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03/13/2007 03:24:23 PM · #1 |
| I'm looking to buy a new camera...I own right now a Panasonic DMC-FZ7 (6mp and 12xoptical zoom) and I'm looking to upgrade. My price range is about $450 max, but I'm looking more in the 350-400 dollar range. I have looked around a bit and so far I've found the Canon Cybershot DSC-H7..which hasn't been release yet I think, and has 8mp and 15zoom. Pretty much I want over 6mp, and something with a lot of zoom, or something with interchangeable lenses in which I could add on more zoom. I like taking pictures of wildlife mainly and it seems as though I can never really be close enough, so the more zoom the better. Any suggestions will be much appreciated..thanks!! |
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03/13/2007 04:59:21 PM · #2 |
Originally posted by polar1012:
I'm looking to buy a new camera...I own right now a Panasonic DMC-FZ7 (6mp and 12xoptical zoom) and I'm looking to upgrade. My price range is about $450 max, but I'm looking more in the 350-400 dollar range. I have looked around a bit and so far I've found the Canon Cybershot DSC-H7..which hasn't been release yet I think, and has 8mp and 15zoom. Pretty much I want over 6mp, and something with a lot of zoom, or something with interchangeable lenses in which I could add on more zoom. I like taking pictures of wildlife mainly and it seems as though I can never really be close enough, so the more zoom the better. Any suggestions will be much appreciated..thanks!! |
1. i think you meant the Sony Cybershot DSC-H7 ?
2. you want interchangable lenses means you have just narrowed your choice to the dSLR cameras.
3. all the zoom you want is governed by the lens you pick.
4. at your budget, try looking at entry-level dSLR bodies like the Canon 400D, Nikon D80, etc... |
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03/13/2007 05:09:57 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by crayon:
4. at your budget, try looking at entry-level dSLR bodies like the Canon 400D, Nikon D80, etc... |
his budget won't touch those. If you are thinking dslr you can find some nice older models such as a canon 10d for a good price. |
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03/13/2007 05:11:44 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by Elvis_L:
his budget won't touch those. If you are thinking dslr you can find some nice older models such as a canon 10d for a good price. |
I was about to say the same thing. Try looking at the Nikon D40 or Canon 350D (Rebel XT).
Message edited by author 2007-03-13 21:12:12. |
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03/13/2007 05:18:23 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by skylercall:
Originally posted by Elvis_L:
his budget won't touch those. If you are thinking dslr you can find some nice older models such as a canon 10d for a good price. |
I was about to say the same thing. Try looking at the Nikon D40 or Canon 350D (Rebel XT). |
both of those still run over $500 new. A quick search of ebay I saw a few canon 300d that were in the $300 range with no lens which would leave you enough for a lens. This is still a good camera despite its age. I can't vouch for those sellers btw.
I can't really recommend a point and shoot though if that is what you would prefer, sorry.
Message edited by author 2007-03-13 21:20:35. |
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03/13/2007 05:33:25 PM · #6 |
| Oo sorry about the typo ..yes i meant the Sony. As far as buying an SLR i had just assumed they were too expensive...i just want something that can zoom far enough to get decent shots of wildlife..birds and whatnot. the 12xzoom i have now is pretty good but most of the time i really wish i had more. Lets say i bought an SLR...how much would it cost to buy a lense..and would it have the magnification i'm looking for? (over 12xzoom) sorry for all the questions i'm new to all of this and don't know all the details obviously. thanks again |
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03/13/2007 05:56:29 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by polar1012:
Oo sorry about the typo ..yes i meant the Sony. As far as buying an SLR i had just assumed they were too expensive...i just want something that can zoom far enough to get decent shots of wildlife..birds and whatnot. the 12xzoom i have now is pretty good but most of the time i really wish i had more. Lets say i bought an SLR...how much would it cost to buy a lense..and would it have the magnification i'm looking for? (over 12xzoom) sorry for all the questions i'm new to all of this and don't know all the details obviously. thanks again |
dont get too worried about the technicals and the specs. i find that these come rather naturally afterwards :)
if you're nit-picky about image details and all those mumbo-jumbo, you'd be better off with a dSLR and a long telephoto lens (those that give you your 14x zoom or more, in familiar terms), but then they'd seriously be out of your $400 budget range, lens alone.
