Are there any questions about digital cameras?

The fsecond one came out the right size, the last two came out to small. Thanks for the compliments there many more.

Lets try again

Yeeeeaaah, I think I've got it. Thanks dudes

Here's my thoughts on the camera I'm going to buy. I am strongly considering buying the Nikon P80, but it doesn't do the RAW format that so many people have been talking about on here. So, is there a camera with the zoom power of the Nikon P80 that does RAW format for about the same price? Also, I'm going to buy a smaller, cheaper camera for my actual backpacking trips. This way if it gets crushed or broken some other way I won't be so mad. Usually what I like to do is take day hikes and take pictures, the camera I take along with me on backpacking trips is more to take pics of the people I go with so that I can have memories of the trip. I just don't trust myself backpacking with a "nice" camera.

Kyle.. er.. NO WAY .. ahahaha P80 is only one in a point and shoot that has that kind of zoom power. The only way to get the raw in a point and shoot is with a cannon or fugi. Neither of which I like, well I don't like the glass in them (This is personal only, no need to try to bash me if your a cannon or fugi person). Bottom line is the P80 is still a power house camera. I think I may ask brother Jay to buy me one... lol. For a cheaper camera, I do like the Kodak Z series. Some have some nice zooms. The thing I like about the Kodak is that no matter what mode your in, no matter what your doing with the camera, if you press the shutter button it will take a picture. As long as the camera it self works, lol. This can be a real plus for grabing a quick shot. And they are light. Even with the lith. ion batt. For what your descibing.. RAW would not really be of any use to you. Shoot it in as high a res. that you can get and be done with it. lol
Eddie

so if I want a camera that can "grow" with me as I get better at photography, would I be better suited getting an SLR, or would the P80 be a camera that would always be able to do anything I would want to do?

See now you’re asking a tricky question. To grow with you is a veiled question. Coming from a photography background I am going to naturally lead you toward a DSLR. I mean, full manual controls, interchangeable lenses, full viewfinder. But even they have more on them as you go up the lines. There are no 1 source for everything cameras. I have 3, going on 4. Each has a specific job. Personally, I think the P80 will give great results at a great weight and at about $400 it is, in the camera world, modestly priced. Offers full manual control over shutter speed and aperture, incredible optics, and "ITS A NIKON DUDE". lol For me the draw back to the P80, if I ever want a faster lens (the P80 is locked in at f2.4-4. you can never change the lens. If I wanted a fish eye lens, again, it cannot be changed. If I wanted to shoot in .raw it cannot be done with this camera. But for the average backpack or daypack I think its offers a virtual powerhouse in other features that unless your working for "Backpacker Mag" or "Time" or National Geographic" I don't think that you’re going to miss. The first and foremost I would surest is take up a photography primer class. Usually local community centers, parks and rec. dept. or some other public office or even Community University or other school will offer these are fair prices. LEARN THE RULES, so you know when and why you can break them. but you have to know what they are first. If you can find one before you buy your next camera, I would talk to them to see if one is required before taking the class. All my classes did not require a camera. It also would give you a better idea for when you go to buy it.
Eddie


seekingfun209

So Eddie, have you ever taught a photography primer class?

yes.. actually taught many.. from a primmer to advanced. :-D.. doubt I could teach anything here though. Usually my primer class is abou 8 weeks at one 1 hour class per week. That is just about right for retention. lol
Eddie

So, I just bought TWO cameras ! One was a Fujifilm z20, and the other was a Canon Rebel XTi (an SLR). Even though it is a little late to be getting tonight, is there anything other than what it came with that I need? I've got the camera, an 18-55mm lens, 2 batteries, an SD card (I think they sold me the wrong one), a bag, a UV lens filter (whatever that is), and all the instructions too (books, cds, and other stuff).

willky1 wrote:So, I just bought TWO cameras ! One was a Fujifilm z20, and the other was a Canon Rebel XTi (an SLR). Even though it is a little late to be getting tonight, is there anything other than what it came with that I need? I've got the camera, an 18-55mm lens, 2 batteries, an SD card (I think they sold me the wrong one), a bag, a UV lens filter (whatever that is), and all the instructions too (books, cds, and other stuff).

How about a free Webshots or photobuckets account??

hahahaha Kyle... uh.. you could have gotten me one too. lol. I belive you will find that the sd card will not fit either of thouse cameras. The only thing I would say you may want to consider would be a small to med. telephoto lens for the canon. Unless your doing extream wildlife I would say around a 80-210, or a 70-300. And you will need a decent tripod with the later of thouse two as I am sure your not going to spend the money on a fast one lol. Would be several thousands of $$. Also Flicker is a free photo sharing account and is backed by Yahoo.
Eddie

Man this has gotten to 3 pages... guess this is a hot topic huh... lol
Eddie

I'm think I'm going to have to SAVE a little before I can get the telephoto lens...haha. But I am going to get a tripod. Every thing with this stuff is so dang expensive. The SD card did fit the Fuji, but I already had one so I'm going to take it back and get a CF (?) card for the SLR. I'm so PUMPED! So, opinions, which internet photo sharing sites do ya'll use? Is there a clearly "better" one?

