Help finding a camera that gives crisp photos?

Question

I've been looking into getting two cameras, one for crisp and detailed photos and one for smooth photos. For smooth photos, I was looking at the Pentacon Six TL (though I don't like 6x6 photos much). I was looking for photo quality such as http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2808/clear02nk0.png and http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/8051/clear01as9.png that have a smooth, casual feel. For crisp photos, such as http://flickr.com/photos/samlara/401259658 and http://flickr.com/photos/kadiwow/383220500 I was looking at the Nikon D40. Nobody I know has either cameras, so I'd like to know if they are any good or if you know of any good cameras for either smooth or crisp photos. Thank you =]!

Answer 1

You know, if you don't own the Practicon yet, I'd consider just buying a Nikon D80 and forgetting about the other two choices. Use it for everything. I own a D200, which is quite similar to the D80 in capabilities, and I am thrilled with the image quality.

I looked at your samples to get an idea what you mean and I think you should go look at my pictures on Flickr and see what the 10MP in the D200 can do for you. Read the info below the photos, because a couple are not taken with the D200. I am certain that the D80 will be every bit as good as the D200 as far as image quality, as the sensor is the same.

It seems to me that the subtle difference you like in "smooth" and "sharp" pictures are a matter of lighting more than they are a matter of format.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/

Answer 2

I have the Canon Digital Rebel XT. It's great and ti takes crisp pictures 99% of the time. Even at ISO 1600, it still takes good pictures. I think that Canon might be the best camera in the market, considering the affordable price and good picture quality. Maybe you should consider Canon Digital Rebel XTi, or if you want professional camera, consider the Canon EOS 1D Mark II Digital has 16.7 Mpixels with the 35 mm size sensor.

Answer 3

I have the D40. I no longer recommend it. It just sucks, but of course, it is a beginner's camera. Anyway, the photos you link to just happen to have good, diffused lighting. And for the dog, you'll need a fast shutter speed, which is what the D40 has. Another thing, about the crispness, and level of detail, the D40 has that; six megapixels is sufficient. You might want to consider the D40X if you'll be cropping or zooming in to check for details. But otherwise, 6 megapixels will suffice. What I hate about the D40 is its crappy autofocus sensor, it's unreliable. Another thing is it's slow thanks to its kit lens. Autofocus is painfully slow. But other camera functions are extremely fast besides that. Another shortcoming of the D40 is the lack of a built-in AF motor, which means you're stuck to buying low-end lenses with built-in motors. So, you judge whether the D40 is good for you, but I know I hate it now.

Answer 4

Just be aware of pixel size. For example canon's 20d vs the xti. The image sensors are the same size but the XTI has 2 million more pixles. To cram all those pixles into the same physcal space means each one has to be smaller. This results in added "noise" and a decreased color accuracy.