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Cameras What type to get?

Metrodps

Metrodps

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OK couldn't figure just where to post this and since it is tech I put it here.

What cameras do you guys use?

Here is the criteria pictures of the land close to and for the view of area (distance). Wanting to take some video of like doing the steps on Black Bear and panning of the mountains or wildlife.

I do have a Pentax K1000 35mm with a few lenses and a 1 mega pix HP c200 camera. I want something better to use for the trip. So talk to me about what you use and cost.
 
No one uses a camera here????? :rolleyes:
 
I have a Panasonic DMC-FZ7 with a couple of lenses. I've had this for a coupe of years and I really like this camera. I was looking for a camera with a high optical zoom rather than looking for a high digital zoom. It has a 12x optical zoom. I also wanted a camera that had a manual focus option and features of a 35mm camera. This camera also has video and audio recording.

Depending on what you want to do with the pics, most people can get away with a 6 MP camera. This gives you a really nice 7 x 10" photo at 300dpi. If you are planning on printing at higher resolution or larger photos, then you will "need" a higher resolution camera.
 
I use Canon Rebel XD digital SLR. I have one lens currently, but if I need more I can borrow them from my dad. I have been looking at picking up a few more lenses, but the 18-55 that I have now works for nearly everything. Take a look at my blog to see some resized pics that were taken with it. It is a 6 MP, very easy to use, and the Li-Ion battery lasts for about 500 - 600 pics between charges. Ever since I got it I have wondered why I stuck with compact shooters for so long, it just outperforms nearly all the cameras on the market, and the picture quality is superb.
 
nikon d-50 or d-70

Or see if There is a good digital body that will work with the senses you have now. That way you can upgrade just the body. That should cost less than body and lenses.
 
Ah, I miss my old K1000.

Currently, nearly all my photography is done with a Nikon Coolpix 7600.
It was fairly inexpensive, and the 7mp resolution has worked extremely well for my purposes. The video function works well for web publishing, but I wouldn't want to create a movie DVD with it.

I also have a JVC HD video cam, which works better for motion pics, but I don't have it handy right now for model #, etc.
It, conversely, does passably well with stills, but I stick with the Nikon if I'm wanting the best quality I can manage.

I've drooled over some digi-SLRs, but at the moment, with flight training and a few Blazer repairs, it's a bit down on the list.
 
Well, I'll chime in here as we have spent a good amount on a camera in the past few months. We have a 2-yr old who is into EVERYTHING & is soooo busy that we could never get a good picture of him. Sometimes with the compact digital that we had, (which was pretty nice when we first got it), the kid would get completely out of the frame before it actually "took" the picture. The delay was about 3 seconds & it was killing us. Not to mention the stupid battery door & the cost of replacement batteries. Sheesh!

All of that for this. - Canon Rebel XTi w/ a 28-75mm Tamron lens, (smokin EBAY deal on lens, around $100.00). The OE 18-55 lens did fine & still works manually. The above mentioned rug-rat pushed the camera off a low step in our basement & broke the auto focus function!

While it is big, & expensive, I'll never go back! Push the button. Immediate response. I can take 10 shots in ten seconds if I want to, maybe more. The only times I have a problem is when it's having a hard time due to low light or not enough contrast. It needs to find something to focus on, or you could manually focus it, but that definitely takes talent & practice. Another thing is, it doesn't do video or sound, purely a still frame camera.

BUT, when you talk about picture quality... it's just plain rediculous. Makes me think I could be a photographer!! The CF card that we got for it holds 1000 pictures & the batteries last for that long & they are re-chageable as well. Very, very nice!! I like the camera so much I almost won't think about another brand of camera. I'd have to get one for free or almost free to sway me.

My .02,

Buddy

BTW - I think I'd put this in chit-chat. (Of course, if you'd done that I probably wouldn't have seen it & you wouldn't have gotten my glittering review) ;)
 
In general a 4 mp digital camera gives excellant resalusion up to 8"x10" prints. 35 - 70 zoom lens would cover both wide angle and slight close up. The key to a good camera is the speed of the lens. A lens with a speed of 1:1.2 is faster ( pulls in more light and increases the shutter speed ) than a 1: 3.5 . My Cannon 3mp 35 - 70 compact uses a Leica lens ( 1:1.2) The picture quality is excellant and it is easy to carry ( light weight). Also - the battery - my camera uses 2 AA batteries available everywear. Special battery packs often die with heavy flash use, and recharging takes hours. I suggest you go to a local Public Library and review the Consumer Reports on digital cameras. They review and compare brands, options, and prices. Good luck.
 
BUDDY said:
Well, I'll chime in here as we have spent a good amount on a camera in the past few months. We have a 2-yr old who is into EVERYTHING & is soooo busy that we could never get a good picture of him. Sometimes with the compact digital that we had, (which was pretty nice when we first got it), the kid would get completely out of the frame before it actually "took" the picture. The delay was about 3 seconds & it was killing us. Not to mention the stupid battery door & the cost of replacement batteries. Sheesh!

