Paparazzi Wannabe

[shanmonster]

I don't often get the craving to buy an item (aside from boots), but I really would like to get a new digital camera: one with a much larger lens. I've been taking a lot of low-light photos lately (at live club venues, in particular), and a bigger lens would ameliorate the blur problem. I'm also interested in doing figure studies and portraits, in addition to the macro stuff I've always been so fond of.

I hope that new dance teaching job comes through so I can save up....

Do you have recommendations for something that has high value and low cost?

Comments

[cryduchat.livejournal.com]

I want this FujiFilm S700 SO FREAKING BAD. When I researched it in November, I read good things. Photog friends have also applauded it!

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8312195&type=product&id=1174091772074

[twopiearr.livejournal.com]

anything in the Olympus Camedia UltraZoom line - they tend to have the largest lenses of the sub prosumer models that i've seen, and double as not only working well in low-light settings but also having optical zooms of 8x-12x. Though i find that in most concert-type lighting situations, having something to brace against is a must.

[silverfae.livejournal.com]

I'd say the blur problem may be better ameliorated by an ISO and less alky. But that's no fun.

I have a lil Canon Powershot a720 (http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_a720-review/index.shtml) and I love love love it.

Apparently one can get some sort of add-on lenses that attach to it, but I haven't researched it well yet.

[greyanna.livejournal.com]

I second the Olympus Camedia line...I love mine. However, I have something better now...entry level SLR - Pentax. Lens are not expensive and neither is the body. Check it out. It even has anti-shake that works well. Night isn't really any better with a larger lens, though. Steadiness is key for low light pics.

[(Anonymous)]

For low light photography, you want to be able to increase the ISO (sensor sensivity). This comes at a cost; it introduces noise into the image. Most digital compacts are pretty noisy at high ISO.

Image stabilisation is a help, but not when you're shooting a moving subject like a dancer.

Digital SLRs give the best low-noise performance because they use large sensors. But they are neither compact nor cheap, and many of them can't shoot video. The low light champions of the compacts were the Fujifilm F30 and F31fd. They are now both discontinued, and sell for more on Ebay than they ever did retail. The "upgrade" models the F40fd and F50fd are reportedly good in low light, but not as good as the F30 was. Marketing pressure to fit extra pixels on the sensor put paid to that.

Best bet is probably the F40fd, which is still good in low light and is relatively cheap at the moment. For some very thorough camera reviews and as much tech info as you'd ever want, try dpreview.com.