Sony cyber-shot 14.1 megapixel?

When first getting into the BJD hobby, I immediately wanted a camera. A camera that wouldn't completely break the bank... so I went and bought a Sony Cyber Shot 16 MP camera. However, before opening it, I did a lot of reasearch into what I wanted my camera to do, without me having to edit it much (As I don't own fancy photoshop CS or any thing higher). (This was before I was on DOA.) I started poking questions around on deviant Art to ask several doll owners what their thoughts on owning a Sony Cyber Shot was. What I got back was this: If you don't mind the editing, it doesn't really matter what kind of camera you have. Not everyone has the funds to buy the newest or greatest dslr on the market. I know I didn't! The Mega pixel count doesn't necessarily mean that you are getting a better image, but that you are able to take a bigger one. Its not so much what you have, but how you use it, and how you work with it. I ended up getting a used Canon Rebel XT (Which is 8MP) and I find that since I'm not really blowing up my pictures to huge porportions, it works for me better than the higher MP Point-and-Shoots. However if you are a snazzy editor and don't mind fuzzing out the backgrounds on your images, then I say go for it. (The problem with P&Ss is that they tend to bring everything into focus- simply because that is the way they are designed. They are designed to provide automatic focusing with little user hassle. The dslrs simply allow you to be more creative in your focal ranges and similar desired effects.)

In the end I went from about $312 for all of the Sony Cyber Shot goodies I bought, to about $400 for a used Canon Rebel XT dslr. So the price difference wasn't too bad. Especially since the XT came with two lenses, multiple memory cards and batteries, a bag, computer hookup, software for the camera, and etc.

I think it would be a lot more of an effort, but would be really neat to show your before and after editing shots on the related forums here if you decided to keep and use the Cyber Shot.

Again, its not really what you have, but how you decide to use it. Maybe using the Cyber Shot will give you some time to work on the photography basics- while in the meantime you can do more reasearch on dslrs until you find one that you particularly like. Not necessary... though. It is what ever you feel comfortable working with.

My main piece of advice here though.... don't feel pressured to keep up with all the dslr owners out there. Keeping up with the Jone's was never an easy task. Haha.

I'm not too sure on the settings that could be used on the cyber-shot- I believe that most point & shoots have micro settings as well (should be a little flower icon)... however compared to the micro setting on dslr? I'm not too too sure of how much of a difference it will be other than with zooming/different lenses with the dslr allow one to get closer to the subject.

I hope this helped a bit though.

Cheers!

 

I'm not sure if this will help, since I have an older model Sony cybershot camera, but they might have kept it on as a feature?

Though the "macro" button doesn't really help all that much IMHO, there is a feature under the menu where you can "re-touch" your photos right on the camera, and there's one in which you can actually blur around a selected point.

I have very little experience with DSLRs, but it gives it a somewhat similair effect? I'm not sure. You can always play around with the camera and see =)

Hope that helps~

 

Have you ever looked into getting a DSLR used? I got a Nikon D40 with a bag, charger, 4gb memory card, and kit lens for about 300. You can definitely get a good learning DSLR for a price that won't break the bank! Have you looked into Sony's lines of DSLRs at all? They're really nice as well. C:

I think the only thing I have against the cybershot is that it is a point and shoot and has no manual features that you can really fiddle with yourself or the option to change the exposure. If I had a choice between a used DSLR and a point and shoot, I would get the DSLR simply because it's more freeing in taking pictures of dolls. Sure you have to learn how to work the thing, and at first it can be very, very, frustrating, but once you figure it all out, it's fun.