Eddie,
With the two lenses that you suggested, where can I look for them and how much would be a good price to spend?

hmmm not sure about price on the cannon. Go to a book store and look for a copy of Shutterbug mag. Its basically one BIG advertining. Look through it but only at the ads for stores that are one full page or better. Then price it out on ebay. Now with the cannons, all cannon lenses will not fit all cannons, unlike the nikons. So you need to find out which ones will work with your camera. Personally I don't know. They will be cheaper on Ebay but make sure you know what your getting when you buy from there, ESPECIALLY used. Ebay is notorious for people selling used glass that has a fungus between the elements. You can not see it with the naked eye but it will effect the image. SO BUYER BEWARE on the used market. Make sure its a reputable seller.
Eddie

Eddie,

I am soliciting some help in the camera dept. I am a very novice photographer but am willing to learn. I would like to have a DSLR because it would offer max flexability and room for growth. The downside of a DSLR is the price. I can afford to spend 400 - 600 on the package. I do have two Canon lenses from a 35mm camera. 1 is a 80 - 200mm 1:4.5 - 5.6 and the other is a 35-80 mm lense. Both are Canon AF leses that are in good shape. The camera got stolen but not the lenses. I am not sure about the compatibilty in the AF circuitry between a SLR and DSLR. Do you have any recommendations for me.

HBH

Yes... find out which canons thouse lens will fit.. all canons are not created equal. Take them in to a Wolf or Ritz camera or other local camera shop.. It they can not tell you what they fit then leave never to return. Once you find out if there are any D Cameras out there that they will fit (and if they are worth going to the trouble) then they should be able to stear you in the direction of a Canon DSLR. If not then you will be slim pickings for DSLRs in your price range but they are there and some offer a nice package deal. If deciding to go Nikon I know they offer a D60 that is not bad for around your price. Also the D50 is not to bad but its a beginner camera. Ebay prob would be the place to find either of them. Cannon specific I can not recomend as I do live in a Nikon World lol... On a side note.. there are some really nice Point and Shoot Hybrids out that offer a nice package as the Nikon P80 that I keep prasing about. I think everyone at the HikerFest was impressed enough with mine and Colts. On a side note I would recomend staying away from a video camera that does stills if you want a photography camera, and vise virsa stay away from a photography camera that does video if you want video. Some have had ok results but by and by I don't recomend the combo like that. Sometimes it may be nice to have the video on the still camera but I am bias to the still camera.. lol. Keep us posted on what you end up with. If you can just tell me what your lenses will fit I will be glad to look them up and tell you which in my honest opinon is the better. But with the Digital Cameras, the general old saying is true. The more you spend the better you get. Higher pixels and more features. Just don't go stupid and spend a months pay on one lol.... if you do you may have to buy me one to boot hahahaha

I was planning to hit the local camera shop tomorrow. I have
a couple point and shoot digitals: a Nikon Coolpix, and several Sea Life
underwater digitals. I have seen a few Nikon and Canon kits in the big box
stores that are in my price range. I am not naive and know you get what you pay
for. I am not sure if they decent or just cheap models that the Walton's had built to sell cheap. I will gather data and solicit more advice later.



Thanks,HBH

Good.. sounds like your on the correct path and you seem to know where to begin looking. Man a Sea Life Camera. That brings back some old memories when I was shooting for Disney at Typhoon Lagoon.. lol. In the Shark Tank with a 35mm Sea Life shooting the tourheads as they swam with the sharks lol.

Mine is at least digital. I have a 6mp that I got last year that is pretty sweet. I have a nice strobe and a couple of color filters for it. I have been carrying it for a backpacking and canoeing camera as well as diving. It is shock proof from a 2 meter fall and water proof to 130 meters. The pics on my webshots page of the Buffalo river canoe trip in June were taken with it. http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/563711904qoKHqn
I have a couple of other older digital sealifes that work well but have these huge housings.

Amanda and I have a Canon XTi that we got pretty cheap (someone returned it without the lens cap, so they took $140 off ) We have taken about 10,000 pics with it so far, with no problems. We have the 50mm 1.8 prime; 18mm-55mm that it came with; and a promaster 70mm-300mm, that has a macro option. I like the promaster, but it will be traded soon for the Canon. The promaster is a little grainy at 300mm.

Look around you might be able to find some pretty good deals, since the big stores have started to sell them, a lot of people have been buying them, only to return them because they do not have the patience to learn them.

Dwight

Wow Preacha... not bad discount for a $2 cap lol. Yes the promaster... should be the not to promaster. They are pretty bad. Especially if you try to blow up the image. Will make you want to blow up the lens instead. Generally when looking for lens stick with the manufaturers of the camera lens. The only ones that I recomend that are off brand is the Tameron (actually has better glass than the Canon Original as it is better ground), Tokina in some of the special lenses such as the macros, and a few Sigma mostly in the mid range. The rest on digital cameras just are not up to snuff enough for anything other than just basic basic basic photography. As you grow you find their limitations. And The "OLD" lens are still the best. Nothing can even come close to them today. To bad some of them become radioactive after 50 years or so. Something about the coating they use to on them lol.

Well I have been schooled on DSLR and have discovered that I cannot get much in the 400 - 600 range. I have the option of dropping a couple of other gear upgrades that I wanted and getting a nicer camera. I am torn between the Nikon D60 and the Canon Xsi. The Canon is a more feature rich camera for roughly the same money. It comes with a 18 - 55m Image stabilized Lense and a 55-250 IS lense. Opinions?

Eddie,

How do you carry your nicer cameras on a BPing trip? With the point and shoots I just ziptie the case to a shoulder strrap and go on. I have a Pelican box big enough for the camera and lense but it is to heavy for BPing.