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camera Anonymous
i have about 700, to spend on a camera, could anyone suggest a camera for me to look at? digital prefered
>> megsuma !!bAmMQ5BZknG
I'm a fan of Canon's PowerShot line. In particular, I just had a PowerShot S2 IS and it was probably one of the best I've used as far as lower-priced, feature-filled cams go. NB this camera does not provide EXIF or RAW data so fails, but other than that I've really enjoyed the PowerShot line (started with an A80)
>> Anonymous
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IMHO, the ultimate camera costs exactly $700. It's the Canon PowerShot G7. Why is it perfect?

1.) It's a Canon.
Canon makes the best image sensors on the market, with the most accurate color and the highest fidelity. It's also strong brand (good warranty, tech support...).
2.) Manual mode.
Like a pro dSLR, the G7 can operate in manual mode, giving you full control to use professional techniques and get the right result. Plus other hot shit like 2fps continuous shooting, +/-3EV bracketing, and 1cm macro mode.

3.) You'll actually use it.
Why? Because it's not a dSLR. Meaning it doesn't a.) weigh a ton; b.) need its own HUGE fancy bag whenever you want to take it anywhere; c.) require a set of expensive lenses.

4.) The lens.
Unlike other point-and-shoot size cameras, the lens isn't tiny, which means SLR-like-clarity. It's bigger! Bigger lens=clearer picture. This one happens to zoom from 35-210mm, a 6x range!
And if you really want to spend more money on lenses, you can. Adapters are available to make the lens wider or narrower.

6.) It's BLACK.
>> Macheath
PowerShot S3 IS if you don't want to do SLR. But if you have more than a feeling that you want to seriously pursue photography as a hobby and won't mind spending more money in the future, get a Canon or Nikon SLR.
>> Anonymous
>>36536
>>36541

Yes, the S3IS. The only thing the G7 has on the S3IS is RAW.

The S3IS is a better SLR replacement despite that, since it zooms up to 12x. It's a much more flexible camera, and the biggest benefit to having an SLR is lens flexibility.
>> Anonymous
get a used digital rebel with a used 17-85mm usmf is lens
>> kieran
"Yes, the S3IS. The only thing the G7 has on the S3IS is RAW"

Unfortunately the G7 has no RAW it is one of things they took out in the upgrade from the G6 which is stupid in my opinion I have found the G6 to have a better feature set despite being older anyway.
>> Anonymous
Interesting. I'm choosing between the G7 and S3.

G7:
-More compact
-Hotshoe
-Metal tripod thread

S3:
-Cheaper
-Better zoom range (12x)
-Swivel LCD

Are there any noticable differences in image quality? Any reason I should get one over the other.
>> Anonymous
G7 is overprices.
>> Anonymous
12x > 6x. True. But when was the last time you really needed a 400mm lens? Unless you're into birdwatching, sure, take your tripod and your huge fake dSLR with you all the time.

Or, if you prefer a camera you will use, get the one that fits in your pocket.
>> Anonymous
stick with dslr. DSLR's let you customize exactly what you want, how you want it. If you want to get serious, i'd say stay with dslr.

the fact that you have switchable lenses is good enough. A point and shoot is adequate if you just want to take pictures that come out nice, but if you want exact control, dslr or SLR is the way to go.

so lenses are expensive, but you can always upgrade the camera by changing the lens, instead of buying a new camera (never mind the price of the lens, its something that comes with the territory).

DSLR: good for having exact control, wider functionality with more precise control over composition and profession technique.

con: heavy lenses (get a tripod or a monopod)
expensive lenses (get a pentax b/c old pentax lenses work on the new dslr's)

if you're spending that much money, DSLR ftw
>> Anonymous
G7 has full manual control! And adaptable lenses! **G7 FTW***
>> Anonymous
You sir are a tit the S3 has manual mode and can also accept a tele or wide angle converter just like the G7 but the lenses are no means interchangeable on either. The G7 has numerous other advantages though
>> Anonymous
Those of you arguing that any P&S camera like the S3 or the G7 is as good as an SLR really haven't used an SLR. The interchangeable lenses are just the beginning.

