Cameras...

[joejubee]

What are the best digital cameras everyone out there is using? Aside from the Nikon D1's and the other professional body/lens style...
I'm looking at getting one in the range of 400-600 and am wondering if there's a standard, "That one's the best" amongst the hordes of cameras out there...
I am very interested in the macro functions of the camera, because, -face it, the macro shots are sooo cool.
Thanks for everyone's input..
PS- has there been a poll about cameras? If not, there should, but I don't know enough about digital still cameras to post.
If anyone wants to know about video cameras, editing, etc, I'm the man, but when it comes to still... I'm the boy...
Thanks!
Joe
double-ya, double-ya, double-ya dot joeFREELANCE dot com

 

[thomas712]

You'll have to wait for Ryebread our resident photo expert, in the past he has recommended the Cannon G3 as a good digi camera in the price range that you stated. I have checked many times on this G3 and read many reviews about it.
But this question is like asking which is the best skimmer, many answers.
Thomas

 

[sammystingray]

Here's a shot I took with a G3 via ryebread....toadstool leather polyps....good camera and I like it a lot. Rye is the guy to ask questions. No detail on the polyps is visible with the

[hr]
eye really, and that's why good macros are soo cool.

 

[the claw]

OUTSTANDING PHOTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[hairtrigger]

Holy crap sammy. That rocks. Absolutly amazing. G3 huh? Mind if I ask you how much that runs? I still have yet to get the digi camera I was supposed to for Christmas.

 

[acez28]

i seen em for $799

 

[thomas712]

Canon G3 $449.00 to $699.00. Price has come down over the last 6 months. All depends on where you look. Then I believe there is an overseas model and then the Domestic model, or something like that. One uses a different lens sometimes which drives the price down but reduces the quality of the camera.
Thomas

 

[slothy]

Originally posted by Thomas712
Canon G3 $449.00 to $699.00. Price has come down over the last 6 months. All depends on where you look. Then I believe there is an overseas model and then the Domestic model, or something like that. One uses a different lens sometimes which drives the price down but reduces the quality of the camera.
Thomas

grey market, usally means no warranty in the usa.. hence it being cheaper

 

[lemonshark]

Joejubee,
With the Canon G3 you won’t be able to go macro. It just doesn’t have the macro dial. Sammystingray got a great shot with the G3, but it isn’t macro.
The G3 only comes with C1, C2 user control, M (Manual), Portrait, Av (Aperture Priority), Landscape, Tv (Shutter Speed Priority), Night Scene, P (Program), Stich Assist and Movie.
Now lets see;
You need a camera with the price range of 400 – 600 and want to shoot macro. Ok!
Try Minolta Dimage 7i for $699 price range. It will allow you to get really close and personal with your subject. It has a 4X Electronic Magnification, that will let you use your view finder image to enlarge by 4X using a button.
http://www.dimage.minolta.com/d7i/img/p05_magnifi.jpg
http://img.dpreview.com/gallery/mino...17-1553-39.jpg
If you want more information go here:
http://www.dimage.minolta.com/d7i/index.html
Note: Do research before you buy.
For a complete review by dpreview go here:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/minoltadimage7i/

 

[goldrush]

I have to disagree with the last post.I have a G3 and it sure does shoot macro. You should be able to get a deal on the G3 as well,now that the G5 is out. The only difference I see is the G3 is 4 megapixel/silver case,and the G5 is 5 megapixel/black case. Good luck.

 

[lemonshark]

Do you see any Macro Dial Here?

 

[lemonshark]

Canon G3... Cons:
Some chromatic aberrations at or around maximum aperture
Noise at ISO 100 worse than the competition
'Shallow angle jaggies' visible on resolution chart, although not yet seen in 'every day' shots
Viewfinder partially obstructed by lens barrel
Control dial doesn't work well if rotated too quickly
Average macro performance
No nine-point AiAF as seen in the PowerShot S45
Zoom controller does not have enough steps / multiple zoom speed
Status panel is not backlit
Manual mode limits in relation to combinations of aperture and
shutter speed (although better than the G2 and most other
prosumer digital cameras)

 

[joejubee]

The gauntlet has been drawn....
Has there ever been a poll about digital cameras? I assume there was one when the Photography section was 1st created...
How about someone create one? Maybe Ryebread or one of the other photo gurus?
I think that would help us when we're looking at getting a camera and we can see what everyone else uses... (maybe even with photo samples...)
Who knows....
Later!
Joe

 

[ryebread]

LemonShark- The G3 does have Macro on it........the switch just isn't at the top of the camera. See that little flower symbol just above the LCD screen?
Have you ever shot with the G3? I have. It has great macro.

Also for what it is worth......I run a camera store and I have stopped carrying the Dimage 7i because 80% of them get returned within a week......average users do not like this camera and neither do I.

 

[ryebread]

 

[ryebread]

Originally posted by joejubee
How about someone create one? Maybe Ryebread or one of the other photo gurus?
Joe
Joe.....I don't want to put together a poll for several reasons.
#1 would be that I sell cameras at work and in my small store I carry over 60 different digital camera models.......there are hundreds more.......many of which can do an excellent job.
#2 There are dedicated websites that update daily just to keep up with all of the reviews, samples, and new products.
#3 Everyone likes what they have.......you usually won't find people who say " My $800 digital camera stinks!!" They are usually happy with it and want everyone else to have one........very biased opinions.
Check out www.dpreview.com for camera polls and info. It is by far the most informative and non-biased site out there.

 

[joejubee]

Point-Taken.
Thanks for the info.
Joe

 

[lemonshark]

I know it has a little tiny wienie flower on the screen panel and a macro little button.
It is up to you if you want to consider that as macro. I don’t own a Minolta and I’m not against Canon since I own one my self. But, it sure is not a G3.
I give up! Good Luck!

 

[ryebread]

I am not trying to get into an argument so don't take it the wrong way. The little wienie flower buttons are what digital cameras have for the macro mode.......almost always. Thats all.

 

[joejubee]

Hey Ryebread,
Do you have any experience with the new Gateway Digicams? Who makes them originally? I know they often use say Cannon cameras with Gateway logos on them...
Thanks,
Joe