Im new to photography and this site (which is really a great site) and I had been using my parents cheap camera to get used to the basics of photography. Now unfortunately that camera was stolen, So Im asking everyone; What is the best camera that I can buy on a budget of about $400 that has the right specifications for nature photography?
I bought a new "Fujifilm S5000" for a little over $400 from BestBuy. Great camera, it has a 10x optical zoom, 6 MP and a full set of features. A memory card cost extra, I found a 256 MB card for it for $85. :c)
I would also highly recomment the S5000, and I've even seen the S7000 for around $500 (worth the extra). However, if you're looking for a compact, you could go for the Digital Ixus 500 (5 mp). Only 3x zoom, but great otherwise, and you'll save money for a bigger memory card. Check out this site for decent reviews at least - and good prices tho its based in europe
I have a digital ixus V... I have outgrown it now but it has served me well and I would recommend the line (not that specific model as it is out of date). All the photos in my gallery were taken with this camera.
That is an excellent site, I am based outside Europe too but the only thing that really effects is the price. Once you decide which models are your "finalists" using DP< just go to ebay and find the prices. The cheapest prices I have found are on Ebay, even after I factor in shipping from the US prices are much better than anything I can get over the counter. Plus you can get models that are unavailable here at the moment (probably not an issue in the US though...)
I have a Powershot A80. I've very happy with it. It doesn't have amazing zoom (only 3x optical), but if you don't really need zoom capability I can highly recommend it.
For nature photography you should find out from people what factors are important, then do your own research to find the best matches. I have found that nature pics fall into three broad catagories: 1) landscapes, 2) animals, and 3) macros. For the first 2 catagories you should look for a camera that has a good optical zoom. 8x or greater is desirable. Ignore all references to digital zoom, as no serious photographer uses it. Resolutions greater than 4MP is nice, but unless you plan on printing your image larger than 8 x 10, 4MP is fine. Animal photos are best if your camera can shoot in "burst" mode where it records several photos each time you release the shutter. A good zoom is important for animals too, since they rarely let you get close to them. In any camera you buy for this sort of photography you should also look for tripod mounts and Aperture / Shutter override capability, so you don't have to rely on your camera's automatic settings. Macros are different beasts and you need a camera that can focus VERY closeup for these shots - six inches or less is good. Also a manual focus capability is worth the money, since auto-focus won't find a spider web or shoot through a window or screen.
Well i also searched a long way to find my self a camera,here are the sites i referred to :
1 www.dpreview.com
2 www.imaging-resource.com (This has different categories such as price,megapixel)
3 www.dcresource.com
Regmar: If you want to do macro, do you have to buy an SLR? I was under the impression that no other type of camera is capable of it (at least not to anywhere near the same degree).
I think macro focus is totally a function of the lens on the camera. I have an SLR that can't do macro because the lens won't focus that close. I also know that some non-slr digital cmeras support macro focus.
I know it depends on the lens; that's why I thought only an SLR was capable of true macro shots, since you can put a purpose made macro lens on it, something you can't do on non-slr's. My thinking was that a zoom lens could not do a macro shot that would compare with an SLR. Just for example, Piner, could your camera take shots as in Klas gallery or Maynes mushrooms? I need to know this stuff before I make my own purchase, I don't want to spend $1800 on an SLR if I can get something for $500 that can do everything I want it to...
The dedicated macro lenses cost much more because they eliminate the 'tunnel' effect of add-ons that renders the image with an iris or halo edge. You'll notice this also with super wide angle add-ons. But if you can't affort the real stuff, I guess it's better to have an add-on than no lens at all.
SLR. A type of camera with one lens which is used both for viewing and taking the picture. INTERchangeable lenses can be used with SLR cameras, but is not exclusively.
I've been recently looking around at digital cameras and came to the decision that I wouldn't be happy with anything less than a Canon Digital Rebel or better... so I just ended up spending $10 on film for my SLR. =)
My dad just bought a digital Rebel - it has high image quality and stuff, but apart from that it has nothing to beat my Ixus 500. I believe the main advantages of Digital SLR are decent zoom length and looking through the lense for the shot (no mistakes in framing from a viewfinder)
I think the MAJOR advantage over your Ixus would be the ability to change lenses, however if you don't need that flexibility then I can see your point.
