What would you suggest?

[BigDog]

A couple years ago, I bought an Olympus 4000. It supposedly had a great zoom on it. Besides scouting and hunting, I am always getting chances to take pics when I am up working on the property. I thought the 10x zoom would let me take some good wildlife pictures. NOT! I still have to get really close for them to come out good.

Since then, I see that digital cameras with lens similar to 35mm camera lens are now coming into my price range. And, seeing as the honey said she wanted to buy me a camera for my birthday that I could use for wildlife, I am in the search.

What would you recommend?

 

[huntmuch]

I just bought the Canon 20d and it is mindblowing!!

 

[foulshot]

BigDog, personally I'm a Canon user. I have the 300D, which is now well within P&S dollar range thanks to the release of the 350D. About 3 months after I bought it I wish I would have bought the 20D. Not for the Mp count, although that is nice, but for other features you can't get on the 300/350Ds. I am not unhappy with the 300D(Rebel) but I just want more than the camera can do. Currently I'm saving up for a 20D body and I'll keep my 300D.

Other choices are Nikon D70, Fujifilms finepix S2 Pro, Konical Minolta 7D, Olympus Evolt e-300, Pentax *ist D to name a few. All of which are aprx $1500 or cheaper. Here is a list from B&H Camera.

No matter what you choose, you are going to want some good glass. For wild life I would say you want a 300mm on the long end. There are many manufacturers for glass and prices vary. From What I have noticed, the price is a pretty good reflection of the quality. I would just do lots of reading and see what camera fits your needs the best. Any other questions, just ask here and we'll try to help as much as possible.

 

[foulshot]

Originally posted by huntmuch@May 7 2005, 08:19 PM
I just bought the Canon 20d and it is mindblowing!!

Congrats on the 20D. I'm wishing I would have plunked down the extra money and bought that body, so now I just have to save up and have 2 bodies!

What lenses do you have?

 

[BigDog]

Ok, time for an amateur question. Foulshot, in your response, you use the term "camera body" several times. When I went to the 300D description page they use 6.3 Megapixal, SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body). Whats with this term? For the uninformed it could seem that you buy a body and put the parts in. I am sure that isn't what it means but, .....what does it mean?

 

[quailsroost]

Bigdog Olympus say's the 4000 has "10X total zoom {3X optical + 3.3X digital}" and that may be the reason your disappointed in the cameras zoom ability. The 3x optical is the only zoom you really have, the 3.3x digital is almost not visible. If you had a real 10X optical zoom you would be floored at the difference. I bought the Nikon D-70 kit for a couple of reasons, it came with two very good lens, and I already had other lens an accessories that were compatible. You won't go wrong with either the Canon or Nikon kits and when I go banging around the desert I carry my Fuji S602 zoom.

 

[copilot]

When buying a slr digital, a lot of times the price you see is only for the body of the camera. The lenses are extra as in options.

I my self have the Nikon D70 For my studio and wedding pics. I have a 24-120, 18-70,80-300,and a 120-400mm lens so far. These lenses add up quick.

All of my digital stuff was purchased in a package deal trough Cameta Camera off E bay. They are Nikon and Cannon factory dealers. This means they cannot sell grey market and will not.

 

[clutchkiller]

Don't feel bad about not knowing what they mean, when they say "camera body" BigDog. It would be nice if someone could explain some of the terms and have the thread pinned

 

[foulshot]

As a couple of the other guys have said, the camera body is just the housing. SLRs(both digital & film) have interchangeable lenses. When I refer to the body, its the housing where you would put the film or memory card. It has all the controls for settings, etc.

Here is an example..

Here is a good spot for some reviews of lenses and bodies. Fred Miranda Reviews.
or Steves Digicams Reviews.


CK, just post up the terms and we'll see if we can explain them.

 

[foulshot]

Originally posted by copilot@May 8 2005, 06:52 AM
I have a 24-120, 18-70,80-300,and a 120-400mm lens so far. These lenses add up quick.

Isn't that the truth! So far I have a 18-55mm(came with the camera), 75-300mm, 50mm, 105mm Macro, & 100-400mm. My backpack is getting very heavy! I have plans for a higher quality wide angle in the future.

 

[BigDog]

OK, good to know that when they advertise camera body, that it is probably without a lens. Would make a big difference.