Whis is the best overall SRL digital camera, lens combo for picture clarity under $600? Sony, Nikon, Pentax?

Mark's Min

Which is the best value among these 4 SRL camera and lens combinations. I'm looking for a camera a lens combination which is clean, crisp and sharp. I will be using a tripod. I know that the lens are the most important thing but I'm torn between these 4 combinations and don't know which one to buy. My hunch is Nikon is best but I've heard good things and some gray things about all of them. Can you help me pick the right camera? I shoot people, animals and landscapes. I'm not a beginner but I've never owned a SRL.

These are the cameras I'm torn between for my budget.

1. Sony Alpha DSLRA300K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens

2. Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

3.Olympus Evolt E510 10MP Digital SLR Camera with CCD Shift Image Stabilization and 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 Zuiko Lenses

4. Pentax K200D 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens

Answer
Picture clarity using any of the listed cameras is totally up to the skill level of the user.

The Nikon AF-S (called USM on Canon's) 18-55 mm ED (called "L" on Canon lenses) VR is one of the sharpest standard zoom lenses made today ...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18-55mm-vr.htm

The drawback with Olympus is the small sensor ...

Don't be too concerned with the pixel counts:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm

This is one of the reasons many of us suggest buying the D40 with 18-55 mm lens (VR is not really necessary for lenses under 60 mm) and use the saved money to buy the 55-200 mm VR lens and expand your system

Sony, Olympus and Pentax are small systems, very few good used lenses are available for these cameras.

Best camera for video recording under $1,000?

Michael Ca

I make short films and also want to have some fun directing music videos with a professional look.

What is the best overall camera for this that I can buy for $1,000 or less?

As of right now, I'm looking at the Canon Rebel t4i, but is there something better than that I should be looking for?

Also my price of $1,000 is not completely unmovable, if there is a camera a little bit pricier, I might be willing to budge. Any suggestions?

Answer
HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras interpolate the video, which means of every 25 frames of video, 4 or 5 frames are taken by the lens assembly; the other frames in between these are filled in by the camcorder inner circuitry, thus giving you not true video. It looks like this -one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, from front to back of the video. Near impossible to edit, even when you have the Multi port processor computer with the big 1GB Graphics card and a Sound card that is required to edit, view, watch and work with the files these camcorders produce.

DSLR Cameras, all Makes, all Models, all have the same problem when video taping some long videos, all overheat at the 13 to 18 minute mark, depending on the Make and Model. This is unavoidable, it all has to with the fact, video is an afterthought in DSLR camera production.

Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras have 4 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording Consumer Level HD Camcorder and DSLR Cameras, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different times advertised as maximum record time for some Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders and DSLR Cameras or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

MiniDV is currently the most popular format for consumer digital camcorders. MiniDV camcorders are typically more affordable than their HDD and DVD counterparts. Each MiniDV tape will typically hold an hour of footage at normal recording speed and quality. MiniDV tapes are available for purchase at not only electronic and camera stores, but also at drugs stores and grocery stores, making them easy to find while your on vacation. There are literally hundreds of MiniDV camcorders available; both in standard and high-definition. And add the fact that to get a HD camcorder that could produce better video quality footage, one would have to spend in excess of $3500 for that camcorder that could produce higher quality video

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part1_camcorder_choices.htm

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part2_connect_camcorder.htm

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/consumer_camcorders/vixia_hv40#Overview

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Any opinons on the Nikon coolpix s710 14.5 mp digital camera?

AESA

Any thoughts or experiences with this camera would be appreciated :)
Just want to know if it is a good buy

Answer
I think this is the camera i'm going to get. It has a larger sensor than most point an shoot digital cameras, has 14 megapixels( even though that's kind of overkill), a wide angle lens, and has aperture and shutter speed priority along with letting you go fully manual. Most digital camera don't have aperture and shutter speed priority especially in the compact size the nikon comes in. It also has a very high iso ranging from 80 - 3200 and even 6400 and ISO 12800. I don't know if the pictures will be unusable at such a high iso but still I dont know any other point and shoot camera that can go that high. And it has the Nikons New expeed image processing. Overall I think it looks like a pretty nice camera.

Another camera i'm looking at though is the canon powershot SD990 Is.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=17627

Which company for a camera, Canon or Sony?

