If I want to take great photographs, do I need a DSLR or can I get away with paying $150-$200 for something like a Nikon Coolpix L340?
I'm looking for a camera that can replicate what the eye sees, which is not something a phone camera for instance is capable of. If I take a picture of the moon with my phone for instance, all I'll see is a blurry white dot. What sort of camera can pass this moon test?
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>>3071088
You don't know what you want or need, or if what you think you want even exists. If you think you do, you fucked up before you even started.
read the sticky before posting
>>3071135
That doesn't answer my question and I'll thank you not to shitpost in my thread.
>>3071088
>I'm looking for a camera that can replicate what the eye sees
Doesn't exist. What is close to it is a Sony A7s with a Stanley Kubrick's 50mm f/0.7 lens.
>What sort of camera can pass this moon test?
Any camera with a 15000mm lens (24x36 equ.)
>Nikon Coolpix L340?
Aahaaahhaaa. No.
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>>3071088
You can take "artistically" great (at least to many) photographs with a smartphone. Or tits or cute kittens, they'll get even more views more easily.
Great in terms of technologically great (good image reproduction with good color accuracy, fast shooting speeds, and a lot more things) are all basically on MILC / DSLR and professional film cameras with matching lenses.
Ideally you'd take a higher end camera setup for ~$5k-7k or so even just for the "eye" sight. [Good photos of moon is 1-3 times as much again for a decent to great telescope.]
Plus then upgrades to your PC, storage, backup, printers, software expenses... at least it's pretty cheap as compared to how early photography was like, it's not throwaway expenses for most people.
Arguably, I figure like many here you'll have not enough motivation and will -if you buy anything- get some MFT or APS-C or low end FF DSLR/MILC somewhere under $2000 as a compromise. Maybe even somewhere under $800.
>>3071253
You realise the eye has a 2.0 equivalent aperture,right? We see better in the dark because our visual processing is so good, not pure light gathering.
>>3071647
We see so good in the dark because we have individual ISO in every receptor and the way it detects light makes noise low and DR high.
>>3071088
You're always going to have to interpret reality using good knowledge of your gear. The brain is able to isolate and interpret what the eyes see in a way that a camera just isn't smart enough to do.
Get a decent entry to mid-level DSLR or mirrorless with manual controls and learn to use it. Point-and-shoots and bridge cameras are going to limit how well you can interpret what you see and will try to interpret things their own way with automatic settings etc.
>>3071088
>which is not something a phone camera for instance is capable of. If I take a picture of the moon with my phone for instance, all I'll see is a blurry white dot.
That's because the phone is over exposing.
Any decent phone camera will let you change the exposure or at least spot meter on the focus point.
>>3071253
>cameras can't see well in the dark.
Not even a Sony shill but god damn.
And that's just video, if you take stills you can use a slower shutter and get even better low light pictures.
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>>3071755
>not a Sony shill
Then what kinda eyes you got, compadre?!
>>3071088
>I want to take great photographs
Buy the cheapest DSLR you can find ($75).
When you start taking great photographs think of upgrading.
>>3071236
already fucked up you are, my dude
warned you and everything
>>3071764
This. Amazon's got a used Nikon D80 for $100.
>my eye lense is in the$150-$200 range
feels bad mang
>>3071828
>mfw I still use my D80 since 2007 and haven't upgraded yet
>>3071088
Taking a picture of the moon involves a tripod and a very fast aperture. Here are some ideas, but you can also find other tutorials. https://photographylife.com/how-to-photograph-moon/
However it will be better if you take a DSLR, doesn't have to be the latest stuff but you need at least something that starts at 200 ISO, or best 100.
>>3072744
That's true, i've heard the smartphone on telescope can work somehow.
This is what I could get out of a Canon Powershot.
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>>3075755
Looks fucking terrible lmao