Care to spend $600 for me???

[woodlandsparty]

I was thinking about buying the Canon G7. But, after getting input on shooting RAW, I think I want to have the option to use it if I want. The new G7 doesn't offer it. IS with the G7 was a big plus for me though. So....I need some direction to get me started in my hunt again! If I gave you $600...or in that range....what camera would you buy???

 

[boBQuincy]

For about $600 you might be able to get a Rebel XT (the previous model) with the 18-55 kit lens. This a very capable combination and as you get more experience and more $$$ you can get additional lenses.

Fwiw, the newer Rebel XTi is reported to have more high ISO noise then the older version. Too many pixels on too little real estate?

 

[jann1033]

i second bobq...my xt was about 700 with kit pre xti coming out ( with a 100 rebate at the time)so i am guessing if you check around you could find it closer to your target price. i just checked beach camera and the kit was $674 so guess it hasn't come down much but still close to your price range
resellersrating( link 2) had lots in the mid to upper $600 range and the cheapest is lens for it that i know of is the 28-135 and i got mine around $405 but i think it's usually around $500 . or you could look at the pentax dslr line ( link 1)for around the same price but not sure how well rated the new IS line is, http://www.pentaximaging.com/produc...-K110D/reqID--7717497/subsection--digital_slr
http://shop.resellerratings.com/xPC...FD-7185~kworg-canon rebel xt~DMT-3~VK-3070173

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Wow, I didn't realize that Canon had pulled RAW capabilities from their non-DSLR cameras.

You need to decide what you want to do with your camera and your post-processing before you decide how big a deal this will be for you. Most people take shots and then either keep them or trash them. Only a small percentage do any siginficant editing beyond cropping.

If you think that you'll spend time on your computer messing about with photos after you taken them to adjust things like exposure, color balance, sharpness, etc. then the lack of RAW is a significant drawback.

 

[woodlandsparty]

Wow, I didn't realize that Canon had pulled RAW capabilities from their non-DSLR cameras.

You need to decide what you want to do with your camera and your post-processing before you decide how big a deal this will be for you. Most people take shots and then either keep them or trash them. Only a small percentage do any siginficant editing beyond cropping.

If you think that you'll spend time on your computer messing about with photos after you taken them to adjust things like exposure, color balance, sharpness, etc. then the lack of RAW is a significant drawback.

I 'tweak' probably 75% of my photos that I take in some way or another. My background is in web design and graphic design, so it would kill me not to try to make photos a little better here and there. But, since the graphic experience that I have is mostly for the web, I am most familiar with the jpg format for photos. I haven't had the chance to work with RAW formats just yet.

 

[Anewman]

The Pentax K100D has in body IS and is currently $590 with kit lens @ buydig/beachcamera, No tax free shipping.

They also have the REBEL XT for $598 but that is the body only price.

 

[ukcatfan]

or you could look at the pentax dslr line ( link 1)for around the same price but not sure how well rated the new IS line is,

I have had the K100D for a few weeks and from what I can tell, the IS on it is better than it was on my Canon S1 IS. I have gone as far as 1/4 second at about 35mm handheld without any blur. I do not know how true it is, but I have heard that optical IS (Canon & Nikon) is better for long telephoto and sensor shift IS (Pentax) is better for wide angle. I currently only have the kit lens.

Also, speaking of the kit, the Pentax kit has been rated by a few of the professional reviewers as the best kit around. I am not saying that it is a great lens, but if you are going to have to stick with a kit at first, the Pentax is a good choice.

Also consider each brand's crop factor. If wide angle is important, Pentax (and Nikon if I remember correctly) has a 1.5x ratio and can go a little wider where the Canon has 1.6x. Olympus has 2.0x. A large factor is a benefit if you shoot telephoto the most.

Kevin