I'm close to buying a digital camera

On Feb 1, 5:37 pm, <normanstr... RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote:
> I've decided to make the jump from film to digital photography. I need your
> advice as to which camera(s) to look at. I've pretty much made up my mind
> to get a camera with an integrated zoom lens rather than interchangeable
> lenses. Here are a few requirements:
>
> Lens from 28-200mm (35mm equivalent)
> Remote shutter release
> Connection to an external monitor
> Almost no lag between shutter release and exposure.
> Suitable for prints from 11 x 14 to 16 x 20
> connection for external flash unit
> Internal flash unit as far away from lens axis as possible
>
> Your suggestions are greatly valued.

You forgot:
"Under $200" and "Wireless Internet"

Keep dreamin.
You want the quality of a top DSLR, but you want it all in one small
package that does everything. Not even Jack Bauer has one of those.
 >> Stay informed about: I'm close to buying a digital camera 

<normanstrong.RemoveThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:YZ6dnRRYT6d69l_YnZ2dnUVZ_uSgnZ2d@comcast.com...
> I've decided to make the jump from film to digital photography. I need
> your advice as to which camera(s) to look at. I've pretty much made up my
> mind to get a camera with an integrated zoom lens rather than
> interchangeable lenses. Here are a few requirements:
>
> Lens from 28-200mm (35mm equivalent)
> Remote shutter release
> Connection to an external monitor
> Almost no lag between shutter release and exposure.
> Suitable for prints from 11 x 14 to 16 x 20
> connection for external flash unit
> Internal flash unit as far away from lens axis as possible
>
> Your suggestions are greatly valued.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Norm Strong
>
Depends on what you deem "suitable," when it comes to 16x20. The only
camera I'd unhesitatingly recommend that fits all of those parameters would
be the Canon 1Ds mkII with a 28-300 f4.5-5.6 L IS lens on it. It has an
optional remote shutter release, can be connected to an external monitor
through either USB or WiFi, minimal shutter lag, certainly has an external
hot shoe, but no built in flash, so I guess that's as far away from the lens
axis as is possible. The only drawback is that it is about $7000, plus the
lens is another $2000. If you wanted to save a little money, and get
similar results, a Canon 5D would only set you back about $2500-3000, but
the lens would be the same price. Canon makes a 28-200, but it's not a
great lens, and may not yield good 16x20s. On the plus side, both of those
cameras have sensors the same size as a 35mm film frame, so there's no
worries about 35mm equivalent lenses, they perform as advertised. Moving
down in price, there are several 8-12 mp DSLRs with smaller sensors, which
means that you'll need an 18-150,or so, lens, much cheaper, but, again,
might no yield that elusive excellent 16x20.


--
Skip Middleton
www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
www.pbase.com/skipm
 >> Stay informed about: I'm close to buying a digital camera 

On Thu, 1 Feb 2007 18:06:52 -0500, Charles Schuler <charleschuler RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote:



><normanstrong RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
>news:YZ6dnRRYT6d69l_YnZ2dnUVZ_uSgnZ2d@comcast.com...
>> I've decided to make the jump from film to digital photography. I need
>> your advice as to which camera(s) to look at. I've pretty much made up my
>> mind to get a camera with an integrated zoom lens rather than
>> interchangeable lenses. Here are a few requirements:
>>
>> Lens from 28-200mm (35mm equivalent)
>> Remote shutter release
>> Connection to an external monitor
>> Almost no lag between shutter release and exposure.
>> Suitable for prints from 11 x 14 to 16 x 20
>> connection for external flash unit
>> Internal flash unit as far away from lens axis as possible
>>
>> Your suggestions are greatly valued.

>You are buying at a good time ... the current crop of cameras is mostly good
>(many are outstanding).

>In other words, it is not so much a brand issue or model issue as it is your
>needs and your preferences. Consider the industry leaders (Nikon, Canon,
>etc.) and go handle them at Best Buy and Circuit City. It is very important
>to select one that feels good and has an intuitive user interface.

