So Many Options

Hello Everyone,

When I was 16 I use to take B/W photography at the Boy's Club using a $20 35mm film camera. I had many of my pictures in Cafe's all around San Francisco Mission District and even won 2nd place in "Landscape" at the art academy in San Francisco. I didn’t really know what I doing, I guess I was just lucky ;-)

Anyhow, I know times have changed and everything is pretty much digital technology now. I have been pulling out the few hairs left on my head trying to figure out a good camera under $400.00 dollars. I wanted to get something I can use taking pictures of friends, landscape, fast moving objects, etc and something not to bulky. I ride a motorcycle so I would want it to fit in my pocket. I also want something that has a great zoom lens so when taking pictures at the beach I can get what I want without trying to hurt myself. I found a few cameras I may consider but honestly I don’t know much about digital cameras except what I read from you guys and info from the net. Can someone please tell me about the cameras listed below? Also feel free if you feel I could benefit from another camera.

• Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
• Canon PowerShot G9
• Canon PowerShot SD870 IS (Black)
• Canon PowerShot SD950 IS
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 (Black)
• Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H7
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3-K - digital camera

I want something that has a good Digital & Optical zoom lens, Raw Image, High Mega Pixels, fast shutter speed and all that other new stuff for under $400...I know, I know it looks like I am expecting a lot but I just don’t want a crappy camera. My first digital camera was a Kodak and I regret buying it and can’t stand looking at it LOL
Thanks in advance..

Oobatz1 said:

• Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
• Canon PowerShot G9
• Canon PowerShot SD870 IS (Black)
• Canon PowerShot SD950 IS
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 (Black)
• Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H7
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3-K - digital camera

Click to expand...

The list includes all size cameras! (small SD850IS to big H7)

Oobatz1 said:

I want something that has a good Digital & Optical zoom lens, Raw
Image, High Mega Pixels, fast shutter speed and all that other new
stuff for under $400...I know, I know it looks like I am expecting a
lot but I just don’t want a crappy camera. My first digital camera
was a Kodak and I regret buying it and can’t stand looking at it LOL
Thanks in advance..

Click to expand...

$400 limit rules out the best one i.e. G9. However if you exclude Raw, than the best value for money camera is Canon SX100IS (1.8" thick). Nice sharp 10x zoom, manual modes, good IQ.

Amnong ultra-compacts (less than 1" thick), SD870IS, Nikon S510 and Fuji F50fd (for A/S modes).

--
Best Wishes, Ajay
http://picasaweb.google.com/ajay0612

Oobatz1 said:

a good camera under $400.00 dollars.

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The first problem Just joking.

Oobatz1 said:

I would want it to fit in my pocket.

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Compact or ultra compact then.

Oobatz1 said:

a great zoom lens

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So presumably 6x or up.

Oobatz1 said:

Raw Images

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Not many of those around these days.

Basically a few Pansonics and the Canon G9 and Fuji E900

However you can get some Canon's to shoot RAW with a simple
hack - the CHDK hack. Check the Canon forum about this.

Oobatz1 said:

High Mega Pixels

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Not really that important. Anything from 6Mp up is really all you
can sensibly use from a compact. As the MP go up the noise
tends to also. The Fuji E900 and Canon G9 are exceptions to
that, I feel.

OK.

I'd suggest you look at :

• Canon A710 IS - very versatile and reasonably priced at the moment, I think. Can shoot RAW with the CHDK hack.

• E900 - more one for the enthusiast and those obsessed with low light ( weirdos like me ). No IS and uses xD cards ( downside to everything ). 4x zoom, which is still a reasonable range.

• If low light or party shooting is not required try a Panasonic TZ3. No RAW but a good camera with an unrivaled zoom size.

• Canon A650 IS. No RAW and no CHDK hack. Same sensor and lens and the G9 and rather nice for that reason.

Good luck.

--
StephenG

Pentax K100D
Fuji S5200
Fuji E900
PCLinuxOS

ajay0612 said:

Oobatz1 said:

• Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
• Canon PowerShot G9
• Canon PowerShot SD870 IS (Black)
• Canon PowerShot SD950 IS
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 (Black)
• Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H7
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3-K - digital camera

Click to expand...

