How do I know which camera is right for me?

I'm young, (18) and don't have a lot of money. I love photography as an art form and also as a way to capture memories. So I need a camera that gives me a lot of manual options. I want to be able to choose my ISO setting, My focus, and also my f-stop. But I also want to be able to put it on automatic, so that I won't have to worry about setting it. I need it to be pretty compact and less than $500. I need help finding a camera right for me???

Did I mention I needed it to be small???

Find one that fits. Hold it, mess with the controls, wind the camera without taking from your eyes. Are the controls convenient for you? are they far enough away that you won't push the wrong one by accident?

Your best bet is to go to a store and take a look at a couple. A quick search at Ritz camera shows a pretty nice camera for about $300. (http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/541537...

Once you find one that fits your hands, look on eBay or B&H (http://www.bhvideo.com I think) and find out what accessories you can find for it. I purchase ALL of my lenses from eBay - but I have an older camera that I have been using since 1986 - and have NEVER been burned.

Most good specialty photo shops will rent equipment to you for a day or two, to give you a chance to test it out. I don't know where you are but around here (Milwaukee, WI) Crivelo's will rent and in Chicago there is one called Helix that will rent. Do that - if you don't like what you are holding, don't get it.

Purchasing a camera is a personal thing. My father has one that I can barely stand to use - a little to small for me - but then he can't stand mine either.

If you need more info, email me and I will do what I can for you.

Go to a camera store and test out all the cameras. Check out what each camera offers you! Buy the one that fits your needs!

I have a cannon

The $500 mark is very attainable in a great camera. Ask your camera store for assistance. I recommend the Nikon D-50. It is an awesome camera. It has the same technology as the cameras costing over a grand. Canon also has some great cameras for under 500 bucks. The D-50 will come with a great lens at that 500 buck price. If you want to get more for your money, check out Ebay. Just be careful and check out the feedback rating. Don't buy from anyone with less than a 99.5 positive feedback rating. Good luck with your quest.

Check out some photography mags and they should direct you to the best camera for your need. Different cameras are made for different types of photography, such as portraits vs. landscape. This is definitely something you need to research. We just did ours through mags and websites. Fuji has an excellent choice selection of cameras and is pretty good at telling you which ones are the best for what you're wanting to do. Also, try this website:

http://www.dpreview.com/

It gives a lot of good camera reviews from the best experts out there, and that's one good website my husband got his off of. We have a Fuijifilm s9000 and here's his website if you wanna see what kind of pics he takes with it.

http://www.rickyalanjones.com/

Good Luck!

Well it seems that most folks here are on the right track but no on asked what kind of camera do u want a DSLR or SLR? DSLR go for the nikon D50 u can get it for under $500 a SLR try the Pentax K1000 if u can find it. Also maybe try taking a basic photography course also. good luck

You really need an SLR is you are going to be serious about using those manual controls. Some of the point-and-shoot cameras have manual controls (at least for f-stop and shutter speed) but many require you to access those functions through menus and that will really slow you down.

Check out a Nikon D40 or D50 or a Canon XT. I'm not sure if they will fall in your price range but should be close. Now that Nikon has released the D80 there should be some used D50s hitting the market.

If you wanted to go with a film camera you can pick up any number of great SLRs on places like ebay. Good film camera kits (with lenses, flash, etc) sell for a fraction of their original cost. I've been digital for several years now but am considering buying a better used film camea because they are so cheap.

NikonD40,D50 and canon 300D it's all inexpensive good cameras.Otherwise you can go for digital olympus,or cameras which has a built in lens and not an SLR will be cheaper and options are like in an SLR. Fuji602,Fuji7000etc.are examples.But you will get such type cameras from other manufacturers.