camera
- Thread starter bethanyj1
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Hi Bethanie and welcome to TP
Your outline is a little vague, perhaps you could expand?
What camera are you using now and in what specific way are you finding it deficient?
You mention indoor and outdoor, then cars. So are the cars static in this outdoor situation or running as motor sports.
Any advice needs more detailed info including in regard to what are you expecting the camera to do (function) that your current does not do.
Lastly, can I suggest you delete the duplicated post as that could dilute and confuse any answers.
PS there is IMO no such thing as the best when it comes to cameras
plus how much are you expecting to spend?
Your outline is a little vague, perhaps you could expand?
What camera are you using now and in what specific way are you finding it deficient?
You mention indoor and outdoor, then cars. So are the cars static in this outdoor situation or running as motor sports.
Any advice needs more detailed info including in regard to what are you expecting the camera to do (function) that your current does not do.
Lastly, can I suggest you delete the duplicated post as that could dilute and confuse any answers.
PS there is IMO no such thing as the best when it comes to cameras
plus how much are you expecting to spend?
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As you ate struggling please can you post some pictures that show what you find OK and others that are not good. Include both the indoor and outdoor ones
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Generally the person behind the camera is more important than the camera itself. There is no camera in the world that's "the best" or can guarantee good results regardless of who's using it.
A bit like cars really - there is no "best" or "fastest", it's a combination of car, driver and road.
What's your budget? And realistically what's your skill level with a camera? - if you just want to "point and shoot" and not worry about the settings then the answer will be very different to if you're keen to get stuck in and learn how it all works. Again, very like cars.
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If you wish to purchase something similar to an A58 then there are some similar SLR cameras in that pricerange (The Sony isn't an SLR but looks similar to one!). Nikon D5300, Canon 6xxD (Sorry i'm not so knowledgeable on prosumer Canon SLRs) to name two.
You could also look at the Sony A6000 if you would like to continue using Sony cameras. It's often best to pop in the shop and give them a go, all of those models at the similar pricepoint will be able to take a very comparable photo in the way that you describe! Most will come with a Kit lens you can try out before deciding whether to invest in different lenses..
You could also look at the Sony A6000 if you would like to continue using Sony cameras. It's often best to pop in the shop and give them a go, all of those models at the similar pricepoint will be able to take a very comparable photo in the way that you describe! Most will come with a Kit lens you can try out before deciding whether to invest in different lenses..
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+1 
Alastair's post sums up what I would have added.
Alastair's post sums up what I would have added.
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Three options probably (assuming the issue is that images are too grainy or smudgy indoors):
1. Buy a lens with a faster maximum aperture and stick with your existing camera, using a lower ISO setting
2. Buy a camera with better high ISO performance e.g. Sony a6000, Fuji X-T1 or a full frame camera such as a Canon EOS 6D
3. Buy a monopod or tripod to keep the camera still at slower shutter speeds and lower ISO settings with your existing lens
1. Buy a lens with a faster maximum aperture and stick with your existing camera, using a lower ISO setting
2. Buy a camera with better high ISO performance e.g. Sony a6000, Fuji X-T1 or a full frame camera such as a Canon EOS 6D
3. Buy a monopod or tripod to keep the camera still at slower shutter speeds and lower ISO settings with your existing lens
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Car shows sound like you have the freedom to move around and choose your position. If so then a good cheap prime lens such as the "plastic fantastic" Sony 35mm f1.8 for your A58 may be your cheapest upgrade to really good low light performance. But you would have to be happy with the fixed focal length, no zoom.
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Guys
All good advice and pointers to and about cameras & lens but she can spend all the money she wants and still not get the picture quality she is seeking because we haven't a clue as to just what is not right about the pictures she has been getting so far.
Without some posted images to illustrate the "problem" plus an insight as to her skill level and understanding of how to get the best from any camera buying newer kit is not going to help.
It is not the camera that takes the picture but the person holding it, if that person in not using it as well and carefully as possible to get as good a picture as possible then no improvement will happen just because they buy a new camera.
Without her knowing & understanding why the pictures are not coming out the way she wants and whether as a result what changes she can make to the settings and camera control to improve she will not get better pictures simply by buying a "better/best" camera. Posting examples will aid more informed usage advice.
To sum up what Alastair says in the first paragraph of his post........user error is the commonest cause of 'why can't I get better pictures with my camera' or how often has the phrase been uttered "why doesn't my camera take better pictures...."
Yonks ago I recall a true story of someone who wanted to get pictures like a pro so he bought a Nikon F4 (yes the film days) and bemoaned that the pictures were no better if not worse than his old compact camera, saying there must be something wrong with the camera because it must take good pictures as that is what the pro's use!
All good advice and pointers to and about cameras & lens but she can spend all the money she wants and still not get the picture quality she is seeking because we haven't a clue as to just what is not right about the pictures she has been getting so far.
Without some posted images to illustrate the "problem" plus an insight as to her skill level and understanding of how to get the best from any camera buying newer kit is not going to help.
It is not the camera that takes the picture but the person holding it, if that person in not using it as well and carefully as possible to get as good a picture as possible then no improvement will happen just because they buy a new camera.
Without her knowing & understanding why the pictures are not coming out the way she wants and whether as a result what changes she can make to the settings and camera control to improve she will not get better pictures simply by buying a "better/best" camera. Posting examples will aid more informed usage advice.
To sum up what Alastair says in the first paragraph of his post........user error is the commonest cause of 'why can't I get better pictures with my camera' or how often has the phrase been uttered "why doesn't my camera take better pictures...."
Yonks ago I recall a true story of someone who wanted to get pictures like a pro so he bought a Nikon F4 (yes the film days) and bemoaned that the pictures were no better if not worse than his old compact camera, saying there must be something wrong with the camera because it must take good pictures as that is what the pro's use!
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I really don't think you need to buy a new camera. Although I'm not familiar with it myself, a quick search on Google tells me the Sony A58 is a 20mp APS-C camera. It seems an excellent camera to me and should be perfectly capable of capturing all kind of shots and be fantastic for car shots, static or otherwise. It sounds like you are struggling with lighting more than anything. Without knowing much about your photography experience i would advise by starting to learn how to expose correctly (Google the "exposure triangle") then practice as much as possible. If you are still struggling with lighting in certain situations, you may need to start thinking about using flash, and specifically off camera flash. Have a look at this site:
http://www.strobist.blogspot.co.uk/
There is an excellent Lighting 101 which is a good place to get started. As has been mentioned above, throwing money at a new camera won't help you (even if you really want one and have the money spare to get it). Spending the time to learn how to use it to it's full potential is where you will get most value.
http://www.strobist.blogspot.co.uk/
There is an excellent Lighting 101 which is a good place to get started. As has been mentioned above, throwing money at a new camera won't help you (even if you really want one and have the money spare to get it). Spending the time to learn how to use it to it's full potential is where you will get most value.
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Try asking the guys in this part of the site https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/talk-motorsport-and-transport.95/
They should be able to help you get the best out of the camera you have already. showing the poor results and explaining how they were taken will help others help you.
Edit
Have a look here to see what others have done with that camera
https://www.flickr.com/cameras/sony/alpha-slt-a58/
https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=car&cm=sony/alpha-slt-a58
They should be able to help you get the best out of the camera you have already. showing the poor results and explaining how they were taken will help others help you.
Edit
Have a look here to see what others have done with that camera
https://www.flickr.com/cameras/sony/alpha-slt-a58/
https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=car&cm=sony/alpha-slt-a58
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