ViBoo

I'm thinking about a new camera, I have a Sony Cybershot right now. But people say Canon has better cameras. Which one is better, Canon or Sony? And do you guys recommend any models?
I'm looking for a Sony or Canon Digital Camera !

Answer
If you're looking at an SLR then Canon is an obvious choice with their lens variety, features and overall reliability.
If your looking at a compact camera then Canon has some really good cameras on the market, although i have never used a Sony Compact so I wouldn't know.
But a Canon 1000D, 400D or even 450D would be an exceptional choice if you're looking at an SLR. Even an entry level Nikon will do you good, like a D60 for instance. You can pick one of them up with a lens kit for around $800 (US) if you look hard enough.

Riely

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What are some things to look for when buying a digital camera?

best overall camera lens image

Dani

I bought my first digital camera over a year ago. I didnt know anything about them so I just picked one because it had a rechargeable battery and that appealed to me. ....I hate that camera with a passion. It either takes really dark pictures or the flash is so blinding that unless you're a mile way from the thing you want to take a picture of, all you get is a washed out -white picture. I dont want to make this mistake twice.

What are some things I need to look for in order to get a good, high quality digital camera?

Answer
Forget about the pixels. The number of mega pixels has no bearing on the quality of the final picture, unless there are so few pixels for the print size that the printer/computer has to make the pixels bigger to 'spread out' and cover the area. If the largest size print you think you would ever make is an 8x10, then there isn't a camera on the market today that has 'too few pixels'. More megapixels simply means you can do more cropping and still have maximum quality at larger sizes. Pixels don't create the quality, they simply maintain it at larger sizes. Having 20 buckets of paint doesn't tell you anything else about the paint in the buckets. It simply tells you the amount, not the quality.

It's more important to look at overall quality. There are three major components that determine overall quality of a digital camera's pictures.
A) Lens
B) Sensor
C) Processor

These three parts of a camera are the most critical in maintaining the quality of an image from the time the light strikes the front lens element until it is safely stored as on your memory card.

We can go in depth if you'd like, but the easiest thing to do is look at brands that have good reputations; Nikon, Canon & Sony. These three manufacturers have the best overall ratings. To make any more specific of a recommendation, I would need to know more about what you want your camera to do. Your best bet for advice is a local specialty camera store. The largest chain of specialty camera stores is Ritz/Wolf Camera. They guarantee the lowest price for 30 days & you can speak to an associate who knows about cameras and who will take the time to help you decide which camera has the features you need. And their Performance Guarantee program is the best in the business. Where else can you bring in a camera that's been ruined by water damage, multiple times of five years, and get free repairs & replacements? Additionally, sometimes the picture problems you're describing are caused by the camera being in the wrong setting or mode when you take a picture. Ritz/Wolf gives you a free 9-week training course when you buy a camera from them. That will allow you to use your camera to its full function, and maybe eliminate many camera problems and get the most out of your equipment.

Speaking face to face with an expert is your best bet, but if you'd like to tell me more about what you want your camera to do, I can recommend a camera to look at first.

What is the best Sony camera with the nightshot feature in your opinion?

Indigohipp

I wanna know of all the Sony Handycam Camcorders with the nightshot feature, which one is overall the best in your experience? Which one has the best focus/image quality/performance? Right now I have a DCR-SR45 and it has good nightvision, but it has autofocus problems and the image quality is a little grainy so I'm thinking about upgrading. I only use it in the dark so I just need to know how they perform with Nightshot on.

Answer
Currently, the HVR-A1. It is the pro-grade sibling to the consumer grade HDR-HC1 (which I have).

Low light and auto-focus do not get along because when the light is not sufficient (which is why you are using the infrared emitter), the auto focus cannot decide what to focus on. The HC1/A1 has a ring on the lens barrel that can be used as a manual focus ring so you do not need to rely on the auto-focus mechanism.

As well, that graininess is all about low light video capture. You may get a little less graininess from the A1/HC1 because it has a larger lens and imaging chip than the SR45. If you want to eliminate that graininess, then you need to move to lenses that are 70mm lens filter diameter or larger which places you in the $3,000+ camcorder range - and most of them do not have a built-in infrared emitter (hence, no NightShot mode), have an IR filter installed inside the camcorder and adding an external IR device won't get what you want in zero light.

Yes, I know - the A1/HC1 camcorders are a lot more expensive than the entry level SR45... but you asked for "best".

