Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Main Photography Discussion
Need to replace my camera...I think.
Page 1 of 3 next> last>>
Dec 28, 2018 13:13:46   #
Bogy2830
 
Greetings,
I am a active grandmother who likes to take photographs, mostly of landscapes and people, especially my grandkids at their music events and everywhere else.
I am using a Sony DSC-HX50 that I purchased shortly after they came out. I am strongly disappointed with the picture quality and very rarely get a nice crisp picture. I often wonder if it is because this particular camera did not come with the Zeiss Lens feature. My previous Sony was a DSC-H10 with the Zeiss lens that I loved and just plain wore out.
I am not an expert by any means, I just love getting a great crisp picture of family and landscapes.
I have always used Sony but I find it a little disconcerting that Ugly Hedgehog bloggers are predominantly Nikon users, only because Sony has always been my brand of choice. My daughter has a Nikon DSLR 3200 and loves it and says I should go this route, but I don't know if I want to be bothered changing lenses.
So, if I upgrade.....what should I consider. Is Sony the answer or should I look for a different brand. Would prefer to stay with a bridge camera concept.

Suggestions to consider would be welcomed as I ponder upgrading.

Reply
Dec 28, 2018 13:18:55   #
dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia
 
Bogy2830 wrote:
Greetings,
I am a active grandmother who likes to take photographs, mostly of landscapes and people, especially my grandkids at their music events and everywhere else.
I am using a Sony DSC-HX50 that I purchased shortly after they came out. I am strongly disappointed with the picture quality and very rarely get a nice crisp picture. I often wonder if it is because this particular camera did not come with the Zeiss Lens feature. My previous Sony was a DSC-H10 with the Zeiss lens that I loved and just plain wore out.
I am not an expert by any means, I just love getting a great crisp picture of family and landscapes.
I have always used Sony but I find it a little disconcerting that Ugly Hedgehog bloggers are predominantly Nikon users, only because Sony has always been my brand of choice. My daughter has a Nikon DSLR 3200 and loves it and says I should go this route, but I don't know if I want to be bothered changing lenses.
So, if I upgrade.....what should I consider. Is Sony the answer or should I look for a different brand. Would prefer to stay with a bridge camera concept.

Suggestions to consider would be welcomed as I ponder upgrading.
Greetings, br I am a active grandmother who likes ... (show quote)


What is your budget?

The Sony DSC-RX100 VA with a Zeiss lens runs around $900

Reply
Dec 28, 2018 13:22:57   #
JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington
 
There are many good cameras out in the marketplace and personal choice is important.

I would suggest going to a store that has a good selection of cameras and get a good 'feel' for how the camera fit your hands, etc. Some of the bridge cameras are possibly a good fit due to the zoom range.

One reason you may want to consider a DSLR would be that your interest in photographing grandchildren's music events is that a 'fast' f2.8 lens would be a real plus for indoor, darkly lite performances. However, there is a weight trade with faster lenses.


Again, the best bet is to do some internet research and then if possible get a set of potential cameras in your own hands to see how they feel, plus desired features.

Reply
 
 
Dec 28, 2018 13:23:22   #
jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana
 
Do you shoot RAW and post-process? If so, you should be able to manipulate your photos with the sharpening and luminance tools. Take a look at the pictures I posted yesterday, taken in a dark theater. I shot them with an SX 60, the next newer model than your SX 50. Some claim the 50 shoots better than the 60 I have.

Reply
Dec 28, 2018 13:26:00   #
ELNikkor
 
The Panasonic ZS 100 is about the same size, but has a larger sensor and costs around $100. There are many others in this range, and the Sonys are excellent, but may cost quite a bit more.

Reply
Dec 28, 2018 13:27:35   #
dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia
 
Also the DSC-RX100 VA was DPReviews' top pick for pocket-able enthusiast cameras for 2018. For the full list see:
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/buying-guide-best-pocketable-enthusiast-cameras

Reply
Dec 28, 2018 14:16:06   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
Bogy2830 wrote:
Greetings,
I am a active grandmother who likes to take photographs, mostly of landscapes and people, especially my grandkids at their music events and everywhere else.
I am using a Sony DSC-HX50 that I purchased shortly after they came out. I am strongly disappointed with the picture quality and very rarely get a nice crisp picture. I often wonder if it is because this particular camera did not come with the Zeiss Lens feature. My previous Sony was a DSC-H10 with the Zeiss lens that I loved and just plain wore out.
I am not an expert by any means, I just love getting a great crisp picture of family and landscapes.
I have always used Sony but I find it a little disconcerting that Ugly Hedgehog bloggers are predominantly Nikon users, only because Sony has always been my brand of choice. My daughter has a Nikon DSLR 3200 and loves it and says I should go this route, but I don't know if I want to be bothered changing lenses.
So, if I upgrade.....what should I consider. Is Sony the answer or should I look for a different brand. Would prefer to stay with a bridge camera concept.

