Camera recommendations?

Myaheartsyoga

Anyone love their digital camera? Please give me your recommendations! We are in the market for a new one. Nothing over the top... we would have to max out at about 600 USD, but something that will take great pictures on our trip. How much zoom is too much? Is that a silly question? (Can you ever have too much zoom?) We are looking at all types, but I would prefer to go with a more compact model for traveling, but like I said, nothing is out of the question if it is a great camera. I would be more than happy to see photos taken from your camera recommendations too!

Thanks!
Mya

__________________
Now I know how Jimmy Buffet feels.

nadreg

Hi!

Are you looking for an SLR, or a point and click? Do you want something you can shove into your pocket?

__________________
In pursuit of the Only truth: I Am!

Myaheartsyoga

I guess I am not sure. What is the difference between SLR and non? A quick wikipedia search didnt really explain it. So there are times when you will see something and not have it come out that way in the print? Or is it just that you have to focus the lens before the picture is taken? Sorry, I should have learned all the lingo before I posted!

getgopi1

This should do the trick for ya...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/2dig.htm

__________________
- Gopi

Myaheartsyoga

Brilliant article Gopi! Thank you so very much.
Through that, I have decided I would like an SLR camera. Now... any recommendations?

Shaktipalooza

Nikon and Canon DSLR bodies start at around $600 so you'd be choosing from either a Nikon D50 or a Canon Digital Rebel.

Adorama has a Refurbished Canon Kit for $600:
http://www.adorama.com/ICADRKR.html

Here's a Nikon D50 kit for $650:
http://www.adorama.com/INKD50K.html

Then of course you'll probably be looking at getting a new camera bag, two memory cards, spare battery, etc.

These cameras also use more memory than you're probably used to. a 1 gig card will hold between 120-250 pics depending on your settings. Many people end up needing to purchase a portable storage device ($160-$300) for all those pics.

The India pics I have in my gallery are mostly from a canon 20D with 24-70 & 12-24 lenses. A few were shot with a Nikon D200 with 70-200, 50mm and various med zooms.

http://mrs-h.smugmug.com/India

__________________
IndiaGroove - Train finder now in beta!
Pics from India 2006
Traditional Indian Dance

Merchant

The OP's signature:
Are you talking about his famous expression of late 20th century ennui, "My head hurts, my feet stink, and I don't love Jesus"?

goangoangone

http://www.dpreview.com/

__________________
GoanGoan......here

bijapuri

depends on your budget, but u can't go wrong with Canon.
In India, Kodak seems to have the most outlets by far.

I'd heard Casio blows, and then it happened to my best friend, so forget them!

__________________
Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.
Barack Obama

lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/

Utube fuzzy logic:
http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

nadreg

I'd bet on a Canon as well. I have the 10D, and absolutely love it. I heard they're coming out with the 30D, but that might be a little over the budget you mentioned.

Tapestry

After having had the Canon (film camera) Rebel G, and now having upgraded to the Canon Digital Rebel 350D I have to say I'm a real Canon devotee and would highly recommend it. The digital Rebel 350D is over your budget but it shoots in b&w and color, which rocks, but if you don't care about b&w, then the Rebel 300D may be in your price range and it's sure to be a real quality camera. (The names change in different regions - in your region it may be called something different than 300D.)

If you go with the Rebel series, it will come with a 18-55mm lens, which will suit you unless you want a powerful zoom, but in your budget you'll need to wait for a zoom anyway. In regards to "how much zoom is too much zoom?", don't even bother asking this question because to even approach 'too much zoom' would cost you way too much cash. The 18-55mm will give you some flexibility in range for your day to day traveling shots.

You will definitely want a camera bag, spare battery, and good memory card. I have a 1GB memory card and on a medium resolution size setting I can capture well over 400 pictures at a time.

These things add up, so if your budget is definitely maxing out at $600, you'll prob have to go with a point and shoot. I also had a canon point & shoot before these, and it also took great pics. But I've consistently found that I have not regretted my impulse decisions to go for the more expensive, higher quality camera as they have always made me really happy in the end.

Good luck.

getgopi1

Remember why you are getting a SLR...its ability to capture and record pictures faster than Point-and-Shoots. So get a camera that provides access through buttons and command dials to set the most common functions (and the ability to fine-tune them) used in serious photography. These functions typically are ISO and White Balance, perhaps Exposure Compensation and Flash output too. If you have to fiddle through a menu to change these core functions, you are going to miss that important shot and thereby defeat the purpose of owning a SLR.

Having said that, Nikon or Canon or whatever...get the cheapest body and the most expensive lens you can afford Usually the kit lens is excellent for beginners. I suggest that you stick to the kit lens initially, develop a taste for the kind of photography you want to do before investing in any more lenses or equipment.

daverm18

Hi there:
I bought a Canon Powershot S2 IS for our trip in Jan. It's a point and shoot digital with 5 megapixels and a 12x optical zoom. It's also relatively compact. For the price you're looking at,the $600 range, this would allow you to buy extra batteries, memory cards, camera bag. No need to buy extra lenses. Of course this worked for me, a non-photograher. Many people have been impressed by the quality of pics taken by it.
Check out the review at www.stevesdigicams.com

daverm18

Here's the exact link.
www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/s2is.html

pikeman

Two words:
extended zoom!
I had only 3x and really would have benefited from 10x.
What I really needed was my trusty OM-1 and 135mm telephoto but was "going light".
Pete

__________________
Pflugerville, Texas.
Gem of the Blackland Prarie!