A new digital camera

Originally posted by Phlabibit
chances are your skull or chest is casting a shadow nearby.

You mean "head", right? You have skin and hair and stuff on your head, right?

I mean you're not some kind of walking skeleton?

Don't worry if you are. I don't mind. I'd just like to know. I'm curious like that.

Originally posted by Nordlys
SLR = single-lens reflex (camera)
DSLR = digital SLR
Two important differences to point-and-shoot cameras are that you see in the view finder exactly what you'll get on the picture, and that you can exchange the lenses.

Also, the DSLR's are much faster--much less time between when you click and when the picture is taken than other digital cameras. I don't know why this is the case, but the difference is huge when you're trying to take pictures of people.

I have a Nikon D70 which I love. I mainly chose it because the lenses were interchangable with those from my 35 mm camera. I've heard that the Canon DSLRs are also nice.

Originally posted by Nordlys
SLR = single-lens reflex (camera)
DSLR = digital SLR
Two important differences to point-and-shoot cameras are that you see in the view finder exactly what you'll get on the picture, and that you can exchange the lenses.

You have to compose by looking through the view finder though. No LCD preview.

If you're interested in an SLR type camera just for fun, I'd recommend just getting an SLR-alike, which give you most of the features that you get with a DSLR, but have a very useful, multi-purpose lens which can't be exchanged. This means that you don't have to buy multiple lenses, so it cuts out that financial hit if you're just for fun.

They're also generally cheaper than DSLRs and you can compose using the LCD screen. The Fuji Finepix S9500 is a good example.

The major downside with SLR type cameras is there size. They won't fit in your pocket.

D

Originally posted by rbmorris
Digital zoom (which I think if fairly worthless) allows you to zoom in and take a closer look (before taking the picture), but will not make it look like the picture was taken close up. If that makes any sense.

Digital Zoom is completely worthless and should be hardly ever used.

It works by making the pixels larger electronically. Absolutely destroys photos.

D

Originally posted by rbmorris
Here's what I bought not long ago.

http://tinyurl.com/lu4vd

Great camera at a reasonable price. I believe the difference between optical zoom and digital zoom is this. Optical zoom allows you to zoom in on your subject and take a picture as if you were closer. Digital zoom (which I think if fairly worthless) allows you to zoom in and take a close ...[text shortened]... e for any movement in your hand when you're taking a picture, so you don't get blurry shots.O

Mine has that.

Panasonic lumix DMCFZ5... 12x zoom....Opitical

Originally posted by leisurelysloth
Also, the DSLR's are much faster--much less time between when you click and when the picture is taken than other digital cameras. I don't know why this is the case, but the difference is huge when you're trying to take pictures of people.

I have a Nikon D70 which I love. I mainly chose it because the lenses were interchangable with those from my 35 mm camera. I've heard that the Canon DSLRs are also nice.

They are faster exactly because they don't have an LCD view. That plus the fact that they are more expensive. On a point and shoot camera, the sensor is used for light metering, focussing as well as taking the photo. A DSLR has separate components to deal with all this. Olympus makes a kind of hybrid DSLR which splits off some of the light entering the lens to create an LCD preview. It's pretty rubbish though.

Another down side of the LCD preview is that in order to actually do it, the sensor has to be active all the time. This makes it hot (as well as wastes battery power) and this heat creates random noise on the image. Most point and shoot cameras have very high noise levels and are usually unusable at ISO 400 or above.

Originally posted by Ragnorak
You have to compose by looking through the view finder though. No LCD preview.

If you're interested in an SLR type camera just for fun, I'd recommend just getting an SLR-alike, which give you most of the features that you get with a DSLR, but have a very useful, multi-purpose lens which can't be exchanged. This means that you don't have to buy multiple ...[text shortened]... major downside with SLR type cameras is there size. They won't fit in your pocket.

D

While I agree with your suggestion to stocken, I'm not sure the ability to change lenses should be considered a bad thing. A top quality 50mm prime lens is great to have on the camera when you want to shoot at 50mm but not so good when you want to shoot at 12mm. At this point it's a good idea to change lenses. No single lens is good across it's whole range with the possible exception of the Nikon 70-200 ED AS VR which I think I'm going to marry.

Originally posted by Wheely
While I agree with your suggestion to stocken, I'm not sure the ability to change lenses should be considered a bad thing. A top quality 50mm prime lens is great to have on the camera when you want to shoot at 50mm but not so good when you want to shoot at 12mm. At this point it's a good idea to change lenses. No single lens is good across it's whole range with the possible exception of the Nikon 70-200 ED AS VR which I think I'm going to marry.

When's the wedding? Will all the photo comp people be invited?

Originally posted by Nordlys
When's the wedding? Will all the photo comp people be invited?

As soon as we get out of the bedroom Nordles!!

It's a beautiful lens like nothing I've ever used. It's also quite useful for breaking up pack ice, scaring small children and for strengthening the roof in heavy snow.

Of course you're all invited but you're all invited to tomorrows "mother of all parties" but none of you accepted.

Originally posted by Wheely
Of course you're all invited but you're all invited to tomorrows "mother of all parties" but none of you accepted.

Parties are not my thing, and the mother of all parties is probably worse. A wedding would be different.

Originally posted by Nordlys
Parties are not my thing, and the mother of all parties is probably worse. A wedding would be different.

I can't even tempt you with the cool pool toy I bought yesterday? It's a small boat with a battery powered propeller and a water canon that shoots water eight meters!!!!!!!!!

I feel SO mature!!!!

Originally posted by Nordlys
The funny thing is that the simplest cameras usually have all the auto-functions. The more advanced, the more you can do manually (although nowadays the advanced cameras also have all the auto-functions, so you can choose how much you want to control yourself and how much you want to leave to the camera).

Yes! Of course! It's like computers. The dummy chooses Windows* which has everything sort of automated, whereas the more advanced user would choose some *nix system to get under the hood and do things manually for greater flexibility and control.

So, what I want to begin with is something simple with automation and then as I progress I will most likely want to control things more and more myself. A camera with lots of automation but giving the opportunity to manually control zoom and what have you would be the best choice. Right? It's like Knoppix in the linux world. Easy to use and still customisable if you want it.

Noodles, you're the best. 🙂


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* No offense Windows users... he he 😕 😳

Originally posted by stocken
Or rather my first. I usually don't ask for help around here, but I figured since there are so many photographers around you may give me a hint of what to look for.

I know the more megapixels the better. But what's all this about autozoom and focus stuff? What's good and what's not? How do I take a picture? Do I simply press the large button at the top? I ...[text shortened]... m I a good photographer?

Seriously, a few hints of what to look out for would be nice. 🙂

It doesn't matter what you buy. In a year it will be obsolete.