have you considered keeping your Panasonic, and add-on a high quality teleconverter? Olympus have this rather popular one called TCON-17 which is 55mm threaded on the connecting end. Most people have but praises for the lens sharpness and quality. You can get it for around $50 used. In your familiar terms, having the TCON-17 on your Panasonic would give you the max telephoto of 12x X 1.7 = 20.4x zoom. |
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03/13/2007 06:11:41 PM · #8 |
| I agree with crayon. You can get into a dslr with a budget zoom lens in your range, but if that is all you will buy (or at least for the foreseeable future) get a nice point and shoot. you will get more out of it. The dslr will grow with you if you want. |
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03/13/2007 06:30:47 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by polar1012:
Oo sorry about the typo ..yes i meant the Sony. As far as buying an SLR i had just assumed they were too expensive...i just want something that can zoom far enough to get decent shots of wildlife..birds and whatnot. the 12xzoom i have now is pretty good but most of the time i really wish i had more. Lets say i bought an SLR...how much would it cost to buy a lense..and would it have the magnification i'm looking for? (over 12xzoom) sorry for all the questions i'm new to all of this and don't know all the details obviously. thanks again |
Like crayon said, a lens that will have a focal length of 450mm+ is going to be WAY out of your price range and that doesn't even cover the cost of the camera body, memory cards, etc. A good choice, again like crayon said, is to just stick with the Panasonic. I had the older version of that one (FZ4) and loved it, but upgraded to a dSLR because I finally had the cash to do so. If you really feel that the FZ7 is lacking for you then maybe consider the FZ50. It is the top of the line Panasonic point and shoot right now and comes with a hot shoe for flash work. I'm fairly sure that Panasonic has 2x teleconverters for their cameras as well.
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03/13/2007 07:13:22 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by crayon:
have you considered keeping your Panasonic, and add-on a high quality teleconverter? Olympus have this rather popular one called TCON-17 which is 55mm threaded on the connecting end. Most people have but praises for the lens sharpness and quality. You can get it for around $50 used. In your familiar terms, having the TCON-17 on your Panasonic would give you the max telephoto of 12x X 1.7 = 20.4x zoom. |
I used to use this lens on my old oly and loved it, my camera only offered 3x at the time, so being able to go to 6 was very helpful. The only thing I did not like is that I could go 1-3x zoom regularly but as soon as I put on the TCON-17 you only had 6x...nothing else (well unless you wanted the dark edges). It also was large front that allowed very low f-stops and aperature to be used hand held.
good luck on your hunt.
Message edited by author 2007-03-13 23:13:53. |
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03/14/2007 05:01:33 PM · #11 |
| thanks everyone for the advice...i hadn't even really thought about an add on for the camera i already had, i'll def. look into this. |
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04/26/2007 07:01:11 PM · #12 |
I'm coming into this post very late, but I thought I'd add my 2cents.
I had an FZ5 for a long time, and bought a very successful wide-angle zoom, which gave me down to about 18mm equiv without vignetting, and right out to 100 degrees semi fish-eye view with some vignetting. It was a lot of fun. Certainly, yes, there are 2x and even 3x converters to extend the long end of the zoom range too, and with the bayonet fitting over the front of the lens, adding and removing the converter was VERY easy and very convenient. If you can, try it out before you buy it to make sure the AF still works OK with less light coming in.
I now have an SLR, but that is for image quality reasons. If you just want more zoom on the P&S, I'd certainly recommend trying out a good teleconverter. They are much cheaper, and the quality is fine for amateur 4x6 prints. And they are a LOT of fun, and can't be beat for convenience.
Now, to give my SLR that kind of zoom range is never going to be as convenient, weigh a ton, and is going to cost me a bucketload. :)
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