Which camera is best?

[moonchild84]

I am a complete novice - my use of cameras stretches to my mobile phone and disposables! I would like to invest in a decent camera for taking pictures of wildife, clear, precise, instead of the blurry, tinted images from what I currnetly use! Any suggestions?

[geordie1970]

You could try reading this thread Wildlife Camera
as mentioned a dslr with interchangable lenses could be what you want.

[redwing210]

Hi, I was recently in the same boat as you, and after a lot of research went for the
Canon 400d not cheap £400ish, I am by no means an expert and have enroled in a photography course for begginers, however after a few weeks of reading books and manuals I have taken
some pretty good photos (compared to my old camera / attempts).

Hopefully I wil post some photos on here soon to give you an idea of the quality and results you
can get with a better quality camera and some patience!

Redwing210.

[Interpreter]

You can certainly get good results with a 400D and the photography course should get you going and point you in the right direction. Congratulations on going about it in a very professional manner.

Your course will teach you the technicalities of photography and everything else will come with practice and, let's face it, a lot of luck.

[nightshade]

The Panasonic FZ 50 is very popular but it is right up there
with the DSLRs for price. Nikon D50 Canon 350D can be had
quite cheaply along with the Canon 400D or Nikon 40X
Bought body only and then adding the lenses YOU want is
the best way in my opinion

[ron1863]

Most photography shops will let you handle or try the cameras, buy one you feel comfortable with. I bought the Sony Alpha 100 but only because I had several Minolta lenses that fitted the Sony and have not been disappointed. I would probably have went down the Nikon or Canon route if I was just starting out. Good Luck

[mh68]

Originally Posted by nightshade

The Panasonic FZ 50 is very popular but it is right up there
with the DSLRs for price. Nikon D50 Canon 350D can be had
quite cheaply along with the Canon 400D or Nikon 40X
Bought body only and then adding the lenses YOU want is
the best way in my opinion

With the Panasonic the lens is already included though(and one with a range that covers several DSLR lenses). I`ve heard the D40x has a limited range of lenses which will work with this model(something to do with no autofocus motor in the body??).
Something to bear in mind...learning the basic techniques regardless of the camera used will yield far greater results than forking out thousands for a top bit of kit and not knowing how to use it to its full potential.Work out your budget, look at the various models you can afford with said budget,read reviews of them(some good review sites online if you do a search)and more importantly look at sample images of each model before you choose.You should be able to narrow it down and then maybe ask for opinions on the cameras you`ve shortlisted before deciding which to buy.

Mark H

Mark H

[Interpreter]

Originally Posted by mh68

With the Panasonic the lens is already included though(and one with a range that covers several DSLR lenses). I`ve heard the D40x has a limited range of lenses which will work with this model(something to do with no autofocus motor in the body??).
Something to bear in mind...learning the basic techniques regardless of the camera used will yield far greater results than forking out thousands for a top bit of kit and not knowing how to use it to its full potential.Work out your budget, look at the various models you can afford with said budget,read reviews of them(some good review sites online if you do a search)and more importantly look at sample images of each model before you choose.You should be able to narrow it down and then maybe ask for opinions on the cameras you`ve shortlisted before deciding which to buy.

Mark H

Mark H

Now this is good advice. Another thing to consider is that if you get a 'common' camera, everybody and their dog will have one. This means that accessories for it are plentiful and should be reasonably priced. This also means that the second hand price should be reasonable. Third party manufacturers will invest in designing and making bits for it.

When a camera model is replaced, the previous model comes onto the market at a vastly reduced price. Usually, there is nothing wrong with the earlier model; it is just a matter of keeping up with the Jones. In the case of the S7000, the replacement was not as good as the model it replaced.

[mh68]

Thanks Interpreter.The same happened with the Panasonic fz30....which is considered to be superior to the fz50 which replaced it. It`s quite hard to find a secondhand fz30 even on Ebay now.A Panasonic would actually be a good choice, as not only are they good cameras overall, but lots of members on here use, or have used one in the past, so info on these is widely available, as well as info for whichever accessories you may need.

Mark H

[GME]

Well Moonchild84,
I was in a similar sort of situation to yourself a while ago, although I did know a little about photography- not a lot though. I asked for advice on WAB about a particular camera and got loads of help from al the friendly members.
Hopefully to help you, I chose to buy a Digital SLR in the end but I got it dead cheap. Cheaper in fact than the original 'bridge' camera I originally considered. There are bargains out there if you don't rush into things. I went for a Canon as that brand is considered as one of the leaders of camera manufacture, though I wouldn't sway away from Nikon or other top brands either. I borrowed a Canon 400D from a friend and used it for a few weeks and loved it and that persuaded me to go with the Canon.

Basically, progressing from a mobile phone (I did too as mine was capable of better quality images than my old Fuji Finepix 2200!) you won't believe the difference in your pictures pretty much whatever camera you pick as long as it is a reasonable one! The 'bridge' cameras (near to SLR's in design and functions (more flexible often then compacts) but with fixed lenses) like the Panasonic mentioned will get you great shots, especially compared to your phone! All the shots in my WAB Gallery are taken with my mobile phone and I thought they were ok before I got my new camera!! (must get some new shots uploaded)! I think the DSLR route allows a bit more flexibilty and better performance in trickier lighting conditions but it depends how serious you are in your photography and where you want it to head (birds, insects, indeed any wildlife, sports, family, landscapes, portraits, etc...). At least with a DSLR you can just add a specific lens to your setup as you go. Of course the 'bridge' might be all you ever need. Oh well, choices eh!?

Hope this was some help and hasn't confused you too much. Also, you could have a look through some of the galleries on here and find a few pictures you like, click on them so you can see what camera (and often what lens) was used and see if the camera/ lens is within your budget. I really think that whatever you choose, chosen wisely will see a marked improvement from your current setup! I can wholeheartedly recommend the DSLR route though, even on 'Auto' settings! (Though to get the best out of it you'll need to learn how to use the more manual options, but that's part of the fun of photography) I'm sure you won't look back!