DSLR vs POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA - MY CHOICE

Back in the end of August my camera died and my shopping extravaganza for a new camera began.  I wrote  how I was trying to decide between a DSLR or a Point and Shoot Camera.  I've done a lot of reading to help me make my decision  finding out the cameras others are using and what would be the best choice for me.  I checked out blogs like  Dear Lillie because I love the photos she takes and wanted to see what camera she used.  Reading what others had to say about their camera's was very helpful and contributed to my decision. 

  My decision is ..................... Drum roll  ............. the

 Nikon Coolpix 510

Source: amazon.com via Joy on Pinterest

This camera is in the low to medium price range, but yet is a upgrade from what I had before.   It's a cross between a point and shoot camera and a DSLR. One review said it's like the difference between a Mac and a PC. The Mac comes with everything loaded ready to use and you can't change many things on it.  While the PC comes with things loaded but you are given the option to make changes or upgrade.  The Nikon Coolpix 510 is like a PC in that regard with its manual settings feature.  It also has a lot of other features I liked,  high-speed continuous shooting capability, built in GPS, full HD (1080p) movies with stereo sound (still and movies with up to a 42 X zoom)!  It also has the 3 inch vari-angle  LCD  movable screen.  Another big plus about this camera is that it comes with image stabilization, and high-resolution imagery  in LOW light!  I also like that it's not totally manual and I don't have to change lenses.  To some of you this may not be a plus, but remember I'm a real armature when it comes to cameras and taking photos.

I'm looking forward to its arrival and learning how to use it.  Hopefully you'll see some real improvements in the photos on this blog.  Please bear with me while I learn how to use the camera.

Here are a few of the great tutorials I found while searching for a camera.

Centsational Girl had a post on learning to shoot in manual setting.
I Heart Naptime has a series on photography and photography tips.
Life With My 3 Boybarians has a series - 31 Days of Photo Tips
The Design Confidential  - Learn to Shoot Like a Pro: with tutorials for beginners.

You can check out my Pinterest board for more tutorials and tips.

Everything I've said about the Nikon Coolpix camera is what I've found out and my opinion.  I'm not being compensated in anyway to give a review on this camera.  For those of you wondering,  I purchased this camera from Amazon.

DSLR vs POINT AND SHOOT CAMERAS

I hope you're having a great week!  I've been shopping for a new camera because my Canon Power Shoot quit working.

Source: amazon.com via Joy on Pinterest

It's been a real good little point and shoot camera that had 8 megapixels, 4X optical zoom and an optical image stabilizer.  I liked how compact and light and easy it was to transport, but one thing that drove me crazy was trying to take inside shots for this blog.  I know you're always told to turn your flash off for inside shots, but when I did that there was no low light setting.  This made it very difficult to take photos in a home that doesn't have a lot of natural light coming in.

The debate for me is between a point and shoot or a DSLR camera.   I've done some reading on the subject and also asking a few people's opinions.

Here's some info that I've gathered  on a few cameras .  The first one is the Nikon Coolpix L810 point and shoot camera.

Source: amazon.com via Joy on Pinterest

It's an upgrade from what I had in a point and shoot camera.  It has a 26 X optical zoom, 3 inch LCD screen, 50 MB memory, video recorder and  ISO sensitivity, but still doesn't have a built in low light setting.   I was also shown the Nikon Coolpix 510, it's a cross between a point and shoot camera and a DSLR.

Source: amazon.com via Joy on Pinterest

It has high-speed continuous shooting capability, built in GPS, full HD (1080p) movies with stereo sound (still and movies with up to a 42 X zoom)! It also has the 3 inch vari-angle  LCD  movable screen.  Another big plus about this camera is that it comes with image stabilization, and high-resolution imagery even in LOW light!  It has manual setting on it, so if I want to learn how to take shots in manual settings that's certainly an option. One final thing that impresses me about this camera is that I don't have to change lenses.

I love reading Dear Lillie's blog and I'm always impressed with the photos she takes.  I read her post on what camera she uses before I went shopping.   She uses a Nikon D700 but started out using the Nikon D3000.  She has great things to say about both of these cameras.  So while shopping I also checked out the Nikon D3100 - a newer version of the D3000.  It's also a compact camera with 14.2 megapixels, built in stabilization, split second shutter speed, 3 inch monitor, active D-lighting, and built in movie feature along with a few other things.  I also looked at the camera she is currently uses, the  Nikon D700.  This is a full frame camera with a lot of features including ability to interchange lens and manual settings.

Source: amazon.com via Joy on Pinterest

I'm not being compensated in anyway to write a review on these cameras, but tried to the best of my ability to share what I've learned.   I think I'm leaning toward the Nikon Coolpix 510, because it's a cross between a point and shoot camera and a DSLR.  I'm not real interested in having to change lens or work with the camera settings in detail. With the SLR camera you not only have to purchase the camera but extra lenses as well.

Do you have a camera that you love and would recommend to me.  I'd love to hear from you!
Have a great weekend!