Digital Dilemma

I love pictures. I got my first camera before I went to the Dominican Republic after 9th grade on a mission trip with my church, and I astounded myself with how many pictures I took - 2- or 300 in 10 days. For such a trip now, that number would be on the low end. On our honeymoon I took 400, and we were only there 6 days. (I would have taken more but didn't want to neglect my new hubby!) My favorite part of facebook is that you can look through albums and albums of pictures. I love it when people go on fun trips in the summer that I can look at. I could also design a new album on Shutterfly every week if I had the money, time, and reason.

One thing that has bothered me for the past few years in taking pictures is that you look and see a beautiful scene, but you just can NOT capture that with a little point and shoot camera! It's frustrating because I think I have a good eye for photography, but can't get the results I want. To solve this problem, I have wanted a DSLR ever since that Nikon D40 commercial where Nikon gave cameras out to everyone in "Picturetown" to show that anyone can take awesome pictures with a DSLR camera. I put that thought on hold for awhile because the cameras are really expensive, but it has been my dream item on my Christmas list for awhile now.

I thought about getting a nice camera last year because I knew I would be going to some cool places, but it wasn't the right time (don't want to take a new $500 purchase to a third world country). I love islands and I'm trying to sell Whit on the idea of going to St. John for our 5-year anniversary (or possibly sooner ;)). Assuming that we go, I figured I would get a DSLR before the trip so I could really capture it (I also wanted to get an underwater camera, which I did get before Jamaica, and unfortunately did not get to use underwater at all). A bunch of people I know got DSLRs for Christmas this year, and I started thinking about reasons I should get a camera now too. So, after thinking about it a lot, I decided now is the time to buy! I think I should get one now because Whit and I will be in Colorado for 6 weeks this summer for New Staff Training for Campus Crusade for Christ. How disappointing would it be to see that magnificent beauty and not be able to capture it!! Another reason is that if I'm going to get one eventually, I might as well get it now because I would use it a lot, and it would be a great hobby (I've been pretty bored this winter).

Now that you know my life story about wanting a camera, I'll introduce you to the two I'm looking at buying!

The Canon Rebel XS

The Sony NEX-3

The intro to this post is super long, but my purpose in writing this was to write about the pros and cons of each, so I will do that anyway, so if you're still interested, keep reading!
I will start with the NEX because it's way more unique than the Rebel.
The NEX is actually not a DSLR. It is, however, an interchangeable lens camera that functions like a DSLR. You don't have to know exactly what that means, but just know that it was made for point-and-shoot users who want to upgrade but aren't willing to haul around a big DSLR. There are some competitors on the market, but it's definitely in a unique category. The selling point? It's half the size and half the weight of a typical DSLR. If you've ever held one, you know how big of a deal that is. The camera, excluding the lens, is not too much bigger than a regular point-and-shoot. The big difference and possibly downside is that there are very few buttons on the camera. Sony specializes in electronics (unlike Canon and Nikon) and strayed from the typical DSLR by putting manual controls and settings in the menu instead of in separate buttons on the outside of the camera.

(Sidenote: I am buying one of these cameras so that I can learn to shoot manually on it. What I have learned from reading my wedding photographer's blog is that if you're going to be a professional photographer, you need to shoot 100% manually so that you can be in complete control of your image, and thus people are buying your work, not the camera's. If you recall from my Travel Guide post, I would love to be a professional travel photographer one day and if I'm going to work toward that at all I need to shoot manually. Also, I think it will be fun to learn! Besides, if you're going to pay upwards of $500 for a camera, why use the auto setting?)
Okay, pros and cons!
Pros:
Lightweight
Small
New technology (possibly a groundbreaking improvement?)
I would actually carry it around (can throw it in my purse!)
Easy to use & easy to switch from the point-and-shoot world
Friendly interface
Easy to figure out what to do - gives tips & suggestions for settings
Digital display of image before you take a picture
I think it would be fairly easy to shoot manually (esp since I haven't had a DSLR before)
HD video! (this feature would be AWESOME for Phish shows this summer!!)
Cons:
There are only 3 lenses available for it now without buying an adapter (although 7 are projected to come out within the next 2 years)
The zoom lens offered is really expensive, even on Ebay since it's pretty new
That zooms lens isn't even a great lens (you would get it to replace the lens that comes with it so you don't have to carry around 2, but it is so big that it kind of defeats the point of having such a small camera)
I would potentially sell it in the next few years when I am ready for a real DSLR
A replacement is rumored to come out in April...but I want to buy a camera now!

Okay, the Rebel. This is a price-comparable DSLR in a good brand that has been recommended.
Pros:
I could learn how to shoot a real DSLR manually (it has the typical buttons and interface)
It's very similar to the beginner camera recommended by my fave photographer, Katelyn James ;)
Easy to get lenses
I wouldn't have to upgrade it (unless I used it for my job - not gonna happen for like 20 years if it ever did)
Good package deal
Cons:
Not anything out of the ordinary
I don't like having to look through the viewfinder to take a picture (though I learned today that you can set up "live view" on the Rebel as well!)
Intimidating interface
No tips - have to know how to do everything
Would maybe be too afraid to learn it or too annoyed to lug it around & actually use it
No video
Basically, I really want the NEX because it's new and cool, and after trying both cameras in the store, I like the NEX way more (it's really similar to a point and shoot). Whit thinks that if I am planning on selling it in a couple of years, it's not a good investment. The more I look at it though, I think I could keep it for awhile - especially if they do release the lenses they are planning on. Another problem is that the more I read about each one, the more pros and cons I find! I'll be pretty set on one camera and then find out something about it or the other one that completely throws me off. Good grief.
Out of my current pros and cons list, what it comes down to are these questions:
How much do I really want other lenses?
How much do I want HD video?
Is another model of the NEX coming out soon?
Would I want to sell the NEX if I got it? How much would it sell for?
Ugh - such a tough decision! I'm actually excited about making it though because 1) it will force me to deny myself of something I want instead of just buying both (definitely can't justify buying two $500 cameras) and 2) I know will really love whichever one I end up with! So, until I decide, I will keep reading my photography book about exposure (how to use the camera...that I don't have yet) and researching! :)