The list includes all size cameras! (small SD850IS to big H7)

ajay0612 said:

I want something that has a good Digital & Optical zoom lens, Raw
Image, High Mega Pixels, fast shutter speed and all that other new
stuff for under $400...I know, I know it looks like I am expecting a
lot but I just don’t want a crappy camera. My first digital camera
was a Kodak and I regret buying it and can’t stand looking at it LOL
Thanks in advance..

Click to expand...

$400 limit rules out the best one i.e. G9.

Click to expand...

I was considering the G9 but it got a rating of a 7.8 at cnet.com. Like I said I am not a pro so I rely on the consumer’s info. It seems to have everything that I want and it's a DSLR. I haven’t actually touched the camera to get a feel for it so it's hard to say.
I am wondering if the lens is interchangeable on the G9?

Do you think the G9 is too much camera for a beginner such as myself or is it perfect?
Thanks again...

Oobatz1 said:

I am wondering if the lens is interchangeable on the G9?

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No. It is a fixed lens camera.

Oobatz1 said:

Do you think the G9 is too much camera for a beginner such as myself
or is it perfect?

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G9 is expensive too. It is good for one who wants metal body, Raw mode, 12MP resolution, sharp 6x zoom, dedicated ISO button, optical view-finder (good to have while shooting fast moving subjects).

I would advise you to also have a look at Canon SX100IS, which has nice 10x zoom with image-stabilization, good resolution, full manual modes and good IQ. Bang for the bucks.
--
Best Wishes, Ajay
http://picasaweb.google.com/ajay0612

Oobatz1 said:

I am wondering if the lens is interchangeable on the G9?

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It's a fixed lens camera as "ajay" stated but you can add (via means of an adapter) a wider angled lens or a more telephoto one if you wish - approx £90 each. These extend range from its standard 35-210mm to 26-410mm - but obviously can't have both on at same time! In addition, you can also add a flashgun to it.

Oobatz1 said:

Do you think the G9 is too much camera for a beginner such as myself
or is it perfect?

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I'd say the G9 was an excellent camera - that's why I got one - as to whether it's perfect, which camera is? One thing for certain though is that it's currently just about top of the compact camera range so about as good as you can get to carry in your pocket + it gives you many of the features of a DSLR. You can therefore use it as a point and shoot or more like you would a DSLR and help your learning in that area etc.

If you're a keen photographer I think you'll more than likely grow into using it's features rather than feel that it's too much for you - but only you can answer that.

Hope you can get it for somewhere near your price limit.

Regards.....Caster

I am an absolute BEGINNER. I have no clue about "F" settings, and ISO and all that, but want to learn very badly. I just got the G9 last week and went out today for the first time to really shoot it. It's definetly not a super compact camera, but it is smaller then a DSLR. I love the feel of it and the weight. It feels like a solid piece. I think it would be a great choice for you because it has the point and shoot feature, but many more features too experiment with and learn with. But like I said i'm a total beginner and don't have much knowledge at all...but so far I LOVE it!!

Not the greatest example...but this is my very first picture playing with the color accent feature.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/95745153@N00/2078827332/

hmm114 said:

I am an absolute BEGINNER. I have no clue about "F" settings, and ISO
and all that, but want to learn very badly. I just got the G9 last
week and went out today for the first time to really shoot it. It's
definetly not a super compact camera, but it is smaller then a DSLR.
I love the feel of it and the weight. It feels like a solid piece. I
think it would be a great choice for you because it has the point and
shoot feature, but many more features too experiment with and learn
with. But like I said i'm a total beginner and don't have much
knowledge at all...but so far I LOVE it!!
Not the greatest example...but this is my very first picture playing
with the color accent feature.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/95745153@N00/2078827332/

Click to expand...

Did you take those phots with the G9 Hmmm114?
Those are the kind of pictures I want to take.

The only picture I took with the G9 was of the church. I just got the camera a week or so ago..so this weekend was my first time out with it.