Digital cameras...
 

Just need some quick help here. Im going to be buying a new camera for my wife for Valentines day. The current one we have is a Canon Powershot A70. Although I have no problem with it, she continues to take it from me and leave me with nothing. Its not the "greatest" but definately not bad for someone like me that hardly even knows how to use it after owning it for a couple years.

She is primarily using it for pictures of the kids, in which case I would like something thats going to last quite sometime, not be outdated tomorrow,bright vivid shots,etc. Basically I want something that is a somewhat "higherline", but not at the $1k+ range.

Ive been looking at a few of the Canons,Minoltas and Nikons. Including but not limited to the SLRs.

This purchase will be made within the next day or so, so prompt feedback is Greatly appreciated. :D

BTW..this will be purchased at Bestbuy (no comments please :D)I have a ton of rewards and 12% coupons for bestbuy cardholders. This will also add up more on my rewards card. As most know Im definately not an online shopper either. ;)

I used to have a Kodak... that thing took some really good photos. Much better than my current one. (still pissed that someone stole my kodak)

Don get the Canon 20D. kickass SLR, 8.2 MP, and clearass shots. it's a bit cheaper now than when i got it.

Hopefully this helps a bit...

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e4...erachoices.jpg

That pic is kinda small to read, killer

sh!t thought it would be bigger...

Looking it up shortly Gordo :D

Should be as big as the screen itself

Oh, and definitely stay with Canons

some shots i took with my 20D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/IMG_0501.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...flyonlimes.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ics/chairs.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ics/flower.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...pics/coog1.jpg

on a side note...if you don't have one get a video camera...or make sure this digi cam takes good video with sound. my mom has videos or me and my 3 siblings and they are priceless. take as much video as you can!

All I can say is WOW Gordon. Pics are beautiful, but with a $1500 price tag??

You didnt leave yet focker?

I definately would prefer to.

heres a slightly better shot...

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...30_82_full.jpg

somebody likes flowers...

so far it recommended the Powershot: Pro1,A620,G6,S70,S80
Minolta: DiMAGE A200
Nikon Coolpix 8700

I've heard good things about http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/spec...canon_s2is.asp
Ohh, and if you want a beginner DSLR, Nikon D50.....I'm about to buy one to replace my dead Sony digicam.

Thanks Ravi Ill look into that one as well...

thanks :)

the 20D was 1600 when i got it back in janurary of 05. it should be around ~1200-1400 now with the lense. damn good camera, and you won't be dissappointed. why get JL when you can get Arc? ;)

digital photography is my other expensive hobby :(

nature shots > you :D

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos20d/

I dont doubt that its worth every penny. Justifying it to the wifey is a whole nother story...

what are your thoughts on the Rebel XT?

great camera as well. originally owned the digital rebel EOS, then thought about getting the XT as a replacement. but the 20D is so tempting so i just got it instead.

still a great camera. it's a little smaller than the 20D, 8.0 MP instead of 8.2 but uses the same DIGIC II processing as the 20D.

just tell her you wanna capture your children's every moment in vivid and clear pictures. ;)

Hey - we can discuss cameras at length... I'd be glad to help answer any questions you may have. I have the Rebel XT :) Shoot me a PM with what sorts of questions you have and I'll do my best to answer your questions.

I tried that, even the "Think of this as an investment" approach as well. No luck at all.

I appreciate it. Although my typing skills are somewhat poor and my knowledge of cameras is obviously worse. I wouldnt even know what to ask. Although if you have time to spend on the phone (my dime of course) then that would most likely be more helpful.

if you're thinking about smaller compact sized cameras, these two are great. i did some research on them cause i too was in the market. i chose the canon b/c i read that the pictures are brighter/vivid compared to the sony. plus, sony has their own type of memory card which is extra $$.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1118845061717

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1130983394213

Make sure you check out www.bhphotovideo.com first
they are fully authorized and offer A LOT of stuff you just can't buy at BestBuy


If you are happy with the A70 check out the A610 or A620 they are this years model of it.



For a DSLR, I personally recommend and prefer Canon. Nikons are great aswell, most of the time it's just a matter of what glass you have, or if you are new to it, which ones you like more. I will say if you plan on using the little green button a DSLR is not for you. If you find your self using the manual modes on your A70 then really consider it. I was just playing with my friends A610 (which he has yet to pay me for :o). Just like the A80 has a few extra features over the A70 (mainly macros), the A610 has some really nice advancements aswell. They really are awesome camera's. The only real weakness I can see is if you need a really fast camera to catch that uber cute face/moment from your kids that a SLR can catch, but by the time the shutter goes on a P&S it's just *blah*.

The biggest thing with DSLR's... just because you are spending 4+ times as much doesn't mean your pictures will automatically be great. A lot of people buy DSLR's and wonder why their pictures aren't ohhhh ahhhhh.

Don't discount the 350D (Canon Digital Rebel XT) either. It is very similiar to the 20D (both use DIGIC II). If you aren't looking at buying $$$$$ lenses later on I would really go with an 350D (it's kind of hard to balance). The kit lens (same lens for both the 350D and 20D) really is worthless, but it is good for letting you discover where and how you shoot and what to look for in your next lens.


My first DSLR was a D70. Nice camera but I just perfer Canons and decided to switch. I bought my (current) 350D and matched it with the Canon EF-S 17-85mm F/4-5.6 IS USM. Then added more stuff -tripod, remote, battery grip, loads of batteries, etc. along with a Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM (will eventually trade in for a Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L) and hopefully can get my parents to go in with me on the Canon 580EX flash. (maybe by the time I graduate I can pick up a 5D). I've lent two D70 friends my 350D + 17-85mm setup and have made the switch (both of them just had the kit lens on their D70's and in all fairness aren't terribly advanced).

