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Best digital camera for action pics under $600**Update**

M

montanafan

Diamond Member
I take a lot of photos of high school sports in not particularly great lighting conditions; volleyball and basketball in a gym with terrible yellowish-like lighting, and football at night. I've been doing alright with my Canon AE-1, but I want to go digital for the convenience, if I can afford it. I know something like the Digital Rebel or Olympus E-20N would be best, but I'd like to see if there's anything that will do a good job for under $600.

So far I've looked at the Canon G3, Fujifilm FinePix S5000 Z , Nikon Coolpix 4500, Fujifilm FinePix S602Z, Olympus C-740 UZ, and the Minolta DiMAGE 5, but the comments don't always address what I'm looking for - good for low light, action shots, long distance. I wouldn't mind buying an external flash, but I'd like it come with the optical zoom.

Anyone know something about these cameras under those conditions or have a new and better suggestion? (Besides spending more money that is.)

***Update*** I went ahead and bought a Digital Rebel. I tried the 717 and like it, but I decided to go for the SLR type that I felt more comfortable with. It was a BIG purchase for me and so now I'm asking advice on a way to save money.

I have several FD lenses that I used with my AE-1 and the prices for the f/2.8 from Canon is ridicuously high. I asked at the camera shop about a lens adapter and they said that though they didn't carry them, they were available. The only problem is that you have to shoot completely manually because you lose the electronic connections. That's no problem for me, I've always shot manually. Does anyone know anything about these adapters, pros and cons, and where I might find the best one?

Ornery, you were right about the importance of the f/2.8 and the prohibitive cost of the Canon lenses. I really miss that fast len
 
having the ability to set manual timings would be of help. I know the G3 fits that, it also can handle an extrernal flash. I am not sure how it is in low light conditions.
 
Thanks, Adul. 🙂

One camera I forgot to add is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10. It looks really nice, but does anyone have any first-hand experience with it?
 
FinePix S602Z
FinePix s7000
FinePix s5000
Sony F717


The Fujis have great optical zoom. The Sony is probaly the best camera on this list. Right not it can be found for around $675 or so. There is a $100 rebate till the end of the month with it.


 
I agree with the 717, but you still have the shutter lag, as with all digitals. You might want to stick with that SLR and a bright, long lens to really do the job right.

Oh, and an external flash ain't gonna be much, if any, help. First, it's only synched at relatively slow shutter speeds, and second, it can only reach so far.
 
I have the Fuji 602Z and I LOVE it. It's a fantastic camera. Practically fully-manual if you want it, and the programmed sports shooting mode isn't bad either.

Last summer, one of the guys I work with ran a Triathlon, I've got a couple pictures I took of him in the programmed sports mode back on my other computer. If you'd like, send me a PM and tomorrow night when I get back home I'll put them up on my picture hosting site.

Overall, the camera is excellent. I really like the dual media option, the optical zoom, and the fact that it has so many shooting modes. It also does full 640x480 video at 30FPS with sound (but it eats batteries like candy on that setting)

I haven't looked much at some of the newer offerings from Fuji, but I know they have some updated models in the same class as the s602z. I don't really use the 6mp mode (and anyone with a real 6mp camera will tell you the interpolated 6mp of the fuji is inferior), so I can't comment on that. I've made some stellar 8x10's with 3mp mode though.

I think I paid about $575 for it about a month after it was released, it's probably much cheaper now. If you don't need 6MP (interpolated), I'd look at one of the similar 3mp fujis.

I think Imaging-Resource's review had a comparison of a real 6mp shot from a Sony camera with the interpolated 6mp shot from the s602z if you want to compare them.

