Digital Camera?

teapot2

Hi not sure if this is the most appropriate board to ask this question but couldn't see any others to put the question on.....

I'm looking for advice on where to get a good value digital camera and what deals might be around at the mo, I have a Canon one that takes film but want to try and learn about digital. Not sure really what other info to put, I'd like to know rough cost of one I could maybe add to as I go ie buy some other lenses for close ups [sorry can't think of the proper name as am too tired ].

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated
thanks

Astaroth

Is your canon an SLR or just a normal 35mm?

Digital cameras cost anything from £50 to over £5,000 so there is a lot of choice out there. Most the point and shoot cameras arent designed to have "proper" other lenses attached as the main lens is built in but a few can have "filters" added to them.

A dSLR is the obvious choice if you are looking to have true interchangable lenses but you are then talking a considerably higher purchase price plus the temptation to forever be buying newer/ better lenses/ filters/ accessories etc

Hintza

Have a look at these camera websites for ideas. Decide which functions you require. Unless you are going to be blowing up photos don't be a slave to megapixels, around 3 megapixels will be enough for most (but of course we all think we are budding Bailey's and want the option to blow up pictures) and will keep the cost down.

http://www.dpreview.com/

http://www.steves-digicams.com/

http://www.dcresource.com/

I think slightly older models represent the best value for money. Decide on your budget and take it from there. I tend to read alot and then make a quick spread sheet of cameras their functions and ratings to get a short list (but I'm quite sad that way )

superjaggybunnet

I have a Nikon coolpix 4100 and it is great. I love it.

There are a range of coolpix models and i would recommend them any day. You should be able to get a reasonably priced one by a bit of browsing.

Little_John

There are 3 main types of digital camera
Point and shoot, these are the at the cheaper end very few settings that you can change to get your dessired photo great for someone who just wants a photo of somthing. they are usually very limited when it comes to low light levels.

The next level have more advanced features that allow you to set the shutter speed and aperture allowing better use in low light or indoors without using the flash and other more tricky conditions. where the point and shoot ones will automatically set the shuter to 1 second+ to get enough light in which normally results in a blurred image you can set it to 1/25th and get a sharper shot then lighten it later. they also tend to have a bigger optical zoom which is great for getting closer to the subject. these cameras also have a full automatic mode and can be used as a point and shoot. you just have the added benifit that you can play a little more.

DSLR digital SLR's allow the changing of lenses ect and can be very expensive but they produce excelent images you can get a DSLR including a lense for about £500. Im going to upgrade to DSLR after christmas when I go to new york at the moment imgoing to get the Canon EOS 350d or whatever replaces it.

teapot2

:T Thanks for the advice everyone, I'll do a bit of searching around, was expecting to pay £350 - £500 and have been saving up for ages. Don't mind spending a bit on a digital camera when I know there won't be the cost of films and processing on top.....:D

superjaggybunnet

If you are planning on spending that amount I would definitely go for a digital SLR.

Don't buy the memory card from the same place though without checking prices elsewhere. A friend of mine just bought a Digital SLR and the shop sold him a memory card for £69.99. The same size and type was on sale at https://www.7dayshop.com for a fraction of the price. (If only he had asked me!) Check them out as well.

Cheers

f1charlie

You can get the Pentax *ist DL2 DSLR at Jessops for £350.

Charlie

Astaroth

Is it Pentax or Minolta that has stopped trading and sold the rights to their lens system to Sony?

Would be worth checking before buying into a system as dSLR is a long term investment - many people will replace the body of their camera overtime but have effectively bought into a brand as all the lenses/ flash etc will work with most new bodies from the same brand but not others

f1charlie

That was Konica Minolta.

I believe that Pentax is the only manufacturer that all of the lenses they ever produced will still fit and work on their current range of DSLRs, including the 42mm screw mount (via an adaptor).

Charlie

Contains_Mild_Peril

Teapot2, if you're thinking of spending that sort of moeny, I'd definitely go for an SLR. I'm planning to buy a DSLR when I can afford to. I currently have film SLR cameras (both my aging Nikons have broken down so I'm back to using my ancient Zenith) and a digital compact, a Fuji Finepix F610 which cost about £175. I have used it professionally, and digital has many benefits over film, but it feels a bit limiting when compared with an SLR.

Little_John wrote:

The next level have more advanced features that allow you to set the shutter speed and aperture allowing better use in low light or indoors without using the flash and other more tricky conditions. where the point and shoot ones will automatically set the shutter to 1 second+ to get enough light in which normally results in a blurred image you can set it to 1/25th and get a sharper shot then lighten it later.

This is something which surprises many newcomers to digital photography. The exposure latitude is sort of opposite to print film. Whereas it's possible to make a decent print from a negative which is 3-4 stops overexposed, but a seriously underexposed negative is usually unsalvagable, it's the other way round with digital: a badly underexposed shot can be corrected fairly successfully, but a significantly overexposed shot can't be fixed because the detail just isn't there in the file.