Best dig camera for $500 or less?

razorsharptokill · January 30, 2006, 10:17:00 PM

Our camera got dropped so it is time for a new one. I'd like to spend a little extra and get a really good one.

What do y'all suggest?

jcsnapshot · January 30, 2006, 11:12:00 PM

Jim,
What will your primary subjects be? How big would you like to be able to go with prints? Are you looking for something that will fit in a shirt pocket, or something a little larger. Not trying to make this difficult, but there are many things to consider, ie; shutter lag, zoom range, megapixels, battery life etc.

Try these sites to get an idea
B and H Photo and Video

Adorama

They both carry just about anything you would want, nad have customer reviews as well as very detailed descriptions of each model.

razorsharptokill · January 31, 2006, 01:54:00 AM

Some thing a little bigger than shirt pocket size. People, landscapes and hopefully a lot of self portrates with downed game in them! LOL!

I won't be enlarging pics very large but ould like to have great detail.

jcsnapshot · January 31, 2006, 02:54:00 AM

Canon digicam

Looks like tons of features in a compact digital

IB · January 31, 2006, 12:35:00 PM

Curious to see what "THE WEASEL" and CM's input is on this one. I'm overly ready to replace my Fuji FinePix with something that has a better recovery time and I don't buy Batts by the case!!

Weasel · January 31, 2006, 03:28:00 PM

Panasonic Lumix FZ5 at $349.99 at Circuit City.

12X OPTICAL zoom (agree with Sackett on this feature.), image stabilization, and some manual features. Other formats in addition to JPEG. Check out the review at www.dpreview.com

five-oh · January 31, 2006, 03:39:00 PM

I will agree with Weasel as far as recomending a Panasonic, but if you look around you can find the Panasonic FZ30 for just a shade over $500. It's got the same 12x optical zoom and a ton of manual slections, plus 8mgp and a slightly larger sensor than the FZ5. I did a lot of research before I got mine and I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Panasonic's in the FZ line.

Before you buy go to resellerratings.com and check out the ratings from the on-line stores.

ndflyguy · January 31, 2006, 04:08:00 PM

This is a great new forum. I was looking at the kodak P880, or the Olympus EVOLT E-500, are either of these good buys for someone who is looking to take high quality outdoor landscapes as well as portaits? I only have experience with point and shoot type cameras and really want to take better pictures, thanks dan.

razorsharptokill · February 02, 2006, 07:50:00 PM

Canon PowerShot S2 IS for 399.00 through AAFES. A great benefit for being in the military.

non-typical · February 04, 2006, 07:10:00 AM

Another vote for FZ-5. It's a perfect companion camera for hunting.

NEArcher · February 05, 2006, 07:05:00 PM

I just purchased the FZ5. First impresions are mixed. I'm having trouble with the auto focus. I'm just realizing the lack of manual focus may be a major drawback. I have to do some reading and figue out if I'm ding something wrong. In a well lit room, 6 feet away from my daughter, I couldn't zoom in on her face and have it in focus? I had to zoom out and move closer in order to fill the frame?

And a surprise when I showed up at Circuit City, its non $350, it's $390. I could have sworn I saw it for $350 on line, but that doesnt appear to be the case. Does anyone have a record if it was actually ever the lower price? If I had an advertisement to refer to, I'm sure they would rebate me.

I'm hoping I won't regret not going with the Kodak 850, which seems to have more features, manual focus, RAW, larger LCD, etc. for only $40 more.

Anyone have examples of pics they have taken with the FZ5 or the P850?

Lonewolf Jim · February 09, 2006, 02:11:00 PM

I'm new here so bear with me.

I have 3 of the newer Canon digital cameras, an old Sony digital and an old 35mm Olympus OM-2 I bought new in 1980 but of course, no one uses film any more.

Bought myself a Canon 'PowerShot S2-IS' last September cause I wanted a really nice 12x optical camera with all the features. I also bought the wife a Canon 'PowerShot A-510' at the same time to replace her old Canon SureShot 35mm film camera.

We took a couple of road trips in Sept. & Oct. and while I had the nicer of the two cameras, mine always seemed to be in the vehicle or packed away somewhere when I wanted it cause it's bigger than the wife's A-510 and was too much to always have around when needed. She always had that little A-510 with her, tucked away in a pocket

After those two trips, I bought myself a Canon 'PowerShot A-520' (cause it operates just like the wife's camera and I could help her w/ hers when she needed it) which I now carry in a small hip holster on my belt whenever I'm out shootn' arrows or fishing or anywhere else I might want a photo.

Don't get me wrong, the 'PowerShot S2 IS' is a great camera with lots of features (useful ones too) and I'm really glad I bought it. However, for my use, it has become more of an 'Event' camera vs a tag-a-long, camera.

My A-520 hangs on my belt in that holster and I don't even notice it's there. It's handy when I want it, it takes nice photos up to 4x optical, and video too with sound when needed, but...it dosen't have that nice 12x optical zoom the bigger Canon has.

If I'm going out just for photos, I take both the S2-IS and the A-520.

That's life. Always decisions to make :-)

JL · February 09, 2006, 03:23:00 PM

Good point Jim. I have 2 Sony's F-707 & F-717, both wear external flashes for bounce lighting. I also have a Canon S-50 compact. I have the Canon with me more often then the Sony's so it gets more use except for shots around the house.

JL

shaft slinger · February 10, 2006, 09:58:00 AM

i just bought a nikon cool pix 5400, don,t know a lot about camera's so i was wondering what you thank about it, good or bad????? about $400.00

Lonewolf Jim · February 11, 2006, 11:19:00 AM

These two links provide some good digital camera reviews.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/default.htm

http://www.megapixel.net/html/cover.php

stickbowguy · February 12, 2006, 10:45:00 AM

I just got the Nikon D50 DSLR, only 6.1 mp but with interchangable lens and full auto or manual control it is perfect for me. But it is also over the 500 range, I paid 599.00 for the camera and a nikon 28-80 lens. I love it!

stickbowhntr · February 12, 2006, 01:26:00 PM

so which of these cameras have litle or ZERO shutter lag time- I STILL LOVE my film cameras because of that!

stickbowguy · February 12, 2006, 04:25:00 PM

My D50 has none. If you love your film cameras then you would love the DSLR, just not something you can stick in your pocket though. But worth every pennie spent.

stickbowhntr · February 12, 2006, 04:55:00 PM

I have a canon a-1 and even older minolta srt-101...one has 35-105 and a 80-200mm lens the other 100-300 so they too are not stick in your pocket ... I take pics of hunting stuf and try to of daughter in sports action stuff what I have now won't cut it...I'll check out the D50

jcsnapshot · February 13, 2006, 10:03:00 PM

Shaft slinger, the coolpix 5400 is a great camera. For everyday use you've got a gem.
Stickbowhntr, shutter lag is a problem with most point and shoot digicams. With nikon releasing the D200, and you looking into the D50, you might also want to check out the used market for a D70, D70s, or D100.