Bring ear plugs if you go to best buy (unless you actually like the rap music
that will be blasting from the home stereo department)
If you go to circuit city, ignore the "after rebate" prices. They're mostly
a lie, especially if the sales clerk prints two rebate forms and leads you
to think that circuit will actually honor both.


>You will most likely love digital photography.
 >> Stay informed about: I'm close to buying a digital camera 

>
> Bring ear plugs if you go to best buy (unless you actually like the rap
> music
> that will be blasting from the home stereo department)
> If you go to circuit city, ignore the "after rebate" prices. They're
> mostly
> a lie, especially if the sales clerk prints two rebate forms and leads you
> to think that circuit will actually honor both.

Hmmm ... never experienced the rap music at either. I did have a rebate
problem and went back to the store and they took care of it immediately ...
no hassle what-so-ever (I did have to go back, though). Rebates are a
global PITA.
 >> Stay informed about: I'm close to buying a digital camera 

"Cynicor" <j...tru.p...in RemoveThis @speak.ea.sy.net> wrote in message
news:_5-dnZRzCa5y6l_YnZ2dnUVZ_vTinZ2d@speakeasy.net...
>I just noticed from a few comcast posters today...their extended headers
>have an X-DMCA-Complaints-To field. How annoying is that?


X-DMCA-Complaints-To: abuse RemoveThis @speakeasy.net
X-Abuse-and-DMCA-Info: Please be sure to forward a copy of ALL headers
X-Abuse-and-DMCA-Info: Otherwise we will be unable to process your complaint
properly

It's pretty damn annoying.

dwight
 >> Stay informed about: I'm close to buying a digital camera 

On Thu, 01 Feb 2007 14:37:28 -0800, normanstrong wrote:

> I've decided to make the jump from film to digital photography. I need your
> advice as to which camera(s) to look at. I've pretty much made up my mind
> to get a camera with an integrated zoom lens rather than interchangeable
> lenses. Here are a few requirements:
>
> Lens from 28-200mm (35mm equivalent)
> Remote shutter release
> Connection to an external monitor
> Almost no lag between shutter release and exposure.
> Suitable for prints from 11 x 14 to 16 x 20
> connection for external flash unit
> Internal flash unit as far away from lens axis as possible
>
> Your suggestions are greatly valued.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Norm Strong

IMHO -

I doubt you'll get all those requirements met, but it sounds like, mostly,
you'd be interested in an EVF camera (Electronic ViewFinder). If that's
where you head, I'd strongly suggest you actually look through a number of
them before you buy one. I find the Kodak EVFs superior in at least one
respect - the resolution of the EVF. Most of the others have a resolution
of about 110k pixels and are very blocky when you look through them. The
Kodaks have 237k pixels - much better.
 >> Stay informed about: I'm close to buying a digital camera 

<normanstrong RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:YZ6dnRRYT6d69l_YnZ2dnUVZ_uSgnZ2d@comcast.com...
> I've decided to make the jump from film to digital photography. I need
> your advice as to which camera(s) to look at. I've pretty much made up my
> mind to get a camera with an integrated zoom lens rather than
> interchangeable lenses. Here are a few requirements:
>
> Lens from 28-200mm (35mm equivalent)
> Remote shutter release
> Connection to an external monitor
> Almost no lag between shutter release and exposure.
> Suitable for prints from 11 x 14 to 16 x 20
> connection for external flash unit
> Internal flash unit as far away from lens axis as possible
>
> Your suggestions are greatly valued.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Norm Strong
>

Suggest you visit sites that do comprehensive reviews of digital cameras,
including comparisons of the photos they produce. Here are a couple:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/
http://www.steves-digicams.com/
 >> Stay informed about: I'm close to buying a digital camera 

In article <OKadnXr1ZLZOH1_YnZ2dnUVZ_oSnnZ2d RemoveThis @comcast.com>,
"Charles Schuler" <charleschuler RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote:

>
> This a classic example of topic drift. My mistake was that (or "my bad" ...
> the dumbed-down version circulating these days) I mentioned specific
> retailers. You just can't win on forums like this one, these days. The OP
> gets responses that could be helpful but gets additional vitriol that is
> confusing.
>
> When responding here, think a moment before you select "Send."

