picky Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Without question, I recommend the Canon A95. I bought one for my son and my daughter receieved one as a gift from someone else. They both love them. I bought my wife the Canon A80 last Xmas and she loves hers. The A80 is last year's model but you can still buy them for a pretty good price on the web. A95 is 5 megapixel while the A80 is 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcoker Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Keep in mind the more megapixels the camera the more flexablility you have on editing the picture. I too am not hung up on the cameras megapixel, I am more consern with the repair history and lens along with optical zoom , etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffinator Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 I'm very happy with my fuji - got it on closeout at Best Buy for $300. That said, PC Mag just had a big reader roundup and Canon received the highest marks by far. I wouldn't put much faith in anything Consumer Reports says. They've been pretty gun shy ever since the Bo$e lawsuit.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelerFan Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 My parents just gave me an Olympus D-580 for Xmas. They gave it to me today so I could learn to use it by the holiday. Neither they nor I know anything about them so I have no idea how good it is, but I don't care, it was very thoughtful of them and I'm very happy. Hopefully I'll have some pics of my system on here shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 "High five, man! I'm 35mm from now until eternity, and then until I die. Digital/HD will NEVER beat out film! Not as long as I live!" Amen Nicholtl! My Hassleblads will outlive me and I hope I'm there clicking away when it happens! Got friends charging $4 grand for weddings printing on inkjets in their basements- horrible! I'm still REAL Film REAL Cameras REAL Paper and chemistry. Long live ART! IF YOU MUST go digital, get as much OPTICAL zoom as you can afford, it's all in the lens. No amount of photoshop work can make up for a fuzzy photo. A digital camera with physically a large lens opening will be better. The Sony line is very good in this regard. Switchable lens a no-no at this level because it just introduces dust and contaminants into the very fragile digital chip area. ALso the size of the chip is important, not just the megapixals. When possible, capture images in RAW mode and do the math (interpolation) at the computer, reason, the camera's have inferior computers due to finances. If on a big trip and she needs lots of images, switch to TIFF or Jpeg compressed modes for smaller file sizes. Teach her to download everything to computer and backup to disk or all her memories could EASILY be lost! Another digital problem. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picky Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Michael: I too still have only film 35 mm's and I'd practically give my left nut for a Nikon F5 or F6. I have no digital still cameras of my own. However, I sure do enjoy borrowing the Canon A80 I gave my wife last Christmas. That's one, handy little camera when I want to post some shots to the web. I do believe one day I will be moving into the digital still realm, but it'll most likely be after film begins to get scarce. I used to think that would never happen. But, ever since Kmart bought Sears, I suppose ANYTHING is possible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo33 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 "My Hassleblads will outlive me and I hope I'm there clicking away when it happens!" Long live the king! Michael, wanna join me for a model shoot next week? . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo33 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 "Michael: I too still have only film 35 mm's and I'd practically give my left nut for a Nikon F5 or F6." Picky, my Nikon F5 for your two nuts! . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmaple Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Michael, I know that you're sticking with film, but do you have any thoughts on a "prosumer" level digital camera like the Nikon Coolpix 8700 or Canon Powershot Pro1 vs digital SLR like the Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel. These are the models that I am looking at. My wife like the idea of capturing movie clips with the non-SLR models. I don't know if that would be used much, but we don't really plan on getting a camcorder so it might be of some use to us. Here is a comparison of those 3 cameras: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_eos300d%2Cnikon_cp8700%2Ccanon_pro1&show=all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 SF area? models? say no more! If I had the funds I'd be there in a heartbeat, I'll bring the PAM (frequently used for body building models to enhance that nice skin shine- sprays on faster than even Picky could give a good baby oil rub!) What kind of shooting do you do Neo? Sadly I only own Nikon F2, 8008 and F100, never needed all that fancy stuff. Lens 16 fish, 28, 55, 85 1.2, 80-200 2.8 Hassie three bodies about same lens arsenal. GO HARD OR STAY HOME Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Mark, when a ProSumer model tries to do too many things, like capture motion and/or sound, I think there's just too much stuff going on in there, it'll all break soon. The Canon digital videos are awesome and getting so inexpensive, there's no reason not to have a camera to specialize in motion and one for stills. Unless you just can't go on vacation with two hanging around your neck. I still like SOny because of their Zeiss lenses for still units. Megapixals only tell part of the story. Features and Lens are far more important to me. Remember if you have a better optical zoom, you won't have to use pixalated digital zoom at all. Or just email me or call to chat. 317-465-9744 Okay, EDIT POST, You got me curious so I looked up your chart. Canon Rebel (1st camera) you're able to swap lenses, so more varied uses for future. Others are single fixed lens with no upgrade. Rebel had better on-camera flash but only 12 ft at 100asa. All have hot shoe so you can put pro flash on (recommended) Rebel also goes to 1600 speed although it prob looks real grainy/noise (as 1600 usually does) The Nikon has good features, better metering, partial metal body, f2.8 at wide angle and more controls than the cheaper Canon. IE you can do more professional 'you-make-the decision' settings on the Nikon. Only 400 asa, though, but it does have you built in movie feature if that's important to you. I like the layout of the machine and if it's like other Nikons (okay, I'm a fan) the controls are probably as logistical as my iMac or Honda Accord - I like being able to run complicated machinery by instinct. Buttons should be where they ought to be. The last Canon I prob woulnd't bother with, it's the least of all worlds in my mind. WIth $$ the same the Canon Rebel is the most powerful, full featured semi-pro camera because of lens switching. The Nikon would be my overall favorite if the built in lens zoom is enough for you. Last note. Nikon is 35mm-280mm optical zoom, the third choice Canon is 28mm-200mm. So unless you need pretty wide angle, and there is quite a diff between 28 and 35, the Nikon is tops there as well, although its 4.2 at 280, that's capturing a good candid from quite a long ways away. Chime in here nicholtl! Hope this helps! Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo33 Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 Michael, I shoot (mainly) portraits, models and weddings. I also shoot company brochures and occasionaly breaking news for local newspapers. I do all my professional works in square format on three totally mechanical Hassies, 6 film backs, 9 lens and 2 Metz flashes. I also have the Nikon FM, FE2, F3, F4 and F5, two backs, 12 lens and 5 flashes. Films all the way, baby! However, I also own a Nikon D100 Digital SLR but I don't use it that much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 WOW, and I thought I had some Hassie gear. YOU are the King my friend! Lets hope they keep making film. Heard Ilford went out of business this year, that's kind of scary. Also CW bodies, 30, 50, 80, 120, 180 lenses. Gotta go fishin! I carry like 6 backs on a wedding day. Make those little girl assistants work for their $$! LOL Do you have website for your work? Mine's still 'in progress' the result of a bad trade out with a graphic designer friend. But I use ProShots for internet wedding viewing. WIll send you passwords when I get my most two recent ones up and running. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomac Posted January 25, 2005 Author Share Posted January 25, 2005 We decided to wait and give the Digital Camera to our daughter for her 21st Birthday. It was yesterday and the camera we picked out was a Cannon Power Shot S410. We bought it from a local shop where the salesman really did a great job explaining the options. The A95 and the S410 were his recommendations. I liked the A95 but the S410 was smaller and more compact. My son thought she would appreciate the S410 for that reason. Thanks very much for all the comments and advice. I really appreciated the responses and will let you know how it works out. Pretty neat little camera. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcoker Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Good choice. The cannons are one of the best rated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piranha Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Scott, YGood choice. I don't think you can't go wrong with a Canon. I have owned several Powershot's. All have served my needs well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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