Looking for a higher-end digital camera. Can someone make some first-hand recommendations?

Question

I would like to get into amateur photography. Nothing too artsy, and nothing for profit (unless the opportunity presented itself, of course). I currently own a Sony DSC-S40, and while it's a great camera, it's not what I need for what I would like to do.

I would like something that offers a nice zoom, allows B&W/Sepia/Color shooting, flash, and a higher resolution. Preferably something in the $1000 range or under.

Answer 1

I also have a Canon SD900 and love it - for a pocket camera. I would also seriously consider the SD850-IS. If you want these color effects, you need one of these cameras, but for the rest of your list, you are ready for a digital SLR.

Consider a Nikon D40 or D40X.

The Nikon D40 is a great little camera, very easy to use and quite reasonably priced. It has a few "consumer friendly" totally automatic modes that make it very easy to use - including a "Child Photo" mode - but still offers total photographic control when you are ready to take charge. It will get you in the Nikon family which is a great place to be. If you buy accessories and lenses, you will be able to use everything on any Nikon that you might upgrade to later on.

Check out Nikon's "Picturetown" promotion, where they handed out 200 D40's in Georgetown, SC. http://www.stunningnikon.com/picturetown/

Here are a few reviews, in case you have not read them yet. Be sure to note that they are several pages long and some of the reviews also have some sample images that you can look at.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/nikon_d40.html
http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3756/camera-test-nikon-d40.html
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/d40-recommendations.htm

I hate to see people slam the camera because it can't autofocus with older Nikon lenses. It is true that there is a "slight problem" with older Nikon lenses not autofocusing on the D40, but if you do not own a bag full of older lenses, it is not going to be a problem. It is barely a problem anyhow. If you check www.nikonusa.com for "AF-S" lenses, which are ALL 100% compatible with the D40, you will find 23 lenses, including 7 "VR" (vibration Reduction) lenses and one true macro lens with "VR". There are another 25-plus lenses in the current catalog that provide all functions except autofocus as well as many (possibly dozens) "out of print" lenses that will work just as well. In addition, although these lens will not autofocus, most of them will still give focus confirmation. From the D40 manual: "If the lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 of faster, the viewfinder focus indicator can be used to confirm whether the portion of the subject in the selected focus area is in focus. After positioning the subject in the active focus area, press the shutter release button halfway and rotate the lens focusing ring until the in-focus indicator is displayed." (See http://www.members.aol.com/swf08302/nikonafs.txt for a list of AF-S lenses or see http://www.nikonians.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=16715&forum=DCForumID201 for even more...)

The D40 only has 3 autofocus zones arranged horizontally at the center, 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. This might be considered a limitation, but realistically, most people will find this perfectly adequate, especially if you are moving up from a point and shoot with only a center zone.

There is no "Status LCD" on top of the camera, but Nikon chose to use the rear LCD for this information. This is actually a nice move, as the display is bigger than the top display and you aren't using the read LCD for anything BEFORE you take the picture anyway. This is not a step backwards and it actually makes sense to me.

You can get the D40 with the 18-55 kit lens at B&H Photo available through Yahoo! Shopping or at 1-800-622-4987) for $525 (June 2007). Add a Lexar Platinum (60X speed) card for $25 or 2 GB for $35. Or - get the D40 with 18-135 lens and 1 GB Lexar card for $750. This is a decent lens and it is very versatile. You will find it suitable for pretty much anything you want to do, other than really long telephoto shots. It will let you explore the range of focal lengths to decide where to start filling in your lens collection. If you don't want to buy any more lenses, this one will carry you through pretty much everything. B&H also have used D40's with the lens from $475.

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Nikon D40 vs. D40X

You can get a Nikon D40x, 10.2 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera Kit with Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens and Two SanDisk 2GB Ultra II Secure Digital (SD) Card from B&H Photo for less that $1,000 (July 2007), including shipping.

There are a few slight differences in these cameras that need to be considered. Rather than write it all out, I'll send you to a few sites.

See: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40x.htm

See: http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3896/camera-test-nikon-d40x.html for a glowing review.

