Help with Camera Choices

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

DS wants a camera for Christmas. He is in his last year of college and sent us one to think about. When we looked at it, the SA said it was more for professionals.

He is an outdoor lover who loves to hike and be one with nature. That's mainly what he wants it for. He wants something better than a digital point and shoot.

So I guess we're looking for a nice camera, in between a regular point and shoot and one the professionals use.

Any recommendations? TIA!

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

Yes! Talk to him and get him the one he wants. Cameras are expensive. Some have interchangeable lens that will last through several bodies of the cameras and still work if he is after a 35mm. camera.

That being said, it is important to get the right brand of camera, one that he probably will stick with for many years.

Cameras are very different. There are certain kinds of cameras that have certain features that are important for the type of photography he wants to do, so please please check with him and see what he has in mind.

Don't listen to the person at the camera store either. If you don't want to get him the one he wants because it is too expensive, get him a gift card to go toward the camera.

No need to waste money on something that is either too expensive or too cheap and won't be suitable for his uses. Having owned cameras since I was in junior high school and used them professionally in my job, it is something that is expensive, but for a good reason, and the choices are too many and too wide ranging to guess about it.

jackthebear · ‎03-11-2010

@beach-mom wrote:
DS wants a camera for Christmas. He is in his last year of college and sent us one to think about. When we looked at it, the SA said it was more for professionals.

He is an outdoor lover who loves to hike and be one with nature. That's mainly what he wants it for. He wants something better than a digital point and shoot.

So I guess we're looking for a nice camera, in between a regular point and shoot and one the professionals use.

Any recommendations? TIA!

no idea but the salesperson was kinda snotty to say that why ruin a sale

get your kid the camera he wants or a sum of money toward it if it's more than you want to spend (which is ok too)

mimomof4 · ‎03-08-2018

Were you at an actual camera store or one of the Big Box retailers looking at cameras?

We have a local camera store that is very helpful and will work with you to find the right product in our price range.

As others have said, if the one he asked for is within the price range of what you are willing to spend get him that one. If that is too much what about stepping down 1 or 2 models from the one he suggested.

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

@mimomof4 wrote:
Were you at an actual camera store or one of the Big Box retailers looking at cameras?

We have a local camera store that is very helpful and will work with you to find the right product in our price range.

As others have said, if the one he asked for is within the price range of what you are willing to spend get him that one. If that is too much what about stepping down 1 or 2 models from the one he suggested.

Thanks for your replies everyone! @mimomof4 - we WERE at one of the Big Box places (BB)! I did some research online. The one he wants is Nikon Coolpix P900. The one I've been reading about that has good reviews and seems to be more for his level is Nikon D3500.

If anyone knows anything about either of these two, I'd appreciate it!

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

Thanks again for your help everyone. We ordered the 3500 online and it's already here! DH also did some checking and thought that would be better for him. It has some features that he wants that the other one doesn't. It is newer than the other one too. So we'll see what he thinks when he opens it!

I don't think he thinks he's getting one. I like to surprise them!