Please help!

Hello everyone,

I got two digital cameras for the holidays, a Nikon 5200 and a Pentax S5i.

Like everyone else, I am looking for high quality photos! The last camera I had was a Canon S400 and I was really disappointed with the image quality so I am really hoping for better luck this time. I will be using the camera for work, travel, and general everyday use.

Thanks so much for your help!!!!

Tasha-
Welcome to the site, Tasha. I hope we can help. You didn't really ask a question, though. Are you asking which camera you should keep? Have you checked the reviews to see what you can learn there? And what didn't you like about the S400. Generally, people like the image quality from that and other Canon cameras. Can you be more specific about what you didn't like? It may be a general compact digital camera problem and something you'll encounter with either of your new cameras.

Please give us some more information so that we can better help you.

By the way, I went to Cupertino High School for a couple of years. So I'm happy to help, neighbor :)

Thanks neighbour!!!

Sorry about the lack of info. Some of the things I didn't like about the Canon was the fact that the colors in the photos did not seem vivid enough. When comparing my photos of a desert with my friend;s photos taken at the exact same moment (her camera is a Nikon 3200), her colors were brighter and seemed clearer.

I read some reviews but couldn't find any reviews by users on this site. So basically, I was just wondering which camera I should keep. I also was wondering which camera takes better photos in low light.


Btw, I think you may know my cousin, Vlad. He worked for Consumer Review for several years :)

Thanks!!![

Funny. I do know Vlad. I was checking up on him through his Web site a few weeks before Christmas. We e-mailed a few times, too. I envy him his big journey. And I wonder if he'll be back with us when his long vacation is over. We like him :)

Back to your camera.

The Nikon 3200 and 5200 both came out last summer. The only real difference, as far as I know, is that resolution. The easy answer is if you like the photos from your friend's 3200, you can expect the same thing from the Coolpix 5200. It's the image processing that makes the images look the way they do. And that should be the same with both cameras.

If you still have the S400, check the menu and see if you have saturation controls. If you do, try increasing the saturation. That might help. Every camera manufacturer has a different idea of how digital photos should look. From your description, it sounds like Canon's default settings might be more conservative than Nikon's. Most cameras have controls so that you can control the look of your photos. And even if they don't you can always change them with Photoshop or some other editing software. However, if you want as simple a process as possible, and you like the look of the Coolpix images, I think the 5200 should do the job. It's the sure thing. You might want to compare it to the Pentax, while you have the chance, though.

Hope that helps. Let us know if you have more questions. And say hi to Vlad for me :)

I have an S400 and have been very happy with the results. Two things may be happening here:

1. Bump the saturation up. I think the S400 calls it "vivid colors." I use an editing program so I keep things at a lower level in-camera.

2. I am betting that the dfference in clarity is due toin-camera sharpening. Canon is very conservative with sharpening. Sharpening can be added but, once there, can not be removed. Canon leaves things somewhat soft and lets you apply the best amount for each image in imaging software.

You can bump up the in-camera sharpening by setting a higher value in the menus. Be aware that most beginners set the sharpening too high at first and, as taste develops, start turning it down. Experment, after all, shooting is free!

Other than noise (IMHO, Canon is probably the cleanest overall), there isn't really all that much difference with image quality between P&S brands. Before spending more money, go through the manual for the S400 and set the parameters the way you like them.