All of that for this. - Canon Rebel XTi w/ a 28-75mm Tamron lens, (smokin EBAY deal on lens, around $100.00). The OE 18-55 lens did fine & still works manually. The above mentioned rug-rat pushed the camera off a low step in our basement & broke the auto focus function!

While it is big, & expensive, I'll never go back! Push the button. Immediate response. I can take 10 shots in ten seconds if I want to, maybe more. The only times I have a problem is when it's having a hard time due to low light or not enough contrast. It needs to find something to focus on, or you could manually focus it, but that definitely takes talent & practice. Another thing is, it doesn't do video or sound, purely a still frame camera.

BUT, when you talk about picture quality... it's just plain rediculous. Makes me think I could be a photographer!! The CF card that we got for it holds 1000 pictures & the batteries last for that long & they are re-chageable as well. Very, very nice!! I like the camera so much I almost won't think about another brand of camera. I'd have to get one for free or almost free to sway me.

My .02,

Buddy

BTW - I think I'd put this in chit-chat. (Of course, if you'd done that I probably wouldn't have seen it & you wouldn't have gotten my glittering review) ;)
Click to expand...


I have a Cannon A610 4x zoom,takes ok movies,I can set the shutter speed 1/600 or more I think..Use`s 4 recharable AA`s.I bought a charger and 4 A`s + 4 more AA`s for $40.Holds 300 to 1500 pics depending on quality. It was under $350 total at Target.I should have gone on line , butI see something I want I have to have it NOW....
 
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Just get any New cheapest digital SLR, all the new ones are better than previous expensive ones.
 
Mike D said:
Special battery packs often die with heavy flash use, and recharging takes hours. I suggest you go to a local Public Library and review the Consumer Reports on digital cameras.
Click to expand...

I will argue with you about that, my Canon Rebel uses a special battery pack, and under full flash usage it will take about 3-400 pictures. It also takes about an hour and a half to recharge and it is ready to go again. For what I have spent in AA batteries for compact cameras, I could have bought another Rebel. Perfect pictures, and no worry about batteries = Win/Win in my book.
 
lectric80 said:
I will argue with you about that, my Canon Rebel uses a special battery pack, and under full flash usage it will take about 3-400 pictures. It also takes about an hour and a half to recharge and it is ready to go again. For what I have spent in AA batteries for compact cameras, I could have bought another Rebel. Perfect pictures, and no worry about batteries = Win/Win in my book.
Click to expand...

EXACTLY!! I bought a little video camera just a few weeks ago, & the one I got has the same battery. That is one of the biggest & main reasons we bought a new camera anyways. We must have spent 500.00 over the previous year on AA batteries & trust me, we tried EVERY kind you can think of. Regular, rechargeable, crazy expensive rechargeable. We were carrying around 8-12 AA batteries whenever we went on a "picture potential" trip & sometimes we STILL ran out of juice.

I charge this new battery up & it's good for a month. As a matter of fact, since we bought this new camera we've only had the battery completely discharged one time. But, it didn't matter because we had the "spare" from the video camera.

Later,
Buddy
 
I just got the Olymput stylus 1030. It is that real tough camera that you saw in the 4x4 mags. It takes good pics and is quick, but the zoom isn't much. It is 10.1 MP

I have taken a few pics with it, even some underwater ones and it is nice. I bought it because it was real tough. I am not easy on my stuff, or so the wife-to-be tells me.

The new digital SLRs are the way to go if you want a real good all around camera though. The ones with the changable lenses offer the most for the hard core user.
 
I agree with any digital SLR, whether it has changeable lenses or not. I have the Nikon D40 with 18-55 lens and a 55-200 lens. They can be used manually or auto focus.

I love the pics it takes and they can be blown up and still be very clear.
 
The Olympus stylus 1030 is what I plan on getting sometime soon. I also need a simple and TOUGH camera so it is the obvious choice for me. Petersens reveiwed the olymus stylus 730 I belive and the 1030 is just its big brother. If its good enough for the off road crew its good enough for me. Then again Im used to my cell phone and a vivitar vivicam 20. If you look up cheap junky camer it will show a picture of that the quality of pics is only like 1 step above my cell phone.
 
lectric80 said:
I use Canon Rebel XD digital SLR. I have one lens currently, but if I need more I can borrow them from my dad. I have been looking at picking up a few more lenses, but the 18-55 that I have now works for nearly everything. Take a look at my blog to see some resized pics that were taken with it. It is a 6 MP, very easy to use, and the Li-Ion battery lasts for about 500 - 600 pics between charges. Ever since I got it I have wondered why I stuck with compact shooters for so long, it just outperforms nearly all the cameras on the market, and the picture quality is superb.
Click to expand...

Same one I use. I have the 75-300mm lense also. I love this camera and look forward to learing all the options (software) this summer.
 
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