Camera for web Journalist

[monkeymartin]

Please help me find the right camera. I will use this camera to report on my home town. All photos will be used for a web page.

My budget is $400.00 to $800.00

I have some ideas but I would like to see what others suggest first.

[David Metsky]

Please fill out the questionnaire at the top of the forum. You haven't given us enough information to go on yet.

[monkeymartin]

I am looking for a camera that is best for a variety of situations.

My camera ideas
Supper Zoom:
Olympus SP-565UZ
Panasonic DMC-FZ18
Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

Compact:
Panasonic DMC-LX3
Canon PowerShot G10
Or maybe a cheaper compact to use as a second camera.

SLR:
Pentax K200D w/18-55mm II
Nikon D60 w/18-55mm DX VR

Budget
$400.00 - $800.00

Size
Durability is more important then size. Would like it to be easy to pack around

Features
Megapixel size is not that important. Most cameras have enough

10x optical zoom should be lots.

Image quality is not a deal beaker (average is fine rating 5)

Might get into manual controls later. For now I am showing up at an event and getting lots of photos very quickly

General Usage
I show up at events indoor and outdoor to take photos. Some sports lots of people. (my current camera dose a crapy job of indoor low light conditions and anything in motion)

Big prints are not important

Lots of low light party photos arena photos

I will be shooting sporting events with lots of mostion

Miscellaneous

No preference on brands.

I would really like image stabilization, durable, take double A batteries

Having video would be really great. I do quite a bit of video interviews. I have a cheap Flip Video camera that dose the job. Having this feature in my camera would be very handy

I could get a supper zoom for around $300.00 and pick up a compact camera to have on me all the time. Might be a good compromise.

[jekostas]

Despite the fact that you're leaning towards a superzoom camera, I would say that you're actually a candidate for an entry-level dSLR kit, something like a Canon XS with a two lens kit, or an Olympus E-420 with a two lens kit (both should be rather close to your budget). Both of these cameras are well-built, and are some of the smaller dSLRs around.
The K200d is a nice camera but adding a zoom would probably be well beyond your budget (if you can find a kit within your budget, go for it).

I say this because:
1. Compact (non-dSLR cameras) are poor for low-light and indoor shooting, and superzooms are generally much worse than normal zoom compacts as they tend to have smaller sensors.
2. While the little Flip video recorders aren't anything super special, I think you'll find that there aren't many compact cameras with significantly better video capabilities.

[monkeymartin]

Thanks for the information that really helps. I am really liking the Pentax K200D w/18-55mm II because it takes AA batteries and is very durable.

Can you help me understand lenses. How do I know if the lens can zoom? I am use to looking at supper zoom cameras that say 12X, 13X etc. Not sure about the SLR cameras

How much would it cost for the K200D with a zoom lens.

[jekostas]

I'm not sure how much the K200d with a zoom would cost these days, but it is more expensive, body-only than an E-420 or Canon XS.

For figuring out zoom lengths, dSLR lenses are rated in MM, literally how far the back element is from the sensor.

So, for example a Canon Rebel XS kit would probably come with an 18-55MM lens, and a 55-250MM lens. If 18MM is maximum wide angle field of view, and 250MM is the maximum telephoto FOV, you're looking at a zoom of 250/18 = ~14x zoom.
If you know anything about 35MM cameras, that would be equal to 32-400MM on an older film SLR.

For the Olympus camera kit, you'll generally get a 14-42MM lens, and a 40-150MM lens. This will equal ~11x zoom.
In terms of 35MM equivalent, that would be 28-300MM.

Between the two cameras, the Olympus is smaller, is better built, and has slightly better kit lenses, but the XS has a better sensor and is more easily expandable down the road.

In the end, you really do need to find a good camera shop in your area and pick up and test all of these cameras. I personally like the Olympus, but it's not everyone's liking as the grip is kind of difficult to get used to.

[monkeymartin]

Would buying a 400.00 Zoom camera plus a $200.00 point and shoot be a good option

Advantages:
Not all my eggs in one basket
Not as expensive to replace
Can grab the right device for each application
Always have the point and shoot (miss less shots)
Don't have to deal with lenses and cost of lenses

Disadvantage
Not as good image quality in low light
Not as good image quality as a SLR

**my current point and shoot is a Kodak EasyShare DX7440

[David Metsky]

Ignore the 12x, 15x for a sec. If you look on the "Reviews and Info" page you'll see the focal range for the cameras written in "35mm equivalent". This shows what the range of the zoom lens is, such as the Olympus SP565 which is 26m - 520mm. The bigger number divided by the smaller is how they get the 20x.

