unless I have to), moderate to low light (Coral Reef Restaurant)


Low Light (I think you know what this is)


Dusk Shot (Same)


Close up (no zoom or flash), Seas Pavilion, EPCOT


Panorama, bright day, EPCOT


Tossed in because I like this picture.


Indoor panorama, good lighting, Port Orleans French Quarter


Another Dusk shot


Night shot down the side of the Disney Fantasy


Close up shot (no flash, no zoom) of snacks from the coffee shot on Disney Fantasy


This is to show that the camera does well with shutter speed even when things are moving. This is the Mexican Coast Guard guiding the Fantasy into Cozumel taken from Shutters with zoom while both boats were moving and the mexican boat was circling the ship.


Low Light shot taken on a submarine trip in Grand Caymen. No flash (obviously).



Anyhow, dunno if you want to go the Point and Shoot route, but I've been very pleased with my Cybershot.

Hope this helps!
 
gsrjedi

gsrjedi

Well-Known Member
Sony also has the HX50 which has full manual controls if you're interested in that. I believe the Sony cameras have the ability to take 6 photos in about a second at high ISOs and put them together to reduce the noise. Should be useful for Main Street at night, not so much for dark rides.

Otherwise you're looking at interchangeable-lens cameras. For the price, the Nikon J1 is good. B&H Photo has a deal on a red one with the kit lens & a telephoto lens as well. Amazon has these as low as $210 with just the kit lens. B&H also has the Sony NEX-3N for $340 with it's kit lens. While the Sony will definitely perform better, the Nikon set is a much better deal IMO. Or if you're comfortable with buying used look into an older mirrorless set like either the Olympus EPL-1/EPM-1 or the Sony NEX-3/5. Those options should be under $200 with a kit lens as well
 
gibson12

gibson12

Active Member
Original Poster
I actually got an S100 today and have started playing around with it. I have a lot to learn before I even think about detachable lenses or mirrorless options.

Thanks again for all the awesome suggestions and advice.
 
gibson12

gibson12

Active Member
Original Poster
Englanddg, I don't think anyone here would ever want to flame one of your posts. Thanks for the effort you put in. I did have a Cybershot point and shoot at one point, but it was one of the cheaper ones. I still miss that Canon G7 my sister gave me when she upgraded. That thing did all the work for me and the pictures were exactly what I wanted.
 
Grumpy-Fan

Grumpy-Fan

Active Member
fractal said:
Last week Amazon had a special on the Sony NEX-3 with kit lens for $299.00. APS-C , 16mp sensor for that price is hard to beat. But you'll need an very steady hand to get great dark ride shots with the kit lens. It is a great carry around camera for the parks - Image quality is DSLR level, and the small size and weight doesn't make it a burden.

It's an interchangeable lens camera so if down the rode you want to grow with the camera by buying another lens ( or two) you can.

Right now however it's back up to $399.00. Keep an eye out for special deals. Sony is changing the name of their NEX cameras by rolling out new ones so more specials are likely.
Click to expand...
My wife needs a new camera for our next trip and I`m considering this for her.
 

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