Digital camera suggestions

[osupride97]

I know we've had these posts before, but I think it was that old board that doesn't exist. Anyways,

can you recommend a great, reasonable priced digital camera? I'm not quite sure what I'm willing to spend yet, but probably not over $500.

I've had two Canon's and I love them, but they seem to break pretty easily.

Thanks!

[OSUFan]

I know we've had these posts before, but I think it was that old board that doesn't exist. Anyways,

can you recommend a great, reasonable priced digital camera? I'm not quite sure what I'm willing to spend yet, but probably not over $500.

I've had two Canon's and I love them, but they seem to break pretty easily.

Thanks!

I have a Canon Rebel XT with a 55mm lens and a 75-300mm telephoto lens. It has auto focus and it is easy to use. I got my telephoto lens at a camera store in Wichita. I think I bought my camera from WalMart. Oh, it was around $500, maybe less.

[okstatepike]

What are you looking for? A point and shoot or an SLR?

[osupride97]

Would prefer compact, point and shoot. However, my daughter is going into photography, so it would need to be something she could use in class as well. She is a beginner, so it doesn't need to be elaborate.

[okstatepike]

Hmm. I'll give you my reccomendations for each, because depending what you daughter wants to do a P&S could be enough or not. I'll though I will say this, in photography the camera matter alot less than most people think. You can make great pictures with anything.

For point and shoot cameras (the small compact type) I love the Canon Digital Elphs. I have one and so does my sister and neither of us have had any issues. The manual controls are easy to access which is not the case on most of these cameras - this is good for your daughter as she is learning. On this page they are the second group of cameras: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113

If it's an SLR I would reccomend a Nikon D40 or D40x. I have the D40 and I love it. SLRs are more expensive and definitely not very compact or portable if you are looking for a camera to take snapshots and whatnot. However, this is the best tool to learn photography as they give you the most control. Don't get caught up in thinking you have to drop thousands on a good one, anything 6 mega-pixels or higher is fine. The quality of these cameras from good manufacturers are very, very high.
D40: http://nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-SLR/25420/D40.html
D40x:http://nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-SLR/25424/D40x.html

[osupride97]

Thank you Pike. That's very good information.

And you're right about the camera doesn't mean everything. She has some fantastic photos she took w/ my grandma's Polaroid. She's an awesome photographer already at 15. She has a fantastic "eye" for seeing things and capturing it in a photo. I'm amazed at her talent.

[OrangePhish]

I second okstatepike's suggestion for a Nikon D40 if one is wanting an intro SLR camera. I also agree with his comment about being able to take great pictures with any camera. The person behind the camera is the one responsible for the quality of the picture...not the camera. I have taken thousands upon thousands of photos over the years and so often people say to me "Wow! Those are awesome! You must have a really nice camera!" :(

I don't tell a great cook that they must have great pans nor do I tell an incredible carpenter that they must have a great hammer....

Anyway..I will get off my soapbox :) The Nikon D40 is a very good camera :)

[okstatepike]

Really that is what it takes. I have read and tried to learn everything I can and I am very average. Having talent and an eye for it is huge. Don't get me wrong, I am a gadget guy and I LOVE to mess about with photog gear, but that stuff is not always what makes better pictures.