6-8 mega pixel versus 10? For Alaska trip?

Question

Researching cameras for trip. Being told to go with Canon 30D or 40D?

Answer 1

I'm going to guess that you left out one "zero" in the model 400D, as I am not familiar with a 40D.

Check out this comparison page. Click on "In-depth review" and "Read Owner Opinions" for each camera. Be sure to note that the reviews are many pages long so you don't stop after page one. Check the sample images, also. You can enlarge these to full size images if you click on the file name shown below the picture. You will have to then put your cursor in the white space to the right of the picture and click once. After that, you can pass your cursor over the image and it will turn into a magnifier. Click it as a magnifier once and the image will go to full size and you can really examine the detail or look for artifacts like fringing or noise.

I have to admit that I'm having a hard time selecting pairs of photos to match up, as the subjects are so widely different and many of the 400D images were shot in RAW, which is kind of an unfair advantage given to the cheaper camera.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_eos30d%2Ccanon_eos400d&camsel=canon_eos5d&show=all

However, on the WHOLE, (duck the incoming missles), tonight I am finding my tastes leaning towards most of the 400D photos, so maybe pixels count in this battle.

Maybe I can refer you to a comparison chart in the 30D review and ask you to consider a Nikon D200.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos30d/page23.asp

Go back and check out the samples again, if it has not driven you crazy by now.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_eos30d%2Ccanon_eos400d%2Cnikon_d200&show=all

Here are a couple of the same subject shot with similar lenses and ISO anyway...

With 30D: http://dpreview-img.fotki.com/gallery/canoneos30d_samples/originals/img_2074.jpg

With D200: http://dpreview-img.fotki.com/gallery/nikond200_samples/originals/dsd_0250.jpg

Okay, the lighting is different and the angle of view is different, but look at the blown out highlights in the 30D image, not to mention the dreaded purple fringe. I saved the photos so I could really look at them in my own Photoshop and the 30D boat has a line of purple all along the top edge. I checked the exif data in the meta file and I see that the two pictures were taken about one month apart, but within half an hour of each other with respect to time of day. I'd think the lighting was quite similar, although it may have been overcast on the day the Nikon was used. But once again, I am WAY over-analyzing this. Overall, I like the Nikon D200 images over the Canon 30D. Today anyhow.

Answer 2

If you need to keep the cost down, you might want to consider the Canon S3 IS:
It's 6mp but has a 12x (36 to 432mm) zoom.
It can do video's with sound.
And has lens image stabilization.

Of course, DSLR's are a breed above. If it were me, I would jump for the Canon 400 XTi (but see if the grip is too small), or my favorite, the Nikon D80 10mp. The kit 18-135mm is pretty good.

Any way you go, an image stabilized lenses is nice. And you will need a big zoom factor like up to 300mm to really reach out there. So get a 70-300mm or similar lense if you get an SLR.

If you don't have a good local vendor, be very careful on the internet. I only buy from http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ or www.Amazon.com.

Answer 3

well, i am still using my canon 20d 8.2 mp and loving it.
try to shoot raw format as much as you can.
you can manipulate the picture better in raw.....

good luck