Photography gurus, to me!

[merithyn]

I'm seriously considering buying a really good camera. We've been traveling a lot more, and I always take a crap-ton of pictures with my phone. But they're hit-or-miss with that, of course. The problem is that I haven't really had a "good" camera since film was a thing.

So, what camera would you choose if you had a budget of $500?

EDIT: I'm thinking specifically of SLRs.

[Liep]

https://www.dpreview.com/

Your one stop source on all things camera.

Personally I'd recommend buying a Google Pixel or an iPhone 7 and keep taking photos with your phone. Those two cameras are more than capable of taking good pictures and how often do you really need to zoom?

[Monoriu]

I am definitely not a photography guru, but my impression is that at your budget level, there really isn't that much difference between a camera and an iphone. 

[katmai]

Are you looking at the ability to change lenses?  I'd pick Canon rebel t6 or if want lightweight the Sony.

But yeah the i6-i7 phones and other camera phones are pretty good.

[CountDeMoney]

My Dad got a D70 and took a couple of non-credit courses at the community college to learn how to use it, and I mean really learn how to use it.

[CountDeMoney]

Personally I'd recommend buying a Google Pixel or an iPhone 7 and keep taking photos with your phone. Those two cameras are more than capable of taking good pictures and how often do you really need to zoom?

This Meri here. We go balls deep, or not at all. 

[katmai]

My Dad got a D70 and took a couple of non-credit courses at the community college to learn how to use it, and I mean really learn how to use it.

what else do you need to know besides where the auto shot is??

[CountDeMoney]

My Dad got a D70 and took a couple of non-credit courses at the community college to learn how to use it, and I mean really learn how to use it.

what else do you need to know besides where the auto shot is??

It's got all those dials and shit on it. Learned how to get low-light photos done, different speeds. 

I know it's all junior varsity stuff for you, Mr. Panavision, but it's quite an improvement for him over vacations with the old 110 and flash cubes. 

[katmai]

Ah memories.  And seriously good for him.

[merithyn]

My Dad got a D70 and took a couple of non-credit courses at the community college to learn how to use it, and I mean really learn how to use it.

This is what I'm thinking of, too. If I'm going to get a good camera, I'm going to learn how to use it right.

[merithyn]

Personally I'd recommend buying a Google Pixel or an iPhone 7 and keep taking photos with your phone. Those two cameras are more than capable of taking good pictures and how often do you really need to zoom?

This Meri here. We go balls deep, or not at all. 

Hell yeah. GO BIG OR GO HOME!

No, the thing is that I used to do a lot of photography when I was younger. I learned all the dark-room stuff and everything. I loved it. Then I married a man who believed very firmly that he was a photog expert, and any "playing" that I did was "cute". I got bored with competing with him, and I was too busy with the kids, anyway.

Now, with the traveling that we're doing, I'm finding limitations with my camera phone when it comes to close-ups and low-light situations. I want something that will give me less noise in low light, and that will allow me to change up the ISO and use the right lenses for the right kinds of shots.

Not something that I'm going to jump into, by the way. This is a "I want to save up and get the right thing" for a beginner with a DSLR.

[Syt]

https://www.dpreview.com/

Your one stop source on all things camera.

Not what I expected from a page called DP Review.

[Valmy]

No, the thing is that I used to do a lot of photography when I was younger. I learned all the dark-room stuff and everything. I loved it. Then I married a man who believed very firmly that he was a photog expert, and any "playing" that I did was "cute". I got bored with competing with him, and I was too busy with the kids, anyway.

Oh for....what exactly was so attractive about this guy?

[Eddie Teach]

I am definitely not a photography guru,

I think we'd be hard pressed to find one on the forum.