"Butch Davis" wrote in message
k.net...
Am finally determined to get a digital camera. Would like at least a 6 Mp
with 2+" LCD viewer and 4+ optical zoom.
Fifty years ago I used to make a few bucks free lance shooting for press
outlets. Did all my own darkroom work except for color. Used Speed
Graphic and an assorment of 35mm along with the odd 2 1/4 X 2 1/4 or 2 1/4
X 3 1/4.
Now, I have no interest in anything fancy. Easy is the goal but I'd still
like decent results. I'm talking about memory shots here not art.
So, looking for recommendations from you shooters on the group. What
camera, what source, and what software if any is needed for snapshots.
Any pointers on printing would also be appreciated.
Probably should have posted this on alt.binaries.pictures.sports.ocean but
maybe I can cross post. Anyway, I'll try to post there via the Cc:
feature.
Some thoughts:
It sounds like you are thinking of a point and shoot, and without a doubt,
very good results can be obtained from the better cameras in that class. I
haven't shopped the point and shoot market for quite a long time, so I don't
have any specific recommendations in that arena.
However, in reading your photography background, it's clear this ain't your
first trip to the rodeo. You're used to handling quality cameras...real
cameras. And, in my opinion, that is where the point and shoot solution
breaks down. They simply don't handle and shoot like the 35mm SLR that you
remember. If responsiveness and a comfortable ergonomic fit in your hands
is important, and it certainly is to me, then I would suggest you consider
any of the DSLR cameras from Nikon or Canon. In my own case, my primary
shooter is a Nikon DSLR, with an Olympus point and shoot as a backup for
when I just don't feel like carrying the DSLR with me or its presence would
be a distraction. Truth be told, the Oly almost never gets used.
Remarkable photos come out of it. but I hate shooting with it. It just
doesn't feel like a camera to me. That, combined with the ubiquitous
shutter delay present in point and shoots, and the camera controls buried
deep within menus, they just are not a satisfying piece of equipment to
handle. Your mileage may vary. As to which DSLR, there are no shortage of
fine choices of which to start with. I'm partial to Nikon, and have
recently upgraded from my trusty old D70 to a D200, but there are other
models in the line that will allow you to build a modest or not so modest
system with powerful external flash units and any number of quality lenses.
The same situation holds true to the Canon line, as well. There are other
players in this market as well, but they just don't have the same level of
choices and certainly have not achieved anywhere near the market penetration
of Nikon and Canon.
As far as software goes, again there are many choices, but there is one that
is clearly the king of the hill. First of all, you can just not even bother
installing any software that is included with the camera. It's all just
junk. The king of photo editing software is and always has been Adobe's
PhotoShop, but it's real expensive and requires a strong commitment to get
over the learning curve. However, PhotoShop Elements, now out in version
5.0, offers most of the important features in photo editing (especially in
the new version), is quite easy to learn (there's no shortage of how-to
books available if you want to get deep into the program), and can be had
for about $80. For me, digital post-editing is just as much of the process
of digital photography as the shooting. With simple and inexpensive tools
and a modest skill set, marginal photos can be salvaged into decent shots,
and good shoots can be tweaked into truly outstanding ones.
As for printing, I've been there, done it, and the sum total result of all
my print-at-home learning experience ultimately led to the conclusion to not
bother. Years ago I bought a wide-carriage Epson ink jet photo printer
which does produce pretty amazing results. But after dealing with special
papers, clogged cartridges, and just a general PIA situation, I believe I've
found the better answer. There is a professional color lab in my town that
allows me to simply upload the photos I wish to print, order size and
quantity, and then pick them up later in the day. I have to pre-crop the
photos so they will match the aspect ratio of the size print I've ordered,
but I'd have to do that if I printed them myself anyway. I've used the same
service from Costco, and they were decent, but not near the quality as the
pro color lab I use, and the color lab is just a few more cents per print
than Costco. There is no shortage of these services that are either locally
based or internet based. I'm pretty sure that Wal-Mart now has this
service. Point being, I've found it much easier and with better results
just to upload the photos to a lab for printing. I'm now shopping for a
color laser to replace that Epson ink jet, and I will not miss having inkjet
technology in the house.
Some links to help you shop for cameras:
http://www.dpreview.com/
http://www.dcresource.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/
http://www.steves-digicams.com/
A good internet retailer:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/