[e_baer]

I have no more than 400$ to spen on a camera. I would like to get a good quality digital camera. I know nothing about cameras, but would like to learn about them and what to look for.

Can you all suggest cameras, and tell me why they are better than any other camera.

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!

-E_Baer

[thelastmucci]

Hey Elliott I was thinking the same thing but I also know nothing about cameras but my friend how is brilliant and has a SLR suggested bhphotovideo.com really great site. I also suggest following up with any camera that you want with a comperative reviews on CNET.com. It's kinda funny I was going to post this exact same topic tonight but you beat me to it. I have about 250 to spend.

[Jeremy0322]

My girlfriend has a sony cyber-shot and from first hand experience it is a piece of poo. It broke about 3 months after we got it. Flash stopped working and then the memory card reader went. My personal preference would be to go with something like a kodak, i have heard only good things with their digital line. Pretty much the deciding factor in the camera world though is MegaPixels. You can get a 12.1 these days for around 400.00 so that is probably your best bet. Bestbuy.com has some good cameras to look at and if you are like me i like the bulky digitals, they look really sweet with the big lens on them.

[e_baer]

my preference would to have a cemera that can get different lenses and will have manual zoom.


but thanksfor those sites, i would prefer first hand experience and see photos fromthat camera too.

my parents have a kodak something or other, and it is nice, but not for close up, and sometimes it doesnt focus on the right things in the pics.

[stephaniesquires]

Elliot - what do you want to use it for??
There are so many types of cameras these days it really depends on your main purpose.

I have 2 35mm cameras. One an old Olympus for black and white still photography. A newer Cannon 35mm with option for automatic functions, and manual options (manual is great for taking artistic shots!!). Both of those have telephoto lenses, macro lenses, fish eye lenses etc... great for artistic and creativity, but when I'm going to Disneyland with my nieces and nephews, I take a compact digital, easier to carry, point and shoot, etc..

Do you want to take actions shots - people moving around - or still shots, portraits, landscapes etc...
The whole megapixels thing only matters when printing the pictures. If you are going to have them printed at a professional shop they have the ability to get the clarity the higher megapixels offer, if you are using a home printer, most dont have the ability to print in the higher range. You can print great pictures at home with an HP printer (look for the vivera color logo)...
I like Cannon quality, even though I used to be an Olympus fan...

[e_baer]

i want a camera that isvery versitile(sp?)

I am not so interested in the action shots.

[stephaniesquires]

[quote=e_baer;47810]my preference would to have a cemera that can get different lenses and will have manual zoom.

They dont make many manual cameras anymore - my suggestion, look on e-bay and find an older Cannon, Nikon or Olympus that have lenses - the older manual cameras had lenses that would only fit their own brand. Some camera shops sell older cameras. And if there is something wrong with it they can be fixed - my old Olympus has a borken light meter - solution, old hand held light meter!!

Cannon makes the EOS Rebel xt, that is both manual and digital, but it is pricey and lenses are expensive too... it takes some great pictures!! (I have one)

Great - now you have two expensive hobbies!!

[e_baer]

yeah, i have more than 2 expensive hobbies whcih probably isnt good.


but thanks for the info!

[Jeremy0322]

Look into the Canon Rebel then. When me and my friend worked for the school that is what we used and they were really nice. I dont know if it will fit the budget but they have many lenses and everything was saved digital which was also really nice. It was a really nice camera, a little bulky, but definitely worth the money.

[krissy]

Check Dell.com. They always have great deals on there. My husband sells them through work and he is always telling me how they got a 10 megapixel for under $200 and stuff like that. Dell has the warranties too. They sell Sony which is supposed to be a really good brand. I know thier camcorders are from experience.

[e_baer]

ive been looking at the rebel, VERY nice, too bad it is 7-1000$

[e_baer]

i was looking at canon....

