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What's The Best Camera For Me?

.marcaribe
01/25/08 6:30 PM GMT
Hello Friends
This is so difficult to explain. I love to travel and have a excellent eye for what makes a beautiful picture and take them all the time in my mind. I know everything about what makes an outstanding photo from lighting to colors centering etc: But my biggest problem is that I am sort of techno challenged, I am totally incompetent and can barely change a light bulb so camera settings confuse me to no end, please don't say I can learn, because I can't. Being left handed the artistic side of my brain works and the math and numbers side doesn't Is there a camera out there for a person like me?
Price is no object and I would truly appreciate all your help and would be so grateful for all your tips.
Thank you all so very much! You all are such nice folks
Marcaribe
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+philcUK
01/25/08 7:02 PM GMT
Perhaps a higher end SLR style compact may suit your needs. No need to worry about buying lots of lenses and all come complete with the usual compact home comforts to make life easy – face detection, auto everything etc. The opportunity is still there should you ever want to in the future – to tinker around with manual settings as you would on a SLR camera.

Lots of these cameras are already available from various manufacturers, this one from Fuji is their latest flagship model released this week for the PMA camera show.
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A smart bomb is only as clever as the idiot that tells it what to do
&purmusic
01/25/08 8:26 PM GMT
Some techno food for thought.

A very easy to understand overview of the functionings of a DSLR camera, complete with pictures. Yes, this is for a Canon ... however, I think you can extrapolate the information easily and apply it other camera models.

Phil, as per his usual, offers some sage words and recommendations.

You can 'get there, from here' ... and will.

Best of luck with your purchase. Looking forward to seeing the results of the new 'eye'. :o)
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"Sometimes me think what is love, and then me think love is what last cookie is for. Me give up the last cookie for you." - Cookie Monster
=ppigeon
01/25/08 9:08 PM GMT
If the price is not a problem, you need a DSLR IMO, like the Canon Rebel XTi or Nikon D40x. You'll discover a big difference with the viewfinders. And the quality of the viewfinder is really helpfull for the composition.
If you are 'left handed' (I don't think so!), the Automatic settings are really good.
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-Pierre-
.marcaribe
01/25/08 11:04 PM GMT
Please just keep all your most insight messages coming...I am serious, I like hearing all your Professional Views of what sort of Camera a gal like me needs.
Marcaribe
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::egggray
01/26/08 12:51 AM GMT
I noticed you take a lot of good landscape photos, I would look at digicam,s gallery, he has top notch photos and uses a Canon 40D with a Sigma 55mm-200mm lens, he used to have a Canon digital rebel XTi, and produced awesome photos. I owned the XTi and now have a 40D, you have commented on a few of my photos so you know how good the pictures come out, I am also left handed and don't understand the math part either. I started out just using auto mode, now I am getting used to the P mode, and aperture priority mode which lets you adjust shutter speed and ISO settings. If price is no problem, I would get the Canon 40D with a Sigma 55mm-200mm lens. Hope this helps....Gregg (Nikon D80, D200 or D300 are also great cameras)...also, click on my my photos link below, and click on an image, and it will show you what camera i used to take the photo.
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Visit my website if you wish to purchase some of my photos..My Photos
.Tomeast
01/26/08 1:24 AM GMT
I use the Canon Xti and find it very easy to use in the manual mode.If you are able to press a button and spin a dial you will most likely learn things quickly.There is also a button you can press to see how dark or light the photo will come out and with a simple spin of the dial, you can adjust.Finding things like what f stop to use becomes quite easy in time, besides these cameras are very forgiving given the new editing software.Take the leap!.
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.jzaw
01/28/08 5:01 PM GMT
just to add my tu-pen-orth

if marcaribe is taking a LOT of landscapes then its worth noting that if you do opt for a dslr that the small sensor type eg canon 350/400/20/30/40D multiplies your wide lenses by approx 1.5-1.6 due to the cropping nature of such smaller sensors