I think it's called "Remember The Human"
 >> Stay informed about: I'm close to buying a digital camera 

On Thu, 1 Feb 2007 14:37:28 -0800, <normanstrong RemoveThis @comcast.net> <normanstrong RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote:
> I've decided to make the jump from film to digital photography. I need your
> advice as to which camera(s) to look at. I've pretty much made up my mind
> to get a camera with an integrated zoom lens rather than interchangeable
> lenses. Here are a few requirements:
>
> Lens from 28-200mm (35mm equivalent)
> Remote shutter release
> Connection to an external monitor
> Almost no lag between shutter release and exposure.
> Suitable for prints from 11 x 14 to 16 x 20
> connection for external flash unit
> Internal flash unit as far away from lens axis as possible

Nikon D80 + the 18-135 kit lens. Put that lens on the camera and
never remove it: presto, "integrated" zoom lens. And it meets most/all
of your other requirements (I'm not sure exactly what you mean by
'connection to external monitor', so that one is iffy).

-dms
 >> Stay informed about: I'm close to buying a digital camera 

"Cynicor" <j...tru.p...in RemoveThis @speak.ea.sy.net> wrote in message
news:RIOdnUoyFpyeNF_YnZ2dnUVZ_qTinZ2d@speakeasy.net...
>
>> It's pretty damn annoying.
>
> For the antidote to annoying, behold the Web page my daughter just
> made.
> http://www.dogster.com/dogs/420518/sniff

ARGH!

I had to poke a pen in my eye to reduce the level of pain!


 >> Stay informed about: I'm close to buying a digital camera 

On Feb 1, 10:37 pm, <normanstr....DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote:
> I've decided to make the jump from film to digital photography. I need your
> advice as to which camera(s) to look at. I've pretty much made up my mind
> to get a camera with an integrated zoom lens rather than interchangeable
> lenses. Here are a few requirements:

You don't mention what film gear you use at present or what you want
to use it for. One thing that is easy with digital is to have a
pocketable camera of high quality that is always with you. Some are
now too small to be convenient in use.

Definitely handle the camera that you intend to buy. It s no good if
it is perfect spec on paper but you cannot use the hundreds fiddly
controls on the back to make it do what you want. The various makers
have a slightly different take on the interface.

> Lens from 28-200mm (35mm equivalent)

That wide zoom range cuts down your choices. and a 7x zoom range
compromises the optics somewhat. Read rewiews carefully! 3-4x optical
zooms tend to be sharper and higher contrast if that is important to
you (and looking below it may be).

> Remote shutter release
> Connection to an external monitor
> Almost no lag between shutter release and exposure.
> Suitable for prints from 11 x 14 to 16 x 20

6Mpixel or higher would be suitable for this and there are good
compacts that would meet the spec.

> connection for external flash unit

That is rare and may cut down you options to practically zero.

> Internal flash unit as far away from lens axis as possible

Makes the camera bigger. Is that really what you want?

Regards,
Martin Brown
 >> Stay informed about: I'm close to buying a digital camera 

normanstrong.TakeThisOut@comcast.net wrote:
> I've decided to make the jump from film to digital photography. I
> need your advice as to which camera(s) to look at. I've pretty much
> made up my mind to get a camera with an integrated zoom lens rather
> than interchangeable lenses. Here are a few requirements:
>
> Lens from 28-200mm (35mm equivalent)
> Remote shutter release
> Connection to an external monitor
> Almost no lag between shutter release and exposure.
> Suitable for prints from 11 x 14 to 16 x 20
> connection for external flash unit
> Internal flash unit as far away from lens axis as possible
>
> Your suggestions are greatly valued.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Norm Strong

Since no-one seems to be answering your question, buy a Panasonic FZ50.
 >> Stay informed about: I'm close to buying a digital camera 

dennis_nospampogson RemoveThis @ntlworld.com (Dennis Pogson) wrote:

> buy a Panasonic FZ50.

28mm limits his choices. Ok, you can buy adapters, but for me that sort
of defeats the point of an "all in one" camera.

Andrew McP
 >> Stay informed about: I'm close to buying a digital camera