Recommended Cameras

[Cindylin]

What are your recommendations for an affordable Digital SLR camera? What if I really want a camera that has great zoom, some manual capabilities and all around good use? I like great picture quality. Thanks for any input.

Cindy

[Medic]

Cindylin, I think you should start a thread for this, because more people will read it.

[mactastic]

Thanks for this great thread, Eliwood. I'm somewhat of a non-techie photographer and what drives me crazy about my last digital camera is the lag time between clicking the picture and what it actaully takes (lot of people's backs by then). Which of the cameras above have short (or NO) lag time? Thanks again.

[Ben Stafford]

Most of the current mid-range (and up) compact point and shoot cameras have very minimal shutter lag, if you do a partial press of the shutter first. When you partially press down the shutter, the camera gets a focus lock and calculates exposure. Then when you're ready to capture the shot, you just push the shutter the rest of the way. Since the focus and exposure was already set, the camera can respond faster than if you do a full press of the button.

All of the current digital SLRs have very, very minimal shutter lag - so quick, you'd hardly be able to tell.

[Eliwood]

After PMA passes, I will be updating this thread with the new introductions, but it's still quite up to date for the most part (except the prices which have fallen down a bit).

[Eliwood]

Thread has been updated. DSLR recommendations are pretty moot because there are too few models on the market that it's pretty clear what to choose. It's less about choosing the model and more about choosing which system/brand.

Right now, the field looks like this.

Entry Level (Up to $700)

Either buy a D40 ($600) or a Rebel XT ($500 body only). Buy a Rebel XTi ($650 body only) if you think that the extra features are worthwhile for you.

Prosumer (Up to $1000)

Buy a D80 ($900 body only).

Enthusiast (> $1000)

Buy a 30D ($1100) or D200 ($1400). At this price point, you know what you want. If you are in the market for a 30D, rebates are coming in April for that.

[usapatriot]

Yes, please update this thread.

[gubak]

I would recomend one more camera type in $200-$350 price range. The new Olympus-FE cameras fulfil all the customer needs. They are very handfuly, have many new special features and the design is beautiful. I have FE-200, but I'm very pleased with it!

[sfrainman]

I like the bigger zoom of the Canon A710 IS, but am tempted by the sleeker, smaller models like the Canon 750. What's your opinion of how they compare performance wise? Any other current or new models you suggest that have a longer zoom AND are real compact?

[sfrainman]

i ended up buying the Canon A720IS at Office Depot- the newer version of the A710. AND I LOVE IT! Has great features, is compact and the 6x zoom, which i find is enough.

good luck.