please help with digital camera

[LoraJ]

Well I love my Panasonic Lumix TZ5.

 

[crz4mm2]

yep I have the rebel xt as well.

hand held with the Canon 28-135 IS lens. it costs about $450 I think.

MIkeeee

Great pic Mikeee!

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

yep I have the rebel xt as well.

hand held with the Canon 28-135 IS lens. it costs about $450 I think.

MIkeeee

WOWEE. I want to take a picture like that one! AWESOME and then even more AWESOME! Great job.

 

[sbell111]

I would get an entry-level SLR, like the Canon Rebel.

yep I have the rebel xt as well.

hand held with the Canon 28-135 IS lens. it costs about $450 I think.

MIkeeee

WOWEE. I want to take a picture like that one! AWESOME and then even more AWESOME! Great job.

I agree. That is an awesome pic.

I use a Canon 20d. If I were buying a camera today, I would get it's current replacement, the 50d, but these are not low priced entry level cameras that the OP is looking for. For the OP, I would suggest the Rebel XT or Rebel XS. Honestly, I think the XS would be a better choice for the OP, but she may be able to find an XT kit for cheaper on clearance.

 

[babytrees]

we have 2 kodak point & shoots, love them!!!

Here is a sampling from mine(Z710), the ones I took for my oldest's senior pics:

I also just received a dSLR (Sony A330) that I love but can't download pics from right now due to computer issues.

 

[solpo]

I agree with everyone who says take a DSLR. Some of the lower cost (and even higher cost) point and shoots (P&S) can take up to a second to take a picture once you hit the shutter. A DSLR's lag is measured in MILLIseconds.

At night or in low light, there's no way a P&S can match a DSLR--small sensors mean lots of noise. Big sensors mean less noise. Period. Most P&Ss useless at night above 200 ISO. You can get 800 or more WITH HIGHER QUALITY from a DSLR. This means that you don't miss pictures after dark.

Furthermore, DSLRs can be just as easy to use, and, in fact, are frequently MORE forgiving of less than perfect technique.

Canons are great cameras. However, if you look at what the Disney Photopass photographers use (at least last time I was there)--it's Nikon. The quick easy and cheap solution would be a D40 or D60 kit. You can get a D60 with a 18-55 VR lens (handheld nighttime pictures of fireworks at the castle are possible with this!) for about $520 from a REPUTABLE seller. $460 for the D40 without VR. Sure, the DSLR is a little bigger and heavier, but, having run around WDW for 9 days with a heavier camera (D200), trust me, you can handle it.

Ultimately, go somewhere that you can try both out and see what you like better. Comparing Nikon to Canon is like comparing a BMW 530 to a Mercedes E350. Both are really nice, German, midsize luxury/luxury-sport cars. Both have almost the exact same features. Both are about the same size. Both have six-cylinder engines. And both feel completely different and, odds are, one will feel great for you, and one won't. (hopefully I avoided starting a canon vs. nikon war)

One last tip.... Don't worry too much about megapixels. 6mp from a DSLR will frequently outperform 10-12mp from a P&S.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Head over the the photography board, they are very helpful!

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

I hate when that happens! Thanks for taking the time to rewrite!

Thank you to everyone, looks like I will go with a Cannon! The sample pictures some posted looked great!

Thanks again!

another canon lover here, but I also love my little fuji point and shoot z20.

Fuji Z20fd pics

 

[Luv2Scrap]

yep I have the rebel xt as well.

hand held with the Canon 28-135 IS lens. it costs about $450 I think.

MIkeeee

Just wanted to add another WOW for this pic!

 

[jennyleettu]

I'm a newbie to Disney but not to cameras LOL!! I have a Connon A560 that I really liked, the one thing I didn't really care for was it ran on AA batteries so it was more bulky than other cameras.

I received a Nikon Coolpix (the cheapest verson) as a replacement from my mom for Christmas after my cannon was stolen. It's really nice and I know it wasn't more than $150. I like that it's small, and once you learn to hold the shutter button down half way in prep for taking the picture then it takes pictures quickly. This is something I still have not been able to teach DH!

I am in the process of getting a Nikon D60, in fact it's being shipped this week. I'm so excited and can't wait to get it here. Like PPs have said nothing can really match the speed of the pictures.

All that being said, I plan on taking both the D60 and the coolpix with us. I'm going to test it out and see how both do and if I want to carry both around with us the whole time we are there.

Good luck picking! One of the best things to do if you are unsure is go to the store and try several out...I always sugest testing the zoom to see how well the pictures come out as well as testing the shutter speed!