well my wife wants a new camera. She is looking more along the lines of the Nikon powershot sd1100...or something like that. It is not the kind of camera with a seperate body and lense. Are these still good cameras? Or are they considered an "entry level" version?

However, right before I left my last job (May) I ordered a Cannon d50 for our Anthropolgist to use in his field work in China. In addition to that cammera, we had two resident Cannon rebels. Personally, Id rather have one of these cameras where the body and lense are seperate. But price wise, more expensive.

Which style of camera should I go with? Nikon powershot vs. Cannon rebel/40d styles?

What is the best camera for your buck?

Mahalo in advance.

Here is a thread from last year ( LINK ) where they discussed the smaller cameras. Might even be a good place to pose this question, instead of this POLL thread. It might get more attention.

The P&S cameras are nice to have, when you want pictures to record where you were; but a DSLR would be too much to carry around. A DSLR is good when you want to use your camera to create great photographs. Don't get me wrong; a P&S can be used to take very nice photographs; but, it takes more effort. You will take the P&S more places, and use it more often. That means more photos for your money.

If I had to pick one camera, and didn't have to look professional for clients, it would be the new Canon G10 and a Canon 430EX flash. Small enough and powerful enough to meet most needs.

What are the uses of your camera? Family, trips, flowers, landscapes, beer parties, car parts for the forum,,,,?

Note: My first digital camera was the Canon G3. I started using it, and my film camera (EOS 3) started gathering dust. One day, we went out to photograph some mountains, and I took my EOS 3 with me. OOhhhh did that feel good. I missed the size and feel of a real SLR. 2 weeks later I switched our professional work over to digital, with the Canon 1D MkII.

just clarifying...

1) P & S= point & shoot

advantages/disadvantages???

2) DSLR = Digital Shooting Living Right???

advantage/disadvantage???

Correct... P&S is point and shoot.
-Advantages: compact, small, relatively inexpensive. Very easy to use. Some models come with image stabilization.
-Disadvantages: Limited settings adjustability on most. Parrallax error, explain more below. Cannot swap lenses, may not support external flashes.

D-SLR, digital single lens reflex.
-Advantages: More settings adjustabilities, allows for creative photography. No parallax error, because SLRs are TTL (through the lens), so what you see in the viewfinder is 90-95%, if not 100% accurate. On a P&S, the viewfinder is usually above and off-setted to either side of the lens. Not that big of an issue if you're shooting something further away, but if you're doing macro (close-up) photography, it's something that needs to be kept in mind. Otherwise, the subject and focus of the picture not composed where you intended it to be. Interchangable lenses, you can get ultra zoom, wide angle, prime lens, etc. Support for external flashes, giving the ability to bounce light and diffuse the light so subjects are not overly lit. (Bounce and diffuse can also be done a certain degree on a P&S or a SLR's built-in flash).
-Disadvantages: Bigger, heavier, not easy to keep in your pocket. More expensive, current entry level models are $500 or so with a kit lens. Few models have image stablized bodies, but there are image stabilized lenses.

Edit: Another advatange for a DSLR, speed. Turn on and ready to use time is super fast. I think most are right around a second or less from turning the camera on to taking the first pic. Additionally, I never noticed any shutter lag with a DSLR, which happens with a P&S. I find sometimes with a P&S just when the subject moves into the frame for the perfect composition (IMO) and I click, it's quite off when it's captured and when I review my pictures. Even with pre-focusing, I can't combat that problem very well with a P&S.

jj8111,

You're not accepting PMs, thus this is public. Fix your sig. You can PM me if you want to discuss the matter further.

Not sure what this person is angry about and the comments on this forum are certainly inappropriate in my opinion. I shoot with a Nikon D70. My experience is limited but I first liked the Nikon binoculars. The optics were all by themselves. That carries over to the Nikon camera. The D70 has more abilities than I know. I like the ease of Picture Perfect which is the downloading program. It is fast easy and supports on my laptop very nicely. I also enjoy the look and feel of the Nikon. It gains comments from others as a step just below the professionals. It picks up things that I simply do not see in the frame finder which makes my pics exciting to see and view over again. That said, several of my family equally like the Canons. This pic is one of my favorites.

Attached Images

 

Just like to add...

I have a couple P&S cameras and considered getting the Canon SD950 IS for my next upgrade for something more compact. My friend who was getting an DSLR at the time who was doing research got me into researching DSLRs, which was something I considered but did not weigh heavily. I ended up getting a DLSR and still got the SD950 IS a few months later. I love the DSLR as much I like the P&S. Can't beat the P&S when you're out and about and want to capture the "moment". Also, P&S is small and easy to carry around almost all the time--there are times where picture opportunties come up. But if I'm going out for pictures specifically, I take the DSLR.

One other advantage of a DSLR is they have a bigger sensor (the imaging device) than a P&S, thus pictures are generally clearer and better even if the megapixel ratings are the same. But also a disadvantage because it adds to the size of the overall camera.

My wife went out an bought a camera yesterday (P&S) style. She bought the Sony Cybershot DSC-150. Ive read the reviews and played around with it and it seems to be a descent camera. Does anyone have experiences or opinions about the particular camera. We have about two weeks to return. Any info would be great. I think we bought it for less than $200 if I am not mistaken.

Nothing special, just a Cannon powershot. Sometimes my dad's d100 if he lets me

Just updating...

So i had this Sony Camera for a couple of weeks and I must say that it is a great camera for $200.

1) One of the biggest LCD display areas at 2.7"
2) Easy button navigation/menu setup
3) We havent printed any pix yet, but on the PC they look great.
4) Many options and settings to play with
5) light and small

I really wasnt a person who took lots of pix, but after getting this camera my artistic eye is becoming developed =)

I would recommend this camera to anyone looking for a great P&S camera for about $200. If you have time, you can get this camera for about $180, you just need to watch for sales.

Both but I vote Nikon due to longer loyalty

The D300. Currently the best camera for the none pro and good for even pro's.

That's what I've got my eye on or its successor since the D3x is announced.

The D400 is also expected to come by next summer.

Nikon Announces 24.5 Megapixel D3x Digital SLR

Nikon Unveils A Digital Masterpiece: The D3x Digital SLR
http://www.steves-digicams.com/pr/ni...08_d3x_pr.html

via Steve's Digicams

Nikon Unveils 24.5MP D3x Digital SLR
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0812/081201nikond3x.asp

via dprevew