Digital camera for weather photography?

Question

I chase storms and I am looking into getting a camera that can capture them well. I edit my photos on the computer, so I am looking for a digital camera that works well in low-light conditions, I can manually adjust the exposure (f number and shutter speeds), and I could keep the shutter open to wait for lightning strikes. Prices would be helpful but I can look them up myself if needed. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Just about any digital SLR will have manual or automatic controls. Pricewise, you're looking at somewhere between $600-$1200 for a good camera with a kit lens. I won't get into a debate over brands. Everybody has their preferences, but camera makers are very competitive and most models will have the features to do the job.

More importantly, you're might want to look into getting a lens that's wider than 18mm. 18mm is about the equivalent of 28mm in film cameras-- wide enough for group portraits and landscapes, but to capture large areas of sky you'll want something ever wider. Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina are third-party lens makers that make lenses for most major brands. Also look into getting a circular polarizer filter to put over the end of your lens. It can be adjusted to darken the sky and cut the glare out of the clouds-- it's a must for landscapes and weather photography. Good luck!

Answer 2

You definitely want a DSLR. You might find the FotoSharp (fotosharp.com) "Day & Night Exposure Guide" useful. It will help you with low light photography.

Answer 3

you mite wanna get a DSLR camera, perhaps teh Canon Rebel XTi or the XT, 8 megapixel, around $600, or the Nikon D40X or the D80, ten or 12 megapixel camera $750+

Answer 4

the Pentax K10d ( a dslr) is supposed to be weather resistant