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

[imported_Mike]

newegg sells it for $680 w/$100 MIR for $580.

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dell home has it for $720 w/$100 MIR for $620...but thats without coupon codes.

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dell SB is the same price, but without coupon codes again.

goodguys.com has it for $750, but no sales tax & $100 MIR

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I would try to PM goodguys from circuit city or bestbuy. If you get a nice manager at either store you could get the $750, the no sales tax and the rebate.

edit: I would actually wait until you can get a dell coupon code(usually another 10-15% off, sometimes 10% & $30-$40 off instantly) and buy from dell.

 

[hpkeeper]

The only thing about sony that I don't like is that they charge an arm and a leg for everything if it breaks... esspecially if it's not covered on your warranty.

Almost every sony product I've owned has malfunctioned in some form... except for my surround sound system.

 

[Compudork]

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[dartworth]

NewEgg is a great place to buy from. I bought about 4 cameras from them.

Stay away from J&R, I ordered a F717 from them last week. I was told it was in stock. Checked with them yesterday and it was backordered. I canceled my order. Now after reading the review of the F828, I think I'm going to pick up a DRebel. I'm gonna try the DSLR again.

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: hpkeeper
The only thing about sony that I don't like is that they charge an arm and a leg for everything if it breaks... esspecially if it's not covered on your warranty.

Almost every sony product I've owned has malfunctioned in some form... except for my surround sound system.

I think you win some and lose some with any manufacture. I personally have never had trouble with anything made by sony except for 1 of my dvd players.

 

[Compudork]

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[montanafan]

Thanks, Ornery. I'm not entirely against buying online, but I guess I'd just prefer buying from a place I know. If I really want to save some money, I'm going to have to seriously consider it. Thanks again.


CheapArse, thanks for the links on those deals. I think I'll take your advice and call a couple of Circuit City stores to see if they'd be willing to price match any of those offers. Thanks again.


CeruleanFall, yes I agree. I've never bought from them, but I have noticed that they always receive positive reviews and I could possibly feel comfortable ordering from them if Circuit City won't price match them. Thanks.

hpkeeper, I've had a few Sony products, but I've never had to use their repair services. Thanks for the info.

 

[hpkeeper]

CeruleanFall - I've had troubles with car head units, a friend of mine has had troubles with Sony Components that go in cars.

I've had a problem with a couple portable CD players. Like the circular black part with the silver balls in it, on the inside that holds the disc, had a crack in it, a large visible
crack in it... and it was almost as expensive to replace that part as it was to buy a whole new CD player

I have a sony boom box type unit, and the digital display on it is back lit with 3 LCD lights. The voltage of them were a bit weird, so we called and the replacement lights were
some rediculous price. It was insane, so to this day, I don't have a backlit display on my boom box.

Just little stuff goes wrong and I end up having to pay a bunch to get it fixed... or not fixed and I have to buy a whole new unit.

 

[montanafan]

dartworth, thanks for the info on NewEgg and J&R. I'd actually heard of J&R and would have thought they'd be reliable, oh well, that's why it helps to talk to people who've actually used their services.

 

[hpkeeper]

I used NewEgg to buy most of the components in the machine I'm currently using, they have excellent customer service (incidently my motherboard was DOA)...

...evidently it's not just my sony products... lol...

NewEgg is definately the place to go though... they've got good stuff, decent pricing and great customer service.

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: montanafan
dartworth, thanks for the info on NewEgg and J&R. I'd actually heard of J&R and would have thought they'd be reliable, oh well, that's why it helps to talk to people who've actually used their services.

Well it may have been an isolated incident...i dunno.

I've never had a problem with NewEgg however.

 

[Ornery]

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You know, after all is said and done, I think the shutter lag is going to piss you off, no matter which digital you get, short of an SLR. Oh well, if worse comes to worse, you'll still end up with a kick ass camera. It's SO forgiving, due to the bright Zeiss lens. Low or no light shooting doesn't faze it. Built like a brick, too.

 

[pyonir]

Well I know i'm a little late to the party and you've already decided, but i was going to tell you to stay away from the G3 for what you are looking for. I took it out to a high school football game and a high school soccer game (both at night) and i didn't get very good shots in the low light level. I would never recommend the G3 for low light action shots. I love the camera, but that is one of my only complaints.

Good thing i really didn't need it for that anyway.

 

[montanafan]

Thanks again, Ornery. I've used an old Sony digital before and you're right, I hate the shutter lag, but hopefully I'll be able to anticipate what's going to happen in the games well enough to compensate for it.

Neither of the Circuit Citys I would have been buying from are willing to match the Good Guys price since there's no GG's store in the area. I'll look around locally a little more, but it looks like I won't be buying the camera this weekend liked I'd hoped to. Maybe the price on the F717 will drop soon because of the release of the newer model. If not, I'll probably buy it from an online store that sounds trustworthy and has a good deal in the next couple of months.

Thanks again everyone for the advice and help! At least now I know what I want and what I'll be willing to pay for it.

 

[Ornery]

"Maybe the price on the F717 will drop soon because of the release of the newer model."

Hah! The newer model is an abomination! If anything, the F717 looks MORE attractive now. It already dropped in price, due to the release of the 828. I can't believe so many places are still asking $800.00 for it!

The 717 has MUCH less shutter lag than their compact cameras, so it won't be that bad. And, like you said, you can compensate. Many people come up with wonderful sports shots, though they may take 5 or 6 shots to end up with 1 good one. I don't know how you fared with your 35mm equipment.

 

[Compudork]

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[Ornery]

The primary reason I'm not an early adopter, is the huge initial price. That goes for digicams, CPUs and every other "latest & greatest" thing you can think of. Getting the bugs out is a secondary reason.

Still happily shooting with my antiquated F707. Not likely to ever go the DSLR route, due to lens prices. As it turns out, I'm just a snap-shooter. That camera will always be twice the quality I'll ever require.

 

[Compudork]

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[montanafan]

***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 lens.