Let's take a hypothetical situation: I am a creepy guy and a hot chick has just bent over to pick something up giving me a really clear view down her shirt.

Here's what happens with the non-SLR:
1. I hit the power button and wait for it to start up. The girl straightens back up and I miss the shot.
2. Say she didn't straighten up. I aim the camera and hit the shutter button. There's some shutter lag. The girl straightens back up and I miss the shot before the shutter actually fires.
3. Say she *still* didn't straighten up. The crappy low-light performance means that, shooting handheld, the shot is blurry and dark and worthless.

Now, let's try it again with a dSLR:
1. I hit the shutter button. The camera turns on immediately and the shutter fires so quickly after I hit the button that I can't really feel any lag at all from "Off" to "Picture is taken". Thanks to the fact that the average dSLR at ISO400 is clearer than the average P&S at ISO50, and the fact that I was able to stick an f/1.8 lens on the thing, the shot is clear and bright and ZOMFGBOOBIES.

This is why I upgraded from my PowerShot A95 to a Digital Rebel XTi. I still have the A95 on me at all times for those situations when the SLR's too big and bulky, or when I need to take a short video, but for most of my useful photography, the SLR 0wns.
>> Anonymous
If you do decide against an SLR, though, get the S3IS. Long zoom range + swivel LCD = much more likely to be able to take pictures of hot chicks without them seeing you. I often wish I had a long telephoto for my dSLR and I could use a swivel LCD as a viewfinder for that reason.
>> Anonymous
>>36813
Comparing an SLR to anything less than a top-end point and shoot is just brutal. Comparing an S3IS or G7 is reasonable, because in many respects, they are comparable.

No one is arguing that, independent of a few factors, a point-and-shoot is better than an SLR. Those factors being cost and portability. The fellow has seven hundred dollars. Buying an SLR and lenses would far exceed that: the Digital Rebel starts at $899. Lenses are more. For him to buy an SLR for shooting he has time to set up and a point-and-shoot for general carry would be absurd.

As far as your specific points-

1. I carry an S3IS, and generally don't miss a shot unless I'm being lazy. There is some lag, but one works with it. It's not a major impediment.

2. "the average dSLR at ISO400 is clearer than the average P&S at ISO50"

THE AVERAGE. What is being suggested to him is the best point-and-shoot cameras being made. There is a disparity, but it's not significant. The lack of RAW is the only real problem for picture quality in point-and-shoot cameras.
>> Anonymous
>>36824
The rebel XTi *lists* for $899. I got mine, with the kit lens, for under $800. The Nikon D40 and the older Rebel XT are around $500, as I recall, which puts them in his price range.

After checking up on some reviews of the G7, I see your point re: sensor noise. That's pretty awesome for a point & shoot, although 800 and 1600 still look like ass (they're grainy on my SLR, too, but not *that* bad). I'll still take an SLR for complete lack of lag and the ability to swap lenses, though. Gotta love f/1.8 for low-light shots, and the f/1.8 50mm is only about $75.
>> Anonymous
1. buy the fuji f30
2. use the rest of your money on books and workshops
3. ???
4. profit!
>> Anonymous
>>36839
>2. use the rest of your money on whores and cocaine. Post pictures of coked-out whores to /b/
Fix'd
>> Anonymous
>>36536
>>36532
>>36580
>>36720
Signed... the G7 is a great little camera; I left the SLR road a long time ago to the high-end point & shoots and this camera is great. A starting f/2.8 on a p&s ZOOM is amazing.
>>36629
It's not $700... you can get it for under $500 off amazon... a real good price imho.
>> Macheath
>>36824

I spent about $720 and got:

-RebelXT body
-Tamron 28-80 f/3.5-5.6
-Tamron 75-300 f/4-5.6
-Camera bag
-58mm UV, Polarizer, FLD; 62mm UV
-1gb SD card

The prices of those probably have dropped too, so it's not impossible to get a basic SLR setup for around $700.