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Camera Help

Number 6 May 07 2008 10:23 PM

If I remember correctly, there are some very good photographers on this board, and I'm hoping that maybe one of you would be able to give me some advice. On July 31st, I am leaving for a 3-month trip that I've been planning and saving up for for eons, and I'd like to record it fittingly. Thing is, I'm not a well-educated photographer; I've had some cameras and I really enjoy taking pictures, and I think I have some modest, raw talent at framing my shots. However, I know next-to-nothing about how a camera really works, and how and when to take advantage of its features. I'd like to learn, and am thinking about eventually taking some classes or maybe joining a club. I'm willing to spend about $450 or so, give or take, on a digital camera that I can travel with and one day maybe learn more on. Given all of this info, does anyone have any advice on what kind of camera I should be looking for? I've looked at online reviews, but without a ton of knowledge right now it's hard to know what's out there. Or maybe even a beginner's reference to the market would be helpful. If anybody has any advice for me, or can maybe point me in a good direction, I'd have some profuse thank you's to share.

Triple Dee May 08 2008 05:55 AM

I had pretty good results with this camera before my four year old cousin dumped it into the harbor in Hydra. http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/camera/review/150/page_8.html

AG/DC May 08 2008 06:56 AM

Tht top photo hound here is Iubitul, but he comes and goes. Send him a message and I'm sure he'd be helpful.

Benjamin Grimm May 08 2008 07:09 AM

I have a Panasonic Lumix which I bought about a year ago. It's my second digital camera, replacing a Canon that I bought in 2004. I chose this model mainly for two reasons: its size and its zoom. I want a camera that's small enough to shove in my pocket. My Canon camera only had a 3x optical zoom, which was not enough and was sometimes frustrating. (When I was in Alaska I saw a moose drinking from a lake, but even at full zoom I couldn't get a clear shot of her.) My Lumix zooms 10x, and it's much much better. It's sometimes hard to get a good focus at full zoom, because every little wiggle of the camera is magnified so much, but I'm quite satisfied with the camera. Those are the features that are important to me. If you agree with them, look into the Lumix. If there are other features that you value more, then maybe a different camera would be a better fit for you.

Number 6 May 08 2008 07:39 AM

Thanks, all! Very helpful. I will also drop a note to Iubitul.

metirish May 08 2008 09:56 AM

I'm on my second Canon Powershot , for a novice like me there are great and not expensive , but I must say I want a better one ,especially when we are out like at the Zoo then I see the limitations of the camera , my limitations too. If I had the money I would get the Nikon D300 with a lens , both are expensive.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 08 2008 10:15 AM

WIRED magazine this month reviews some cameras but IIRC they're "real" cameras (not point-n-shoots) exceeding your price point. Here tho is a primer that may be helpful: [url]http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Buy_a_Digital_Camera[/url]

Farmer Ted May 08 2008 12:01 PM

I recall a photog fro the SI swimsuit issue did his entire shoot with a disposable camera and sent it to wal-mart for processing. Several shots made it into the mag.

metirish May 08 2008 12:24 PM

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: WIRED magazine this month reviews some cameras but IIRC they're "real" cameras (not point-n-shoots) exceeding your price point. Here tho is a primer that may be helpful: [url]http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Buy_a_Digital_Camera[/url] I just learned a bunch of shit reading that ,thanks , megapixel is not a good stat to go by , I never knew that.

Number 6 May 08 2008 12:25 PM

metirish wrote: I just learned a bunch of shit reading that ,thanks , megapixel is not a good stat to go by , I never knew that. I'll second that.

Mr. Zero May 08 2008 01:11 PM

Panasonic has partnered with Leica to design a few nice cameras that they each sell under there own brand name. One of which is the Panasonic Lumix LX2, which is somewhere between an SLR and a point and shoot. Think its sells for around 400. The identical Leica version (Leica D-Lux 3) sells for around 200 more. Solid construction and a simple, intuitive control panel. If they were in stock I'd have bought the Leica, as I'm a bit of a design snob, and like that little red logo. Got the Panasonic instead and couldn't be happier. Only down side is that it does have a lens cap. Even more compact is the the Lumix DMC-FX01 (Leica version is the C-Lux 2, again, about $200 more). A nice little point and shoot. The Canon mentioned above looks like a nice solid hunk of metal. Also, I should mention that I am not any kind of real photographer but know a bunch who use the LX2/D-Lux 3 as their travel/kicking around camera.

Kong76 May 08 2008 06:21 PM

Iubitul? There's someone who hasn't posted in awhile. He always 'hid' here but he's always on the visited for the day list at mofo if anyone is looking for him.