Help with new camera choice
Discussion
Im fairly new to the camera game, i have enjoyed taking photos for many years now but have been using a standard compact digital camera.
My partner and i travel alot and we enjoy car shows - obviously! I know next to nothing about picture taking apart from just point and click. For the last few years we have had a Konica Minolta X1.
My question has probably been heard many times before but i thought this would be the best place to start. As i said earlier we travel alot and go to many car shows. The problem i have always had with compact cameras is the time it takes to take the photo. We often get a delay after pressing the button to the actual photo gets taken. Many times we miss out on a certain bit of action or annoyingly the car i want a picture of has dissapeared around the corner.
I would like to know what type of camera i should look for, i have been told that a DSLR is the way i should go and others have told me a bridge camera - But i would not know how to use any other of the features. Maybe a good compact is the way? All i want is a camera that takes the picture when i click, not after its thought about it for a second or two.
My budget is probably around £250 Cheers
My partner and i travel alot and we enjoy car shows - obviously! I know next to nothing about picture taking apart from just point and click. For the last few years we have had a Konica Minolta X1.
My question has probably been heard many times before but i thought this would be the best place to start. As i said earlier we travel alot and go to many car shows. The problem i have always had with compact cameras is the time it takes to take the photo. We often get a delay after pressing the button to the actual photo gets taken. Many times we miss out on a certain bit of action or annoyingly the car i want a picture of has dissapeared around the corner.
I would like to know what type of camera i should look for, i have been told that a DSLR is the way i should go and others have told me a bridge camera - But i would not know how to use any other of the features. Maybe a good compact is the way? All i want is a camera that takes the picture when i click, not after its thought about it for a second or two.
My budget is probably around £250 Cheers
Perhaps the issue is more with you, rather than the camera.
Unless set to manual focus, ALL cameras require a moment to focus once you press the shutter release.
A SLR coupled with a fast lens could maybe auto focus in 1/10th of a second, providing the lighting is good and the camera can work out what it needs to focus on.
Nearly all cameras have a 2 stage shutter release button which allows you to focus the camera with a part press, then instantly take a photo when you fully press.
Spending £1000s on an SLR and lenses with only reduce the click-to-take time lag. You can eliminate it for free with the method above.
Having said all that, if your compact point and shoot is old / particularly rubbish and the AF is really slow, then perhaps a bridge camera is your best bet to get some nice shots.
Unless set to manual focus, ALL cameras require a moment to focus once you press the shutter release.
A SLR coupled with a fast lens could maybe auto focus in 1/10th of a second, providing the lighting is good and the camera can work out what it needs to focus on.
Nearly all cameras have a 2 stage shutter release button which allows you to focus the camera with a part press, then instantly take a photo when you fully press.
Spending £1000s on an SLR and lenses with only reduce the click-to-take time lag. You can eliminate it for free with the method above.
Having said all that, if your compact point and shoot is old / particularly rubbish and the AF is really slow, then perhaps a bridge camera is your best bet to get some nice shots.
I know what you're saying, it's shutter lag. I took a cheap compact to Donington and came home with nothing but blur, and that was after trying to second guess when the cars might come into the shot.
In terms of reccomendation, few people on here have Sonys - I'm not a fan but they might work for you; A200/A250 I think might go into that price point. Fuji Finepix as well I think, although I havent used one. Nikon D40 is worth a look, but your budget will just about cover a bundle with a kit lens, the lens wont have enough zoom if you want anything over about 30 feet away
In terms of reccomendation, few people on here have Sonys - I'm not a fan but they might work for you; A200/A250 I think might go into that price point. Fuji Finepix as well I think, although I havent used one. Nikon D40 is worth a look, but your budget will just about cover a bundle with a kit lens, the lens wont have enough zoom if you want anything over about 30 feet away
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