Suggestions to consider would be welcomed as I ponder upgrading.
Greetings, br I am a active grandmother who likes ... (show quote)



A general purpose, small camera without changing lenses that will do well in low light (those music events and people indoors) will not be cheap. The low light is the part that makes them expensive since "fast" lens are expensive. They range from around $400 to over $4400 for the Leica which is also a full frame (sensor is expensive). Here are links to reviews and recommendations:

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/the-10-best-compact-cameras

https://www.switchbacktravel.com/best-point-and-shoot-cameras

You might consider a small mirrorless with interchangeable lenses such as the Sony a6300 or Canon M50 I know little about the Sony 6000 series but several on UHH swear by them. The Canon M50 is currently the best selling mirrorless in Japan and when I was shopping for a camera for my wife I looked at it - it is "tiny" some point and shoots are larger, the lenses are also tiny with the largest zoom being aprx 4" long, and light. Plus for the Canon an adapter lets it use the full Canon catalog of lenses for their larger cameras. In general the Canon's are cheaper. The Canon choices are at least as fast as your present camera with some of the lenses a bit faster for low light. But when it comes to lenses the Sony has more "fast" low light lenses (they are generally fairly expensive). Since you are used to Sony menus, layout etc that might be the way for you to go.

Oh, because I use Canon I ended up getting my wife a one generation old Canon T6s with 4 lenses from someone on E-Bay. It can use all of my lenses with no adapter. The EF-S lenses that came with it are smaller and lighter than my EF series lenses, but larger than the EF-M lenses for the M50.

She was using a Canon SX-50 bridge camera but wanted a "better camera" with lenses like her father's and mine that she used to use back in the film days.

Reply
 
 
Dec 28, 2018 16:26:40   #
PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA
 
It would help me advise you immensly if I could see an example of a photo that doesn't meet your expectations. The problem might be simply not setting the camera correctly as I get darned good shots with my old SX50 HS which has the same size sensor as your Sony.

To show us an example click "Choose File", "Store Original", "Add Attachment". This will include the EXIF data with the photo so we can see the settings.

Reply
Dec 29, 2018 05:57:54   #
jdub82 Loc: California
 
If you are familiar with the Sony brand, it is a very reasonable idea to stick with Sony. They make excellent cameras. The Sony HX400V is a popular choice for those who like the versatility of a "Super Zoom" Bridge Camera. It is very reasonably priced at $398.00, and has a 50X zoom capability. The RX100VA mentioned by someone else will produce sharp pictures with its 1" sensor, but has limited zoom range (10X), and is a bit pricey. If budget isn't a major concern, The Sony RX10 IV is a very popular Sony Bridge Camera with a 25X zoom and a 1" sensor. It is considered by many to be the best Bridge Camera on the market right now, but it sells for $1,400. If you are open to other brands, there are some other great options as well.

Personally, I am a fan of the Canon SX series Bridge Cameras. I have an SX50, which has since been replaced by the SX60 and SX70 models. Panasonic also has some good options, including the FZ80, and the ZS70. The ZS100 has a 1" sensor and a shorter 10X zoom, also a good choice. I agree with the suggestion of going to a camera store to handle the various models, before making a final decision.

Reply
Dec 29, 2018 07:23:05   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Bogy2830 wrote:
Greetings,
I am a active grandmother who likes to take photographs, mostly of landscapes and people, especially my grandkids at their music events and everywhere else.
I am using a Sony DSC-HX50 that I purchased shortly after they came out. I am strongly disappointed with the picture quality and very rarely get a nice crisp picture. I often wonder if it is because this particular camera did not come with the Zeiss Lens feature. My previous Sony was a DSC-H10 with the Zeiss lens that I loved and just plain wore out.
I am not an expert by any means, I just love getting a great crisp picture of family and landscapes.
I have always used Sony but I find it a little disconcerting that Ugly Hedgehog bloggers are predominantly Nikon users, only because Sony has always been my brand of choice. My daughter has a Nikon DSLR 3200 and loves it and says I should go this route, but I don't know if I want to be bothered changing lenses.
So, if I upgrade.....what should I consider. Is Sony the answer or should I look for a different brand. Would prefer to stay with a bridge camera concept.

Suggestions to consider would be welcomed as I ponder upgrading.
Greetings, br I am a active grandmother who likes ... (show quote)


Although I shoot predominantly Nikon, I have a couple of small Sony cameras. If you like Sony, stick with them. Depending on your budget, you can go the A6xxx route or the RX100 route.

