The Digital Camera Thread: Questions, discussions, etc.

[whatcanthisbe]

so here is the thing, I am thinking / decided to take up photography as a hobby always been attracted to it but never goit the chance. I need to get a decent camera so i was talking to some people and one of the things that came out was that a film based slr is better than a digital slr, is that true ?
i would think it would be the same other than the obvious diff of digital v/s file ....

what camera would you suggest & why ?

[reignofchaos]

Only an idiot would recommend a film slr as your primary body in this day and age. You might want to keep a film slr as a backup body but definitely have a digital slr as your primary. If you buy a canon, all lenses other than EF-S mount lenses can be interchanged between film and digital. In case of nikons, you can use all but the DX lenses. So its easy... buy a digital body first up and then get a used film body later as these are dirt cheap on ebay and such (~20-30$ for a Canon Elan 7NL)

[rishibravo]

I would suggest if you are an amateur photographer then dont go for an SLR. I would suggest you to go for a high end Digital camera like cannon S5IS . But If you have LSR lenses lying around then you can go for an SLR... I dont think DSLR are inferior in anyway to film ones.

[whatcanthisbe]

thanks guys so what camera's would you recommend ?

[hmishra83]

My experience with my Sony T7 is not very good. If you are looking for a good digicam (non SLR) Canon should do you good.
The new ones from Sony do offe rmotion stabilisation, etc. but still I'd say go for a Canon!

[whatcanthisbe]

Originally Posted by hmishra83

My experience with my Sony T7 is not very good. If you are looking for a good digicam (non SLR) Canon should do you good.
The new ones from Sony do offe rmotion stabilisation, etc. but still I'd say go for a Canon!

lol
thanks

t7 i have that but digital slr is what i am looking for ...

[rishibravo]

Nikon and cannon both have good Entry level DSLRs. Since you are in Delhi ..go to palika market and checkout the Nikon D5 and D6 yourself. You get to see and try out things yourself there..

[tsk1979]

Note from mod: Merging it here since its a "what camera" question now

[rkg]

check pentax K100 D it is cheaper( especially if you can get it form USA) than canon 350D and nikon 40 and better.

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by rkg

check pentax K100 D it is cheaper( especially if you can get it form USA) than canon 350D and nikon 40 and better.

thats quite a sweeping statement.
If one camera was better than another, then we would not need the other one right.
It depends on what one wants and what suits a person better.

[satish_appasani]

I am deciding between Nikon D80 and Canon EOS 400D. Any suggestions please. I know D80 cost $200-$300 more than the Canon. If that extra price is justifies i don't mind going for D80. After all this may be my camera for the next 10 - 15 years.

[kvish]

I was also thinking of the D40, but the fact that it does not have a focussing motor within the camera means, lenses are prohibitively expensive (since the lens needs to have that motor) . I think its really good for someone who is just looking for SLR and sticks with one or 2 lenses. The scope for upgrade becomes quite an expensive option indeed.

I am getting more inclined towards the pentax k100d mainly because of the image stabilization within the camera and it works with lenses that are even 5 decades old and available for dead cheap prices on ebay !!

[tsk1979]

kvish, the K100D is excellent if you like to take hand held shots in poor light.
The image quality is also top notch,
If you buy from the US, make sure you mail Pentax for an international warranty, they give one on no charge.

[whatcanthisbe]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

thats quite a sweeping statement.
If one camera was better than another, then we would not need the other one right.
It depends on what one wants and what suits a person better.

Kudos
so what would you suggest for an amatuer? Would the price be cheaper in Bangkok than in delhi ?

Originally Posted by kvish

I was also thinking of the D40, but the fact that it does not have a focussing motor within the camera means, lenses are prohibitively expensive (since the lens needs to have that motor) . I think its really good for someone who is just looking for SLR and sticks with one or 2 lenses. The scope for upgrade becomes quite an expensive option indeed.

I am getting more inclined towards the pentax k100d mainly because of the image stabilization within the camera and it works with lenses that are even 5 decades old and available for dead cheap prices on ebay !!

Hmm so what you are saying is no Nikon D series ... what about Canon's or Sony's ?

[navin]

Ok guys my Canon G2 is now close to 6 years old. In digicam terms is is quite old. When I got it I also got a 420EX flash and 2 spare batteries. Now I am looking for a compact digicam that I can carry in my laptop bag at all times.

Wish list of features:

1. Hot shoe (though Guru Rudra says that I can use my Canon/Nikon flash as a slave and use the on camera flash as a trigger at the expense of loosing TTL and haiving to handle 2 physically seperate objects)

2. Good 4x or 5x lens pref 28mm - 105mm or 28mm to 140mm. Anything more is bonus.

3. Good in camera processing. I am very sensitive to CA (over sharpness and distortion).

4. Manual White balance is a big plus for me, but in a compact camera I am not sure if we can get this.

5. A flip LCD and a decent hand grip (like the Canon G6 or Nikon P5000).

6. Mega pixels do NOT impress me.

My short list so far. None of them fulfill my 28mm criteria.

Canon G7 - poor hand grip and no flip LCD
Canon G6 - dated (uses USB 1.1 in this era?) and a triffle heavy
Fuji F31Fd - no hot shoe, no hand grip but is thick enough like th A640 to be handled well.
Canon A 640 - no hot shoe, rest similar to the Fuji F31fd
Canon A 710IS - nicer version of the A640
Nikon P5000 - It fits in my Nikon bag as it can use the same flash as my Nikon SLR (with the Canon G2 for example I have to carry it's flash as well).
Panasonic FZ8 - too bulky.
and savig what might be the best for last...
the Ricoh Caplio GX100. 24mm and has it's own hot shoe (have to buy Ricoh flash).