Where to learn about cameras on the market?

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Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

It's been a long time since I've bought a new camera, and I now see
that haven't been keeping up with emerging technology.

I'm looking for an education / side-by side comparison of features.
Looking at websites, it seems some newer cameras are reviewed on each
site, but I'm looking more for a publication of all cameras on the
market. Does such a thing exist?

I know photography (film) and the only digital camera I've owned is my
Olympus Brio 1.3 megapixal p&s that just broke. I thought I was waiting
for dSLRs to come down in price to buy one, and was just going to
replace by broken camera with its equivalent to use until then and for
snapshots. I figured I'd buy something like this on eBay inexpensively.
1. I can't -- they're either also someone's broken camera, or more
expensive than I'd want to spend given that they have extra features
but not necesarily features I want. 2. Now that I see how many more
features have come to exist, I want to see if perhaps I can spend more
than I'd planned to, have more features that will meet my needs and
perhaps be able to fulfill any immediate need for a dSLR.

If anyone can point me in the right direction: I take close-ups of
objects without a flash. My largest problem is not enough light --
manual shutter speed and aperture settings would be great. At first I
thought the long zoom lenses would take care of the macro problem (that
the shutter just won't stay open long enough at close range), but I
realize I may still have the same light problem as I zoom in, and from
the reviews I read, camera-shake seems inevitable without a tripod. So,
I got to thinking if I were going to the trouble of looking at $300
cameras for their zoom ranges, I should look at ones that I can control
the aperture. As I am close up, I often get a focused center and blurry
outer. Do automatic digital cameras come with these manual overrides?
FWIW, I prefer a heavier camera; I can hold it more steadily, with both
hands, and I don't care for the feel of a camera the size of a credit
card. I also like an optical range finder (view field? sorry, don't
know what to call it).

I apologize for the long post. Any suggestions about cameras or where
to read about cameras? (I take many snapshots too, so I do like to own
an automatic.)

Thank you.
 
G

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Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

There are some standard sites which contain many reviews -
dpreview.com, stevesdigicams.com.

One site which I've found very useful has a page they call the
'comparometer' - it allows you to select two cameras from a rather long
list, and view the same exact set of pictures taken with each camera.

It's not perfect, and I doubt it's exhaustive, but it should allow you
to get started. I also am interested in closeups - macros, for example
- and this site allowed me to rule out several contenders due to their
macro performance.

try the page at http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

Cheers,

BD
 
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Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Peconic wrote:

....
> If anyone can point me in the right direction: I take close-ups of
> objects without a flash. My largest problem is not enough light --
> manual shutter speed and aperture settings would be great. At first I
> thought the long zoom lenses would take care of the macro problem (that
> the shutter just won't stay open long enough at close range), but I
> realize I may still have the same light problem as I zoom in, and from
> the reviews I read, camera-shake seems inevitable without a tripod. So,
> I got to thinking if I were going to the trouble of looking at $300
> cameras for their zoom ranges, I should look at ones that I can control
> the aperture. As I am close up, I often get a focused center and blurry
> outer. Do automatic digital cameras come with these manual overrides?
> FWIW, I prefer a heavier camera; I can hold it more steadily, with both
> hands, and I don't care for the feel of a camera the size of a credit
> card. I also like an optical range finder (view field? sorry, don't
> know what to call it).
...

Get a digital SLR 35mm camera -- it will have a solid feel to the body, and
get one that uses traditional 35mm lenses-- (I use a Canon EOS 10D and the
canon digital cameras can use the same Canon lenses used by the Canon film
cameras)-- then you can buy a lens that does what you want, such as a
"fast" lens that works in low light and does macro or zoom focusing, etc.
Not sure what you do that uses such low light, but you could always use
flash, a fast lens, or a reflector to take advantage of existing light. You
will not regret a digital SLR 35mm, so much sweeter than those credit card
$300 or so consumer cameras.
 
G

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Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Peconic" <foundpoem@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1122322511.283677.119730@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>
> It's been a long time since I've bought a new camera, and I now see
> that haven't been keeping up with emerging technology.

My "can't buy without checking first" sites

www.dpreview.com

www.fredmiranda.com

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/
 

hunt

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Jul 24, 2004
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Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

In article <1122322511.283677.119730@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>,
foundpoem@gmail.com says...
>
>
>It's been a long time since I've bought a new camera, and I now see
>that haven't been keeping up with emerging technology.
>
>I'm looking for an education / side-by side comparison of features.
>Looking at websites, it seems some newer cameras are reviewed on each
>site, but I'm looking more for a publication of all cameras on the
>market. Does such a thing exist?
>
>I know photography (film) and the only digital camera I've owned is my
>Olympus Brio 1.3 megapixal p&s that just broke. I thought I was waiting
>for dSLRs to come down in price to buy one, and was just going to
>replace by broken camera with its equivalent to use until then and for
>snapshots. I figured I'd buy something like this on eBay inexpensively.
>1. I can't -- they're either also someone's broken camera, or more
>expensive than I'd want to spend given that they have extra features
>but not necesarily features I want. 2. Now that I see how many more
>features have come to exist, I want to see if perhaps I can spend more
>than I'd planned to, have more features that will meet my needs and
>perhaps be able to fulfill any immediate need for a dSLR.
>
>If anyone can point me in the right direction: I take close-ups of
>objects without a flash. My largest problem is not enough light --
>manual shutter speed and aperture settings would be great. At first I
>thought the long zoom lenses would take care of the macro problem (that
>the shutter just won't stay open long enough at close range), but I
>realize I may still have the same light problem as I zoom in, and from
>the reviews I read, camera-shake seems inevitable without a tripod. So,
>I got to thinking if I were going to the trouble of looking at $300
>cameras for their zoom ranges, I should look at ones that I can control
>the aperture. As I am close up, I often get a focused center and blurry
>outer. Do automatic digital cameras come with these manual overrides?
>FWIW, I prefer a heavier camera; I can hold it more steadily, with both
>hands, and I don't care for the feel of a camera the size of a credit
>card. I also like an optical range finder (view field? sorry, don't
>know what to call it).
>
>I apologize for the long post. Any suggestions about cameras or where
>to read about cameras? (I take many snapshots too, so I do like to own
>an automatic.)
>
>Thank you

Probably the first stop should be www.dpreview.com. Look at the models and
specs, then the reviews. After you have narrowed the search to a half-dozen,
or so models, head to a local shop/store and see how they feel in YOUR hands.
If you anticipate needing support, you might want to buy locally, rather than
mail-order. Otherwise, study the mail-order store for feedback on the
Internet, before you send your credit card info.

Hunt