Ok I'm not going to retire my 35MM or my Medium format cameras yet, but I think it's about time I took the plunge. I figure 400 should get me a good camera. Any thoughts or recommendations?

My best,
Mike D.

for $400 I would look into the new lumix series from panasonic. 12x zoom and optical image stabilizer are two huge selling points, along with a leica lens.

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/store...Model=DMC-FZ15K

If you are already working in 35mm and medium format, I don't think that a $400 digital wil satisfy your need for versatility (35mm) or for image quality (medium format). You could get the best of both worlds in a camera like the Canon D1s but it is very costly. I could almost assure you though that with a D1s, you would probably never touch your current equipment again except to sell it. I got a digital Canon SLR several years ago and have had no need for film since and no regrets. I highly recommend that you do your research and pay close attention to pricing trends which will be greatly affected by the occurence of the PMA show which is when most new models are released. Check This website for the latest and greatest on technology, pricing, and customer satisfaction. The forums will be very helpful in finding out what people are saying about the latest models and models that are yet to come. Forums are categorized by make/model.

Thanks for the input. I've been leaning towards the digital slr's and may borrow my mother in laws Canon D30 for the weekend. I compared the new panasonics against the Canon powershot s1 and the s1 is looking like an affordable alternative to the digital slr's. I am partial to the Canon's. That being said my favorite camera is my Agfa Clack. I see the Digital Rebel is coming down in price maybe I'll hold out a little longer.

Anyone else?

My best,
Mike D.

I have had my D30 for almost 3 years now and I love it. The only things that it lacks is resolution and focusing ability. It has trouble in low light or low contrast. It serves me well. The latest entry level Canon SLRs have fixed the resolution and focus issues as I understand. Even in the 3 MP D30 though the image quality and color is smooth as silk! I can only imagine what the latest models are capable of.

Sparky, I have a like new condtion Digital Rebel kit that I was about to put on ebay. I'd sell it for $650. Once you go DSLR you can never turn back. I just upgraded to the 20D.

Make sure the camera has a fast response time as you will be taking action shots. Some cameras take forever to make up their mind when to click because the have a slow focus time. I am speaking from experiance unfortunitely.

Bernie

I have used many different digital cameras.

Speed is the biggest differential between them all.

More optical zoom is preferable over digital zoom because it does not get distorted when you blow them up.

$400 can get you a nice camera - any of the big brands will do!

T

I know you are looking to get a high end one--but just to tell you about mine, it is a Fuji Finepix A340 model--got it at best buy for 169.95.

For me it does everything--4 mega pixles---all the flash options--4 different picture quality options--( with my 36 mg up-grade chip I can take 35 shots at unreal high quality--or 130 shots at its lowest, yet still excellant quality, I have numerous shots at this low-end posted on other threads)

Another neat feature--and they probably all have this, is when you are looking at the memory shot--you can pan up / down / side<>side and Zoom in on various objects---all w/o Zooming in on the entire shot---It is wayyyyy cool.............

I know I have a friend with a 500.00 Canon--looks just like a 35mm---he loves it as well...

Good luck..

I'll be going with the Digital Rebel. I've used them a few times, watched others use them & love their quickness with which they focus and take the shot. I have 2 Canon Elan 35 mm's with various lenses that will couple with the Rebel. If you have Canons already you can purchase just the Rebel body & save$$$. Last I saw, just the body was for $550 thru B&H photo on line.

....b

Mike-
I had a Powershot S1 and HATED it. (used it at the ECR this year) It took excellent pictures, but the slow as death shutter lag caused me to miss a lot of action shots. The picture quality was excellent, but the frustration of missed shots caused me to sell it and step up to the Canon Rebel DSLR. I'm not lookin' back, either.
Of course the DSLR is a little bulky for spontaneous snap shots, and I don' t share well, so I did pick up a little Nikon 3100 for my wife for Xmas. ($160-refurbished)

Jason

Wow so many options. Shutter and focusing speed is a concern as I plan on taking a mix of action and stills. I have a plan... I think I'll go with the Powershot s1 for now then have an excuse to get the digital rebel body once the wife gets frustrated enough with the s1.

Jason, we had action shots?! I guess being up front I missed most of those. Sure you guys weren't just looking at my ?

My best,
Mike D.

I just paid $49 for 3.2Mpx Kodak at Office max for my daughter.

Good enough I think, why spend $400?

My Bro-N-Law has that one & says the same thing.

Love/Hate relationship thing

.....b

I just love my Rebel. I had existing Canon lenses, so it made sense. Photoshop CS has a wonderful interface for adjusting RAW images as you open them up - it has saved many an image that I thought was too far gone.

I have taken some pretty decent pictures since I bought the it - simply the law of averages; the more shots you take the better your chances are of taking a some good ones. I did a little software training at US News & World Report recently and I was amazed at how many hundreds of images the photographers pour into the system every week - both digital and transparency.

Here are some pretty big samples off my Rebel. (might not open in browser - save it out)

http://wholewheat.com/stock/

Nice shot of the still life Tulips & Fruit Mr. Z. I love shooting available light. Play with the brightness & contrast on that one. I messed with it & made it "Pop" right out of it's frame! Bet you could blow that one up & have a winner.

I'd read an article a few years back about a photographer that was shooting for National Geographic. He said when he was finished with the shoot (a few weeks) he had over 15,000 images to submit
Stands to reason if you take enough pictures yer bound to get a few "good" ones That's why I take more than necessary (or maybe it is necessary)

....b

If you are used to using a 35mm SLR and have the cannon Ultrasonic lenses, step up and buy the 6.3mp rebel or a D10-D20. Nikon has some great stuff too but I like Canon.

I had a Canon 35mm elan II film camera and lenses; first bought a Cannon 3.3 mp G1 then stepped up to a 6.3 mp D10. Now that the Digital SLR's are coming down in price it's a great time to buy. The new D20 is 8 megapixles and the same cost as the last years D10

Here's some action shots of my son's middle school flag football team using a 70-300 zoom lens.

Cannon shots

Can't do this with a point and shoot!

Buy it, put under the tree and tell the wife that santa brought it to you for Xmas!


DH