Buying new Camera-Need some recommendations-specifics are...

[eri3f0g]

Hello all,

I'm new to the forum. I've played around with digital photography with my nikon coolpix 950. I'm really disappointed with the ability to shoot action shots..I guess inability is the correct word.

Here is what I want, even though I may be dreaming. I want the ability to take action shots of my wife running with our dog in her agility competitions as well as catching my son's RC truck flying off of jumps at the indoor track he races at. Both these events have moderate lighting and a flash shouldn't be used in most cases.

The nikon I have is a 2.1 megapixel and any type of action shots are blurred regardless of apeture and shutter settings. Nikon told me to pan my camera as the dog comes by. I replied that I want the jump and the dog to be clear, not one or the other. I've also purchased a tripod to take any hand shake out of the equation.

Pricerange: I'd love to get this in a sub $400 range. I'm considering going to a film camera to get what I want but digital is soooo much better when it comes to sharing photo's and costs.

Please help a new guy. I refuse to buy another camera until I'm sure it can do what I want. I don't want to mention what I paid for that Nikon a few years back...ugh!

Thanks for any input and sorry for the length of my little novel here.

[PeterS45]

If action shots is what you're after you'll need a digital SLR :cry: .
The shutter lag makes it very difficult to focus on a fast moving subject, and my G3 is one of the camera with the best performance in focussing but it's still almost 1 second.

So it's going to be a film camera or a SLR I'm afraid.

[eri3f0g]

I kind of thought that would be the way it goes. Let me ask this. If I can compensate for the shutter lag as far as timing the shot, can I get the camera to freeze the shot and not be blurred.

Example: I know the dog's are going to be coming by a double jump within 7-10 feet of me. I can have the camera focused and ready to go for the shot. From there if my timing is right is there a digital that can take that shot for reasonable money?

[S45_fornow...]

I've taken some pretty good action shots (skiing, mountain biking) by locking the focus and then panning with the subject as I take the shot. Like shooting ducks, its important that you follow through with the panning action as and after you take the shot. With some practice, you can freeze a moving object pretty well, or get the amount of blur you want to indicate action.

This only works for side to side action. If the subject is moving toward or away from you, then its almost impossible to stop the motion blur (unless you have a fast lens like on a DSLR).

[eri3f0g]

Any feedback or information sites that you could point me to for a DSLR camera. I'm curious what "entry level" pricing is on a DSLR camera if it will do what I want. I know I can get something reasonable with a 35mm in my pricerange but then I've got the film, developing, scanning, woa... that's right I did take that picture ( 2 weeks ago) lol.

Thanks again for the input so far.

ack.. cough, cough.. I just found a few nice ones for about 5-7 grand..I'd consider bumping up in the $600 class but it looks like I may be out of luck.. still looking though.

[stopbath]

Given your requirements, you need a high ISO setting, and a fast lens.

This will allow you to take indoor shots with a shutter speed high enough to capture the dog without any blur. Exactly what ISO setting you need, and how fast a lens you need, I don't know - it'll depend on the venue's lighting.

Good lenses will be more expensive than the body. Check out third party lenses like Sigma or Tamron (they make models to fit all the popular camera bodies) to get a good lens for less money. You can also consider a standard lens (50mm 1.8 or 50mm 1.4) if you'll be close enough to the action. Using a standard lens can garner two or more stops above a regular zoom. If you want a zoom watch the fstop. Does the fstop stay wide or does it limit the light as you zoom. This is easy to see: any lens that gives two fstops as it's designated fstop (like 3.5 ~ 5.6) will allow less light during telephoto settings. Which may mean the zoom is useless for your needs except at wide angle (so you'ld be better off with the standard...) Zooms that keep one f-stop through out the range are more expensive.

See if you can try before you buy (perhaps renting) This may help you evaluate lens and body needs before plunking down several grand...

[gsmx2]

Eri,

At $600 for DSLR you may be out of luck, but the Canon Digital Rebel and lens kit for $999 would probably work for you if you're willing to go there.

Otherwise the film SLR will work for you.

But you did ask about prefocusing. You can do that. Focus on the jump, hold the shutter release down half way and let the dog come into the picture. Try it; you may be happy with the results.

gsm x2

[Alnath]

http://alnath.fotopic.net/photo.php?id=2438603 Taken with an A80

[eri3f0g]

Looks good. I also went to the index and noticed:

My attempts at action shots with a digital camera, not the easiest thing on the planet so don’t expect too much.

I'm thinking it may be worth the money to just go film and deal with processing. Depending on where I get it developed I can have it put right to disk and be done with it.

I'm starting to lean towards the Canon EOS Rebel Ti QD 35mm SLR Autofocus Camera Kit with Date with 28-90mm f/4.0-5.6 II USM Lens (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=281445&is=USA) but I'm not quite sure yet.

[Tom W]

Looks good. I also went to the index and noticed:

My attempts at action shots with a digital camera, not the easiest thing on the planet so don’t expect too much.

I'm thinking it may be worth the money to just go film and deal with processing. Depending on where I get it developed I can have it put right to disk and be done with it.

I'm starting to lean towards the Canon EOS Rebel Ti QD 35mm SLR Autofocus Camera Kit with Date with 28-90mm f/4.0-5.6 II USM Lens (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=281445&is=USA) but I'm not quite sure yet.

Actually, my 10D is equally fast at focusing and faster at multiple shots than my Elan II (though the Elan's buffer is essentially the whole roll of film). But that is an expensive proposition. What you may want to do is jump into SLR's with the Rebel Ti, then later jump into a digital SLR when your finances are better up to the task. I did just that very thing myself and am now enjoying the same lenses that I had on the Elan, but using the 10D.