I just bought this camera! Opinions!

It looks pretty good (esp. that 13fps mode), but I find that all superzooms give up something in terms of quality, and 10MP jammed into a smaller sensor usually doesn't resolve near the advertised amount.

APPLEFAN8 said:

Should be good for high speed photo's.

Click to expand...

No, SLRs are faster. With the SLR you trip the shutter and there is zero delay. The image is captured exactly at the split second you want. The SLR will also have very much better optics and allow you to shoot with at higher ISO and therefore faster shutter speed. You can get into a good used SLR for about $350

APPLEFAN8 said:

What do you guys think of it? I use it at the drag strip to catch the cars at 200 mph. My dad bought it for me since I've made a name for myself in the drag racing category for photos on a drag racing website. How is this? I think its wayyy better then my Kodak.

http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/coolpix/p80/index.htm

Click to expand...

What had you been using before?

Yes it's not a bad camera. But, it won't even touch a used DSLR in terms of image quality and speed. It's not all about FPS, because with non SLR cameras there is a delay from when you press the shutter release, and when the shutter actually opens. IMO, save up and get a used DSLR or even a new starter DSLR in a few years.

Don

APPLEFAN8 said:

I will thanks for the advice.

Click to expand...

No problem. But don't go and think that your camera is a piece of crap because it's not.

Don

Buy it, use it, love it... You will probably outgrow that camera eventually but in the meantime you will be improving your technique and learning more about the technology while getting better pictures than with what you have right now... but I predict that eventually you will only be willing to settle for the image quality and superior handling of a dslr camera.

Not meaning to dis the OP or the camera he bought, but having seen a few threads like this on the forum over the past year or so...

Wouldn't it make more sense to ask opinions, oh, I don't know - BEFORE buying the camera?

Westside guy said:

Not meaning to dis the OP or the camera he bought, but having seen a few threads like this on the forum over the past year or so...

Wouldn't it make more sense to ask opinions, oh, I don't know - BEFORE buying the camera?

Click to expand...

From what I understand, his Father bought it for him, which probably means that he had no idea that his Father was buying it fir him. But yea, I do understand what you're saying.

Don

P.S.

I love your avatar, isn't it the "Picasso logo"?

Motorsports photography will be very limited with a point and shoot. Too much shutter lag. You also want something that can do 3-5 shots/sec. I agree that getting a used SLR is better not only for the improved shutter and sensor you get, but for more options in terms of lenses.

Dmac77 said:

P.S.

I love your avatar, isn't it the "Picasso logo"?

Click to expand...

Yup!

APPLEFAN8 said:

Hey guys guess what I cancelled my order because they said it was in stock but it wasn't and i'm not going to try and wait and then my event I'm taking photo's for let it pass. So maybe i'll look into a SLR camera!

Click to expand...

You're gonna need an SLR if you really want to pursue the race photography. No way around that. I looked at your photos, and they look really nice....

If you don't mind some feedback/advice, the cars look like they're standing still & as a result the pictures lack a sense of motion and action. This is because your shutter is too fast. What you need is to switch to a lower shutter speed and start developing a good panning technique. Try using shutter priority and start shooting around 1/200 sec, give or take. That will give you some nice wheel and background blur and give the photos a sense of action going on. Check the link in my sig and you'll find plenty of examples in my photo gallery. I also have a race picture thread https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/483841/

Of course, you'll be very limited doing this with a P&S camera because of the shutter lag and inability to shoot in continuous mode.

APPLEFAN8 said:

Thanks RaceTripper! I was thinking about getting the Nikon D40 but the thing is I keep thinking if the megapixel's aren't high then the photo won't be any good! I saw your photo's and they are awesome! What kind of camera do you use? My mac price is like 330 but I'm sure I can find one cheaper. Thanks

Click to expand...

6mp is more than enough, they'll look and print better than the vast majority of photos from compacts, 12mp or not. No camera made today has too few pixels for reasonable print sizes. At any rate, the lens would become the problem.

APPLEFAN8 said:

Thanks RaceTripper! I was thinking about getting the Nikon D40 but the thing is I keep thinking if the megapixel's aren't high then the photo won't be any good! I saw your photo's and they are awesome! What kind of camera do you use? My mac price is like 330 but I'm sure I can find one cheaper. Thanks

Click to expand...

More megapixels do not necessarily mean better quality photos.

APPLEFAN8 said:

Thanks RaceTripper! I was thinking about getting the Nikon D40 but the thing is I keep thinking if the megapixel's aren't high then the photo won't be any good! I saw your photo's and they are awesome! What kind of camera do you use? My mac price is like 330 but I'm sure I can find one cheaper. Thanks

Click to expand...

I use a D200 with a Nikkor 70-200/2.8 AF-S VR. This is not a cheap rig. But a D40 is a great starting point. Check out KEH.com for used cameras. Very reputable, and they always have stuff that is in better condition than they even claim.

The D40 has plenty of resolution. I agree what the others say about Mp count, to a point. You will find that you do a lot of cropping. With that said, I can do 100% crops and still get great prints at large sizes. At 6MP, the D40 will be very worthy as a starter SLR and will serve you well. In any case, it will be way better for motorsports than any 10-12 MP point 'n' shoot you can find.

APPLEFAN8 said:

So what SLR Camera should I get?

The Nikon D60
http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-SLR/25438/D60.html

or

The Nikon D40
http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-SLR/25420/D40.html

Click to expand...

For motorsports you might consider getting a used D40 and try to get a 70-300 lens to shoot with. The D60 and D40 you linked include a slow 18-55 lens, which are OK for portrait and wide angle stuff (paddock, people, etc) , but will have very limited usefulness for shooting the race cars. I don't know much about drags, but for sports car racing you need to be able to reach 130-180 mm minimum. Longer is even better (wish I had a fast 40mm prime).

APPLEFAN8 said:

Well I just ordered my D40 with a 18-55mm lens all for 350.00! I'll buy a better lens in a month or 2 but this one should be good for right now. Thanks for all the help RaceTripper. I'm just waiting for my mom to come home so I can get the Credit Card! lol I'll order a lens in a little. I bigger and better one.

Click to expand...

Good for you! Enjoy, and post some pictures when you start using your new camera. You will never regret stepping up from a P&S even if it seems like you're giving up some features.