For a full frame DSLR that is what you'd have to buy, something that would be very expensive, heavy, and probably need to be covered by 2 or 3 lenses. This is why ultrazooms are popular, you get a huge focal range in a compact package. Of course, a DSLR will have better glass quality, more light gathering, and a much better sensor, plus no shutter lag and better high ISO performance. These are the tradeoffs.

Lenses are marked with their focal range. If it's a single number then there's no zoom; these are prime lenses. Zoom lenses will all show two numbers representing their wide angle and telephoto range. Those are the important numbers, not the 20x or 12x multipliers, since they don't show what actual focal lengths the camera covers.

You can spend anywhere from $100 to $10,000 on a zoom lens for your Pentax. What focal range do you want to cover, and how much do you want to spend.

[monkeymartin]

I am not sure about what focal length I need. I am getting into photography because I am a web journalist. My current point and shoot is very crappy indoors low light and motion are all problems.

The more I look into cameras the more I get confused.

I am looking at a SLR because it might give me more room to grow and learn. On the other hand a SLR might give me more problems and headaches then I need. A super Zoom camera with good auto settings might be a good option. Something like this Olympus SP-565UZ

[monkeymartin]

What do you think of this camera

Olympus SP-565UZ

[AndyfromVA]

The Olympus SP565UZ is an ultrazoom. Not a bad camera but for serious photography (professional or semi-professional), I would definitely go with a DSLR.

[monkeymartin]

Please just tell me what camera to buy. So I can make a decision and move on

[AndyfromVA]

You're the one who has to make the decision, right? At this point you know what all the options are - time to decide!

[monkeymartin]

But its so hard and I can't have everything.

You are right. Thanks for all the help

[raven15]

I think you would find the Panasonic cameras (or any of them really) on your list useful because the ability to take videos, which you said you need, should probably not be ignored. I would tend towards the ones with lower zoom, or wider angle lenses, because I am skeptical about the quality of the real long zoom.

Alternatively, the Pentax K200 is known for durability. I also recommend an Olympus E-520 with the large aperture 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 lens, which is known for durability, though it pushes your budget.

[rdump]

For getting into quick web journalism where you need to do a mix of low light indoor club shots and outdoor daylight long shots, I'd go with a light entry-level DSLR and a pair of lenses.

For the indoor shots, try a fast f/1.4 50mm prime, with flash or not, or at ISO 1600 or so, and crop it down and run noise-reduction as necessary for publication. There, the lens will be light and the camera will not get in the way of the event you're covering. For the long shots, something around a 70-200mm zoom should do the trick at a good price (especially 3rd party lenses). There, you can rely on the better (lower) noise floor at high ISOs afforded by a DSLR-sized sensor to get less motion blur even as the light fades, and you don't necessarily need the sharpest lens to get the shots you'll want for publication.

[speaklightly]

I would not touch the SP-565 at all! I own a SP-560 and it is a looser. To save some money, take a good look at the Panasonic FZ-28. It does very well in low light without flash. Here is an ISO 800 example from the FZ-28.

Sarah Joyce

[monkeymartin]

Thanks for the advice. I ordered a

Pentax K200D w/18-55mm II

I hope I did not make a mistake (it is a built like a tank heavy)

Any one know of a good book or place to start learning


Thanks
-Mike

[speaklightly]

Monkey-

No, I sincerely believe that you made a great decision. The Pentax K200 is a EXCELLENT camera. You will be delighted with the photo results.

Sarah Joyce

[swpars]

Thanks for the advice. I ordered a

Pentax K200D w/18-55mm II

I hope I did not make a mistake (it is a built like a tank heavy)

Any one know of a good book or place to start learning


Thanks
-Mike

Good choice.

Look up "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson on Amazon.com.

For low light conditions, I would look at a Pentax 50mm f1.4 if your shooting conditions demand it. An f1.4 lens coupled to a modern DSLR will find light better than the human eye, in low light conditions. Plus, the Pentax gives it image stabilization.

[monkeymartin]

Thanks speaklightly for the making me feel good about my decision. Lots of money to spend. Hope I can learn a lot and use this camera well.

Thanks swpars for the book suggestion. Dose this book cover the basics of photograph or only cover the one subject.

I am looking for a book that is a good starting point.

This is a great forum the most resposnes I have ever got on a post.

You guys rock.