 BetterPhoto Member |
What type of digital camera to purchase? I recently changed my major to photography and need to purchase a camera. I have just been using my boyfriends digital camera (some random crappy thing), but the lens recently broke, so I need to buy a new one...soon! I would love to buy an SLR, and I will in the future, but since it was his camera that broke, I want to buy a nice digital camera so that he can easily use it too, and we don't have to worry about developing our photos. I will use it to take photos for my classes and so on, so I would like it to be of decent quality. I'm looking to spend from $400 to $600. I know Canons are great cameras, but anything else that you have personally found to work well, just let me know! Thanks for your time, any advice is appreciated!
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Nick Jones |
"I would love to buy an SLR, and I will in the future... I want to buy a nice digital camera... and we don't have to worry about developing our photos". Hi Kelly, I'm confused. Are you suggesting that you're gonna learn the basics of photography with a point and shoot??? I HAD to use an SLR for my school course. Maybe things have changed... Nick.
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Tareq M. Alhamrani |
start with DSLR, I started with point and shoot and then first entry level DSLR, but I found myself I learn very fast so I ended up with 7 DSLR and new digital medium format, and now I am asking myself: why I didn't buy better camera from beginning? I don't use my entry levels cameras so it is like I wasted my money, really things changed these days and it is easy to learn fast from many resources including the books, internet, face to face courses and so, and in my opinion to start with good enough higher level DSLR will be more economical than start with entry level or P&S and then keep upgrading and replacing, buy the best and keep learning on it to its limits rather than with simple cameras then stop in a limit to use another one with better and higher performances, those features and performances are there to help in many conditions not just saying any camera can do the job and the photographer is the key, a good photographer without a good tool for different situations and conditions can't wait a miracle to do something, he will pray that his tool can help me when they can't [due to its limitations], so think carefully before choosing and start with any camera. Best Luck!
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Carol Teal |
Kelly, it sounds like you think you must have a film SLR camera. You can buy a digital SLR (DSLR) and not have to develop film. I would also think you need an SLR for class, but that would be a good question to ask. A point and shoot would probably have limitations that would not work for some assignments. Right now might be a good time to look at Circuit City as they are going out of business. Since you can't take it back to the store if you have problems, and Circuit City had a very limited refund policy to begin with, you can contact the manufacturer about an extended warranty once you buy. I purchased my Olympus camera from Circuit City and bought their extended warranty plan and found I could have purchased it for less at Olympus' site. I got a 2 yr extended plan which has since expired, and while I never used it, it was nice to know I had that additional protection. Now, what camera to buy? Look online or even much better, go to a store and look at several. Pick them up, hold them, etc and then write down 2-3 that is in your price range. Write down what you like/dislike about those you choose, based more on looks, size and ease in holding them. Then go to http://www.dpreview.com/ and use their comparison feature to compare the 2-3 cameras you like. If the features are similar enough, then use your sheet where you wrote down your likes/dislikes about each camera and then make your choice. That's what I did and I am happy with my choice. Of course, I wish I could upgrade now, but it will have to wait a bit. However, I will use this process again when I want to choose a new camera.
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doug Nelson |
Go with a digital SLR, UNLESS your instructor insists on starting with film. Consider Pentax, a K10D new or slightly used, or , in your price range, the K200D or smaller K2000. These come with a zoom, but you can forego the zoom and use a K, M or A-series manual focus prime lens. Resolve to forego the 'scene modes" and other silliness and set the camera to manual.
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- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
Hi Kelly, With the release of newer DSLRs from Nikon/Canon, you can find great deals on older cameras. I would check craigslist, etc for Canon 20D, 30D and see what you find. I know the 40D & 50D have much better features and all but if $$ is an issue, consider a little older DSLR. I've seen 20D's with a decent lens posted for $500 several times on craigslist. Camera bodies will come & go as newer ones are always coming out, but invest in quality lenses as these will last you many years to come and outlast many cameras along the way. my .02 - Carlton
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