Buying A Camera. First Timer.

[hybodo]

Hey guys,

So my birthday is coming up and I haven't had any ideas. I finally came up with one and I'd like a camera. I want a low-end professional type camera. I need it to take HD video, and be able to change lenses, and manually focus the camera. I was really hoping for the $500 range, and I know that's ridiculously low for the camera I want, but if you guys could recommend anything that would be great. HD video is important. I don't want a camcorder though, I want a camera that takes pictures too.

So whatever you guys can come up with, just post! Thanks!

[RicheemxX]

I don't believe you are going to find a DSLR that shoots HD video in the $500 range. I believe the cheapest you could go would be the Nikon D3100 and that runs anywhere from $600-650

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Nikon+-+...&skuId=1222817

I should add, almost all HD camcorders these day also take pictures, but again to get a decent one you are going to be spending more than $500.

What may want to look at in your price range is what they call the 'bridge' cameras. They don't offer interchangeable lenses but they are full body cameras with better zoom and typical better image quality over a compact point and shoot.

Something like one of these

Sony DSC-HX1 Cyber-shot Digital Camera (Black) - DSCHX1 - RitzCamera.com

or

Nikon Coolpix P100 Digital Camera - 26212 - RitzCamera.com

[hybodo]

Thanks bud, I think if I were to choose one I'd go with the non DLSR Nikon you linked. Seems quite good. Thanks.

[Richard Cranium]

I understand you're asking for a SLR type camera.

As an old shutter-bug from the 70's, I find lugging around a bag of lenses and associated hardware cumbersome.

Humor me if you will as I've "Been there, done that"

In my former job, I sold lots of different items, some were computers and digital cameras..

The very best, for the money I've found is the Lumix Line with the Glass German Leica lens from Panasonic.. I stumbled across the "professional repair" section and discovered the DMC-FZ series have a mechanical gyroscope to stabilize the lens, some others use a digital method which is not as smooth and creates problems sometimes with the pic.

I sold a couple dozen of these when they first came out, Every customer was thrilled, not one has quit yet,, (crossed fingers)

Here's the latest rendition of the series:

and it does HD movies.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
14.1 MP
24x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom , Max. 202x combined with Extra Optical Zoom
25mm wide-angle
Motion Picture Recording HD Movie 1280x720 pixels, 30fps (Motion JPEG) lower quality settings available.
SD/SDHC memory cards [now up to, 32gb ?]
Shutter Speed Still: 60 - 1/2000 sec, Starry Sky Mode : 15, 30, 60sec. Movie Mode : 1/30 - 1/20,000 sec (1/8 - 1/20,000 sec on MF operation
Aperture Range: F/2.8-5.2 [f/2.8 is a Big Opening] F5.2 - 11 (T) in movie recording
Focal Length f=4.5-108mm (25-600mm in 35mm equiv.
Macro AF / MF / Intelligent AUTO: Wide 1 cm - infinity / Tele 100cm - infinity
AF/MF Switchable, Manual Focus
Minimum focal length: 4.5 millimeters
ISO 100-6400 !
Flash Max range 5-9m pretty strong for a digital
Burst Mode: 5 - 10 frames/sec , I use this to get shots you'd usually miss, say smile and they don't know the camera is still shooting. Catch great smiles that way..
Continuous recordable time 110-210 min
File Format Still Image: JPEG(DCF/Exif2.3, Motion picture: AVCHD Lite, QuickTime Motion JPEG
Interface AV Output (NTSC), mini HDMI, USB2.0 High speed
HDMI output Video: Auto / 1080i / 720p / 480p, Audio: Stereo



DMC-FZ40K - Lumix Digital Cameras - Shop and Compare at Panasonic


It's $300 at Amazon shipped free and the same at Newegg, I did not check s&h though.
Amazon.com: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 24x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Black): Camera & Photo

I have a couple of SLR "Silver Halide" film cameras and a bunch of Lenses, getting a Digital SLR body for them would be cheap for me, however I'm tired of the continuous changing of filters, lenses, cleaning, worrying about dust getting in my camera body, etc..

Hope this helps somehow, and I hope to discourage the purchase of the SLR body, save the $200 and put it towards a mono-pod, mini-tripod and good tripod and any extras the Lumix lens will accept.

Best of Luck
Doc