See also:

http://www.bythom.com/d40review.htm

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=nikon_d40%2Cnikon_d40x&show=all

See also:
http://www.nikonians.org/dcforum/DCForumID201/17255.html

See the REVIEW here:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40x/

As far as the pixel issue, I say, if you have no other basis for making your decision, go for more pixels. If you always plan to compose your pictures perfectly, you don't need a whole lot of pixels. If you want to allow for cropping, which means enlarging only a portion of your image, the more pixels the better.

Imagine taking a scenic view and then noticing that the middle 20% of the photo would make an even better picture. Suppose you take a picture of a whole group of people and Aunt Clara really, really looks great in the picture, but everyone else looks lousy. If you have the pixels to work with, you can still make a decent print of Aunt Clara that she would be happy to have. If you buy an 8-to-10 MP camera and don't want to TAKE large photos, you can always set the camera to a lower file size. You can never go the other direction, though. Unless the cost is a major issue, buy the camera with more pixels. You will never be sorry that you did, but you might one day be sorry that you didn't.

I have a few photos on Flickr to include in a discussion on how many pixels are enough. Go to my page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/tags/pixels/ Some of the pictures are from a 4 MP or even 3 MP camera, showing you what you might expect without any cropping. I think they are quite acceptable. Some of the pictures are from a 10 MP camera (the swan and the pansies), showing the value of having those large images so that you can crop a smaller image out of the original picture and still end up with a satisfactory image.

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Answer 2

I own a Nikon D80 and the 18-200 VR zoom lens and love it. It is full-featured but easy to learn, Nikon has a great lens and flash system to support it so as I grow in experience there plenty of options.

The D40x is also good for a couple hundred dollars less.

Answer 3

Well then it sounds like you're ready to go DSLR. For starters, the Olympus E-500 is agreat camera. For $599-$699 you get two lenses and the kit lens are better than the kit lens on the competion (cannon and nikon). It is not as good on night shots as the competion though, but in other respects, it competes right up there, especially if you are into the outdoors. There's nothing like olympus blues and greens.

And if you are amateur then you will not want to bother with cleaning the dust on the sensor and with the oly you don't have to. The newer models (450 and 550 I think) have better low light performance and image stabilizer but they do come at a higher price, probably still under $1,000

As far as the zoom thing - it's like this. If you don't want to blow your pics up then you are fine with one of the super zoom (sony H series type cameras) but if you want fine quality pics that you can blow up - then DSLR is the way but you're not going to get that super zoom you want without switching lens and the best kit lens only goes out about 4x zoom so you would have to invest a good chunk in a bigger zoom lens. But from experience, DSLR is worth it! Unless you've got the money to fork out for expensive lens, don't go with the cannon because their kit lens sucks, it only comes with one (which is wide angle and only zooms into eye level), and they have nothing to keep the dust of the sensor and unless you know what you're doing - don't clean it yourself. Nikon is better with the dust thing and they do have a nice offering with better lens (and ritz offers two lens package) but I really feel the Oly is a better deal (have one myself).

So have fun and if you're not into making a living off your work, go with Oly. If you are then consider one of the newer Oly or go with Nikon.

Answer 4

I got a Canon Digital Rebel XTi with a Tamron 18-250 zoom (with the standard lens, it's within your price range), or check out the Fuji S9100 (or S9000).

Answer 5

Hmm, when i went to Best Buy in Orlando Florida, they had the Nikon D300, D80, D60, and the Canon 5d, XTI, XSI, and 40d there to display, and for you to use. You could use them, and test them out. They also had Sony cameras and some from Olympus. It was really nice, there is many to choose from.

Answer 6

Canon digital rebel XTi

Answer 7

I have a canon powershot sd-900. Its nice, but its no SLR. Were you thinking of going the SLR route?

Answer 8

my suggestion
go to yahoo shopping
digital cameras
digital camera GUIDE
be sure to check titles on the left side
the guide should answer your questions

Answer 9

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-10-1MP-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B000I1ZWRC/ref=sr_1_11/002-3155846-0290439?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1185964292&sr=1-11
this is a great camera