Need help with digital cameras

[Siebert Outdoors]

I've been researching cameras and need some help.  I'm looking for 35mm that takes great pictures.  Price range 4-600 bucks.  

Right now I have found the Olympus 590UZ which seems real nice and has some good features.

Cameras uses will be for:

Wildlife and scene pictures

Fishing

Nascar Racing

People

pretty much anything else.

If you have better suggestions please post up.

Thanks

[bigfruits]

sorry that i cant point out a specific camera but check out this site:

www.dpreview.com

very in-depth reviews of most cameras

[Micro]

You really want a 35mm?  Film cameras are dying.  For the kind of money you are dropping, you can get a nice digital.  I recommend Sony.  

[Marty]

I've been researching cameras and need some help. I'm looking for 35mm that takes great pictures. Price range 4-600 bucks.

I don't know how you define "great" pictures. Unless you're looking for National Geographic quality, most any camera, even a point-and-shoot, can take great pictures based on the standards of most ordinary folks.

For the most part, great pictures are taken by great photographers, just as great fishing is done by great fishermen. In both fields, the person's skills are much more important than which camera or which rod.

Take advantage of the many camera review sites and ask some questions on a photography forum.

Also, as Micro suggested, make sure that you have valid reasons for making that kind of investment in a film camera in this day and age.

P.S. I just noticed that your subject line said "Digital" and the 590UZ you mentioned is a digital, but your message sounded like you wanted film. I'd suggest reading as many reviews as possible before buying.

[CFFF 1.5]

If you are getting a new digital camera get a Canon Powershot. Best money you will ever spend on a camera.

[Dan:]

Need help with digital cameras

I'm looking for 35mm that takes great pictures.

[Glenn]

I have a Cannon Powershot S5.  Here's a few pics I took with it.  I'll let you be the judge.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1235453246/35#35

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1235006329/35#35

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1235006329/27#27

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1235108162/0#0

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1235006329/0#0

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1203905512/0#0

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1203830309/4#4

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1203732992/0#0

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1203633429/0#0

[moby bass]

Many point and shoots do indeed take great pictures. But two things you might want to keep in mind. You may not always want to use the recommended auto settings, therefore you need manual capabilities on the camera.  Also you mentioned racing pictures. You might want to consider something that will shoot 3 or more frames per second. Some point and shoots have shutter lag so you either need to really learn to anticipate action or you frequently miss the shot.  Faster lenses will suit you better if you shoot racing, particularly at night and also for wildlife, enabling you to throw the background out of focus.

[Siebert Outdoors]

thanks guys, sorry about the 35mm comment. Thats about the size of the camera I was wanting but digital. Like Micro said film is dead. Dont want one of those.

Very nice pictures Glenn.  Thanks for the site Bigfruits.  I've got alot of compairing to look at.

One that stuck out to me is the Nikon D5000 with the SLR.

What are some of the main features that are most important?  As you guys can tell I'm not in the camera profession.

[moby bass]

Go here. www.steves-digicams.com

great reviews

[David Russell]

If you can afford it and don't mind a little extra bulk, a Digital SLR (DSLR) is a great choice. I am not personally familiar with the D5000 from Nikon, but I have shot on the Nikon D40 (similar low-end DSLR) for the past couple of years and I have loved it.

For something a little more compact, but still very feature-rich and flexible, the Canon G10 is terrific. I know it's above your price point, but it's a great camera in the point-and-shoot style. If you can't go $500, hit eBay or craigslist for a Canon G9, the model before the G10.

Regardless of what camera you get, you should learn how to shoot good photographs.

Marty said:

For the most part, great pictures are taken by great photographers, just as great fishing is done by great fishermen. In both fields, the person's skills are much more important than which camera or which rod.

That is completely true.

I'd recommend this book for learning all things photography (which really means learning mastering exposure.)

Good luck to you and happy shooting!

EDIT: Apparently I cannot post links until I hit 10 messages on this forum. I have to be close, so I'll try again soon.

EDIT TWO: (Sorry.) For the racing photos and the wildlife photos, you should consider the DSLR over the point-and-shoot. You'll need to then purchase a good telephoto lens (at least 200mm, better to 300mm or more.) That is going to cost you quite a bit. For now I use the Nikon 55-200mm VR and it works really well for most applications. I'd still like a 300mm, but in a pinch 200mm will get you much closer to the action than a stock 18-55mm lens.

[David Russell]

Made it to 10.

Here are a few example images I've shot on the D40, most with the kit lens.

Here is the link to the book, Understanding Exposure.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0817463003?ie=UTF8&tag=davidrussell-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0817463003

Here is the Canon G10.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G5ZTPY?ie=UTF8&tag=davidrussell-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001G5ZTPY

[Siebert Outdoors]

Wow, nice pictures.  I agree it takes a great photographer.  The boss lady is really great at taking pictures.  You guys have seen mine.  I'm not so good. LOL.  She can take some shots that you would see in magazines.  Quite talented for sure.  She has an old 35mm camera that needs a bit of updating.  Hince the topic.

I've been wanting to find her a good hobby and I think this would be a great one for her since she loves doing it and is really good at it.  Plus I could take her fishing and she could take my pictures.  Instead of me and no talent doing it. ;D

That Nikon D40 I did look at.  Good camera from what I know.  The D5k is just a few steps up and is a new version.  I also looked at the D60 which was between the two.  

You guys are helping a ton.  Thanks.

[David Russell]

Consider the D60 to be the upgraded model Nikon replaced the D40 with. I wouldn't buy the D40 anywhere new today. (While snagging a deal on one on eBay or craigslist is certainly an option and would probably be cheap!) As far as I know, Nikon replaced the D40 on the shelves of stores with the D60.

[nick76]

Let me chime in here for a few.  I bought a Canon Rebel XT two years ago for my office.  I am a dentist by trade....wanted a camera for taking pictures of the mouth, but did not want to spend a fortune on the camera.  I have friends who have purchsed more expensive cameras for the same purpose, but without the increase in results.  Depending on what you want to do with the camera here are a few pointers.....

1)  unless you are blowing the picture up beyond an 11" x 14" 8 megapixels is way more than you will need.  I have several pictures this size for demos in the office and you cannot tell any downgrading of the image.  

2)  You wil probably need more lenses than what comes with the camera.  So expect to include that into the overall price.  

3)  A nice photo editing software can help fix what you lack of shooting expderience gives you (to some degree...it will not fix everything).  

4) Go for a name brand....stay way from the aftermarket crap....you get what you pay for.  

5)  It never hurts to check the internet for reviews  

6)  Buy the biggest memory card you can afford......they are cheap and more is better.

7)  Digital zoom is a joke......gauge by what the optical zoom is much more than the digital.

Just my 2 cents....I am sure there are more, but that is aall for now.