Digital Cameras

[Hoober]

Any digital recommendations?

 

[minendo]

Price range?

 

[Mr N8]

The Canon A70 or A80 would be a great choice. For pocket sized, the S400 can't be beat.

 

[Hoober]

$500 to $800 I guess. Probably not over a grand.

 

[new2AMD]

Originally posted by: Hoober
$500 to $800 I guess. Probably not over a grand.

With that price range, you can get anything you want.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Did you want a DSLR? Point and shoot? Any brand preferences? What capabilities did you need out of it?

 

[nakedfrog]

Obligatory "Go Fuji!" response

 

[KundiClapper]

first off, women should not be afforded the luxury of such products (i.e COMPUTERS, CARS), but watever u do dont be one of those idiots who goes out and gets those 600 dollar, 7x zoom digi's, watta waste of dough....especially for a woman....anything around the 3x zoom neighborhood is sufficient, look into canon or sony.

 

[Trey22]

I just picked up a Canon A80 several weeks ago and love it.

Pros: Great pics. 4MP. 3x optical zoom. Flip out LCD display (albeit a bit small at 1.8"). Even has movie mode for taking video clips, but the resolution isn't great. Tons of settings to play with, or, can be used as a point and shoot camera. Will fit in a baggy pocket. In XP will hook up for pic downloads with no drivers needed.

Cons: Carrying case not included. Only standard batteries included, will need to buy rechargeables and a recharger. Small 32MB CF card included, I went with a nice Kingston 512MB.

 

[Atomicus]

get her a 2MP cam, she won't know the difference.

 

[Hoober]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Did you want a DSLR? Point and shoot? Any brand preferences? What capabilities did you need out of it?

She used to be a pretty big photo buff, so she likes to do things herself. I think a camera with a lot of features would be really nice.

 

[Ogg]

Originally posted by: KundiClapper
first off, women should not be afforded the luxury of such products (i.e COMPUTERS, CARS), but watever u do dont be one of those idiots who goes out and gets those 600 dollar, 7x zoom digi's, watta waste of dough....especially for a woman....anything around the 3x zoom neighborhood is sufficient, look into canon or sony.

Youre a real winner,eh?:roll::thumbsdown:

 

[Kelemvor]

If you want lots of Zoom Power for not as much cash, the Kodak DX6490 is really great. We got that a month or so ago and it rocks. I would nevet get a digital camera again without 10x optical zoom. But since your price range is higher, I'm sure there's better ones out there that have the high Zoom and the high MP rating.

 

[nakedfrog]

I think what you're really wanting for a photo buff is something with good manual controls.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: Hoober

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Did you want a DSLR? Point and shoot? Any brand preferences? What capabilities did you need out of it?

She used to be a pretty big photo buff, so she likes to do things herself. I think a camera with a lot of features would be really nice.

Does she still have add-on lenses? If so, get a digital that can use the ones she has.

 

[Hoober]

She doesn't mind carrying around something big and heavy. Her current 35mm is a monster. I know she isn't interested in a point and click camera. She wants something that'll take crystal clear pictures and a good zoom.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: Hoober

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Did you want a DSLR? Point and shoot? Any brand preferences? What capabilities did you need out of it?

She used to be a pretty big photo buff, so she likes to do things herself. I think a camera with a lot of features would be really nice.

Then I think that a Canon A70/75/80 will be a pretty good choice. Enough manual features to keep most people satisfied, yet compact enough to serve as an everyday camera.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: KundiClapper
first off, women should not be afforded the luxury of such products (i.e COMPUTERS, CARS), but watever u do dont be one of those idiots who goes out and gets those 600 dollar, 7x zoom digi's, watta waste of dough....especially for a woman....anything around the 3x zoom neighborhood is sufficient, look into canon or sony.

Voted most ignorant post of the day.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: Hoober
She doesn't mind carrying around something big and heavy. Her current 35mm is a monster. I know she isn't interested in a point and click camera. She wants something that'll take crystal clear pictures and a good zoom.

Does she use an SLR right now?

 

[Hoober]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth

Originally posted by: Hoober

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Did you want a DSLR? Point and shoot? Any brand preferences? What capabilities did you need out of it?

She used to be a pretty big photo buff, so she likes to do things herself. I think a camera with a lot of features would be really nice.

Does she still have add-on lenses? If so, get a digital that can use the ones she has.

I'll look into that, thanks.

 

[Hoober]

Originally posted by: kami333

Originally posted by: Hoober
She doesn't mind carrying around something big and heavy. Her current 35mm is a monster. I know she isn't interested in a point and click camera. She wants something that'll take crystal clear pictures and a good zoom.

Does she use an SLR right now?

I wish I knew...

 

[element]

If she has canon lenses already from her 35mm camera, go with the 300D. They are amking them in all black now too btw. If she has Nikon lenses, go with the D70.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Hoober

Originally posted by: kami333

Originally posted by: Hoober
She doesn't mind carrying around something big and heavy. Her current 35mm is a monster. I know she isn't interested in a point and click camera. She wants something that'll take crystal clear pictures and a good zoom.

Does she use an SLR right now?

I wish I knew...

SLR=Single Lens Reflex. You have a camera body with detachable lenses. Do you know what brand her 35mm monster is? Canon? Nikon? Something else? Canon and Nikon both make an excellent digital SLR in your price range that will accept their 35mm autofocus lenses.

 

[Hoober]

She's got a canon now, so I'll take a look at those and see if they'll work with her lenses.

 

[Shivatron]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth

Originally posted by: Hoober

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Did you want a DSLR? Point and shoot? Any brand preferences? What capabilities did you need out of it?

She used to be a pretty big photo buff, so she likes to do things herself. I think a camera with a lot of features would be really nice.

Does she still have add-on lenses? If so, get a digital that can use the ones she has.

This is a good point. However, keep in mind that a DSLR is not a point-and-shoot camera. (That sounds obvious, but hear me out.)

First off, DSLRs are NOT small cameras. You can't just shove a DSLR in your pocket -- and for me, that's a big turn-off. I don't want to be lugging a huge camera bag everywhere.

Second, to my knowledge most DSLRs do not have LCD-previewing -- in other words, you can't see the picture you're about to take through the LCD. While this is no big deal to those who have been using SLRs all of their lives, I still find that LCD preview is a very useful feature; especially if you're in the habit of giving your camera to someone else so that they can take a picture of you. Not having to hold the camera to your face is an added bonus.

Third, are you really going to use all the features that a DSLR offers? Are you really going to think to yourself, "Hmm, this picture would look a lot better if I used a slow shutter speed to blur the crowd in the background; maybe I should switch to shutter-priority mode"? And even if you ARE one of those people, keep in mind that most prosumer digicams (think Canon G5) have full manual controls.

Fourth, and perhaps most important, is price. You are going to be hard pressed to find a sub-$800 DSLR, especially if you need to buy a lense.

Don't get me wrong. I would love a DSLR; and further, I think they're great for professional photographers or hobbyists who are very demanding of their equipment. For most people, however, I think that a DSLR is overkill, especially considering the price point.

Just my $0.02.