I’m not looking to make a career of it, but I love the art of photography. I’m a very big fan of black and white photos and sepia. I like visiting baseball stadiums and soaking in culture at world landmarks. I love taking pictures of nature but I also like capturing the moment with my friends and family. I know nothing about SLR cameras, but I want something advanced and high quality and I’m willing to spend in the range of $500, give or take. Does anybody have any suggestions for good cameras?
I am in a similar position, and I opted for a super-zoom camera, the Panasonic DMC-FZ50. Not a true SLR, but three conversion lenses and filters are available.
It features a 12X optical zoom Leica lense system coupled to the 10 Megapixel electronics. I think it was the first super-zoom to have a 10 megapixel CCD. Its image stabalization is excellent, an essential requirement in my view. At 12X it’s that or a tripod.
The 35mm equivalent of the optical system is 35-420.
I steered away from the more compact cameras. I like a bit of heft, individual buttons or dials for more than just basic settings, and an easy layout so i can keep my eye on the viewfinder while changing settings.
The camera has great features. Many super-zoom cameras do. They cover a lot of SLR territory that would require several lenses, all in one package at a much lower cost. I think they deserve consideration.
I like outdoor photography the most. I found that I also needed a compact, waterproof camera. Its fun to take a picture just as you paddle down the wrong side of the river, and handy to have a decent pocket camera you can stuff anywhere. I choose the Pentax Optio WP, the water-resistant rating provides for operation up to 10 feet underwater, It has been improved in newer models and I don’t think anything less is viable.
Good luck and happy snapping.