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View Full Version : Mid-range camera suggestion?



wikked
03-03-2006, 10:23 AM
My mom is looking to buy a nicer digital cam, looking to spend maybe $500 max, depends I guess.
I was leaning her towards a Canon S80 ($475), but then again, an SLR would be reallllly nice :D
Would it be a really huge difference in quality between the S80 & say a cheaper brand SLR (Pentax 6.1mp $600) ?
I usually shy away from more 'generic' brands, unless it doesn't really matter, and I'm thinking it probably matters.

Opinions? Questions? Comments? Suggestions?

jbiscuit
03-03-2006, 10:28 AM
stay away from the Pentax...their lens variety is garbage. Best bangs for the buck when you look at the DSLRs:

Digital Rebel
Nikon D50

both companies make STELLAR lenses...both cameras are easy to use, retaining fully automatic but allowing for FULL manual settings. Both have a lot of potential. I work with a guy that has a D50 and his images are FANTASTIC! Check online vendors for good deals....I think the D50 kit (includes a lens) can be had for like $599-699???

fireguyrick
03-03-2006, 10:38 AM
If you don't go with a DSLR, I would HIGHLY recommend the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5. I suggested it to my mother, and she loves it. It is small, fully auto, and has a 12X Zoom. The lense is made by Leica, which is an outstanding lense company IMHO.

If you go with a DSLR, I totally agree with what Yellow has said.

Rick

DSMDuDE
03-03-2006, 11:04 AM
I love my Canon SD400

I think they can be had for roughly $300 now, 5.0MP, 3.0x digital zoom, and takes great quality pictures

wikked
03-03-2006, 11:36 AM
stay away from the Pentax...their lens variety is garbage. Best bangs for the buck when you look at the DSLRs:

Digital Rebel
Nikon D50

both companies make STELLAR lenses...both cameras are easy to use, retaining fully automatic but allowing for FULL manual settings. Both have a lot of potential. I work with a guy that has a D50 and his images are FANTASTIC! Check online vendors for good deals....I think the D50 kit (includes a lens) can be had for like $599-699???

hmm... so what's the deal with places selling for $279/$289/$319/etc....
Froogle (http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cluster?pid=4888970472865495578&oid=11226113100470866199&btnG=Search+Froogle&hl=en&q=nikon+d50&lmode=online&scoring=p)

Slow Joe
03-03-2006, 11:46 AM
Panasonic Lumix FZ20 or FZ30... If you'd like to play with either I have both... Awesome cameras for the cash... And no I can't remember how much we paid... lol But I know the FZ20 is less, has a power zoom, etc, etc... The FZ30 does not have power zoom.

jbiscuit
03-03-2006, 01:41 PM
hmm... so what's the deal with places selling for $279/$289/$319/etc....
Froogle (http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cluster?pid=4888970472865495578&oid=11226113100470866199&btnG=Search+Froogle&hl=en&q=nikon+d50&lmode=online&scoring=p)

Bait and Switch vendors.....stay away. Buy from bhphotovideo.com....these bait and switch vendors scam. You call to buy a camera at $279 and they tell you they don't have any more in stock....or its refurbished or something....or the camera is missing a bunch of parts etc...

STAY AWAY!

Slow Joe
03-03-2006, 04:58 PM
Hey J what's your thoughts on my camera choices?

Teufelhunden
03-03-2006, 08:31 PM
Wikked, the D50 with a lens costs about $520-$600

I bought mine in November for ~$620.

http://www.abesofmaine.com/viewproduct.asp?id=nkd502880k

Edit: You'll also need a SD memory card with a D50...~$40-60

MoreTorque
03-03-2006, 08:42 PM
Steph has the Nikon D50. She has had good luck with it so far. Shots look good.

Cryptic
03-03-2006, 10:19 PM
D50 or Canon Digital Rebel XT (make sure its the XT, big differences)

after you have a descent body. a nice lense is going to make all the difference.

Anakonda69
03-03-2006, 11:08 PM
i like my kodak z740

GTSLOW
03-03-2006, 11:56 PM
My mom is looking to buy a nicer digital cam, looking to spend maybe $500 max, depends I guess.
I was leaning her towards a Canon S80 ($475), but then again, an SLR would be reallllly nice :D
Would it be a really huge difference in quality between the S80 & say a cheaper brand SLR (Pentax 6.1mp $600) ?
I usually shy away from more 'generic' brands, unless it doesn't really matter, and I'm thinking it probably matters.

Opinions? Questions? Comments? Suggestions?

I just got a Canon SD550 (7.1MP). It's a tiny little bugger with a huge screen. Has a ton of features I'd never use, ran me 399+80 for a 2gb sd card.

wikked
03-05-2006, 09:31 PM
Welp, we went with the Canon S2 IS with the 12x optical zoom.
She wanted it for the zoom factor, and I didn't think much of it until I tried it out....haha wow :wow

Normal, no zoom (http://wikked.com/images/s2is-norm.jpg)

&

fully zoomed... (http://wikked.com/images/s2is-zoom.jpg)

I'll have some autoshow pix up later.