Digital Cameras - Need Advise!

[Phadrian]

You just need to make sure you got the ef mount or the ef-s mount. ef-s is for the smaller sensor such as the rebel XTi but according to this wikipedia link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_EF-S_lens_mount only Canon cameras with the APS-C sized sensor released after 2003 support the EF-S mount

 

[BallisticBiker]

Wowzers!

The money...the clarity...the buzz words.....All. So. Dizzying.....haha!

Thanks so much for all the good info, fellas! And for the sample pics! That is what I'm looking for in my next camera.
My Nikon Coolpix point & shoot pocket cam can't produce such sharp images...

Dave - you know I only roll with a rotary dial cell phone, man!

Thanks again & y'all have a good day!

p.s.
Sure hope OSA is as helpful when it's time to buy a printer and a new laptop! lol

 

[bettingpython]

The EOS rebel T3 uses an APS-C sensor size 25.1mmx16.7mm a full frame sensor is 35mmx24mm, you can get away with using full frame frame lenses with an APS-C sensor but not the other way around. In some cases all optical factors being the same a full frame lens can produce a better image on the smaller sensor since it uses the optical sweet spot or the center of the lens and the edges where image quality decreases is not captured by the image sensor.

The top photo was obviously post processed in order to highlight the faint lightning stroke I captured, the 2 lower pictures were shot at very high f values f22 or maybe even f36 at ISO 100 film speed in bulb mode with a 3200K white balance. Exposure time on the 2 lower photo's was around 1 minute or so. No post processing, all I did was close the shutter after a bright lightning strike, the purple in the sky is actually from the diffused illumination from lightning. I never seemed to have the tripod facing the right direction to catch a really bright bolt. I used the stock kit lens that came with the camera a general purpose 18mm-55mm lense. I have seen the T3 with that lense and an 85mm-200mm zoom lens in the kit now for about $500, we paid almost $700 when we bought ours and only one lens.

IMHO opinion stepping up to an entry level DSLR is worth the money. Even in point and shoot mode you get nicer pictures but the ability to really play with your settings is what makes it worth it. Oh and being tripod mounted and remotely tripping the shutter from my laptop via USB cable was awesome.

One additional note the graininess is the result of photobucket compressing the **** out the images when I uploaded them to be hosted there. They are much more stunning uncompressed.

 

[93turbohatch]

Love my Canon Rebel t3i!

 

[bettingpython]

And Marshall has posted pictures from the weekend class, the ACP_JUNE_X photos in the gallery were taken by me with the EOS T3.

http://gallery.tdsatulsa.com/v/ACP1June2013/

 

[TerryMiller]

If you are still looking at staying with a point and shoot, you definitely want to look for something with as high of a "optical zoom" rating instead of a high "digital zoom" rating. Digital zoom is basically the camera "averaging" data in the image and creating a composed photo. If you want to look for something with a short "shutter lag" time, there are some that have a responsive shutter that isn't a long factor. The shutter lag on my Nikon Coolpix 5700 and grandkids is what drove me to purchase the camera shown in my signature. That one will do 6 frames per second, but it would set one back over $2000 new.

I know you are in Lawton, but check with camera stores to see if one can find a good DSLR that is used. My Nikon D300 body was $1700 at the time, and we recently ran across one and bought it for my youngest son for his birthday for about $500 or $600.

Personally, I would never buy used off of the internet. It's too darn easy for one to get one that has been dropped and damaged.

 

[Pokinfun]

We have a small Nikon coolpix, for when we are out motorcycle riding and sometimes when I am hunting, its ok. Cost was about $55 dollars, it was a display model at sams.
We have a cannon rebel xs 10.1 complete kit, I got a couple of years ago on craigslist for $150 dollars. It is an awesome camera, but big and bulky. I will say I can take a professional photo with it. I like the speed of point and shot.
It really depends on what you are going to use the camera for.

 

[ttownokie]

Think you should get a half frame APS-C Specifically go for Sony Nex 7 or if you want a lower price Nex 5n. Those cameras rock.

 

[SoonerP226]

$6799.00

That cannot be the right price, can it?! lol

The 1D is a professional's camera--if you're using a camera to put food on your plate, that price doesn't seem so bad. If you really want an eye-opener, try pricing the lenses for that bad boy.

What I did when I was shopping for digital cameras was to check reviews on multiple sites, looking for consensus winners. CNet is a good place to look (they have a very good editorial staff for cameras/digital photography), and I found a few others recommended (like http://www.dpreview.com/ ) by people I trust.

Of course, since I switched to a DSLR, I don't particularly look for reviews unless I'm buying for someone else. When you go DSLR, you pretty much get locked into one manufacturer (Canon, in my case), because you quickly end up having more money in lenses and accessories than in the camera itself...

FWIW, in the price range you mentioned, I'd buy a Canon; I've bought several Canons and Nikons in that price range, and the Canons have been more robust and produced better results, IMHO.

 

[SoonerP226]

We have a small canon coolpix,

CoolPix is Nikon...