View Full Version : What to get?
0scarTheGrouch
11-14-2004, 11:48 AM
In no way am I hardcore like you guys, but I want to get a decent camera not much over $300 and quite honestly I don't know how to choose. Any recomendations? I saw one thread asking a similar question but didn't want to spend more than $1000 :shock:
I think in the price range you're searching, I would go for either the Canon A95 or the Sony Cybershot W1 (or W12) (400-500 EUR => 350-400 USD I guess). These cameras rate very well in test reviews
You will not find better image quality in the higher MP models, that are a lot more expensive than those two ( in fact I have a magazine here that rates their Image Quality above that of all 7&8 MP digicams)
sugar
Tony7683
11-15-2004, 10:27 PM
Aye, they are pretty evenly matched, with the Sony's autofocus lacking, but the canon lacking NiMH batteries included. But, you must ponder on whether you're going to be bitten by the bug or if you're the type of person to quell urges to splurge on hobbies. If you can settle for a 5mp compact for a while, then you're set. But if you are going to want another camera right away once you realize how good of pictures you can really take with such good cameras, the smart choice is to save your pennies and study photography so that when you get your new camera you can tear it up old school and have no learning curve at all. The choice is yours really, depending on your impulses. Good luck!
Tony
jasno999
11-30-2004, 9:26 AM
Point and shhot or DSRL
Nicholo
11-30-2004, 11:06 AM
Those are both P&S digicams, Jasno. Also, it's SLR, as in single lens reflex. :)
OTG, I would recommend saving a few more $$ like Tony said, and getting a better camera, one that has better manual features and a nice lens. I would almost recommend finding a used but great condition Sony 717, my first camera, and a great learning camera. You should be able to get ebay for under $500 and it's a great EASY to learn camera that is full featured, and has a GREAT Lens. Ask melissa, Dracofish, she uses it still and look at her pics...
jasno999
11-30-2004, 2:54 PM
YEah what can I get used that would be good for me starting with the SLR? I want something that has all the manual features but I want to spend as little as I can.
the least expensive digital SLR (DSLR) is the one I have , Canon DIgital rebel, about $750 new. As far as other non-slr cameras, check out www.dpreview.com and look for cameras w/manual features.
jasno999
12-01-2004, 8:45 AM
Thanks. I noticed a lot of manufactures list their high output/hogh mag cameras as DSLR types but in reality the yare nto SLRs at all. THat is frustrating.
I dont know about that. If it has exchangeable lenses, it's pretty much a SLR. Hard to fool someone :)
jasno999
12-02-2004, 7:41 AM
Yes by many of the ones that do nto have interchangable lenses are still listed as a SLR or a SLR-type camera. They try to fool you
i've seen that. very misleading for people who all they know is they want a digital "slr" camera because someone told them any dslr is better than p&s. they probably see it on the box, and they're sold. look a $500 digital camera that's slr!
example:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=299963&is=REG
wow, jason and hiro, I did not know that could even be possible, it's an obvious thing. Shame
jasno999
12-02-2004, 12:09 PM
YEs I agree. They do it for marketing. And I am sure a lot of people are fooled by it. But my guess is people that do nto realieze that don't really need or want a true DSLR anyway. They want point and shoot with some manual features. And I think that is what I want now. I want a biger camera with more optical zoom and all the manual goodies now to add to my small p&S 5MP Konica digital.
Suggestions welcome.
Nicholo
12-03-2004, 1:11 AM
B&H is a reputable dealer, as I'm sure most know. Perhaps it is a mistake, or there is some terminology gap that I'm unaware of (why is SLR paired with EVF in that description [electronic viewfinder]?). If you search for SLRs on their page, you will not bring up the FUji s7000. Also, it is a common descriptor to refer to a camera that has a similar body style as typical SLRs (such as that Fuji) as an "SLR-like" camera. For example, I recall that Phil Askey does this on DPReview often. The other potentially confusing term is ZLR, which stands for "zoom lens reflex," referring to cameras with high zoom capability, although since I'm embarrassingly ignorant about exactly what "lens reflex" means, I can't make sense of that term. Cameras like the Minolta 7Hi, that Fuji, the new crop of 8mp like the Sony 828 are all sometimes referred to as ZLRs.
Jasno -- What is your price range?
b&h is very good, hopefully my coupling rings and filters come in from them by tomorrow. ok nicholo i'll attemt to explain what i've recently learned about cameras. as far as the term "reflex" goes -- it means reflected. on slr cameras, the light comes in through the lens, hits a mirror, is reflected up into a pentaprism or pentamirror viewfinder where it is reflected into your eye. in essense you are more or less looking out of the (single) lens -- kinda like a periscope. when you hit the shutter release, the mirror flips up out of the way and the shutter opens, allowing the light to come straight in from the lens and expose the film (or in digital cameras -- the image sensor). slr meaning only 1 lens is used. they also have tlr(twin lens reflex) cameras. in these one lens is for exposing the film, and the other goes to the viewfinder for composing your shot. you might have seen some medium format cameras like this that are "TLR" cameras.
[http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/rollei35fx.jpg]http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/rollei35fx.jpghttp://
that is what is meant by single lens reflex. other cameras have rangefinders, or pretty much a square hole covered by glass that are etched or has some sort of "centering" marking so you can kinda get the subject centered. "zoom lens reflex" refers to cameras that do not have removable lenses. evf cameras use an lcd coupled to the lens to compose images. the image comes through the lens and exposes the image sensor, with no mirror in the way to link the lens to an optical viewfinder. that is also why dslr cameras aren't able to capture video. there is a mirror between the lens and the sensor, that only moves to expose the sensor.
if i'm wrong about any of this, please let me know.
another example
http://www.adorama.com/IPCDMCFZ10S.html