Which camera to buy?

[radek1mac]

I just found your website and found it very useful. I am the owner of Fuji FinePix 4200, my first digital camera. It helped me to understand and find interest in photography.
But I feel that my camera started limiting me. I am not proffesional photographer, just enthusiast. I love taking landscape pics and use micro/ macro mode. I am just about to go for a trip of my life, Egypt and would like to take great pics.
There is few indivations what i am looking for.
1)budget - $1500
2)size does not matter
3) standard optical zoom or greater is fine, no prefernece here
4)image quality very important - 8/9
5)I like playing with manual controls, not too many. Like to use manual focus and macro/micro
6)General use - taking outdoors pics, landscape, holidays, sunsets
7)no large prints
8)sometimes indoors and sometime low light conditions
9)no sport or minimal action shots
10) dont mind any brands
11)Features: would like: image stabilistion, hot shoe possibility, built in flash, scenes modes, night modes, flash options,
12) love taking panoramic photos, not really into changing lensens ( I am clumsy).

Found three: need to decide which one, are there any differences between them?
Olympus C8080 Wide Zoom
Minolta Dimage A2000
Fuji FinePix 9500

Hope that make any sense
Looking forward to your response

[jamesrgeib]

Based on what you've said, I would have you consider the Nikon D50 or D70 and/or Rebel XT. Either of these cameras will provide the BEST image quality for your money since your budget is $1500. You can simply leave the kit lens on the camera and leave the camera in Auto if you wish. Your pictures will be great! You can also add a decent flash in the future to make your indoor shots even better. Just a thought. If my budget were $1500, those are the three I'd consider. If you ever decided you wanted to delve deeper into photography these cameras would also be a great platform to build on.

James

[tclune]

James' advice seems sound to me. But also consider the fixed-lens Sony DSC-R1. Here's a preview worth reading: http://www.dpreview.com/articles/sonydscr1/

Don't worry that it's "only" $1000. You can easily spend the rest on a decent tripod, camera bag, external flash, adequate memory, filters...

[pl9012]

Too bad the R1 isn't coming with image stabilization or movie mode. Yes, it has a (relatively) gigantic sensor (read: WAY less noise in higher ISO), but only 5X optical zoom? I think a 'lesser' camera for now would be appropriate and save up for a better 'big sensor' camera to come to market after the R1...

My two cents.

[Risky Business]

Well that's odd - the post directly above this one was posted by me and it showed up as pl9012. Go figure.

[nanoblitz]

Why not follow-up on your interest in the Olympus C-8080. It is a great digital camera and it would have a much easier learing curve than the D-70/50, Canon XT suggestions. I got mine for $440. That could give you a substantial savings.

Nano