Best camera choice ~<$500 - General Chat - CHDK Forum
« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2 3   Go Down

Best camera choice ~<$500

  • 20 Replies
  • 8868 Views
*

Offline rastetter

  • *
  • 22
Best camera choice ~<$500
« on: 29 / November / 2009, 00:27:41 »
Advertisements
Hey, I'm a budding photographer (thanks to CHDK)

I currently have a SD800IS, and well I want to take a step up from the world of P&S cameras. Sometimes i'm just disappointed with the quality of the pictures it takes, but heck for the price ($200 at the time) I got my moneys worth.
My friend just got a SX10IS for $250 on craigslist and has taken some astonishing pictures with that thing... So that would be an option

So I wanted to spend around $300, but would probably go up to 500. I probably need to do some more research, i dont know jack about dSLR and lenses and what not. I came across a great deal on a G10, but I have heard no success stories with CHDK being ported onto it.

So anyone have suggestions/options for me. CHDK only of course :)
Logged
*

Offline Etilord

  • *
  • 9
Re: Best camera choice ~<$500
« Reply #1 on: 29 / November / 2009, 01:26:01 »
I'm no expert, but I'll try to give you the best advice I can. I guess I was in similar shoes as you.

My camera now is an SD870, however I have an XSi in the mail for christmas :D

If you want CHDK, I suggest you stick to the list. I went into the DSLR CHDK development part of the forum to see if it is possible on the XSi, and I found that progress is agonizingly slow. I would like to contribute myself, but I am in fear of bricking my camera.

The main advantage of the G10 seems to be additional controls (which you have on the SD880 due to CHDK), if you want a big difference in image quality you should maybe go for a bigger (but not necessarily more expensive) camera.

I know your choices are limited. Hope you find a good one though. :)
Logged
*

Offline reyalp

  • ******
  • 14132
Re: Best camera choice ~<$500
« Reply #2 on: 29 / November / 2009, 02:05:47 »
There aren't that many mid/high end cameras that recent (i.e. still available new), and supported by CHDK.

I suggest making list of those that are, and reading reviews. Image quality is mostly limited by hardware. In some instances CHDK will let you squeeze a little more out of a given shot, but the better hardware you start with, the better off you are.

Of the top of my head, I the realistic candidates are
SX10,
SX1 (at the upper limit of your budget and possibly not worth it if you don't need the video capability)
SX200
SX20 (not fully ported yet, but people are working on it)

Used/refurbished you might consider a G9, SX100, SX110.

I would avoid the the SD/Ixus, unless pocketability is a major consideration.

If a used or low end DSLR fits your budget, that's well worth considering even though there is no CHDK. They have most of the manual controls CHDK adds, they already shoot RAW, the sensors are better, and the optics are as good as your budget allows. The main things you lose will be scripting and pocketability.

A lot depends on what kind of shooting you want to do.
Logged
Don't forget what the H stands for.
*

Offline rastetter

  • *
  • 22
Re: Best camera choice ~<$500
« Reply #3 on: 29 / November / 2009, 14:17:43 »
THanks for both of your responses.

I need to look into DSLR's more I guess. Main things I use with CHDK are intervoltameter script for time lapses, motion detection, 60s long exposures and exposure bracketing. I assume DSLR's have some of these features? The rest yeah maybe I could do with out with hopes of them getting CHDK to work some day. My main desire is to take great pictures around NYC and some other random scenic stuff. The CHDK stuff is just kinda playing around.

I would probably prefer a used camera, I came across a G9 in my browsing of craigslist. I will look into those others. And It was my original intention to stay away from SD/Ixus cameras. The SX series seems like the most likely candidate for me. I have a few weeks so I'll start doing my research. Oh and I do take videos fairly often, so the HD video capability of the SX1 is intriguing... but maybe a bit unnecessary
Thanks again
« Last Edit: 29 / November / 2009, 14:20:11 by rastetter »
Logged
*

Offline mattkime

  • ****
  • 299
Re: Best camera choice ~<$500
« Reply #4 on: 29 / November / 2009, 14:39:48 »
reyalp - what is the best camera, optics wise, supported by chdk? is it the G9?
Logged
*

Offline reyalp

  • ******
  • 14132
Re: Best camera choice ~<$500
« Reply #5 on: 29 / November / 2009, 17:26:09 »
Quote from: mattkime on 29 / November / 2009, 14:39:48
reyalp - what is the best camera, optics wise, supported by chdk? is it the G9?
I have no idea. Sites like dpreview has lots of detailed comparisons though.
Logged
Don't forget what the H stands for.
*

Offline Etilord

  • *
  • 9
Re: Best camera choice ~<$500
« Reply #6 on: 29 / November / 2009, 18:47:01 »
np at all

Quote from: rastetter on 29 / November / 2009, 14:17:43
Main things I use with CHDK are intervoltameter script for time lapses, motion detection, 60s long exposures and exposure bracketing. I assume DSLR's have some of these features?
The XSi has exposure bracketing and long exposures, but no intervalometer or motion detection. Should be same with most DSLRs.

Quote
You also get software which allows you to remote control the camera over a USB cable from a PC or Mac, including the ability to preview a live image on your monitor and even focus the lens.
The XSi also has an infrared remote shutter release (you can buy for $20), and maybe you can do some cool stuff by hooking the camera up to a laptop.
« Last Edit: 29 / November / 2009, 18:48:41 by Etilord »
Logged
*

Offline Etilord

  • *
  • 9
Re: Best camera choice ~<$500
« Reply #7 on: 29 / November / 2009, 18:50:38 »
not saying you should get an XSi, I'm just overly excited about getting it as you can probably tell. :D
Logged
*

Offline rastetter

  • *
  • 22
Re: Best camera choice ~<$500
« Reply #8 on: 29 / November / 2009, 20:51:56 »
The XSi looks like a great camera... reviews seem to be the best of anything I've seen. I found one on craigslist for $400 with a lense. Its probably gonna be another 2-3 weeks before I make any decisions. Gotta finish up school and move first. But if I can get one for $400 used that is definitely an option. I'm curious about what kind of 'cool stuff' you can do by hooking it up to a laptop. As long as you can shoot/focus/change settings using PC, I'm sure you can ghetto rig some 'scripts'... at the very least by using some sort of mouse recording/playback macro type prog.

I doubt it runs of USB power when plugged into the computer? that would be neat too, or maybe there are power adapters available. I looked into getting a power adaptor for my SD, but didnt find anything promising.

Logged
*

Offline barret

  • ***
  • 125
  • S3 & a550
Re: Best camera choice ~<$500
« Reply #9 on: 02 / December / 2009, 05:42:43 »
Quote
Sites like dpreview has lots of detailed comparisons though.
true. that's probably one of the best sites to search info on cams. and http://steves-digicams.com/ might be useful too.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2 3   Go Up
« previous next »
 

Related Topics


SimplePortal © 2008-2014, SimplePortal