If you'd like to see some sample shots (mostly landscape/non action) I have a few pictures uploaded to my personal picture hosting, just shoot me a PM and I'll send you the link (I don't want to post it here for fear of the AT effect eating my January bandwidth 😀)
 
I was going to edit my original post, but it's pretty long so I'll just reply again 🙂

I just read through the S5000 review at imaging-resource. It looks like it's very similar to the s602zoom, only with a newer superCCD (I think, mine is just called the SuperCCD, they're calling this one the SuperCCD HR), higher zoom, xD support, and a few other options. You can get it for under $300 at Buydig.com (which is where I bought my s602z, be warned shipping is costly, I paid $25 for Fedex ground, but it was still cheaper than anywhere else). I'm not crazy about xD, but it will come down in price I'd bet. For the difference in price for a new camera, I think I'd go for the s5000 over the s602z just because of the price difference (and it includes the lense adapter, which the s602z does not)
 
No comparison for this application. The F717 has larger aperture at full zoom, 2.4, than the Fuji starts out with, 2.8. It has more megapixels to work with when you have to crop those long shots, and the 717 can be had for the same price after rebate.
 
If you can either save your money or if you can afford the Canon Digital Rebel I'd suggest looking into that. It's almost instant, no shutter lag at all. If you're already spending over $500.00 I'd definately take a look into the DRebel as you do not want to make a mistake and wish later that you'd gotten the DRebel.
 
The DRebel will only get you out to 55mm with the kit lens. To get more, you would have to spend at least $150-200. Yes the DR would be a great choice, but it can't be had for $600.

The Fuji s7000 is the replacement for the s602z.
 
I believe the last rebel deal brought it under $700. Though that doesn't include extra lenses which can run quite a bit and then CF cards. Im going to agree with the others that the 717 would also be a good choice. With the current $100 rebate, awsome camera at an awsome price.
 
Wow! Thanks guys, that's a lot of good detailed information to digest. I'm going through some of the reviews of the Sony F717 and the Fuji s7000 right now, so I may have some more questions later.

Ornery or dartworth, is that rebate on the Sony a manufacturer's rebate, or from a particular dealer?

Thanks again, everyone. 🙂

 
Originally posted by: dartworth
The DRebel will only get you out to 55mm with the kit lens. To get more, you would have to spend at least $150-200. Yes the DR would be a great choice, but it can't be had for $600.

The Fuji s7000 is the replacement for the s602z.
Click to expand...

I totally understand. That is why I asked him if he either could wait or invest just a little more for a lot more as far as camera and options go.
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
Click to expand...

Did you read any of the reviews from there? Typical NY camera store. They have awsome prices but use bait and switch to get you to buy waaaay over priced accessories & extended warranties..then give you the run around. Their overall rating is decent, but when you have "5 star" reviews that say things like; "web site very good and prices seem excellant." ...which is real discriptive.

Have you ordered from them before OHenry?

I would be careful ordering from them.
 
montanafan please be careful if anyone approaches you from this forum to buy their camera. First and foremost make sure you check their Heatware if they have any.
 
Well, I've read and read and looked and asked and I believe I'm sold on the Sony F717. The only problem is the price. I was hoping to buy at a local store because I just feel better knowing that I can take it back there if I have any problems or questions, but the prices at the local stores are a bit more than I'd hoped to pay, even with the rebate. The best local store price seems to be Circuit City at $699 after the $100 rebate. Thanks for including the rebate form for me, Ornery.

I agree with CheapArse (interesting name 🙂 ) about the reviews for US1Camera.com. I don't know that I'd feel comfortable buying from them, but it sure is a nice price. Thanks for the link to their site and including the reviews with it, Ornery.

I have a couple of questions about the F717 that someone may or may not be able to answer for me. Someone said that the battery can only be charged while inside the camera, is that true? You can't buy an external charger and have a spare charged and ready to go?

And the other one is, does anyone know if I'd be able to use my flash with it? I have a Vivitar 285 HV Zoom Thyristor. It just has one-point contact for the hotshoe, but I do have a sync cable.

Thanks for all the help so far!
 
