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whats the best digital camera under 500 dollars?
im looking to buy a good quality digital camera for under 500 dollars in hopes of taking up photography.any suggesions? Sep 13 05 09:45 am Link an used Rebel:) me Sep 13 05 09:47 am Link I'd recommend a Canon G-series. I think they're up to the G6 by now. Super clean files even if you have to take a little less resolution. BTW, for $500 you can get a used Canon D60, no lens. Paul Sep 13 05 09:48 am Link Whatever you buy try to use a good amount of lighting. Any digital sucks with poor lighting but they do very well with proper lighting even with less MP. Look for one that has a good shutter speed. I read that one of the sony P&S has a very good shutter speed. That is something you will find useful in a P&S for sure. The other is connectivity to a PC and speed and size of the card it will handle. For most P&S the 40x speed is the best it will handle and others cant handle that speed. The speed will allow you to process the image faster. Another thing is type of battery it will handle. Rechargable will save you a good amount of money if you shoot alot and you can get 2400 (or higher if they make them, im not sure) rechargable which will last longer. Or the lithium which will last longer also. Another thing to watch for is zoom features. Digital zoom may look nice but it will not come in handy most times. Digital zoom takes the image and zooms that particular image in and it starts to pixilate. What you want to look for is a high optical zoom, that will allow you to zoom the camera. Dont know if this helps but its things i wish i knew when i bought my 5 mp years ago. Now i shoot with my D70 and the 5 mp P&S sits collecting dust. Sep 13 05 10:05 am Link MYA wrote: It's kind of hard to know exactly what you mean by a digital camera for under $500, because with almost any digital camera purchase you'll need to add on at least $50-$100 for accessories (memory cards, camera case, batteries). Sep 13 05 10:06 am Link MYA wrote: Ahhh just saw this.....yea def try to find a DSLR .......even if its just the body for now. A P&S if you find a decent one would be ok until you can upgrade to a DSLR. Sep 13 05 10:07 am Link get a cheap digital camera and a film slr you can use the digital kinda like a polariod so u can see what your settings need to be for the film. That way you will be used to adjusting setings on a slr which is much different than a digital point and shoot unless u spend 500 and up and it will let u get started on collecting lenses. If you just get a really good point and shoot for 500 now you will just have to spend another 2000 to 3000 on a dslr and lenses in a year or two when u decide to get serious. But if they have a few used equipment dealers around you may be able to get a used s2 pro around 500 or a canon digital rebel around that price Sep 13 05 11:08 am Link Tito Trelles wrote: silly silly tito! Sep 13 05 11:11 am Link chris paul wrote: i have heard if i wanted to start out i need to atleast start with a cannon rebel. Sep 13 05 11:16 am Link check the local stores before you buy off ebay so u can atleast try it out before you buy it and usually they will have similar price for quality to what u would get on ebay like i was looking for a back up camera and happened to find this http://www.bakerphotovideo.com/ProductD … px?pid=598 i went to the store and he offered it to me for 1200 Sep 13 05 02:57 pm Link I just saw my camera, the Minolta Dimage 7i, at a camera store for $200.00. I bought it new for $1000.00. I believe if you can find the 7i, 7hi for sale, they will be in your price range. Every single photo on my Web site was taken with the Dimage 7i. www.nordarts.com. If you could go a little higher, I would recommend this one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control … Navigation It's an upgrade from the 7i. The great thing about the A200 and the 7i, & 7hi is that you can do everything with it that you can do with the DSLRs except change lenses. With 7x optical zoom, there's very little you will be wanting. Sep 13 05 04:43 pm Link THe Fuji s7000 has been out of production for a few months, but you can still find them online for about $400. Here's the review http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/s7000.html It would make a great starter camera if you can't afford a D-SLR right now. I use them as back ups and I'm on my second one. Sep 14 05 04:28 am Link Joanns wrote: I second the Dimage - I've got an older model (Z10), and it has great glass and excellent color (as well as an SLR-like viewfinder). I'm sure you can find a good, current model for well under 500 clams. Sep 14 05 10:27 am Link Buy a used DSLR with lens My first camera before I came here (ModelMayhem) was the Canon 10D w/28-135 IS USM, I've since bought 5 more lens's, 1 & 2GB memory cards and larger bag. Sep 14 05 12:36 pm Link if i were you, before i purchase a camera from an unknown seller, just to get a much cheaper price, i would check B&H Used Equipment. They are tried and trusted, and the few extra bucks spent on reputation can prove worth much more then it's weight in gold. this Canon