I need a new camera where do I start?

[LindaM]

I'm looking to purchase a new camera, but where do I start? I currently own a Kodak, which is a few years old, was a great first digital camera but I feel I'm ready to go the next step. I'm no where near a proffessional, I just enjoy taking pictures and if it's good I like to enlarge them and have them framed.

I researched the canon 40D, but is that too much for someone that has only really been a point and shoot kind of person Should I start smaller and work my way up? I really want to grow and learn with this new camera, but also have fun taking different shots. I figured I would spend up to $1000. TIA

 

[Shutterbug]

I researched the canon 40D, but is that too much for someone that has only really been a point and shoot kind of person Should I start smaller and work my way up? I really want to grow and learn with this new camera, but also have fun taking different shots. I figured I would spend up to $1000. TIA

Here is my .02

Figure out what your needs and wants are now and what they might be in the future.

Yes the 40D has tons of bells and whistles to it. Question is do you need all those bells and whistles now or maybe in the future. For me it was definetley yes.

Now if you would only want to spend $1000 I would check out the Rebel XTI dslr. Its more of entry level dslr and also a very fine camera. Plus with what it cost it would leave you some money left over that you could possibley put to another lens. The XTI and the 40D do both have a green(easy) mode that you can start off before moving into the many creative modes.

I am sure the others here can tell you about the other brands as well.

 

[handicap18]

Do you want something that is like a PnS or somethink like the 40D that has the ability to change lenses?

What other things are important to you? What kind of pictures do you find yourself taking? Is there anything that you really didn't like about your previous camera that you wish it would do better or a feature that you know you could use but didn't have?

A jump from a Kodak PnS to a Canon 40D is a HUGE jump. Have you used any kind of SLR camera in the past?

 

[YEKCIM]

For about $650 (online) you can get the Nikon D40 with the very good 18-135mm zoom lens. That would be a good combination that you could grow with, should you decide to. For an additional $450 (again, online) you could add the 70-300vr lens which is also a very good performer. I do not have the D40, but understand it to be a very easy to use dSLR, which can be used in PnS mode or various more advanced modes.

There are also very fine cameras in your price range from Canon (as mentioned above), Pentax, Sony, and Olympus (did I miss anyone??).

~YEKCIM

 

[LindaM]

No I haven't used any kind of SLR in the past, but with that said I really want more than a everyday digital camera. I love to take action shots and night time shots and I find most times those come out blurry with my current camera. I would love to learn more about the different lenses, and I'm also considering taking a photography class just so I can learn more and take some fantastic pictures that I see here.

Thanks for giving me a few more things to think about. I will look into the other cameras mentioned, and hopefully will find my right fit by this weekend.

 

[ukcatfan]

The 40D will eat up your entire budget and only give you one lens. I suggest getting less of a body and more lenses. A wide aperture lens is going to do more for low light than the high ISO.

Kevin

 

[DueyDooDah]

The 40D will eat up your entire budget and only give you one lens. I suggest getting less of a body and more lenses. A wide aperture lens is going to do more for low light than the high ISO.

Kevin

I second this thinking.

 

[collcass]

If you have a best buy near you, I found a great deal on the 40D with an extra lense. How good is the lense, I have no idea since I haven't been there to look at it. Was on my way today but the snow had a different idea!!

The package was in the weekly add this week

 

[YEKCIM]

hopefully will find my right fit by this weekend.

If you have the time, I strongly suggest you spend more time researching your decision. Consider not only the camera body, but the lenses you may want to purchase initially *and* in the future. As a couple of others have mentioned, it is typically a wise move to invest in better lenses, even if you have to drop down a model or two in the camera body to do so.

JMHO...

Here are some review sites you may want to visit:

www.dpreview.com
www.steves-digicams.com
www.imaging-resource.com
www.dcresource.com

All have reviews and sample images for you to compare. If you are planning to shop online, you may want to use www.pricegrabber.com to find a deal. Beware of too-good-to-be-true prices, though, as there are some scammers out there. B&H, Beach/Buydig, Adorama, and others are usually safe bets.

~YEKCIM

 

[Gdad]

If you have the time, I strongly suggest you spend more time researching your decision. Consider not only the camera body, but the lenses you may want to purchase initially *and* in the future. As a couple of others have mentioned, it is typically a wise move to invest in better lenses, even if you have to drop down a model or two in the camera body to do so.

JMHO...

Here are some review sites you may want to visit:

www.dpreview.com
www.steves-digicams.com
www.imaging-resource.com
www.dcresource.com

All have reviews and sample images for you to compare. If you are planning to shop online, you may want to use www.pricegrabber.com to find a deal. Beware of too-good-to-be-true prices, though, as there are some scammers out there. B&H, Beach/Buydig, Adorama, and others are usually safe bets.

~YEKCIM

Great advice.

 

[ukcatfan]

I will look into the other cameras mentioned, and hopefully will find my right fit by this weekend.

If you have the time, I strongly suggest you spend more time researching your decision.

Also, consider that almost all brands announced new models within the past few weeks. They are not on the market though, so things are shaping to change very soon. The only models I would recommend getting ASAP, if you decide on them, are the Pentax K100D and Canon Rebel XT (not XTi). The stock on these is supposedly getting really low, so might all but disappear when all the new models hit the streets.

Kevin