Looking to buy a Good Camera for taking pics of buildings

[rapideye95]

Hi Everyone...Right now I currently have two digital cameras...One is a Kodak 2.0 Megapixel with 2x opt/3x dig. zoom...and a Sony Cybershot 3.2 megapixel with no opt. zoom...I want a good camera solely for taking great pictures of buildings from far away and still have it clear

I had my eye on the Nikon D70 or D70S but that is a huge investment for me ($1499 and the S version is $1599 CAD)
They are going to come out with a cheaper D50 version but I am unsure when it will be coming out. There is a good Minolta one 6 megapixel, 12x optical zoom and fast shutter speed...$499.99 CAD

I just basically want to know what's the best BANG for the BUCK right now

So if possible can anyone help me out here?

Thank YOU.

[Skybean]

You are lucky that prices have really dropped within the past few months.
If I were to invest in a digicam now, I would go for the Panasonic Lumixes.. especially with the good Leica lense and image stabilization system integrated into them now. They also have good optical zoom. If you need any more persuasion.. Lucky24 uses a Lumix .




I use Canon which is not bad either.

Our MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer Helps Eliminate Blurry Pictures
Jitter from shaky hands is one of the main reasons why cameras produce blurry images. We don't expect everyone to have hands of stone when taking pictures--that's why Lumix® cameras help solve the problem of unsteady hands with advanced MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer technology. The DMC-LZ1 has a built-in gyrosensor that detects any hand movement and relays a signal to a tiny microcomputer inside the camera, which instantly calculates the compensation needed. A linear motor then shifts the Optical Image Stabilizer lens as necessary to guide incoming light from the image straight to the CCD. You won't even notice it working--all you'll see are the outstanding results!

[Are Be]

Well... to truly take good pictures of buildings, you need a 'tilt shift' lens, = mega bucks.

Having said that, stick with a camera from a camera company, not a stereo company. Stick with Nikon, Cannon, etc.

If you have a film SLR, you may wish to wait a year, and get a digital SLR so that you can use the same lens, etc.

[Tony]

It's unfair to discard "non-camera companies" as being no good.

The Companies I would go with are:

Nikon, Canon, Panasonic

Ones I would avoid are:

Fuji, Kodak, Sony

Ones I'm unsure of:

Pentax, Konica-Minolta. I have no experience with these digitals.

As Skybean says, certainly isn't anything wrong with Lucky's Panansonic Lumix FZ20:

[doady]

Olympus is a camera company too and their camera's are pretty good. I suggest the c7070WZ if you are not looking for a super-zoom camera.

[Lucky 24]

For a non-DSLR I would definitely recommend you looking at the Panasonic Lumix line of cameras. Either the FZ5 or FZ20 will do a fine job as the others have mentioned. But hey, if you have the money to dive into DSLR, i would do it in a heartbeat...the difference in quality in the photos are tenfold (especially night photography).

Check out www.dpreview.com for in-depth reviews on digital cams.

[KGB]

"Ones I'm unsure of: Pentax, Konica-Minolta. I have no experience with these digitals."


Minolta has always been one of the best cameras in the world....I remember getting my MAXXUM-7000 in the mid 80's...they were kicking Nikon and Cannon's asses. And my replacement (a Dimage 7i) won't need replacing any time soon....very comprehensive hunk of photography equipment. Unless of course I find myself needing an SLR...but I doubt it.





KGB

[rapideye95]

yeah I was definitely thinking of getting a minolta camera...The Man at Japan Camera told me That Minolta and Nikon are the best...followed by Canon and Panasonic...but he told me to stay away from Sony especially the Cybershot line, for they are crap.

KGB...I am definitely feelin the Minolta Cameras...I like how they are designed. I think I want to get a Minolta DiMage Z3 although the Z5 just came out. It has an anti-shake mechanism in it..which is something i want. I want to be careful with what to buy...because i defintely want a lot of optical zoom like 10x or 12x, but, I want to stay away from the value cameras. So basically...i need a mid-range camera with a lot of optical zoom...the resolution for me comes second

[Filip]

I have a Z5 Konica Minolta, it kicks ass.
I recommend that one, although it is a bit "pricey"

[Are Be]

The longer you wait, the better and cheaper the cameras will be.

I'm happy with my Canon Élan II film camera, and have spent enough money on lenses (and accessories, some of which are compatible with Digital SLR's) that it is worth it to me to spend more to get a digital SLR, so that my lenses, accessories, camera bag, etc., don't go to waste. I'm holding out for 'cheaper and better' - I see myself spending $999- $750 for an above - entry -level digital SLR body only. ($1,000? That's crazy!)

DO NOT BUY YOUR CAMERA AT A "BOX" STORE OR STEREO STORE! Those sales clerks are SALESMEN! They can sell anything, and simply memorized the manufacture's promotional material, and try to up-sell. BUY YOUr CAMERA AT CAMERA STORE! The salespeople there actually care about cameras, have an interest in cameras, and can give you honest advice.

[rapideye95]

thanks Are Be...I never go to those "radio shacks" and "future shops" anyways...I usually go to blacks or japan camera to get my advice...the people there get so excited when talking about cameras sometimes it could be comical.. .

[doady]

I suggest henry's because they have the best selection and the best return policy.

[Tony]

^ concur, rapideye, since you're in 'ssauga you should really check out Henry's. These guys & gals generally know their stuff. There's a location in Brampton too, that's where I got my FZ20

[rapideye95]

hmm where is the closest henry's location...i am in clarkson????

[rapideye95]

oh BTW do they have a henry's at shoppers world?????

[KGB]

I think people should do a lot of home-work when shopping for a camera...I would make the effort to just go to the best stores for prices, service, selection, and most importantly...knowledge.

This basically means going to the main Henry's, at Queen & Church, and Vistek (my personal choice), at 496 Queen E ( a few blocks east of Henry's).

A camera purchase should be a lot like a watch or knife purchase....spend a little more and buy something of quality that will last you a long time and give you good results.






KGB

[Byron]

I did my research and ended up getting a Minolta F200 a couple of years ago. Any of my friends camera's don't even compare. It's a pocketsized camera, but it has all the customization options of most DSLR cameras (of course the photographic quality is lower, but good enough for a student like me). So I also recommend a Konica-Minolta.

What I did was I found a camera I liked and was impressed with, then I looked for a place that sold it. It turned out that the only place that sold it in Canada was Costco, so I wouldn't discount "big box" altogether, however, don't go looking for advice at those stores, as the salespeople usually know jack-shit.


Check out http://www.dpreview.com/ before you buy as well. They have reviews with samples as well as user reviews.

[doady]

I don't think there is a Henry's at Shopper's World. There is Blacks and Japan Camera there. I know there is Henry's at northeast corner of Hurontario and Eglinton so you should check it out. Remember these stores let you try out the camera so be sure to do just that and do alot of research as KGB said before you make your decision.

[Boris550]

I just got one of these. It's nice that it's so small yet has a fine picture and a really long battery life. I popped a 512 MB card in there too so I can take tons of pics...



My little brother has a Minolta camera. Still pretty good, but not as much as my Nikon.

EDIT: When I say it's small, this is a camera that I can wrap my hand around and touch my ring finger to my thumb. It also has a pretty clear LCD screen on the back. It's too bad you're not looking for resolution though. Not enough zoom for you I guess...

[rapideye95]

^ That's a great camera but i am looking for more features...thanks anyhow