SLR recommendations?

[esperanza]

My mom is getting us a new camera, which is awesome! We have a digital point and shoot, which is fine, but I know another camera would take better pictures. We'd like to get an SRL camera, but I know pretty much nothing. As much as I love looking at photography, I'm not a photographer. I'll probably never take it off the automatic setting, sadly.

I don't have a lot of time to research. Ideas on where to start? I know Canon and Nikon are good. Not really sure what the price point is, but we don't need anything super, duper fancy anyway since I'm just looking for a camera that will take good pics on automatic.

[KarenBoo]

I have a Canon, and it's fine. But I wanted to say that if you don't plan to take it off of automatic, you might be better with a point and shoot. I say this because of my experience with my own cameras. I have dabbled with a few beginner photography classes. I was "hired" as the official photographer of my Kitten's 5th grade, so I had to attend all of the events and take pictures for the yearbook.

I found myself often frustrated with the "auto" setting on my SLR camera. There are many times that the auto setting on my SLR simply can not take the picture I want. Yes, I can shoot in manual, but I'm not that good. I would often pull out my small point and shoot camera to take the same picture as my SLR, and the P&S camera would get a better shot. Even cell phone pics turned out better than the "auto" pics in my SLR - regularly. I would do that when I was at an event and there was just a flurry of activity and I needed to take a lot of pictures fast. I didn't have time to dabble with my manual settings and get them just right.

So I really do enjoy my SLR camera, as long as it is *not* in auto. For the auto pics, I rely on my P&S.

Now, my disclaimer to all of that is that is just my own experience. I know nothing about cameras to actually be able to give technical advice. I would probably visit a camera shop to ask their opinions too.

eta: I love Costco's packages on the SLR cameras. And if you don't like the camera, you can take it back!

[esperanza]

That's interesting. I'm sure that point and shoots have come a long way from what we have now. My mom has an SLR and just has it on automatic all the time. The pictures are so much better than any I take, with no effort on her part. My phone is old, and the camera is sooo slow. I'm hoping to get a new phone soon, and I'm sure the camera will be light years better too. Definitely planning on going to our local camera store too to get their suggestions.

[Calliope]

My husband is the random Sony DSLR user. He loves his. A lot of bang for your buck compared to the other options. Check www.dyxum.com for a whole bunch of fantastic Sony DSLR addicts.