Can someone tell me what digital camera would be best?
I am trying to decide between these 3 cameras. D40, D80, D100. I want a digital camera that takes the best looking photos, action photos of sports or animals in motion would be great if thats possible. I would also like it to have a nice zoom. I want to be able to blow up a photo poster size if it turns out nice. Any suggestions would be great since I dont really know what all the specs mean yet.
All three will do what you want .. the D40 may be the best choice because it has all the features you will need to get started yet leave you enough money left over so you can add an additional lens sooner. The D40 with a AF-S 18-55 mm ED lens is just under $470. For shooting sports and animals you can either buy the AF-S 70-300 VR lens or just get the D40 with a 18-200 mm VR.
You will want to go into a camera store and look at those combinations to see which you like the best.
By shooting in RAW + JPEG basic you will have the best of both worlds … you can edit your images down to the best of the best and then use the matching RAW file to produce high quality JPEG or TIFF files to be made into posters.
If you want to make sure the camera will do what you want, take a SD memory card with you into the store and shoot a couple of images in RAW + JPEG with both the D40 and D80 … take the card home and then make a high quality JPEG from each camera and then take them to your lab and see which one will make the best poster. The lab canl help you decide.
get a sony cybershot work great!!
References :
The cameras you mentioned are all great cameras. I have a less expensive Canon Digital Rebel XT with an EF 70-300 IS USM Zoom and it takes great photos. The lens cost as much as the camera did.
References :
panasonic lumix are pretty good.
they have loadsa settings which include one for sports.
also face detection for clearer pictures of people
References :
All three will do what you want .. the D40 may be the best choice because it has all the features you will need to get started yet leave you enough money left over so you can add an additional lens sooner. The D40 with a AF-S 18-55 mm ED lens is just under $470. For shooting sports and animals you can either buy the AF-S 70-300 VR lens or just get the D40 with a 18-200 mm VR.
You will want to go into a camera store and look at those combinations to see which you like the best.
By shooting in RAW + JPEG basic you will have the best of both worlds … you can edit your images down to the best of the best and then use the matching RAW file to produce high quality JPEG or TIFF files to be made into posters.
If you want to make sure the camera will do what you want, take a SD memory card with you into the store and shoot a couple of images in RAW + JPEG with both the D40 and D80 … take the card home and then make a high quality JPEG from each camera and then take them to your lab and see which one will make the best poster. The lab canl help you decide.
References :
proFotog
Any of these cameras would be nice, but as far the types of photos you want to take, it is more about the lens than it is about the camera. Depending on the lighting conditions of where you want to take the action shots, for example, you may need a different lens than the one that comes with the camera. If the photos will be taken in the daytime, outside, you will probably be fine with any of the cameras you mentioned with the standard lens supplied with the camera body. I would go to a couple of camera shops (not department stores) and actually hold and try to take pictures with these cameras. From there you will see which camera feels good to you, and a reputable camera shop employee will not try to convince you to buy a more expensive camera than you need. Also, do not lean toward a more expensive model just to have the latest and the greatest. You will most likely never use the extra features. As I mentioned before, the lens and the photographer are more important than the model of the camera.
References :
Any Digital SLR is capable of taking the shots you mentioned if you have the right lens and know how to use it.
All DSLR’s will be able to make poster size prints.
In order to take action shots of sports or wildlife you need to the correct lenses. For indoor sports you need a lens in the 70-200 or 70-300mm range. There are a bunch of choices in this range and they will run in price from about $200-$1,500 or so. For low light you need to fastest lens you can get. Something like an F2.8 would be perfect but these lenses are very expensive.
For wildlife you need the longest fastest lens you can afford. Professionals will use 600mm lenses with teleconverters on them. These can cost well over $5,000 though. For most amateurs a 70-300mm lens is what is used.
I am assuming you do not have any experience with SLR cameras so I am going to recommend that you stick with the entry level cameras from Nikon and Canon. Check out the following cameras
Nikon D40 or D60
Canon Rebel XTi or XSi
These cameras will come with an 18-55mm lens. If you buy a 70-300 mm lens in addition to the kit lens you should be on your way.
References :
do a side by side comparison of them at dpreview.com. prob the best site out there for comparing cameras.
i personally prefer the canon series because of the soft focus issues with nikon.
References :