I would have to recommend the Fuji S5000. I bought it a few months ago as my first camera ever, so it is possible to use it as a beginner. However, it gives you complete control over everything from shutter speed, manual focus, aperture, and many other things i havent even begin to understand yet. Most of the reviews i read also recomended the S5000 as a great camera. I bought mine as a starter kit with a mini tripod, rapid charger, camera case, and 128mb card for $450.
*it also takes video at unlimited lenghts (memory limited) at 30 frames per second with sound. Very good quality video compared to other cameras in this range.
This may help you Samatar. I have a Sony DSC-S85 with a carl zeiss lens. It works very well for me I use the macro setting for all my shots. If you would like any other details just pm me. but i may be to late.
Hehe, just reverse the lens on your SLR and away you go with great macro photography. It is a little awkward but works extremely well. You are limited to manual focus though becuase you have disconnected the contacts:-)
I pretty much have my heart set on an SLR now. I went to a few camera stores and I think I will almost certainly get the Nikon D70. It apparantly has a better lens and I know that unlike Canon, they did not disable the features it inherited from its big brother ( i know you can get a hack to enable the features on the canon, but it sounds a bit risky to me; surely it would void the warranty...) I also found out I can get an underwater housing for my old camera, so I think I will go with that. It costs about $350, problably more than the camera is worth now, but I'm sure that's alot cheaper than getting a custom made housing for the Nikon. I'm going to take a short photography course before I finally make the purchases though.
I was wondering what cameras other people have at the moment, especially people who have moved on from point and shoot digital cameras to their first or second SLR.
I've looked at many of the links here and there is so much info I'm finding it hard to take it in.
I'm on a limited budget, will see what I can scrape together and am in the UK so UK sites and links would be better.
I'm just a bit overwhelmed with info at the moment but am hoping to have saved enough by sometime next year to buy a camera. I'll be using it for landscape, wildlife and macro photography so I'll need to try and take in more info about lenses too but wondered if anyone could help me condense all this info out there.
Bonnie, I moved from a Fuji F31fd compact to a Nikon D60 DSLR a couple of years ago. It takes some getting used to but the difference is great. I still sometimes use my little Fuji as sometimes it's just quicker and easier.
I looked around at several sites when I bought it but in the end got it from Amazon, a site that is good value (not the cheapest, but not far off) and a site you can trust.
Bonnie ~ I've been happy with my Canon XSi (upgraded from a Canon S2-IS). It's lightweight which was a big factor for me. As important as research is, I'd recommend testing the cameras in person to get a feel for them. One of my contenders had a grip that just didn't fit well in my hand.
Bonnie, as I've said before I have a D60 which I love but a friend has recently bought a D5000 and I had a "play" with it. It is very good in that it corrects a few of the small niggles that I have with the D60 in that it has an eleven point focus whereas the D60 has only a three point.It has video capability which is occasionally useful (I have to use my old Fuji F31fd for video) and it has a moveable back screen and has "live-view" (like a point and shoot).
The D5000 is about the same price now as I paid for my D60 quite some time ago. If I had the money and was replacing my camera now I'd go for the D90 but they are a few hundred pounds more but they are the more "serious" camera.
Even the D3000 is a nice starter camera, i use one at work when I don't have my regular camera with me. The kit 18-55mm lense that comes with it is super sharp and has and focuses closer than most of nikon's basic lenses outside the micro line. THe body and kit sells for about $550 in Canada. The only downside is its a little slower than the D90 and you have to use the menus to change alot of the settings and even then thats only really a problem if your using it all day.
Hi, Elizabeth. Adorama and B&H will wow you with what's available and their responsiveness. They serve pro photographers so they know they have to come through for you.
Amazon and its better providers sometimes have good prices.
Beware places on the web that offer really steep discounts though. One game is to sell you only part of a camera kit and trick you into buying the missing necessary pieces (like the battery or charger) at prices that more than wipe out the alleged savings. Another game is to send you an incomplete kit and say you're lying about what's missing. If you find a possibly too-good deal, put the dealer's name into Google and see if anything ugly sifts up from the depths. Ripoffreport.com, eopinion.com, bbb.org and the forums at photographyreivew.com can save you a lot of grief. Another clue - if the company forces you off the web and onto the phone with one of its reps and the pressure zooms up, ummmm, say buh-bye.