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02/01/2004 12:30:44 PM · #1 |
I looking to buy a new camera but can`t afford a DSLR, so I`m look at the mid-range cameras.
I`m unsure of what to look for, what was the deciding factor on buy what you have?
Cheers
George
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02/01/2004 01:02:01 PM · #2 |
I myself am a hug fan of the Canon PowerShot line. I have several friends who have A70s and they love them. They don't have a huge zoom but IMO they do provide a quality enough picture that you can reasonably crop to achieve this (within reason of course).
I believe the A80 gives 4MPs which is the same as my G2 I used to have and I found that the resolution of that camera was very good and gave enough room to be able to crop and still have very nice clear prints made of the files up to at least 8 x 10.
You also have the PowerShot G3 (4MP) or G5 (5MP) you could look at. Both which I hear are excellent cameras. I just love the out of camera colors that Canon cameras produce. I guess you could say I'm a Canon kinda guy. :-)
Good luck with whatever you get. I'm sure others will provide feedback and suggestions for other camera makes and models as well.
Good luck!
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02/01/2004 01:49:35 PM · #3 |
Well, the mid range cameras have a lot to choose from.
The question is how much can you send? And what will you find in that price area. And you can't forget the kind of camera you want am how many resolution do you need.
For Example the Fuji S5000 (that I own and adore!) is a excelent 10X zoom camera. I have a friend that has a Powershot A70 and eatch time we go out to grab some shots he wonders "why didn't I get a zoom like yours?". And the image qualaty isn't worse either. But the Minolta Z1 is algo in shape.
But if you need more than 3MP I sugest that you give a jump to 5MP, because it is worth the effort.
And if you can spend a bit more, and reach to some of the best prosumer cameras if I were you I would take a peek at the Olimpus models (C5050 if I'm not wrong), and the G5 from Canon or the Fuji Finepix S7000 (the best choice in my oppinion, if you can afford it).
Take a look at //www.dpreview.com or other similar site.
Good luck. |
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02/01/2004 03:33:27 PM · #4 |
I recommend the G series, either the G3 or G5. I hear the G3 is getting scarce, but you can probably get a good deal IF you can find one. When I was looking, I looked at the G5, the Nikon 5400, Nikon 5700, Oly 5050 and the Sony 717. I really couldn't make a decision until I went to the store and tried them. I took some memory cards and took shots on each one, then took them hom to compare. I liked the G5 the best, not only from an image quality standpoint, but also from usability and ergonomics perspectives. The greatest features in the world are useless if you miss the shot while fumbling through a menu. My dad has a Canon S50, which has the same CCD as the G5, but in a more compact size. It is a very nice camera too.
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02/01/2004 03:47:00 PM · #5 |
This is a nice G3 shot. Really nice.
//www.steves-digicams.com/dpotd/jan2004/01312004.jpg
From 1/31/04 Steve's.
Message edited by author 2004-02-01 15:47:36. |
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02/01/2004 03:58:31 PM · #6 |
| Save money and buy Sony 828,those intermediate cams are not much better than one you have now! |
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02/01/2004 04:16:35 PM · #7 |
I've upgraded from a cheapy 2MP camera, through an Canon A70 to my Canon 300D. If you get either a Canon A or G class camera you're going to be very pleased. They all seem to feel natural in the hand and operation, to me.
If you're going for an A80 bear in mind the LCD is pretty small. The A70 is a nice camera, which now is fairly cheap. Bear in mind, however, you will want to jump up to a better model after a while.
I've not used an F828, but I've seen here stories of noise issues. I think if I were going for a Sony I'd be tempted by the F717 myself...
I agree with Spamzo - go and try them, see what you think. I recommend going into a big shop and trying them out.. Then you can buy it online if they're not competetive.
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02/01/2004 04:43:09 PM · #8 |
If you want a big zoom, Panasonic DMC-FZ10 has 12X zoom, and unlike most others currently being made, it has a stabilizer which makes a big difference at that zoom range. I haven't actually seen the camera, but I've seen the difference the stabilizer makes in my Olympus C-2100 compared to my newer Canon A80. The Olympus was great in its time - sadly 2.1mp is a bit low by today's standards.
If you're satisfied with a 3X zoom, the Canon A80 is a really nice camera and that revolving screen can be pretty useful sometimes.
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02/01/2004 04:55:06 PM · #9 |
I looked at the A80, but I`m sure if it a big enough step up from the A40. It is a nice camera but I want something with a bit more manual control.
This will be my third camera in 3 years, wifey is getting a bit feed up with a new camera every year ;) so this one needs to last at least 18 months :)
Geo
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02/01/2004 04:59:12 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by Harold1066:
I looked at the A80, but I`m sure if it a big enough step up from the A40. It is a nice camera but I want something with a bit more manual control.
This will be my third camera in 3 years, wifey is getting a bit feed up with a new camera every year ;) so this one needs to last at least 18 months :)
Geo |
Fuji 7000 is nice cam for budget,you can buy it for less than $ 600... |
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02/01/2004 05:05:25 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by Harold1066:
This will be my third camera in 3 years, wifey is getting a bit feed up with a new camera every year ;) so this one needs to last at least 18 months :) |
Heheh, been there.. I upgraded from my rubbishy point-and-shoot to a 300D in a year almost to the day.
From my experience of a friend with a G3, I'd imagine within 18 months you'll easily want to upgrade a G3/5.. For me at least digital cameras seems to be very much like computers - there's always something new; there's always that one new item you need that you won't replace for five years (yeah right!). The only way to avoid quick replacements is to spend more in the first place, I think.. :-/
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02/01/2004 05:29:38 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by PaulMdx:
Heheh, been there.. I upgraded from my rubbishy point-and-shoot to a 300D in a year almost to the day.
From my experience of a friend with a G3, I'd imagine within 18 months you'll easily want to upgrade a G3/5.. For me at least digital cameras seems to be very much like computers - there's always something new; there's always that one new item you need that you won't replace for five years (yeah right!). The only way to avoid quick replacements is to spend more in the first place, I think.. :-/ |
Trying to convince her that the 300d is the way to go, but she`s not buying it :(
Originally posted by pitsaman:
Fuji 7000 is nice cam for budget,you can buy it for less than $ 600... |
$600 is a good price for US but in the UK I`m looking at $900 (£519)
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02/01/2004 07:46:57 PM · #13 |
It sounds like you are getting to the level of experience where you are aware of the limits of your camera. If you purchase a mid range camera, that's what it will be.. in the middle of what you have and not quite enough to do what you want it to do. It's a compromise. So you spend the 500 to 900 hundred dollars for the camera. After three or four months you've learned a lot more. Now you need the flexability that a dslr provides. So then you have to buy the camera you wanted to buy before. Instead of spending the money once, you've done it twice. And since you do like the mid range one for a family camera, you might not want to sell it. You will not recover that money. Even if you do sell it, you will not get back the amount you paid for it.
So. Tell your wife that you are saving a lot of money by skipping that additional purchase and buy the dslr.
PS.I am not saying that all non dslr's take bad pictures. Far from it. It's the photographer that makes the picture. All I'm saying is that if your heart is set on getting one camera, you will eventually get that camera, but why waste the money in the meantime by buying something you are not 100% happy with? |
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