Need camera recomendation

[dnavarrojr]

I need to replace my digital camera. And as much as I'd love to buy a brand-new D40, it's not in the budget.

I've got about $400 to spend (and that's stretching it) and I was thinking... Whatever model you professional photographers used last year or the year before should be sufficient and would probably be in my price range used on eBay.

So I'm looking for recomendations.

Thanks!

[Tarafrost Profile Private messageWebsite]

Doubtful. Pro photographers have been using the D2X/D200 (Nikon) or 1DS Mk II/5D (Canon). All of those bodies will set you back more than a grand, used, and that's typically without lenses.

You might be able to find a Nikon D100 (which is about 4-5 years old now), or equivalent Canon for under $400 used. I have one and still use it...great camera, if a bit dated on some features (no iTTL for flash, slow write to CF cards, older focus/exposure system etc.). The D70 is a great body (my wife has one, and I "borrow" it when I need a 3rd body for things like wedding shoots when I want a wide, normal and long telephoto quickly to hand), but it's newer and will be pricier. For example, right now on eBay, a used D70 body alone is in the $350 range, and with the 18-70 kit lens you're up over $400 by quite a bit. D100 bodies (no lens) seem to be coming in in the low $300 range. You might find a deal on a used on with a lens or two within your budget, but it will take some looking.

But I wouldn't recommend a used DSLR if you can't afford the D40. The problem is that you'll have no money for lenses. And good DSLR photography is about lenses. Decent all-in-one lenses for DSLR's have only recently appeared, such as the 18-200 Nikkor (which I will probably get early in July to add to my collection). Problem is, that if you want that kind of all-purpose zoom range (rather than the more limited semi-wide to portrait kit lens that comes with entry level DSLRs (like the 18-70 or thereabouts that the D40 kit comes with). these lenses are not cheap. The 18-200 (if you can find one, they're still in a bit of short supply in some places) run a grand just for the lens!

I would suggest that you opt for a good point and shoot, that has a decent resolution (in the 6-10 megapixel range), low shutter lag time (that is key....you want the pic to snap as soon after you hit the button as possible) and with a large zoom range for the built in lens.

You should be able to find a decent such rig in your price range, either used or new.

And don't forget....there is no "i" in "camera".....it's the "eye" behind the camera that matters, not the equipment itself.

My 2 cents worth.

[gpsmikey Profile Private message]

Hey Andrzej -- when you order that Nikon 18-200, why don't you have it shipped
to my house and I will be glad to check it out for you and make sure it is working
good

I agree with most of the things that Andrzej said -- much depends on what you are
going to be shooting though. For me, low shutter lag and quick start-up times are
essential (I justified my D70s camera to my wife for shooting the kids soccer games and
you can't have any delays with sports ... well, maybe for chess )

I have the D70s (newer version of the D70) with a cheaper ($200) Sigma 70-300 mm
lens on it and really like it, however that is out of your price range (I would be very
cautious buying cameras on eBay ) If you are not into shooting action shots, then
you can live with more shutter delay and power up time (say you are into sceenery
pictures for example). My wife and daughter both have Canon A640's (I think that
is the one). Very nice camera, small/compact, uses AA batteries and a SD memory
card. Here is one link to the Canon Powershot A640 you might want to check out:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4 ... amera.html
It is also very easy on batteries.

While I agree that a DSLR is nice, if you buy something cheap, you may simply
find yourself frustrated and out the $400. DSLR is definitely a step up in $$$
and a good point and shoot (one of the newer ones) can give some really great
pix. As Andrzej indicated, the "i" behind the camera is the most important.

mikey

[Tarafrost Profile Private messageWebsite]

Hey Andrzej -- when you order that Nikon 18-200, why don't you have it shipped
to my house and I will be glad to check it out for you and make sure it is working
good

Umm....maybe not.

But if you come up for a visit to the greater Toronto area (I'm 1 hour north of TO), then I'll let you borrow it, and my 70-200 f2.8 and my 12-24 ultrawide and play with my D200 too, along with a personal/private tour of the Bear Creek Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary.

Oh....and I have a full service garage. Two beer fridges. One for bottles and another with a full keg of local microbrew ale on tap. And a full cupboard of single malt to wash down moose and venison steaks on the barbie.

How's that for an alternative offer, eh?

