Help me Choose a Camera!

[EeyoreFan1]

As of right now I have an HP Photosmart and I HATE it. For our upcoming May trip, and as my passion for photography increases, I'm looking for a new camera. I would love everyone's input. I want something not TOO incredibly hard to manuever although I'm pretty tech savvy. I'm an amateur, and have only had digital cameras and at one point a Polaroid. I've never worked with lenses, and those are far beyond my budget. I want something very reasonably priced, but is capable of breathtaking pictures. If anyone has any in mind, and has pictures they've taken with them that would be MUCHO appreciated! TIA!

 

[ukcatfan]

Pentax, but I have also had Canon p&s models.

You might try picking some actual models and then asking. You really are not going to get any useful information with a brand preference poll.

Kevin

 

[CPM]

Almost every camera I have had has been an Olympus. I love my E500!

 

[EeyoreFan1]

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sams...94992/catOid/-13062/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

http://www.videodirect.com/Merchant...ROD&Product_Code=FE340RED&Category_Code=OLDSC

I really like these two. Opinions?

If you haven't noticed, I really like the red.

 

[Gdad]

Stunning Nikon

 

[Pea-n-Me]

What do you hate about the HP (besides color )?

 

[EeyoreFan1]

The screen is very very small, and the pictures aren't very good quality. And this part (circled below) pops in and out! The flash doesn't work 100% of the time, whether its on or off.

 

[EeyoreFan1]

Stunning Nikon

If only that were in my price range.

I am deeply in love with the Nikon D40 and D50, and Jeff your POTD pictures don't help me at all!

One day I'll get one...

 

[iggbees]

my dad bought my mom this for her birthday last year. it takes very nice photos and it's very fast (takes much better night shots than my p&s).

http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/f/finepix_f31fd/index.html

i have a samsung i6. they don't make it anymore, but they updated it (i think it's an i7 now). i love the anti shake on it. it was also pretty inexpensive, somewhere around 200$ at the time. i've gotten some really nice pictures with it. it has a HUGE screen, which i love!

http://www.samsungcamera.com/product/pro_view.asp?prol_uid=2815&cat_uid=12

eta. it looks like the i7 is being phased out and the i85 is replacing it. amazon has the i85 for 256.00$

 

[MarkBarbieri]

If you're looking to get seriously into photography and are planning to start acquiring a lot of gear, it makes a lot of sense to look at the overall "ecosystem" for each brand. If you're just looking for a camera, I'd look at cameras and not brands.

 

[EeyoreFan1]

Thanks everyone. Sorry I'm not being completely clear on what I'm looking for, because I'm not exactly sure myself.

 

[ryley26]

I'm stuck between a D40 and D40x anyone have an opinion. This will be my first slr camera. I'm wondering for an amatuer like myself is the extra pixels worth the price. Also If I choose the D40x I hear the D60 is coming out with auto clean for $50 dollars more. Thanks for any advice.

 

[pyrxtc]

I voted other, for Olympus. All of my cameras are olympus and I love them all!

 

[DISNEYLOVER70]

I voted for Canon. Just because that is what I have always bought and have always been very satisfied with them. My latest purchase was last year about this time for our "upcoming May trip" and it was a Canon SD700IS. Takes great pictures, fit perfectly in my backpack, fannypack, pocket, whatever, very light weight, and fairly inexpensive. I think I paid 350 for mine last year, I am sure a lot cheaper now.

Good luck and have a great trip!!!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

It really depends on what you want.

Want to be different? Cool? Are you the kind of person that gets tattoos and wears a goatee so that you can be different (just like everyone else)? The be a rebel and a Canon Rebel.

Don't know anything about photography but want a brand synonymous with photography? Get a Nikon D40x. Sure, they don't make the sensor and a lot of classic Nikon lenses don't work quite right with it. Still, it's a Nikon, so you must be a real photographer, right?

How about Sony? You can't get any more mainstream than that in the electronics world. Sure, they only recently got into DSLRs by buying Minolta after they collapsed. Maybe it'll work better for Sony than it did for Minolta. Besides, you can use those cool Memory Stick memory cards that no one else has.

Do you like small pictures? Get a small camera. Olympus makes little cameras that are great for little pictures.

How about HP? They make good computers, so their cameras must be good too, right? What about Fuji, Kodak, or Polaroid? They made good film, so shouldn't they make good cameras? Or maybe Casio. A camera is sort of like a calculator, isn't it?

You could try Sigma. Then you could get cheap lenses from your camera maker instead of buying those knock-off brands like, well, Sigma.

Man, it seems like I'm missing someone. Oh well, I'm sure it will come to me later.

 

[ukcatfan]

Want to be different? Cool? Are you the kind of person that gets tattoos and wears a goatee so that you can be different (just like everyone else)? The be a rebel and a Canon Rebel.

Hey, I resemble that remark...

Man, it seems like I'm missing someone. Oh well, I'm sure it will come to me later.

... and shoot a Pentax, which I believe is the only one you forgot.

BTW... Very funny!!!

Kevin

P.S. I am probably going in for my next tattoo next week after we get back from a quick weekend trip to the World with the MIL that is in town right now.

 

[PhotobearSam]

I am loving my Canon S5 IS...It will give you room to grow a bit as a photographer and still give you really good pics right out of the box even on auto setting.

I have 5 Canons right now, and I have NEVER been disappointed in any of them.


Here are a few shots on the S5IS for you to see...

 

[Tickla]

Great, colorful pictures! Have these been through a noiseware program? How is the noise on the S5? I've read it is higher because of more MP's , but your pics look smooth. I keep wanting to buy it,it looks so fun to use!

 

[PhotobearSam]

None have gone through noiseware...I had to put noiseware for a couple of pics in very low light and really high ISO like 1600 but most pics are not so bad.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Hey, I resemble that remark...



... and shoot a Pentax, which I believe is the only one you forgot.

BTW... Very funny!!!

Kevin

P.S. I am probably going in for my next tattoo next week after we get back from a quick weekend trip to the World with the MIL that is in town right now.

I must need a new trouble stirring stick. I was certain that an obnoxious post like this would get a little more flack. I even struck out trying to stir up debate on an ecomonics forum yesterday asserting that falling home prices, like falling prices for pretty much anything, are a good thing for the typical consumer. Oh well, so much for stirring things up.