You can get a nikon coolpix 5700 for under $600 if you look around a little for it, you can actually get them for under that on Yahoo! shopping

I've seen some demos done on the nikon coolpix series, you can do a bunch with them, you can stick filters on them, you can do studio shots with them
you can even do reproduction shots with them, one of my friends owns a photography buisness, and he uses the Nikon Coolpix 3100 to do all of his reproduction
work, because of it's macro capability. That means so when you aren't taking action shots, you can take pictures of stuff say within an inch of the lens and
still have it in focus.

Your yellowish lighting can be taken care of easily in your dark room, it's just an adjustment on your enlarger, I believe to get rid of yellow,
you subtract it... either that or add magenta, haven't been in the darkroom in a while. But in any case, it's simply the wavelength of the lightbulb in the ceiling
that creates your "yellow" color. On most of the better digital cameras there are settings that eliminate that wavelength, giving you the natural color that your eye sees.
So if you have a white wall to your eye but is being developed as yellow, the digital camera will compensate and can eliminate that for you.

I say go with a nikon, but I'm partially biased. I'm a nikon freak, i love them. I own a Nikon D100 ...there's a digital camera if you ever have the cash laying around. Love the thing.
I can't see buying a camera from a company that also makes printers... maybe for the convienience of the camera and printer going well together, but not
for the craftsmanship of the camera itself. I say stick to your main camera companies.... Minolta, Nikon, I'd even suggest Olympus. But Nikon is my camera of choice.

Edit: From what I've been told, most of the Nikon series cameras come with a charger, an external charger, you have to buy an extra battery but the charging is done
externally, there isn't a docking bay for the camera itself, unless you choose to hook the camera up to the wall rather than use the external charger.

 
Originally posted by: montanafan
Well, I've read and read and looked and asked and I believe I'm sold on the Sony F717. The only problem is the price. I was hoping to buy at a local store because I just feel better knowing that I can take it back there if I have any problems or questions, but the prices at the local stores are a bit more than I'd hoped to pay, even with the rebate. The best local store price seems to be Circuit City at $699 after the $100 rebate. Thanks for including the rebate form for me, Ornery.

I agree with CheapArse (interesting name 🙂 ) about the reviews for US1Camera.com. I don't know that I'd feel comfortable buying from them, but it sure is a nice price. Thanks for the link to their site and including the reviews with it, Ornery.

I have a couple of questions about the F717 that someone may or may not be able to answer for me. Someone said that the battery can only be charged while inside the camera, is that true? You can't buy an external charger and have a spare charged and ready to go?

And the other one is, does anyone know if I'd be able to use my flash with it? I have a Vivitar 285 HV Zoom Thyristor. It just has one-point contact for the hotshoe, but I do have a sync cable.

Thanks for all the help so far!
Click to expand...

Sony sells external chargers but they are EXPENSIVE...something like $150 for a dual charger. Buying from a retail store is a good choice, but have you checked out other online stores that are reliable? (dell, newegg, etc.) Honestly not sure about your flash, but with the hotshoe, I'd think it would work.

edit: $100 @ sony style
 
as you can see from the post above, I'd prefer buying from a local store, or at least as local as you can get in the rural area where I live. 🙂 If I do consider buying from an individual though, I'll keep you in mind.


Nocturnal thanks for the advice. I didn't even know what heatware was until you mentioned it.

Edit: CeruleanFall, thanks for the info on the battery and flash.

Nocturnal, thanks for the info and the link.
 
You CAN buy from that POS store, but forget about overnighting it, and you WILL be subjected to their sale's pitch. I never bought from them, but I purchased my Camcorder online, as well as my mom's. Gotta decide how much the hassle is worth.

I bought my F707 with a price match from Sears. They don't price match online etailers anymore, though. You can find other online sellers that have great ratings, but you'll be out another $25.00 or so. Your choice.

The camera doubles as the charger. The battery lasts forever, so I don't find that to be a problem. I've got a backup battery that I never use. There are external chargers available, but I wouldn't waste my money on one.
 
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