[nannybear Profile Private messageWebsite]

Sounsd gound but where is the wine............................ J

[Tarafrost Profile Private messageWebsite]

Sounsd gound but where is the wine............................ J

That comes from my wife's upstairs office when something crashes!

Oh...you mean the other kind of wine.

I have a 100 bottle wine cellar in the basement, so it's kept at the perfect temperature, so not to worry, Jan! If you ever make it up here you and your hubby will be well taken care of. You and Dana can whine all you want and your hubby and I will go down to the garage where the beer is and will practice being curmudgeonly!

Though by the spelling of "Sounsd" it sounds like you don't need any more wine right now. LOL

Speaking of curmudgeons, your hubby might like this book. I have a copy...it's wonderful!

[gpsmikey Profile Private message]

Hey Andrzej -- when you order that Nikon 18-200, why don't you have it shipped
to my house and I will be glad to check it out for you and make sure it is working
good

Umm....maybe not.

But if you come up for a visit to the greater Toronto area (I'm 1 hour north of TO), then I'll let you borrow it, and my 70-200 f2.8 and my 12-24 ultrawide and play with my D200 too, along with a personal/private tour of the Bear Creek Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary.

Oh....and I have a full service garage. Two beer fridges. One for bottles and another with a full keg of local microbrew ale on tap. And a full cupboard of single malt to wash down moose and venison steaks on the barbie.

How's that for an alternative offer, eh?

Sounds good (actually it sounds like my boss's house - two fridges
in the garage just for beer and that sort of stuff and a table in his
house with enough hard stuff on it to make the local glass banks
jealous!! If we ever get back and up that way, we will look you up
and say hi !!

mikey

[Mike S.]

I've got about $400 to spend (and that's stretching it)

No personal experience with either of these two cameras but the user reviews seem quite positve:

IF IMAGE STABILIZATION IS NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR YOU:
FUJIFILM FINEPIX S6000FD
- $312.99 w/ free shipping from amazon and $50 rebate from Fuji should make it $262.99
- 6-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 14 x 19-inch prints
- 10.7x wide-angle image-stabilized optical zoom
- 2.5-inch LCD display
- Face Detection indentifies human subjects' faces in the frame and optimizes exposure
- Dual shooting mode takes two pictures, with and without flash, for you to choose between
- Powered by 4 AA-size batteries; stores images on xD Picture Cards
- I believe it has a live histogram to see exposure "before" snapping the photo
- Fujifilm cameras are known for one of the best low light photos
- CON: No real image stabilization. The advertised one just boosts the ISO.

IF IMAGE STABILIZATION IS A REQUIREMENT FOR YOU:
Sony Cybershot DSC-H7
- $378.60 from amazon with free shipping
- 8.1-megapixel Super HAD CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 16 x 22-inch prints
- Carl Zeiss 15x optical zoom lens
- Does have optical image stabilization
- 2.5-inch LCD display
- I believe it has a live histogram to see exposure "before" snapping the photo

I helped a friend buy a Sony DSC-H2 when it was the latest thing and she loves it. The Fujifilm S9100 sells for $389.83 with free shipping on amazon and though it lacks a couple of features that the S6000fd has, it does have the advantage of having a hot shoe and flash sync port.

[DickK Profile Private messageWebsite]

Another thread with this discussion:

http://www.proshowenthusiasts.com/viewtopic.php?t=3876

There are a number of superb cameras available in that price range. Mike has mentioned two and the one I have as well, the Fuji S9100. A significant factor to consider is the "feel" of the camera in your hands--does it feel natural? do the controls end up in places where you expect them or can easily learn to use them? does the zoom function act smoothly? Other things to look at are shutter lag and whether the batteries are easily and inexpensively replaced.

Dick

[dnavarrojr]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the advice and I now have a MUCH better idea of what to look for.

My local Wolf's Camera is having a big 4th of July sale the weekend of the 29th and a guy I talked to who works there said that I could spend a few hours trying out a number of cameras there with their "expert" to help me. I believe I'm gonna take him up on it.

--Dave

[MG - Admin]

Dave:

After you spend some time touching and playing with the various cameras during the sale weekend you might want to go to BH Photo to compare prices. You might find the prices to be quite favorable at BH and worth the short wait to have it shipped. No sales tax, and minimal shipping costs. I've saved hundreds on my equipment buying through them versus buying them close to home at the local Wolf shop. Very reputable, and great customer service. It's just a thought.

Good luck!

Mike