What's the most affordable/best digital camera on the market? To take portraits/professional shots with?It all depends on what you mean by the "best." If you have no budget constraints at all, you can find excellent cameras out there from about $2,500 to over $30,000, just for the camera body without a lens.
If you are asking this question, I assume that you are not familiar with those cameras (very high end Nikon, Canon, Leica and Hasselblad) and you are an average Joe looking for the best way to spend his money in the real world. For this, I would suggest that you look at the 10-12 MP range.
At the top end of these cameras, you will find the Nikon D200, Canon 30D and (get ready Heinz) the Sigma SD14. These cameras are all in the $1,200-1,500 range without a lens.
In the "prosumer" segment of the market, there are currently five cameras that are available for around $1,000 that are attracting the most attention.
The February 2007 issue of Popular Photography has an article where they compared the top 10 MP DSLR's.
I took the scores and ranked the cameras similar to the way Formula 1 gives championship points. I just gave 5 for 1st place down to 1 for last place, splitting the difference when cameras tied in their catagories.
They evaluated Image Quality (giving this twice as much weight as anything else), Ease of Use, Control, and System Flexibility.
The final order and my scores are:
Nikon D80 - 17.5 points
- BEST in Image Quality, Control and System Flexibility
Canon Rebel XTi (400D) - 13.5 points
- Tied for best in System Flexibility
Pentax K10D - 11 points
- Tied for best in Ease of Use
Samsung GX10 - 11 points
- Tied for best in Ease of Use
Sony Alpha 100 - 7 points
- LAST in Image Quality, Ease of Use and System Flexibility."
Then again, this is the same magazine that put the Sony Alpha 100 dead last in this comparison named it the camera of the year in the previous issue!
Go to the original question and read the responses for more opinions.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
If you want to get the "best" for the real world, consider the Nikon D200 or Canon 30D if you can afford it. For about $300-500 less, look at the results of the recent PopPhoto test and choose from that list according to your taste.
Personally, I use a Nikon D200 and would recommend it without hesitation to someone who has some knowledge of photography. For someone who wants the "best," but is starting with somewhat of an "entry level" knowledge base, I'd suggest the Nikon D80.
There are people out there who will state their preference for the Canon cameras and I will not argue with them. The Canon 30D and 400D are excellent cameras as well.
You would have to visit a camera store or camera department and pick them up and see what you think.
This review is now available online at:
http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3569/10m... Good luck and enjoy your adventures in photography. I hope you can make a career of it. Report It
Sony Cybershot 6.0. It will take a perfect 18X20 with total clarity. Most professional photographers use either Canon or Nikon cameras.
You probably want a camera that has at least a 6 mp (megapixel) sensor, 10 would be better.
The next thing is the lens.
For me, I shoot a Nikon D200 and for protrait work I use a 85mm f/1.8D Nikkor. For general shooting I use a 10-70mm f/3.5-4.5G DX Nikkor.
But I should point out that this is my personal preference. You can get a perfectly good Nikon or Canon camera for much less than I spent on my D200. "Best" has many and varied meansing to those in photography. A sure shot camera for you would be the Nikon D80 and the lens that I'd recommend is the AF DX 18-135mm (most versatile lens). The reason I chose Nikon is because it's the most robust and sturdy camera you'll find at that price range, and the lenses are sure to give you top quality image detail (plus the lenses are solidly built, best glass formula plus great variety of lenses available, both used AND new). There are more expensive cameras but for what you suggested you were going to use, Nikon D80 is the one; it mimics the more expensive Nikon D200 in features and is sure to last you many years to come.
Good luck and best wishes. |
