Gene wrote:
On Sat, 26 Mar 2011 09:37:19 -0400,
wrote:

John H wrote:
...anyone know of a better deal than this for $729?

http://tinyurl.com/4zhdw35


Does she want to mess around with a DSLR? That Nikon is a great outfit
and the price seems pretty good, but perhaps she'd want a simpler way to
take great photos, like the Canon Powershot g12:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-G12-Digi.../dp/B0041RSPRS

I think I'd go the same way.... I'd prefer the Nikon's (still lugging
around my 42 year old Nikon FTNs around, on occasion)....

but if she doesn't want a bunch of levers, dials, and buttons getting
in the way of her memories... the Canon might be a better fit....






Most of the "consumer" grade kit DSLRs have full auto modes that make
them only slightly more complicated to use than a point and shoot
camera. The Nikons do and so does my "consumer" grade Canon. The mode
works pretty well in decent lighting conditions.

The kits typically include "slow" zoom lenses, but with their built-in
vibration/image compensation and a little practice, you can handhold
at some surprisingly low shutter speeds.

Canon has a fairly inexpensive 55-250 mm f/4.0-5.6 lens with image
stabilization that gets terrific reviews despite its low price point.
That's the one I got with my camera. It does take nice photos and it is
relatively light and small. I got a fixed aperture f/2.8 17-50 zoom for
a walkaround lens. Nikon has similar offerings; the two brands are very
competitive.

I am looking for a good wide angle lens. The Tokina 11-16MM F/2.8 ATX is
very nice and will deliver a 17.6 mm - 25.6 mm eqivalent on my crop
camera. But I'm going to wait for the problems in Japan to settle down;
the mess there has caused a temporary price spike and some shortages in
optics coming in from that part of the world.