If I am just getting started in photography, what camera should I start with?

[hunter]

I've just started to take interest in photography about a month ago, but I have no camera to use other that my phone (which has crappy quality). I'm looking for something that can pictures while the object is moving (like someone crossing the finish line) and something with more than 7 MP. I would prefer it to be Kodak, but I'm willing to try out other things. My price range is anything below $125. Any suggestions?

PS- I also want something I won't have to order online, AKA something I could find at WalMart.

 

[Photogirl]

cannon makes some great point and shoots in the 100-200 dollar range. please don't buy kodak, sinc ethe days of film they have gone down down down hill. they may have hit the wall. cannon rocks, nikon is pretty good (its like coke and pepsi). you want action shots with multiple frame to click off at once(so whne you hit the shutter like 4 shots go off each time) so make sure the camera has that (its a little man in motionon the dial)
check ebay for cannon point and shoots. I bet you find one for like 50 bucks as opposed to almart for $150.

 

[casperskitty]

Yeah, I have to disagree with anyone telling you to only look at Nikon or Canon. That is the most ignorant piece of advice.

Panasonic and Sony are making some great cameras. And Olympus and Pentax have some great cameras too.

But what someone said about you not finding a P&S for what you want is pretty right on-unless you want to spend $500-1000 for a glorified P&S.

I agree with getting an SLR. If you really want digital, and I don't blame you if you do because processing film gets very expensive, you can find a used entry level digital SLR on craigslist for under $200. I see the Canon Rebel and Nikon d40-d60 models there at a steal all the time. They are the main ones I see because there are just so many of them out there and so many people upgrading to a newer camera. You could get a great starter camera for a fraction of its original cost. Just check your local craigslist photo/video section.

By the way, ordering online is my preference. I buy from B&H and Adorama and I get great shipping costs and often get free shipping on expensive items. They also sale used items. I have paid hundreds less by buying online than I would have buying locally.

 

[gatewaycityca]

Sorry...but you are NOT going to find anything that fits what you want for the money you want to spend. No way. For $125, you could get a cheap digital point and shoot camera, which is fine for snapshots. But not real photography. It sounds like you want to take a lot of action shots, and point and shoot cameras are horrible for that. The shutter lag will drive you absolutely crazy. You press the button, and 1 or 2 seconds later the camera will finally take the picture. Then you have to wait again for the camera to save the image file to the memory card. That obviously isn't going to work if you want to take photos to freeze action.

If you want to take a lot of action shots and want an affordable camera, then I'm going to suggest a 35mm SLR camera. (yes, FILM!) The reason is that mechanical film cameras have NO shutter lag. The instant you press the button, the shutter fires and captures a picture. It's absolutely instantaneous. That's the only way you're going to be able to take pictures to freeze motion. And you can find a vintage 35mm SLR in good condition for fairly cheap.

The only cheap digital cameras you'll find at Walmart will just be point and shoot cameras. They're fine for snapshots, but won't do what you want.

If you absolutely have to have a digital camera, then save up your money for a DSLR. But if you want a good camera right now that can take good quality pictures with no shutter lag, then get a 35mm SLR film camera. I would recommend a Minolta camera, like the Minolta SR-1 or SRT-101. The Pentax 1000 is another good vintage SLR camera that a lot of students use.

So you decide...$600 for a DSLR. Or get a good used 35mm SLR film camera that will take great pictures, probably for less than $100.