I think I have outgrown my point and shot digital

[Joel D. Popham]

Spinner,
I use the Nikon D80. It's probably more camera than I'll ever use, but it is a blast playing around and trying different features...The BEST digital images that I have ever seen. Good luck and Best Regards....

[spinner1]

Would the D80 make the flowers look more define and not so rounded?

[Ray]

I shoot with a Nikon SLR, but a Canon SLR is also a great choice

[Joel D. Popham]

Spinner,
I don't know what camera you have been using...the D80 is a 10 megapixel camera. It will let you "zoom" in close to things in the photo without the object becoming distorted when you are viewing images on your computer. In a "scenery" picture, the detail is better, again depending on how you view the image. It came with a nice macro-telephoto lens, that gives me the ability to do an awful lot of different types of photos without changing lenses. It has a nice macro feature for doing very close up shots, and everything from full automatic modes to full manual modes, it even has a feature that lets you do very rapid exposures by holding down the shutter release, etc...I hope that helps...

[joerogrz]

I have an N80 which I've been trying to sell for years and I can vouch that it is a very good camera and takes outstanding pictures. It is the film equivalent of the D80. The D80 is also a little on the pricey side, however Canon and Nikon both make less expensive DSLRs. Nikon makes the D40 and D40x in addition to the D60. The D40 has less megapixels than the x. If you want to see more here is a link to Newegg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...k=&srchInDesc=

Newegg and Tigerdirect both have pretty good prices on DSLRs. I buy computer parts from Newegg a lot and have never had a problem with them. Typically, if you go to a camera shop you'll pay more than what you would at these two stores.

[spinner1]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscw7/

to make the flowers more define?

Thanks in advance.

Could the limb on the left gotten the focus instead of the flowers?

In about a month these flowers will be back out again and i want to try your tips....and practice a little before they are here and will report back with results.

[hap]

The lens is where things really happen and the camera is very secondary. I have a tremendous amount invested in Canon bodies and especially Canon lenses. Many of my lenses cost more than several bodies. They work beautifully and are capable of taking any picture as well as it can be taken with a digital in its range.

That said, if I was doing it today I would go Nikon for the features in the camera, especially the built-in flash. Their lenses are very good. My friend Doug, an owner of Cameraland in NY, brings his Nikons North every summer when he fishs with me and makes them work magic. It is a little depressing!

http://www.cameralandny.com/

Call Doug and ask him questions about cameras and you will get everything you ask for and more for information. His brother Joel is said to be the better photographer, too, so don't be afraid to ask him questions. Tell him Art sent you if you want to get him laughing and ask about fishing!

On another note, stick to camera companies when buying cameras. Companies like SONY are bound to change stuff sooner and fail to support their products in the long run. I think Canon led the digital age, Nikon got right after it and has some great features... But Pentax and Olympus continue to run behind the pack a little. That, my very biased opinion.
art

[danbob]

I shoot with a Pentax k10d. You will most likely be blown away by your first pictures with a new DSLR, and there are not really any 'bad' ones out there. One amazing thing you'll have is RAW mode, where you make digital negatives, and then 'print' them to JPEGs with your computer. You can adjust exposure, color balance, etc. of your photos without losing any quality with RAW.

Pentax, Canon, Nikon, Sony, they are all nice DSLR cameras.....just keep in mind, the LENS is the most important part! Many 'bundled' DSLRs come with a 'kit' lens that's not all that great. Check the price difference between 'body only' and the 'kit' -- it's often only $80 with a zoom lens. You'll have more distortion and the cheap $80 lens will let in less light (higher minimum f-stop).

I would recommend instead, if you have to choose between a fancy camera and fancy glass, go for the glass. Buy the camera 'body only' and spend about as much on the main lens as you did on the camera. You won't regret it! Your local camera store or a good online dealer can help you decide. And the forums at many digital photography sites are great places to ask....and include lens reviews.

DANBOB

[J Castwell]

Dan, great advise and I agree all the way. I did a lot of work with a Miranda body, but a good German lens.

[Steve Molcsan]

If I may please..


Learn to use the correct settings on the camera you have.
If you have then something may be wrong with the camera.

For instance , I am sure even with my ten year old low pixel digital, 850K to be exact,I could make the last picture you posted look much more
defined and certainty great on screen..


I have fooled many with this old 850K Olympus more than once and it has a fixed 3x zoom lens..

Sometimes all the hype on these hi end cameras to us amateurs is just that...'' I have some framed photos with this old Olympus that look
as good as some, most film shots... Having a collection of several hundred
photos all keepers due to proper settings and setup, id- light ect...
is really wonderful.


My 1/2 cents based on many years enjoying working with cameras...
both hi quality film & now low end digitalis.

Steve

Shot with my Low end Olympus 850K it prints out real vibrant
and clear...