thus a nice wide angle 20mm becomes about a 32mm

whereas the _pro_ range with full size sensors doesnt

depends on your budget but the full size sensor cameras tend to be more expensive

if youre doing a lot of long distance shots with tele lenses then this crop factor works in your favour cos your 200mm lens shows as a 320mm equivalent

hope this helps
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do acts of random kindness and sensless beauty! - small ***gallery* ** for your enjoyment
noahnott
02/03/08 2:45 AM GMT
The new sigma dp1 seems like an OK/simple/easytouse choice ... it has a prime lens (on the wider end, about 28mm equiv), decent sensor, hot shoe, and all the good stuff. One problem (or bonus) is that it has one of those foveon sensors with 3 layers, each for a different color. It's advertised at 14 megapixels, but really it's 4 or 5 ... but the sensor does have it's plusses. However, it's not out yet.

Anyways, to me, it's one of the only point and shoots I'd consider for landscapes. But, hey, I'm no expert on the matter.

But, there are other cameras ... I'm not sure how techno-illiterate you are, but, I'm pretty sure you could learn how to use it after a while.

1) Nikon D40/D40x/D60 would be an ok choice. That with a 18-55mm kit lens to start off (the lower the 'mm' number, the wider an image you can capture). Or if money means nothing, get a tokina 12-24mm or sigma 10-20mm (or nikon 12-24mm, which is a waste of money in my opinion). 10-35mm is a good landscape range on a cropped sensor. 35-50mm is good for all round. 50mm-200mm is great for portraits. 100-200mm is good for tennis. 200mm-1000000000000000000mm is good for football/soccer/etc.
2) Rebel Xt/Xti are good cameras. And so is the 40D.
3) Pentax K's are good.
4) pretty much any DSLR will be very similar in terms of 'ease of use'. As you go up in price in the DSLR world, the cameras will start to get rid of the 'beginner' features like scene modes and what not.
5) Canon 5d (or Nikon D3 if you have the cash) is a great buy as it has a 'full frame' sensor so you can plop a 18mm lens on and it would be the same as using a 12mm lens on a canon rebel, nikon d40, etc etc.

Lenses are probably the more important thing to consider as they can be as much or more than the camera itself. Also, lenses come in different mounts. If you buy a Canon, you'll have to buy canon lenses or buy a canon version/mount lens made by a 3rd party (like tokina/sigma/etc).

In other words, each camera has it's ups and downs and I can't tell you which camera is best for you.


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.waterlung
02/03/08 3:41 AM GMT
Well noah, I realize that lenses are key and I was just wondering what brand has the most compatibility. Not sure if compatibility is the right word, but I hope you understand what I mean.
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noahnott
02/03/08 4:57 AM GMT
I honestly don't know the answer ... but I love Butter Scotch:

I've been happy with Nikon's assortment (both new and old); Canon seems to have a bunch of lenses; Pentax has a ton of old lenses and a fairly wide variety of newer ones; Leica has expensive (yet amazing) lenses; and panasonic and olympus have that 4/3rds system which is relatively new, but they still have a good range of lenses. Other than those brands, I really don't know. The third party companies usually make their lenses to fit all the different mounts though. In short: They're all good. I wouldn't worry too much about which company to go for in terms of lenses.

(Please, somebody who knows more about lenses and different brands, answer).

One more thing I forgot to mention in the post before this ... Don't forget about film cameras. You could try an old fashion manual camera for a while just to learn the 'basics' of photography - then when you get a DSLR you'll know exactly what you're doing.
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+philcUK
02/03/08 6:26 PM GMT
Noah is correct; the stated MP of the Sigma is a bit of a misnomer as it is the combined actual pixels of the foveon sensors three distinct colour layers. You don’t get very big images but you do get very vivid and relatively noise free shots.

Top level cameras such as Hasselblad’s medium format digitals get round this in a different manner offering the facility to take 4 simultaneous exposures. For each exposure, the whole sensor shifts in different directions by one pixel to capture more fine detail and eliminate noise and moiré.

