Another stupid "help me buy a camera" thread

[Rikko]

Hi all,

I read back the past 6 months in this forum and found that the people looking for advice on new cameras already know a rather horrible amount more than I do about photography.

Maybe someone can roll up a mini-crash course and purchase guide in one for me.

I definitely want to be able to take nice closeups of my tank, but multipurpose is also essential for me. Yeah, I know, I've just described more or less every camera at this point.

The price range I'm looking at is around 800USD - additional gear can always come later, but I'd like the basic camera to stay around that mark.
I'm currently using a Kodak Easyshare 3.1mpxl and would gladly smash it against a wall if only it belonged to me. Auto focus must be an oxymoron. I'd like interchangeable lenses though it seems that all of the cameras that have them are SLR cameras. My impression is that SLR doesn't really have much to do with lens swapping, but the "best" cameras provide both. I assume I can achieve manual focus with a proper lens rather than the onboard garbage in my Kodak. True? As pretty as the coralline 5" in front of my watchman goby is, it's not what I'm trying to photograph.

I also wondered about threading for lenses - are they all proprietary now? My dad has an ancient Pentax that I recall using when I took photo in high school - there are also several lenses up there that I'd love to be able to use. If the threading is different, is it possible to get an adapter? I imagine that would screw up the lens distance and make shots impossible to take.. Or not? Or is that only the case if it's not an SLR?

Easy as it is to look up camera specs in my price range, I'm too neophyte to really understand what all of it means.

Any tips from the pros?
Thanks!

 

[Len]

The price range I'm looking at is around 800USD - additional gear can always come later, but I'd like the basic camera to stay around that mark.
I'm currently using a Kodak Easyshare 3.1mpxl and would gladly smash it against a wall if only it belonged to me. Auto focus must be an oxymoron. I'd like interchangeable lenses though it seems that all of the cameras that have them are SLR cameras. My impression is that SLR doesn't really have much to do with lens swapping, but the "best" cameras provide both. I assume I can achieve manual focus with a proper lens rather than the onboard garbage in my Kodak. True? As pretty as the coralline 5" in front of my watchman goby is, it's not what I'm trying to photograph.

Yep, true on all points. SLR doesn't have to do with interchangable lens, but nearly all SLRs I know come with this feature. SLR will function better/faster then any consumer camera and would definitely be the way to go if finances allow. The Canon 300D is very close to your target price, and the Nikon D70 isn't far off either. Both would be a BIG step up from your Kodak in terms of functions and image quality. All SLR AF lens can be operated in manual focusing mode (usually an analog dial, much better then digital manual focus).

I also wondered about threading for lenses - are they all proprietary now? My dad has an ancient Pentax that I recall using when I took photo in high school - there are also several lenses up there that I'd love to be able to use. If the threading is different, is it possible to get an adapter? I imagine that would screw up the lens distance and make shots impossible to take.. Or not? Or is that only the case if it's not an SLR?

Yes, lenses are proprietary. A Canon will only accept lenses designed for the Canon mount, and Nikon will only take Nikon F mount. Same with Pentax, Minolta, Contax, etc. There are some lens manufacturers that produce lens for other companies. For example, Sigma makes lens for both Canon and Nikon. But a Sigma lens made for Canon will only work on a Canon, and same thing for Sigma lens for Nikon cameras. Adapaters aren't possible because i's not just about the physical mount. The lens are "smart" and need to talk to the camera in a certain way to function properly. Also, the focal plane needs to be precisely distanced from lens to sensor Unfortunately, once you pick a lens system, you pretty much stick with that system. Fortunately, all these systems are terrific nowadays .

 

[SnowManSnow]

Take a look at the FujiFilm line... not very expensive.. and we love ours!

B

 

[Ben1]

With out me having to read you whole post as I am too lazy whe I was shopping for a new digital www.dpreview.com really really helped me alot.

HTH

 

[Rikko]

Awesome, Len. That tells me about everything I wanted to know - and now I can sniff around a little on the site Ben mentioned.

And Ben, your honesty is admitting laziness is touching. I'm usually too lazy to even do that.