Next month I will be getting a new camera. Not to replace my Canon point and shoot, but something that takes a great pic and has a good zoom.

I see (on Best Buy's sites) that they sell what they call advanced cameras and then SLR...

I really think I wan't something that's easy to learn, but could also work automatically if need by....

Suggestions (I suppose it should be less then $1k)??

 

camera for noobs

 

If you don't see yourself buying lenses and accessories, it's probably best to stick with one of the better "super-zoom" P&S cameras. On the other hand, if you're after image quality and don't mind hauling a bigger bag around, then an SLR is the way to go.

SLR wise, you can get a nice set for a $1000... Something along the lines of a Rebel XTi with 18-55 IS and a 55-250 IS lens. The new Rebel XSi will probably be around $1200 with the same lenses.

For a super-zoom P&S, check out the Canon S5IS and the Sony DSC-H9.

 

Thanks, the P&S Canon and Sony look pretty good....

 

I recommend the Canon S5. It's a very good camera.

 

S5 IS or Powershot G9. if you're eventually going to transition to a DSLR and woule like to learn shooting in RAW, the G9 is worth it.

 

Ditto. Bought it and love it. Smaller and less complicated than the SLR's. Great for someone who just want's decent pictures. The zoom is awesome too, that was one of my main factors.

 

Cool, Ill be getting it in the states in a few weeks....

 

www.stuff.tv Reviews:
Fujifilm Finepic S8000fd = 4/5
Panasonic DMC-FZ18 = 5/5
Canon Powershot S5IS = 3/5
Sony Cybershot DSC-H9 = 2/5

Any experiences?

 

Take a look at the reviews on amazon.com by the people who have actually bought and used the cameras you're thinking of buying.

 

My favorite is the Panasonic and a lot of customers prefer it too. Has the most natural holding shape, very ergonomic. Plus it has more zoom than the H9 and S5.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz18/

Conclusion if you're lazy
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pana...z18/page16.asp

hope that helps

 

damn 35mm equiv of 28mm to 504mm

 

Your favorite might be the Panasonic, but I had a chance to try them both in a day to day basis. A buddy of mine ordered his FZ-18 around a week after I received my S5 and while he gets a better zoom, his Lumix is by no means better than my Canon.
The S5IS has more features to play with in Manual mode allowing you to really customize and adjust everything to your liking. Heck, he even recognizes my Canon is better

 

I saw that too!! Unfortunately, the lowest score category in the conclusion was for image quality (7.5).

 

One thing, I didn't really read the review of the FZ18 but it seems the longer zoom lens has issues. The camera I have in my store is an FZ8.... (12x optical zoom)

I agree it is much better but for a newbie I'm not sure we'd all play around with those settings, thats just me. I still consider myself a noob too, been taking pictures with all sorts of cameras aside from 35mm film cameras and D/SLRs for only a year and a half or so now.

When I use Canons I hardly charge anything but that basic settings even though I know how but again thats just me. Another advantage I'd credit to the Panasonic is that it comes with a rechargeable battery included instead of 4 non-rechargeable AA's in the Canon, though you can always carry around rechargeable AA's.

It could just be the demos in our store but the S5 I demonstrated to customers and let them try themselves has some fuzzy images at higher zoom levels. A few of them then try the H9, and are impressed, then when I show them the FZ8 they were more impressed than they were with the Sony. There could have been issues with the S5 though, I changed all the settings to normal and auto and fiddled around but it was still fuzzy.

 

Same website, same reviewer.... S5 review always rates it at a 7.5 for image quality, and 7.5 for optics.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons5is/page20.asp

FZ8, same camera I was talking about, did better than the FZ18 and S5. Image quality is an 8.0 for image quality and optics on the FZ8

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz8/page17.asp

I think the best thing to do is go with an open mind and try them both out in person. Anything can look good on paper but you need to try it with your own eyes and hands to see if you like it.

 

If you just need a point and shoot, Dell has a deal on the Canon SD1000:

http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?...471&lid=566643

 

If you don't need a pocket camera, Get a superzoom.
Zoom is fun fun FUN.

And for a starter, I don't recommend an SLR, because you lose movie mode.
Movie mode is something your casual user needs a lot more than high end
image quality.

I wouldn't go TOO crazy about image quality ratings. Don't get garbage, but you need to learn HOW to take a good picture before other things make much difference. Your average person looks at pictures for oh, half a second MAX,
and will hardly notice if your picture isn't as sharp/colorful as it could be.

- Frank

 

Anyone here with the Panasonic know how well the movie mode is?

 

I don't know much about the Panasonic but the S5is was voted the best ''hybrid'' camera of the year, winning mostly because of it's video capacities as well. Here is a copy paste.


An example: http://youtube.com/watch?v=NkvBFWE7jhU&feature=related
Source: http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/con...ards-16260.htm

 

I'd also recommend the S5IS if you want just an advanced P&S. If you want DSLR, then check out a used XTI or maybe 20D. Great camera to start with and you can pick and choose your lenses.....