Broken Camera

[abm234]

So here we are 10 days before Christmas and I have a broken camera! :cursing: I used it last night. I used it this morning. I tried to use it this afternoon and it is not working! The lens cover won't close all the way and it will sometimes turn on. My 9 year old says "Yeah, I might have dropped that" (on the kitchen tile).

If it weren't 10 days before Christmas I wouldn't be freaking out so much. I'm guessing that fixing it won't be an option. I bet it is $$$ just to have it looked at.

What I have right now is a Canon G12. It is 2 years old.

I'm thinking maybe I should just go back to a DSLR. I never really knew how to use our old one well and that is why I went with the G12. I'm mostly taking Project Life photos and photos of my kids sporting events.

The hubs wants to use this as an opportunity to go back to the DSLR. He doesn't get why I feel the need to research this. He wants to go to Costco and just buy whatever is there. (which is the Nikon D3200 for $679.00 that comes with a case and 2 lenses)

What do you ladies think? We're leaving in a hour for a Christmas party and I just don't know when I'm going to have time to figure this out!

Opinions?

[abm234]

Off to read old threads about cameras!

[rach3975]

Sorry your camera is broken! Hopefully this close to Christmas you'll at least be able to get a good deal on one. If you've owned both a DSLR and a G12, which one were you happier with the photos from? Did you use them an equal amount, or did another factor influence how/when you used them? (I'm thinking about things like either one being too big to carry around, or one not performing well in low light so you didn't use it indoors much.)

I have a compact system camera (mirrorless). For me they're a great compromise between the size of a point and shoot and the quality of a DSLR. Mine is an Olympus E-PM1, and I mostly like it. There was definitely a learning curve; I was very disappointed in it when I tried to use it in auto, and I've started getting better photos as I've gotten better at shooting in manual. But I bought the lowest price mirrorless camera that was on the market when I was shopping because that's what my budget stretched to at the time. I have a feeling I'd be happier with one of the more current/more expensive models. When I'm ready to upgrade in a year or two, I'll be sticking with a mirrorless unless there end up being newer options that also bridge the P&S/DSLR gap well.

[taracotta7]

Totally depends on what you will use. If you will use a DSLR and carry it around, sure. If not, I would stick to the G series of a Canon (the most recent model is a G15 I think). Before you buy a DSLR I would go and hold a few in your hand to see what feels best. Nikon and Canon are both great, so that isn't a huge deciding factor. The use and how it fits in your hand is pretty darn important. I am a big Canon girl now but only because their operating systems make "sense" to me. It was easier for me to navigate the menus. I use to have a Nikon DSLR. Both are good.

[marlathrall]

I am a Canon girl, but I wouldn't count Sony out either for DSLR. I think they make some fantastic cameras and their lens are much more affordable, but they just aren't as well known. It might be worth researching.

[adi&co.]

I am a Canon girl, but I wouldn't count Sony out either for DSLR. I think they make some fantastic cameras and their lens are much more affordable, but they just aren't as well known. It might be worth researching.

what she said! I'm totally a canon girl, but I'm always jealous at the prices of the sony lenses when I'm drooling over the lenses I want!

[abm234]

Rachel, Tara, Marla and Adrienne - Thank you all so much! I'm thinking I will get the DSLR because I've been wanting one anyways. I just wanted the best of both worlds and wanted to get a DSLR in addition to my G12-not to replace it!

I need one NOW so I'll probably go to Costco today and get either the Nikon 3200 or Canon EOS T3i. Both are bundles with 2 lens. After reading your comments about being Canon girls I was thinking I would get the Canon. However, the Canon is 18 megapixels and the Nikon is 24 megapixels. Does this matter much?

I also thought I might take a class on DSLR. I see Jessica Sprague's DSLR class is retiring and is on sale for $78 (that would buy me an awful lot of SSD kits!) Is anybody familiar with this class?

Thanks so much ladies!

[taracotta7]

I haven't taken her class but I have heard good things about it. As for the mega pixels......both are good. The difference is how big of a print would you want to print? It also depends on other specs of the camera like the sensors, ect. Without that other stuff in account and just the pixels.......the max print difference would be 16x24 (with 24) and 12x16 (with the 18).

When I am looking at comparisons between the two you mention it looks like the Nikon has won out with a better sensor and low light performance. (the higher mg pixel helps with that too because it reduces noise in low light/high ISO situations).

I think both are good and I still think it is whatever makes the most sense to you when scrolling through the functions and what feels best in the hands.

[Keely~B]

I'm so sorry about your camera, BTDT and it's awful!! I don't think you can go wrong with any of the cameras mentioned. I'd definitely try holding them, I thought I had my camera picked out but when I was actually holding them I changed my mind, it was so much more comfortable.

[abm234]

Thanks everybody! I settled on the Nikon D5200. I haven't had a chance to try it out yet. I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed!