Amateur Camera; possibly SLR?

Question

Hi, I am a teenage amateur photographer, i would like to a new camera. the camerea i am using is a 6 megapixel compact. but it isnt what i hoped it would be. i am willing to spend from $200-$450. i want it to be durable, not fragile. i would also like it to have good lighting features ( although i know i can change the lighting on photoshop ). good outdoor pictures, as well as indoor. =)


i am leaning towards either a canon or a fujifilm.

FinePix S6500fd?

or
Pentax K110D?

*any others?

thank you all; whom have answered the question. your all very helpful. =D

Answer 1

Digital point & shoot cameras have gotten much better during the past 3 years, but they are still very limiting compared to (digital) SLR models. Point & shoots are generally sluggish (not suited for sports and candids), poor at high ISO (low light situations), and they tend to put way too much of the picture in focus. With a (digital) SLR you can control depth of field much better - a major aspect of creative photography. Even the top end point & shoot cameras like the Canon G7 and S3 have one or more of these drawbacks. If you want to take your photography to the next level, I'd agree that a (digital) SLR is the way to go.
Regarding the film vs. digital debate, film still has a tiny edge in some areas but digital is better in other situations. And since digital offers so much convenience and is so much cheaper in the long run, you'd almost be crazy to get a film camera these days.
When I started out 20+ years ago I bought a film SLR on the cheap and ended up giving every shot a good long think due to the cost of film & development. With a digital SLR, who cares how many pictures you take - it's all paid for already! These days I sometimes take 500 pictures a day. There's NO WAY I would have done that with film. And there's NO WAY I would have had as many keepers.
For under $450, you don't have a lot of options but there are still possibilities.
The Pentax K110D with a kit lens is just $400. Add a new memory card and you're still under budget:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=438216&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
Here are two reviews for the Pentax K100D. This is the exact same camera except the K110D doesn't have built-in image stabilization:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk100d/page24.asp
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/k100d_pg7.html
The Olympus E500 is just a few dollars over budget:
http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=OMEVE500KT
Between these two, I like the Pentax more. I also think Pentax is a better brand than Olympus for the long run.
You could also look for used cameras. People are upgrading their gear all the time and you can get good deals on cameras that are just one or two years old. Models to look for include the Canon 300D (pretty old by now) and 350D, and the Nikon D40, D50 and D70/ D70s.
You can use the review sites that I provided for the Pentax to pull up more information on all of the other models too.
Best wishes!

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ADDED:

For fresh input, I'd post a new question. Your original question is two days old now - it probably won't get noticed by new guys and all the regulars have already posted their answer and moved on. I only noticed the extra details because I regularly check back on questions.
And of course... I'm sticking with the Pentax ;-)
The Fuji 6500 is a point & shoot. A good one, but still a sluggish point & shoot.

Answer 2

You won't find a new Canon or Fuji for under $450. The cheapest DSLR that is worth owning is probably the Pentax K110D, and this is coming from a Nikon fan.

This is a decent camera.

You can click on individual user comments on this page: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinions.asp?prodkey=pentax_k110d

You can also read this review of the K100D, which is the same camera as the K110D, except that it also has image stabilization in the camera: http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/k100d.html

Check out this set-up. You can get the body, the "kit" lens for $395 after a rebate from B&H Photo in New York. (Rebate ends 4-30-07) You can find B&H by going to Yahoo! Shopping, as they are one of the retailers that Yahoo! links to.

"Pentax K110D, 6.1 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera Kit with Pentax Zoom Super Wide Angle SMCP-DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Autofocus Lens." You will still need a memory card, which you can buy for about $30-45, depending on the size you choose.

Answer 3

OMG makes a good point about digital vs. film usage. Unless you are a seasoned user film gets pretty expensive to get keeper photos. I have a Canon Rebel film camera and got the digital version a few years ago. The first time I noticed the big difference was on vacation in Washington DC. The digital was so much more versatile as you are both indoors and out all day long. You can change the iso speed as you go from one to the other or go out at night. With film you have change rolls for that. So I ended up taking many more pics than I would have tried with film and got more that I liked. Needless to say my film Rebel hardly comes out of the bag anymore.

Answer 4

There are several companies that make excellent SLR cameras, but Canon and Fuji make good ones for the money. The problem is that a good SLR isn't cheap. You will find that an 8 to 12 megapixel camera is the only way to go if you want really good quality photos. Pentax also makes excellent SLR cameras. But all of these will cost you more than $400. The only other route would be to find a good used SLR that uses film. Believe it or not, the film has better quality than that of digital and you have to go to a 10 or 12 megapixal digital to get as good as quality as that of film. If you are willing to spend an extra couple hundred you can get last year model digitals that are 10 to 12 megapix for around $500 or $600. But that will be just the body and maybe you might get one lens. I would check out Circuit City for their clearance sales. They have a good selection and won't rip you off. Don't go to best buy. They don't stand by their warranties.

Also you might want to check out the cameras that Canon has re-manufactured. Those are some pretty good buys.
I hope I was of some help. Good luck and God bless.

By the way, Hewlet Packard is also selling its last year models cheap and also they have their refurbished and close outs that are reasonably priced. Just go to hp.com and check them out. To bad you don't live close by, I would just give you my old Canon SLR body and the one lens I have for it.
Also, if you go to flea markets you can find old SLR bodies dirt cheap and a lot of times you will find them with at least a couple lens kits. Have fun.

Answer 5

If you are an amateur and wish to develop your photography skills, I strongly recommend you go for a film camera rather than a digital one.

The best film cameras of the 35mm format for an amateur are Praktica SLRs. These usually come with a manual exposure meter or an electronic one. This will allow you to choose the aperture size and shutter speed. And you can play with the film speed- from 16ASA which is real slow and usually black-white to as high as 3600ASA for high speed photography from aircraft or sports events or from vehicles or at night. Film cameras give excellent images.

However, if you are inclined towards modern, digital cameras, I suggest you opt for something that is minimum six mega pixels. I dont know the cost in your area but one good option is Nikon- they make very compact digital cameras, simple to use and with EXCELLENT lens. Nikon has a USA website and they often have special offers etc. You can read the features of the cameras.

Look for the Nikon Coolpix series. They are all priced between $ 200 and $ 450, are sturdy and durable, light and compact and come with wonderful features. Some also offer video and wireless transfer of images from camera to a PC or laptop.

Answer 6

I think Best Buy is blowing out the stock of Nikon D50's for $500-$600. You may find a person wanting to sell a canon rebel or a Nikon D50 so they can move up. You could buy one used for about $300-$500

Answer 7

hi teeny

this is no ad, i just tell you the camera i am in love: the sigma sd 14 with 14mp, brandnew, and therefore still espensive (about 1400 usd)...i am looking to buy in usa possibly (can you help me where for cheap?); but for this reason you may find more cheap the former model the sigma sd10 (10mp) for very cheap 500-600usd maybe (i am guessing, as i am used with euros);

why?
cause it's simply still the only one with the faveon sensor for amateurs (true, ie each of the 3 colours for EACH pixel)
and
you get the image in RAW format
steel objective attach (no plastic), heavy and pure made in japan (same brand of the objectives);

there must be also the sigma sd9, but i don't anything about it...

i think that is the right next step for you as you are already experienced and canos at that range is too commercial...


ciao and good shooting

if you find it, let me know please where...

Answer 8

SLR would be best but those are professional type and they cost over at least $1000. the lens would be probably extra fro another $250-$1000.
in your price range....they have semi SLR cameras. u cannot change the lens in those but they come will all the options that u mentioned. Kodak z650 would be a good model for you and is in your price range.
compact cameras are for looks only and the quality sucks.

Answer 9

I have found Canon makes a great camera for beginners here is a web site you can check out
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndex1Act&fcategoryid=101

Answer 10

Nikon D40, or the Canon XT are right there.

www.dpreview.com has a feature search that can help.