A DSLR Camera, I'm not sure, can anyone help

bodhrandude

I asked my family to chip in for a decent DSLR camera for my birthday, the problem being I know zilch about cameras.
I have a small Sony camera (cyber shot) which is OK, it takes reasonable pictures and videos, but the quality is pretty brutal for night shots. I work at a few of the summer festivals and like to take shots of the installations during the day and night time, the night shots can be a hit and miss and often the shot will just be too dark to take in proper detail. The videos of some of the concert sets (I use this as part of my review technique) I usually only take a few minutes clip to emphasize the group I'm reviewing, but again if its a subtle light show the quality can be very dark and lifeless.

So I'm hoping to get a DSLR camera, one that is capable of taking nice night shots with the ability of the old cameras using 1600 film, can this be done on a digital camera and can be capable of taking decent video quality clips with more detail too. Also a camera that wouldn't cause festival or gig security to refuse me entry into the arena, so a compact enough camera that also has decent DSLR capabilities. Can anyone help me out or point me to such a camera.

Edit: Mods if this is in the wrong section just move it and sorry for the bother.

muppetkiller

What's your budget ?

bodhrandude

Maybe about 200 or 250 euros, is the Galway Camera worth checking out I wonder, do they do second hand cameras, thanks for replying.

Nerro

A bit low...your best bet would be troll adverts.ie for a deal...

dinneenp

Learn to walk before you can run/ a poor workman blames his tools.

Learn the basics for low light/night shots-
What's the highest iso level your camera will shoot before pic quality suffers?
What's the slowest shutter speed you can use without blurring?
Learn how to hold the camers to reduce shake - two hands, elbows in, up to your eye if possible, even slow breathing help
Highest aperture which is the lowest f number
Use continuous burst mode.

Bear in mind most Dslr don't have auto focus during video but most compacts do....

muppetkiller

Budget is fairly low but maybe have a look at this little beauty
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pentax-Expert-Compact-Digital-Camera/dp/B00AYAQM3U/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1392295277&sr=1-2&keywords=mx-1

Gets great reviews and lovely image quality for the price..
Otherwise push your budget up a little and get something like this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-X-S1-Digital-Optical-Tiltable/dp/B006JV9Q9A/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1392295406&sr=1-1&keywords=x-s1

This camera is normally reduced on amazon.co.uk on Wednesdays to £229/249

PopeBuckfastXVI

bodhrandude wrote: »

Maybe about 200 or 250 euros, is the Galway Camera worth checking out I wonder, do they do second hand cameras, thanks for replying.

They are quite expensive, you won't get much for your budget there.