Digital camera advice
 

I'm shopping for a semi-nice one tonight.

$500 budget.

What do you like?

Thanks,


KT

Are you looking for a everyday compact? Take a look at the new Canon SD950is. Image stabilization, titanium body, 12 megapixel. No reviews on it yet, but should be similar in image quality to the SD900. Slightly larger and with a bit better image quality take a look at the Powershot G9.

Trek:

If a DSLR at that price, I'd get a D40:
Review: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/
Camera: http://www.adorama.com/INKD40K.html

If a point and shoot, check out the Canons:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona710is/
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd700is/
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona620/

All, of course, IMHO.

Good luck!

Best,

Kurt

Yes, everyday kinda pics, wide angle would be nice and a decent zoom feature.

Job progress shots and some trackside action pics.


KT

That Nikon looks pretty good.

2.5 pics per second could get some nice trackside sequences.


KT

I bought a Panosonic Lumix DMC-TZ3. It gets so-so reviews because the indoor quality is marginal. I bought it for outdoor use and I wanted a good zoom and wide angle. For that, it has been awesome. It has a 28mm wide angle Leica lens and a 10x optical zoom. Can't even remember what megapixel it is - 8 maybe? It's also easily carried in a pants pocket, but a bit big for shirt pocket (no good zoom camera will fit there).

Check on-line reviews. It's in your price range.

With a zoom camera shots like this-

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/8519/p1000419se2.jpg

become shots like this-
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/8950/p1000427ye4.jpg

Agree with Bob and the Panasonic with the Leica lens is excellent. I have had one for about 6 months now and love it. Quality of the pics is very good.

Nikon D40 all the way. No comparison for image quality and versatility vs a point & shoot. One of the smallest and lightest DSLRs around, too. And you'll have room to grow. You can find it online for $487 delivered from an authorized Nikon dealer.

Another yes for the Pano. I bought 10MP DMC-LX2. Great point & shoot with just enough features. Some wide angle distortion but that could be fixed with PS. See the curve on the wrought iron fence.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3.../esterhazy.jpg

Gates of Esterházy Palace - Fertod, Hungary (June 2007)

Ian

Very good replies!

I'm shopping around right now.


KT

+1 for the Nikon. Great Camera!

I am a hobby photographer that only uses a point and shoot. I have had the Panasonic DCM-LX1 (with Leica lense and 16:9) for over a year and really like it. No problems at all. Good battery life. I did get an extra battery when I got the camera but rarely have to use it.

Lots of nice features. Easy to learn and use (but the point and shoots probably all are)

It uses the SD memory card.

Invest in a good soft case, like a Lowepro, with good padding.

It is 8.4 MP and I have blown up pictures to over 48" x 48" with incredible results. It will shoot in several formats including raw, which are big files. These were indoor shots but taken with good lighting. I used it to do art work for a trade show display. I gave the picture files to the trade show display company for the blow ups and they wanted to know who we used for the work as they thought the work was good (I was flattered but blamed it on the camera).

I got the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 with Leica lense. $300.
Added a 2GB SD card.

It has a "burst" feature that allows 2-3 pics per second until memory card is full!

I plan on spending some afternoons at the track taking many shots. Maybe tomorrow?
This camera has a 12x zoom, 7.2 mega-pixels and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.

I'll take a picture of it...


Nevermind. :D

Thanks for the help.

As soon as the battery is charged, I'll start posting.


KT

Hey, Fry's Electronics has 2 gig SD memory cards on sale today for $13 after the rebate. Just picked up one for my gadgets.

If you put your camera on "raw" setting it can eat up 30 megs a photo so well worth having a few extra SD memory chips on hand.

Oh, and this one has a rechargeable battery.

I was surprised how many use throw aways.


KT

Canon SD800IS

I prefer the AA option to a proprietary battery.

Get AA rechargeables for everyday use and if you are ever in a pinch you can buy AA's just about anywhere.

Another vote for the Nikon D40 or D40x. If you are looking for trackside action or sprts photography, start saving up. You will need the new Nikon D3 ($5000) or D300 ($1800 or so, can do 8 fps with battery grip), a fast (f2.8) lens like the famous 70-200 f2.8 zoom ($1600) or the 200 - 400 f4 zoom (another $5 or 6 grand). Both with VR (in-lens vibration reduction) :D

Seriously, the D40 or D40x should do fine, and you can always upgrade lenses when you can afford it. That's the beauty of dSLR's.

If the D40 has an optional battery grip. which will allow you to use two regular rechargables, or a set of AA's instead of the rechargables. I know my D80's battery grip has that option.

I'm having alittle lunch right now.
I'm heading over to the track afterward to take some shots from my favorite corners and worker stations.

Audi Club is out there today.


KT

Fun camera!!

I cracked off over 200 pics this afternoon from turns 10, 9, 8, 7, 4, 2 and 1.
I also took a peek up at the kart track, too!!

I'm very impressed at the potential of this camera.

Take a look.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1191803640.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1191803837.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1191804041.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1191804193.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1191804379.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1191804705.jpg



KT