[pic] what camera has such capabilities?

[jemm810]

hello dcresource!

i have been taking pictures for a while, and i think it is time for me to step it up a notch :)

i would like to be able to take photos like these:
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/8716/park22cc.jpg
http://mgassner.com/photos/oldtown/cobra.jpg
http://xs40.xs.to/pics/05312/swingingbridge.JPG

im thinking of some kind of DSLR? i doubt many p&s cameras have those kinds of capabilities (if there are, please give me suggestions). my question, how is the learning curve on these kinds of cameras?

im thinking of a canon digital rebelX, but im not sure if i want to drop that much down for a camera.

anyways, back to searching and reading.

much thanks

jem.

[tim11]

Go to Panasonic Forum and check out some members photos in there taken with the Panasonic DMC-FZs series cameras, and be your own judge if they meet such capabilites. I have a FZ20.... not a perfect but it is the best value for money camera.

[Clyde]

hello dcresource!


i would like to be able to take photos like these:
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/8716/park22cc.jpg
http://mgassner.com/photos/oldtown/cobra.jpg
http://xs40.xs.to/pics/05312/swingingbridge.JPG

im thinking of some kind of DSLR? i doubt many p&s cameras have those kinds of capabilities (if there are, please give me suggestions). my question, how is the learning curve on these kinds of cameras?

im thinking of a canon digital rebelX, but im not sure if i want to drop that much down for a camera.

much thanks

jem.

Both the night harbor and the bridge were shot with a canon g6 (http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_g6-review/index.shtml). The car lacks EXIF, so I can't tell what it was shot with, but the canon g6 is a fine camera. It is true that you would get more versatility using a DSLR, but the g6 is under $500 (http://resellerratings.shopping.com/xPC-Canon_PowerShot_G6~S-P~OR-0) these days. Getting a decent lens and a rebel xt runs in the range of $1000. Then you start wanting more and better lenses, and it doesn't stop.

Let us know what you decide on, and more importantly, why you chose it...

Good Luck,

Clyde

[sjseto]

For the first two photos (city harbour at night, car under street lights at night), any camera that is able to achieve long exposures will allow you to take those kinds of shots. Some will do the job better that others, of course. A DSLR will give you the best picture quality and less noise than more compact models.

But even a compact P&S that has a night or long exposure mode will do the job, as long as you have a tripod. My Fuji F10 has such a mode and I can select shutter speeds from 3 to 15 seconds. Some compacts, like Canon's PowerShot S series and Casio's Exilim Z750, go even further and have a shutter priority mode, like a DSLR.

And then of course there are the larger, so-called prosumer cameras such as the G6, or the Panasonic model that tim11 mentioned, or Canon's PowerShot S2 IS. In addition to a shutter priority mode, they will usually have more advanced features such as an ultra-zoom lens, image stabilization, hot shoe, etc. They are less expensive than DSLR's. But they lack larger sensor of a DSLR (thus, picture quality is not quite as good) and you don't have the advantage of interchangeable lenses (which may or may not be important to you), but they will record movies (which DSLR's cannot).

As for the bridge shot, any camera is capbable of it, from compact point-and-shoot on up. But the G6 that took the picture produced particualrly nice results. Great colour, and if we could see the full sized image, I'm sure there would be a great level of detail and low noise that the G6 is known for. It is a fairly large camera, though, so ask yourself if the stellar image quality is worth carrying it around with you.

Just keep in mind what's most important to you, feel free to ask more questions, and by all means go to a store and handle a few cameras.

[tim11]

And then of course there are the larger, so-called prosumer cameras such as the G6, or the Panasonic model........, or Canon's PowerShot S2 IS. In addition to a shutter priority mode, they will usually have more advanced features such as an ultra-zoom lens, image stabilization, hot shoe, etc. They are less expensive than DSLR's. But they lack larger sensor of a DSLR (thus, picture quality is not quite as good) and you don't have the advantage of interchangeable lenses (which may or may not be important to you), but they will record movies (which DSLR's cannot).
Those cams don't just have Shutter priority mode but Aparture Priority mode, as well as Manual Mode (you have full control over A and S selection). At least, that's the case with the FZs.
And the FZ20 has manual focus and hotshoe and from the Panasonic forum I read many members fix optional non-panasonic lenses to it and the possibilites seem endless. Sounds like I'm biased to the FZs but they are the cameras I'm familiar with.
If you pictures are sceneries many cams mentioned in this thread should do the job even in low lighting. Just use a tripod and longer shutter.

[sjseto]

Those cams don't just have Shutter priority mode but Aparture Priority mode, as well as Manual Mode (you have full control over A and S selection). At least, that's the case with the FZs.
Yes I know, I only mentioned the shutter priority mode because it was the one that was most relevant to the pictures in question. But I'm glad you mentioned it :)