The little Sigma DP1 compact, which is out in spring, still seems very appealing though for lots of reasons.
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A smart bomb is only as clever as the idiot that tells it what to do
=mayne
02/03/08 10:11 PM GMT
Based on "I am totally incompetent and can barely change a light bulb so camera settings confuse me to no end, please don't say I can learn, because I can't.", I would go with uncle Phils suggestion.

Diane, maybe investing in a couple beginner courses would end your confusion about camera operation.

One lefty to another!
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Darryl
noahnott
02/04/08 12:48 AM GMT
If you can tie your own shoes, you can operate a camera; you just need somebody to teach you. For how long, well, that's another question. I second the suggestion of taking a lesson/course in photography (I'd suggest one that uses film cameras since film cameras are cheap and are usually 'manual'). After a few days/weeks/months and possibly years of that, then you should decide what kind of digital camera would work best for you.

But on the other hand, my mom still cant say 'refrigerator' (roof-ish-rate-or) (she's Marshallese).
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+philcUK
02/04/08 1:19 AM GMT
I don't know what the score is on the septic side of the pond but here in the cradle of civilisation - most photo courses INSIST that you go the film route first and won't entertain anything digital. personally - I think that's a pointless stance - I can see the logic but trying to buy reasonably priced film materials here is like trying to find the holy grail. But we live in a country that charges $10 for a gallon of gas - I should expect no less.
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A smart bomb is only as clever as the idiot that tells it what to do
noahnott
02/04/08 1:46 AM GMT
Here on the, ummm, yeah, there are courses for both. Either way, film or digital, both methods will teach you how to use a camera.
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.marcaribe
02/04/08 6:44 PM GMT
Hey... thanks so much for all your messages. Maybe I over did the dumb bell bit. I took a photography course in High School and learned to take and develope black and white photo's in the dark room. Later on I had a SLR Pentax and a AE-1 Canon with a number of lens. But back then I was too poor and had to take shots very sparingly, there were so many great shots I missed because I could not afford the price. Digital has been a lifesaver for me and has expanded my horizons.
Thanks to each and everyone of you for your helpful advice and comments
Ciao,
Marcaribe
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::Skynet5
02/05/08 2:54 PM GMT
If you want versatility and simplicity, perhaps the Powershot G9 is for you. It has many DSLR characteristics; RAW mode, full manual modes, etc but is all-in-one with regard to its optics and such. It also has a pretty big sensor too. If you want a longer lens then maybe the S5 IS is for you.
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"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings" -Optimus Prime
.s0050463
02/17/08 1:43 PM GMT
If you have some time and money, maybe you could go for a Pentax K20D, they have full framesensors, so less noise and better quality. ALso Pentax has a lot of great quality lenses and also other brands like tamron make lenses for pentax. And the PEntax has already shakereduction in the body.
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Please visit my gallery.
.marcaribe
02/18/08 6:11 PM GMT
I have been doing my homework and found many Digital Camera sites recommend the Canon PowerShot G9 and is one of Dave's Top Picks. Any thoughts on this one?
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&mimi
02/18/08 6:40 PM GMT
Yes, go to a camera store and handle one. See how it feels, check out how the controls work, take a test shot or three. I did that when I was purchasing and ended up with a totally different camera than I went to purchase due to the way it handled, felt etc. Hubby has the same experience!
Happy hunting and shooting :o)
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~mimi~
.mary_kyr
03/02/08 10:10 AM GMT
good morning everyone. about 2 years ago, i bought the canon powershot a80, but i'm thinking of selling it. what do you think about this camera? to be honest, i haven't had any problems with it so far... should i keep it???
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even my weaknesses are stronger than i am...
::Skynet5
03/02/08 8:27 PM GMT
The G9, as I said above is a great choice. It is on the pricier side for a non-SLR, but it has many great pro features. The installed optics limit it to 6x zoom, but for the portability of the camera, its not too bad. I don't recall if it has Canon's IS though.
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"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings" -Optimus Prime

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