CANON POWERSHOT S3IS DIGITAL CAMERA

think it is a good camera? It is manual or auto zoom.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I have a canon EOS XTI and my sweety has a canon a570is and we gave them both quite a work out while on vacation.If you want a digital slr there is only one on the market,all others are cheap copies lol.And that is the canon xti.For all the bells and whistles it has you can still take it out of the box and take pictures with it in two minutes.The detail is absolutly marvelous.I made an enlargement of one frame to slightly larger than 11x14 and the detail was still excelent.The 18mm to 55mm lens that comes in the kit worked flawlessly.If I could figure out how to put a pic in the forum I would do it.(Photobucket says it wont work for me because it doesnt work with sprint and I dont see what that has to do with it).

[Tonz of fun]

Well its all in personal preference. The difference between a d40x and the d80 from nikon is size. My huge man hands could never use a d40x comfortably. You want to go with a cannon or a nikon. I have both. I can tell you that I enjoy the nikon more but the cannon has a plethora of lens options that the nikon doesnt. I would vote for a nikon. Once you get a base I can tell you or sell you some good glass for it.

[thelastmucci]

Elliott.....the power shot is a good camera but if you want manual controls (manual means youcan control it) and different lenses then you going to have to go with a SLR...to be honest with you I don't think they make any "worthwhile" ones at 400. However the Cannon Powershot is an excellent camera and if I'm not mistaken has manual zoom not just optical which is something you need to watch out for...when cameras they have 1000000 x optical zoom...well things can't be zoomed in that far its the other kind of zoom you have to look at. Anyway I hope this helps and yea having expensive hobbies is no fun.

[Tonz of fun]

Originally Posted by e_baer

i was looking at canon....

CANON POWERSHOT S3IS DIGITAL CAMERA

think it is a good camera? It is manual or auto zoom.

Be cautious of cameras that use regular batteries. You will end up pulling your hair out. Try finding one with a rechargeable lithium battery. Yes you can buy a rechargeable AA batteries but cameras like that will eat up batteries like there is no tomorrow. I also think that you can not change lenses.

[Tonz of fun]

Used Canon | EOS Digital Rebel XTi Digital Camera Kit | 1239B001 This would be a amazing starter camera. It comes with a base and glass/lens. I know its more then what you wanted to pay but I think you would be a lot more happy with it. Also I get everything camera related from those guys and they are awesome.

[Krazy]

Get a nikon cool pix 5700 used, has changeable lens and all that decent stuff.

Ebay search "coolpix 5700"

[glasta]

I love the Samsung NV10. I went to my g/f's cousins wedding and some dude had it and i fell in love. small and 10 mega pixels. He said he got better pics with it than his pro camera most of the time.

[stephaniesquires]

Tonz of fun;47860]Used Canon | EOS Digital Rebel XTi Digital Camera Kit | 1239B001 This would be a amazing starter camera. It comes with a base and glass/lens. I know its more then what you wanted to pay but I think you would be a lot more happy with it. Also I get everything camera related from those guys and they are awesome.[/quote]

That is one of the cameras that I have - takes great pictures, manual and automatic, and easy to use. rechargeable battery and you can find off brand lenses that will fit. I'm at the office now but if you wnat to see some of the pics I've taken I can send you some....

Great price too - I spent a lot more (got it at Best Buy...)

[Tonz of fun]

You guys can see the pics i took in hawaii. I used a Cannon 30d and Nikon D80. The pictures speak for themselves. You want to get a SLR if you can...

[e_baer]

well, thanks for all the links, ill have to look everything over. I wont be getting anything till feb cuz that is when my birthday is.

[Tonz of fun]

Just tell mom and dad that its a investment and that you only turn 19 once hahaha. And if that fails tell them you will give them 2 bones to help with the purchase lol.

[e_baer]

haha.....if wost comes to worst, ill just throw in some of my own money.

but im saving every penny i get for macna next year! driving down there at 15mpg is expensive!

[Tonz of fun]

You should ask for a honda civic for your birthday instead. lol