sounds like a decent pice of equipment... and is listed on B&H for $519.00 Sep 15 05 07:06 am Link A friend of mine just bought the poweshot pro 1 new. I let her come assist @ a wedding I was shooting because she wants to learn the ropes. She spent most of the day cussing out the camera because it wouldn't focus half the time when we were shooting inside. I would buy the Canon G6 first...little less zoom, but it doesnt have the focusing probs. Sep 16 05 05:35 pm Link Am I reading these replies correctly? How many photographers on here do NOT use DSLR cameras? Is the quality of a point and shoot up and matching the DSLR market? Sep 16 05 05:47 pm Link Paul Ferrara wrote: I agree with Paul, a friend of mine has G2 and the picture is just unreal. I think the bang you get for a buck with G-series is unbeatable. Great job, Canon. Sep 16 05 06:15 pm Link Craig Thomson wrote: Probably more than you'd think. I paid about $800 for my G2 some years ago. Cute little camera that takes great pictures but it's a pain to use because of parallax error. I bought a D60 after they came out. But the next best option vs the G2 was the D30 for about $3K. Sep 16 05 07:44 pm Link Mya, Try looking for a good used DSLR. I don't think you will regret it later for flexibility. Having the option to purchase lenses you'll need is key! Best of luck, Ed Sep 16 05 07:58 pm Link Honestly, if you're just starting out with no existing equipment, $500 is a tall order. Even a simple point-and-shoot requires purchase of a few "extras" (spare batteries, memory, something to carry it around in, etc.) Sep 16 05 08:36 pm Link Budget shop at www.overstock.com, www.refurbdepot.com, and www.bwayphoto.com They have super discounts there, and there is rarely any trouble with the furbies. I bought a $400 Olympus IS-10 for $88 from Overstock. The zoom did not work so I sent it to Olympus to fix. Olympus took care of it for me with no prob. If you want a good review, plus sample pictures of the camera you want, then go to www.dpreview.com It is the most indepth camera site out there. Sep 16 05 09:09 pm Link Buy a used D70 from Nikon. The lenses will cost you more, but they are investment. Cheers, Tim Sep 17 05 04:53 am Link Craig Thomson wrote: Hi Craig, just because a camera isn't a DSLR, doesn't make it a point and shoot. The camera I recommended was the Dimage 7i. It is not a point and shoot. In fact, I never used the automatic - program - settings on that camera. The only auto feature I did use was the auto focus. In my MM portfolio, I have a combination of photos taken with my Dimage 7i and my Maxxum 7D (DSLR). I don't think anybody to determine which photo came from the non-DSLR. Sep 17 05 02:10 pm Link Don't ask me, I'm still buying disposable cameras from Rite Aid...LOL Sep 17 05 02:12 pm Link for the $$$, a used Olympus e-20 should be considered...it is a tank of a camera...with all the bells and whistles, and manual mode to boot, it should be a consideration for one who is starting into the digital arena. Sep 17 05 05:06 pm Link kodak dx7590, laugh away folks, but i take saleable shots on it daily, while my 7d is usually in getting repaired, hey what do you know i sold 2 more late yesterday to aero mag. Sep 17 05 05:10 pm Link SayCheeZ! wrote: KODAK PROSUMER DIGITALS, I LUV EM, BUT KEN ALREADY KNOWS THIS. Sep 17 05 05:11 pm Link Doug, Right there with you about the benefits of a Kodak DX7590. I own one as well and soon will be looking to upgrade it to the next version available. The fact that it had a flash sync port on it sold me since I do alot of studio work and having a digital that can sync to a studio strobe would sure solve alot of headaches. Kodak DX7590 Features: Fast shutter, virtually no lag clean, crisp images at 5MP which makes printing a snap excellent zoom and macro functions perfect for portrait or still life full manual controll along with a boatload of shooting modes for any situation flash synch port, used with bracket means no redeye and perfect for events Just the other day I shot a Macro photo of a large spider holding (possibly eating) it's prey that was all wrapped up. With the right client, I'm sure that photo will sell. And if the technical quality is great, no-one will ask what camera you took it on. In fact, if you don't say typically no-one asks. I know alot of photographers who made thier first pile of cash using these so called imitation SLR cameras. Sep 17 05 05:24 pm Link For those who do laugh, attached are photos of some of the digital cameras that revolutionized the digital marketplace. Do you see anything in common? Actually, some of these cameras can now be had for next to nothing and may be a great way to start in the digital photography arena. All of the photos are of products currently available on E-bay. Sep 17 05 05:32 pm Link David Scherer wrote: The newest version of the DX7590 is the Z7590, but if you already own the DX7590 there's no need to rush out and purchase the Z series, because there are only a few minor differences between the cameras (the connector on the bottom of the camera is now smaller, the USB connector is different, and a histogram can be viewed on the LCD). Sep 17 05 05:42 pm Link |