Camera comparison sites -
(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://www.cameradecision.com/
http://cameras.reviewed.com/
http://camerasize.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://snapsort.com/compare
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu

Reply
Dec 29, 2018 09:35:27   #
fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH
 
I gave my wife a Sony HX400v for Christmas and she loves it. I settled on that model because my best friend, who has a Nikon D7200, bought it as a "grab 'n shoot" camera and because it provides sharp photos with its lens extended to its maximum 1200mm. As others mentioned, the Sony cameras have Zeiss lenses that seem to offer better results than Nikon's or Canon's equivalent "super zoom" cameras. The HX400v goes for a relatively inexpensive $400.

Reply
 
 
Dec 29, 2018 09:50:42   #
BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL
 
Bogy2830 wrote:
Greetings,
I am a active grandmother who likes to take photographs, mostly of landscapes and people, especially my grandkids at their music events and everywhere else.
I am using a Sony DSC-HX50 that I purchased shortly after they came out. I am strongly disappointed with the picture quality and very rarely get a nice crisp picture. I often wonder if it is because this particular camera did not come with the Zeiss Lens feature. My previous Sony was a DSC-H10 with the Zeiss lens that I loved and just plain wore out.
I am not an expert by any means, I just love getting a great crisp picture of family and landscapes.
I have always used Sony but I find it a little disconcerting that Ugly Hedgehog bloggers are predominantly Nikon users, only because Sony has always been my brand of choice. My daughter has a Nikon DSLR 3200 and loves it and says I should go this route, but I don't know if I want to be bothered changing lenses.
So, if I upgrade.....what should I consider. Is Sony the answer or should I look for a different brand. Would prefer to stay with a bridge camera concept.

Suggestions to consider would be welcomed as I ponder upgrading.
Greetings, br I am a active grandmother who likes ... (show quote)


Why not just upgrade to the DSCHX80? It has the Zeiss lens.
https://www.sony.com/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/dsc-hx80

Reply
Dec 29, 2018 10:22:37   #
jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419
 
Bogy2830 wrote:
Greetings,
I am a active grandmother who likes to take photographs, mostly of landscapes and people, especially my grandkids at their music events and everywhere else.
I am using a Sony DSC-HX50 that I purchased shortly after they came out. I am strongly disappointed with the picture quality and very rarely get a nice crisp picture. I often wonder if it is because this particular camera did not come with the Zeiss Lens feature. My previous Sony was a DSC-H10 with the Zeiss lens that I loved and just plain wore out.
I am not an expert by any means, I just love getting a great crisp picture of family and landscapes.
I have always used Sony but I find it a little disconcerting that Ugly Hedgehog bloggers are predominantly Nikon users, only because Sony has always been my brand of choice. My daughter has a Nikon DSLR 3200 and loves it and says I should go this route, but I don't know if I want to be bothered changing lenses.
So, if I upgrade.....what should I consider. Is Sony the answer or should I look for a different brand. Would prefer to stay with a bridge camera concept.

Suggestions to consider would be welcomed as I ponder upgrading.
Greetings, br I am a active grandmother who likes ... (show quote)

You have a 20.4 megapixel camera. You should be able to get sharp photos unless you are using it incorrectly, in which case a better and more expensive camera won't help. Unsharp photos are usually the result of incorrect shutter speed for the movement of the subject or the movement of the camera during the exposure. You may be moving the camera while you are pressing the shutter release.

Take several photos of stationary subject, without zooming in, at different shutter speeds--increasing the shutter speed until you find a shutter speed that results in a sharp photo. That will be your minimum shutter speed for non-moving subjects for no zoom. (probably somewhere between 1/30 and 1/120 of a second)

Repeat the process with the lens zoomed all the way in--this will result in a higher minimum shutter speed. (probably somewhere between 1/800 and 1/1600 of a second)

If the subject is moving (an animal or a child), you may need to increase the shutter speed to 1/800 or 1/1600 of a second to get a sharp photo.

Reply
Dec 29, 2018 11:05:06   #
cdayton
 
Your camera is 20mp with image stabilization, gets decent reviews and should definitely be capable of reasonably sharp images. Check you settings and try higher shutter speeds.

Reply
Dec 29, 2018 11:14:53   #
alfeng Loc: Out where the West commences ...
 
Bogy2830 wrote:

... I don't know if I want to be bothered changing lenses.


This may be stating the obvious ...

... But, just because a person may own a camera which has interchangeable lenses does NOT mean that they ever have to change the lens which may be on the body to another one ...

One reason why cameras are often equipped with a ZOOM "kit" lens, now, is because they supersede the first-and-often-only option (for some people) of a 50mm lens which most 35mm cameras came with in the past.




Reply
Page 1 of 3 next> last>>
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Main Photography Discussion
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.