The HDR-HC9, HDR-CX500 series, HDR-XR500 series all have NightShot. You can confirm this at the Sony.com website in the Camcorder section. In the camcorder's specs, look in the "convenience features" for S-NS or something similar - this is "Super NightShot". I think the feature has been dropped from the "standard definition only" camcorders.

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What are some things to look for when buying a digital camera?

best overall camera lens image

Dani

I bought my first digital camera over a year ago. I didnt know anything about them so I just picked one because it had a rechargeable battery and that appealed to me. ....I hate that camera with a passion. It either takes really dark pictures or the flash is so blinding that unless you're a mile way from the thing you want to take a picture of, all you get is a washed out -white picture. I dont want to make this mistake twice.

What are some things I need to look for in order to get a good, high quality digital camera?

Answer
Forget about the pixels. The number of mega pixels has no bearing on the quality of the final picture, unless there are so few pixels for the print size that the printer/computer has to make the pixels bigger to 'spread out' and cover the area. If the largest size print you think you would ever make is an 8x10, then there isn't a camera on the market today that has 'too few pixels'. More megapixels simply means you can do more cropping and still have maximum quality at larger sizes. Pixels don't create the quality, they simply maintain it at larger sizes. Having 20 buckets of paint doesn't tell you anything else about the paint in the buckets. It simply tells you the amount, not the quality.

It's more important to look at overall quality. There are three major components that determine overall quality of a digital camera's pictures.
A) Lens
B) Sensor
C) Processor

These three parts of a camera are the most critical in maintaining the quality of an image from the time the light strikes the front lens element until it is safely stored as on your memory card.

We can go in depth if you'd like, but the easiest thing to do is look at brands that have good reputations; Nikon, Canon & Sony. These three manufacturers have the best overall ratings. To make any more specific of a recommendation, I would need to know more about what you want your camera to do. Your best bet for advice is a local specialty camera store. The largest chain of specialty camera stores is Ritz/Wolf Camera. They guarantee the lowest price for 30 days & you can speak to an associate who knows about cameras and who will take the time to help you decide which camera has the features you need. And their Performance Guarantee program is the best in the business. Where else can you bring in a camera that's been ruined by water damage, multiple times of five years, and get free repairs & replacements? Additionally, sometimes the picture problems you're describing are caused by the camera being in the wrong setting or mode when you take a picture. Ritz/Wolf gives you a free 9-week training course when you buy a camera from them. That will allow you to use your camera to its full function, and maybe eliminate many camera problems and get the most out of your equipment.

Speaking face to face with an expert is your best bet, but if you'd like to tell me more about what you want your camera to do, I can recommend a camera to look at first.

What is the best Sony camera with the nightshot feature in your opinion?

Indigohipp

I wanna know of all the Sony Handycam Camcorders with the nightshot feature, which one is overall the best in your experience? Which one has the best focus/image quality/performance? Right now I have a DCR-SR45 and it has good nightvision, but it has autofocus problems and the image quality is a little grainy so I'm thinking about upgrading. I only use it in the dark so I just need to know how they perform with Nightshot on.

Answer
Currently, the HVR-A1. It is the pro-grade sibling to the consumer grade HDR-HC1 (which I have).

Low light and auto-focus do not get along because when the light is not sufficient (which is why you are using the infrared emitter), the auto focus cannot decide what to focus on. The HC1/A1 has a ring on the lens barrel that can be used as a manual focus ring so you do not need to rely on the auto-focus mechanism.

As well, that graininess is all about low light video capture. You may get a little less graininess from the A1/HC1 because it has a larger lens and imaging chip than the SR45. If you want to eliminate that graininess, then you need to move to lenses that are 70mm lens filter diameter or larger which places you in the $3,000+ camcorder range - and most of them do not have a built-in infrared emitter (hence, no NightShot mode), have an IR filter installed inside the camcorder and adding an external IR device won't get what you want in zero light.

Yes, I know - the A1/HC1 camcorders are a lot more expensive than the entry level SR45... but you asked for "best".

The HDR-HC9, HDR-CX500 series, HDR-XR500 series all have NightShot. You can confirm this at the Sony.com website in the Camcorder section. In the camcorder's specs, look in the "convenience features" for S-NS or something similar - this is "Super NightShot". I think the feature has been dropped from the "standard definition only" camcorders.

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