I highly highly recommend a battery grip, not so much for the extra battery life, which is a plus, but it's just so much more balanced and offers so much more support and flexability.


Some things to know
Crop Factor - unless you are dropping serious dime, your camera will have a Crop Factor, generally 1.6x. This means you multiply the focal length by 1.6 and that is really your usable focal length. So at 35mm on a camera with a 1.6x CF you are shooting at a theoretical 56mm. 100mm would be 160mm, 200mm is 320mm. The thing to remember is you are really shooting at the set focal length, but the sensor can only capture 62.5% of what the lens is seeing. Full Frame Cameras (5D, 1Ds Mark II, etc) do not have this problem. There are better explainations out there, that's just a quickie.



Canon EF-S lenses vs EF lenses:
EF-S lenses are designed to work with the Canon Digital Rebel, Digital Rebel XT, 20D. EF lenses are backwards compatible with EF-S mounts, but EF-S lenses will not work on EF mounts. Aside from just being really happy with DIGIC, Canon's lens selection was a main factor in buying.

Image Stabilization (IS) -Canon:
Basically counters hand shake and shutter movement. General rule of thumb is you can go 3 stops down in low light. Is really valuable with telephotos. IS will not help with subject movement, the only way to counter that is to have a faster lens.

On that note, Minolta Maxxum 5D and 7D bodies have built in Anti-Shake. The only problem is Minolta has just transfered their line to Sony, and IMHO don't have the greatest lens selection.

Ultra Sonic Motors (USM):
Basically really fast autofocus.

Aperture:
A lower number (larger aperture) is considered a faster lens. Subsequently a lower number means a higher dollar value or a lighter wallet ;). You can shoot better in low light conditions and it gives you more options with your depth.

L Glass:
Canons professional line. Uses better coatings, higher quality optics/etc. You'll see it the price and color. The easiest way to distinguish L glass is the size and weight, the signature red ring, or the white body (white = L glass, but L's come with black housings aswell :)).

Shoot in RAW - always :)


blah, thats a lot of typing. Hopefully I didn't make any mistakes. Sorry for the Canon bias, really just get to a store and play with them both. Reading up never hurts either, but buy the one you like more.

anyone else catch the insane price drops on CF cards over the past few days? :bowdown:

oh and to add

when I was buying my 350D, I really did perfer Nikon's body, but just was really happy with Canon's guts. It took me a while to adjust to the size, weight, and feeling. I really did hate it at first, but adapted to it and now I love it. That's not to say I wouldn't mind picking up a 20D, but I think a lot of people are very quick to slam the 350D based on those things and if they would just walk around with it for a day or two I really think it will grow on them. Both of my Nikon friends used to bash the crap out of me for it, then they used it. Haven't heard a word since :gotme: :lol:

Besides, I'd rather have a 580EX than spend the money to upgrade hehehehe :D

I hate you :squint: :o

I have no idea how but I'm pretty sure I'm over the $2000 mark. I really don't want to add it up and I've got beans compared to what you can get.

My Dad has a boatload of Minolta MC/MD lenses. It sucks there isn't an EF adapter :(. I found an adapter to use it with a 5D/7D. He doesn't care about no auto focus either, but since Minolta dropped out I don't even want to touch it (mainly support in the future/etc).

His main thing is he doesn't want to buy new lenses. He's had his setup forever (I think since he was 13 or 15? I'm sure he added most of the lenses later on). We'll see, he said he'll probably look into it later this year/next year.

try this one

it's not like the point and shoots where you are lucky to get 3 years without wanting to upgrade. I would easily expect 10 years no problem. So it's pocket change in the long run. (not really but hey, it might work :D)

Really can't go wrong either way :wiggle:

What degree do you have? I'm going to follow your footsteps :D


With the last one, if it's near by stand back a bit and shoot it at 55mm f/5.6 and see how it turns out :cool:. Rain has been owning me big time :wtc:.


I know I'm owning the crap out of this page, hopefully you don't mind Don :hs:

damn Shawn...didn't know you were this into cameras as well :D

Not at all, keep the info coming.

Now Im just torn between the 350D and 20D. Huge price difference justifiable?

Just for fun, try to guess what camera took the following pictures. The three cameras are Canon A80, Canon 350D, and Nikon D70. Don't quote the pictures, just list what camera you think next to each number.


#1
http://www.digitalbeta.net/images/Ph...ah%20Creek.jpg

#2
http://www.digitalbeta.net/images/Snow/1.jpg

#3
http://www.digitalbeta.net/images/Snow/5.jpg

#4
http://www.digitalbeta.net/images/Snow/7.jpg

#5
http://s92599732.onlinehome.us/image...mie/stairs.jpg

I really don't think you can go wrong with the 350D. Honestly I would say go with the 350D and don't look back. I bought mine figuring I would upgrade and honestly I don't feel a need to :gotme:. You can always upgrade later and you really wont be out that much, but I'd be surprised if you did.

Also consider this, the 350D is smaller and lighter, with all your baby gear that's gotta be a plus :)

Off the top of my mind the 20D has one extra ISO setting (3200, 350D has a max of 1600), Slightly more advanced auto focus (9point vs 7point), 1/8000 vs. 1/4000 max shutter speed, 5fps vs 3fps, more buffer, and a better hot flash sync (IIRC) along with remote timer functions.

Honestly for just family stuff I really don't see that much of a benefit for the 20D for the price. I'd get the 350D and put the money towards a flash for family stuff :cool:

Taking your advice into consideration, I think itll be the 350D FTW.

At the risk of sounding more idiotic than I already have with my lack of knowledge on cameras, how much of a difference does the add-on flash make? I mean in actuality is the built in flash "bad"? What is different?