$ 300-400 to spend on a camera, any suggestions?

DrSweden
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DrSweden
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 2:18pm
I want to capture my kid with as sharp pictures as possible. We live by the ocean, so we dig taking pic on the beach both day and night. We also would like the film clips in HD with this sucker (at least 720p). I'm not interested in action shots (MX) or anything, just to make some memories as long as she's a midget. We where looking at cameras in the $ 300-400. Some suggestions are Canon G11, Panasonic Lumix LX3, LX5, Canon SD4000...

I'm a bit stiff on the Rebels, but dunno if we need the complexity...

Any suggestions?

I'm also looking to buy a crap camera to have at the track, take some pit pics and shoot some HD film clips in the $ 150 range. My experience is that I don't think bringing a $ 400 camera to the track is a good idea...
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72kiteboarder
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72kiteboarder 10/2/2010 7:39pm
10/2/2010 7:39pm


Awesome point and shoot/HD video. Water proof, drop proof and crush proof.

Link
PicardsFacepalm 10/3/2010 7:51am
10/3/2010 7:51am
I had the Panasonic pocket superzoom. It was great, but broke...

Here is a great shootout of super zooms in your price range. This will require a camera bag or case. They offer a ton of value.

Here is a great shootout of travel super zooms. They're similar to the group above but can fit into your pocket.

Keep in mind that a camera you don't take with you doesn't take good pictures. If you can't commit to taking a camera bag with you everywhere, then go with a pocket camera. If you want ocean pictures at night, you're going to have a tripod.

One other option would be to buy a nice camera from the first group, then buy a couple generation old pocket camera for less than $100 on eBay.

DrSweden
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DrSweden 10/4/2010 2:27pm
10/4/2010 2:27pm
Thanks guys! Good links! We ended up buying the Panasonic Lumix LX5, but the crap camera is still not bought! The travel super zooms is a good test!.

This dpreview seems to be the best place. After hundred of searches I always tend to end up getting a link or some reference to that site...
PicardsFacepalm 10/4/2010 3:39pm
10/4/2010 3:39pm
That's what I had. Almost all my Europe pictures were with that camera. Now you can get into video and photo editing!

The best thing you can do is go to lynda.com. They have a movie called "Getting the Most Out of Your Compact Camera"... They also have tutorials on Lightroom, Photoshop, Premiere, and Sony Vegas. It's like $15 a month.

Dedicate yourself to one month of learning and it will be the best $15 you ever spent.

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DrSweden
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DrSweden 10/5/2010 3:36pm
10/5/2010 3:36pm
PicardsFacepalm wrote:
That's what I had. Almost all my Europe pictures were with that camera. Now you can get into video and photo editing! The best thing you...
That's what I had. Almost all my Europe pictures were with that camera. Now you can get into video and photo editing!

The best thing you can do is go to lynda.com. They have a movie called "Getting the Most Out of Your Compact Camera"... They also have tutorials on Lightroom, Photoshop, Premiere, and Sony Vegas. It's like $15 a month.

Dedicate yourself to one month of learning and it will be the best $15 you ever spent.
Cool! I will give this lynda.com a try, and as you say it's always good to educate one self! But to start with, I just have to figure the camera out! Smile
J.F.S
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J.F.S 10/6/2010 9:28am
10/6/2010 9:28am Edited Date/Time 10/6/2010 9:32am
Used Canon 5D or 7D
DrSweden
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DrSweden 10/6/2010 10:00am
10/6/2010 10:00am
J.F.S wrote:
Used Canon 5D or 7D
Tnx, that need is already fulfilled though with the LX5...

I will buy a cheap track camera in the $ 200 range as well, and the above link gave me good directions...
racerx217
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racerx217 10/17/2010 6:04pm
10/17/2010 6:04pm
Used d80 or anything with a multi exposure... really helps get a good shot. I just got a rebel t2i and you hold down the button and it takes 5 pictures at a time. Then just sort them out home and good to go.

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