Can anybody give me advice on a high end digital camera?

BARDLER

Hello there everybody?

I am in the market for a digital camera but would like some opinions from somebody with some knowledge first, and unfortunately I do not really know any true camera buffs.

I do not want a point and shoot, but I do not want to spend $600 plus on a D-SLR. However I want something a good optical zoom, good lighting controls, manual focus controls for depth of field shots, and shutter speed controls.

My intention of the camera is not professional at all, purely personal interest which is why I do not want to spend a crazy amount of money. The main thing I want to do is take quality reference shots for my 3D modeling, level design, ect. I also enjoy messing just messing with photography as well but have never sprung for a nice camera.

I did some searching and I found this guy http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Canon+-+PowerShot+SX30IS+14.0-Megapixel+Digital+Camera+-+Black/1218378.p?id=1218237732449&skuId=1218378 I work at Best Buy and can get it for around $360 which is awesome. Any input, recommendations, thoughts, advice, and/or whatever else you can tell me would be much appreciated.

Ahrkey

http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79655

There you go.

Will Faucher

That seems a little expensive for a point & shoot... no? No interchangeable lens for it as far as I can see. The Thread qlz linked will provide you with excellent info.

3DLee

Here's the page where I asked the same question about 1/2 way down. The kind folks here have already posted some great advice:

http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79655&page=12

EarthQuake

Avoid these "SLR Sized" point and shoot cameras like the plague. They are expensive, just as big and heavy as a dSLR, but everything about them is totally inferior, the features you get out of a $400 fake-slr are little better than a $150 compact point and shoot camera. You get a super tiny sensor, which is terrible for bokeh/out of focus backgrounds, offers poor image quality, and generally poor low light performance(lots of noise using high ISO). Then you're stuck with some terrible, slow and soft lens.

For $225 you can get a used Canon 20D, for $275 you can get one with the 18-55mm kit lens. For another $100-120 you can get the super sharp, fast and awesome 50mm 1.8, which is great for low light shooting. This setup will COMPLETELY destroy any P&S camera, yet not cost any more than a high end P&S.

Check that other thread too.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EOS-20-D-Body-only-8-2-Megapixel-20D-SLR-/170621472406?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item27b9d50e96 $300 with best offer, i'm sure he would take a bit less for it.

Also, avoid ANY "Superzoom" camera. The more zoom range a camera has, the worse the image quality is going to be. A larger zoom range means a more complex lens, and without paying thousands, you're not going to get a quality zoom lens for the price of these cameras. If you want a P&S camera, look for something that has a 5x zoom range or less, lower zoom range = generally higher quality lens. Also, nobody in their right mind needs a 35x zoom.

EarthQuake

Also, for the same price range, if you really do not want an SLR look at:

Canon S95
Canon S90

Much much more camera for the money, even if still a small sensor format camera.

BARDLER

Thanks EarthQuake I appreciate the help. After doing some reading and talking to someone I work with I think I am going to bite the bullet and get a D-SLR. I looked at the S95 at work today and I hate only having an LCD to take a picture with, plus I really enjoyed messing around with the SLRs.

I know once I slide my credit card I will be happy with it. I am looking at this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Canon+-+EOS+Digital+Rebel+T3+12.2-Megapixel+Digital+SLR+Camera+it/1987075.p?id=1218304513854&skuId=1987075&st=canon t3&cp=1&lp=1

I get it at work for $530 regardless of sale price so I do not have to act quickly. I also have the benefit of looking for open box items which the managers will dish out to employees for a good chunk of money off.

You mentioned looking at some used ones, but I would like to buy new from Best Buy because our protection plans are dirt cheap with employee discount. To insure the camera for 4 years with accidental and everything is only $35. I am extremely prone to dropping things... my phone is proof of this.

Any other suggestions or input would be appreciated.

EarthQuake

I would look at the T2i as well, but the T3 should offer most everything you would want out of a entry level dSLR. I would still look into getting the 50mm 1.8 lens, which should run you $100-150 new. For texture reference a sharp prime(fixed focal length, no zooming) is essential I would say. Despite being a T2i it is a class above the T3.

A Nikon D3100 may be a better choice over the T3 as well, it looks like the D3100 has some better features. I would take a trip to Best Buy and try them all out, see how they feel, the T3, T2i, and the D3100. However, if the T3 is maxing out your budget, and you're not interested in going for a used camera, I'm sure you will be happy with it. Really the difference between even the lowest end dSLR and a compact P&S camera is night and day.

However, as I said in the other thread, I have a very hard time recommending the entry level Nikon dSLRs, as the lens selection is severely limited.

If you can find a T2i open box, jump on that shit.

BARDLER

Thanks for the reply, I don't think I can spend that much on the D3100 or T2i but if I am lucky I might be able to find an open box one at work for less then $600. If I end up diving more into photography and want something better I know these things hold their resale value fairly well, so upgrading in a few years probably wont be a huge deal.

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it. I plan on picking it up tomorrow because I have off for the next week to play with it.

EarthQuake

Yeah, if you sell a dSLR within the first 1-2 years you can recoup most of the cost. I'm sure the T3 will be good enough for atleast a couple years, you may find you need something better, but more likely you're going to decide you want some better lenses. You'll butt heads with the limitations of the kit lens way before the body.