Digital camera

[VTElantra]

So I know I always plug eztechhelp.com, but they dont seem to be giving me much help because of the lack of users. I want a SLR like Digital camera, also known as a Super Zoom. Less than $400.00 US is what I am looking for. I require that it has image stabilization so I dont need a tripod. I like to take lots of pictures, I also need a camera that can take good pictures with no flash without getting motion blur. Right now my camera doesnt have image stabilization, and when I use the flash in wide open areas the pictures turn out dark.

Examples:

http://img322.imageshack.us/img322/336/post161135618768thumb9lo.jpg
http://img306.imageshack.us/img306/2827/post161135618766thumb9qg.jpg

My camera choice so far.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16830126031

Just wanna know what you guys think, and if you have any other suggestions on a camera. I dont want no frigin tripod, If I have to I will buy a full SLR camera and scrap all plans for the XD2. Which I might scrap all my plans and see what the 2007 turns out to be.

Found another one with better reviews.

http://reviews.cnet.com/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_FZ5S_silver/4505-6501_7-31346140.html?tag=pdtl-list

figured you guys would be all over this thread, but I guess not.

[evan938]

http://www.elantraxd.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10187&highlight=camera+blurry

[BlackElantraGT]

My first suggestion:

Most people complain that their camera can't do this and can't do that, but the reality is that many of their photos can be improved just by their picture taking technique and also reading the camera's instruction booklet to take advantage of all it's features.

#2)

Your budget is too small for a camera with more powerful capabilities. Your price range is more for a nice small, compact, point and shoot digital.

But, if that was all the money that you had to spend, I would say that your money would probably be best spent on a Canon S2IS or an S1IS. It has the built in image stabilization, and also since you want to take action shots like during a hockey game, the 10/12x optical zoom will help out tremendously. My friend has this camera and her prints always come out nice and clear (especially for a 3.1 megapixel), but you also have to remember the size of this camera. It's almost as big as a digital SLR, so this isn't a great party camera or spur of the moment camera. You can have $10,000 worth of camera equipment in front of you, but if you can't whip it out fast enough, you might miss that perfect shot. Trust me, if you had this camera or an SLR, you'll be taking a LOT less pics than if you had a really small camera you could carry with you all the time unless you were a budding or professional photographer.

The Canon Powershot Pro1, G6 or S80 might also work out for you, but again they'll be a bit pricier and you won't have image stabilization nor the optical zoom of the S2IS or S1IS.

Personally, for the price of the type of camera you're looking for, I would just save up for the Canon Digital Rebel XT or the Nikon D50 (not sure on model #). You'll have an actual digital SLR and you'll have many more options as far as lenses and lighting goes.

[VTElantra]

I know the full capabilities of my little dinky Fuji A340. After taking well over 2000 pictures with it, I know it pretty well. I will be keeping it but when I know I wanna take a really good picture, I can whip out my impressive looking camera and take a picture. That second link I posted is almost a full SLR. It has all kinds of lences and filters that can be bought for it

[ArunSenior04]

Like BlackELantra said, many ppl dont know how to use the capabilities in their cameras.

Like for example, setting the aperation.

[VTElantra]

Like BlackELantra said, many ppl dont know how to use the capabilities in their cameras.

Like for example, setting the aperation.

omg I'm not a n00b. I know how to use my camera. I want to upgrade, so instead of telling me crap like buy a point and shoot, or look at your manual, maby make a suggestion on a good SLR Like camera with image stabilization.

[Nerraux]

Mine can take pictures of boobies.

. o O ( Wish I had some to shoot )

[evan938]

yep, mine has that capability too :D

[mtlelantra]

There are a lot of digicam review sites... dpreview.com, steves-digicams.com etc etc... Out of all the reviews I've read, the Konica-Minolta rated the lowest for picture quality and image stabilization, but the new Kodak superzooms aren't supposed to be that much better...
The Panasonic FZ4 or FZ5 have amazing quality cuz of the Leica lens, but crappy movie mode and no manual focus I believe. The FZ20 rocks but is $$$... FZ30 has too much noise above 100 ISO...
Canon S2 IS and Sony H1 are both good all-around mega-zooms. I used to have a Canon Pro90 so I know the quality of the image stabilization and almost went for the S2, but the H1 had a better flash, and I could get a way better deal $$-wise than the Canon...
I don't think you can go wrong with the S2, H1, FZ5 or FZ20...

[bikerPA]

The Panasonic Lumix series (http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/digital_cameras/lumix.asp) uses a Leica lens with an ishload of glass in it, so it'll suck up mad light and allow better low-light action shots - at least as good as anything I can think of that doesn't involve buying a really expensive (like, 40-200 F2.0) lens for an SLR. This one (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcfz5.asp) seems to be going for around the four hundred buck mark. Check it out at a local shop to see if it meets your needs as far as ergonomics and other features go, but if it were me that's where I'd start.

[BlackElantraGT]

Like BlackELantra said, many ppl dont know how to use the capabilities in their cameras.

Like for example, setting the aperation.

Arun, I think you mean "aperture" :)

VT, no one is telling you to buy a point & shoot. You obviously have not fully read anyone's answer to your question, yet you complain that "we're not all over this thread".

Between the Konica-Minolta vs the Panasonic, I would suggest the Panasonic hands down. People who buy Leica are picky assholes with big bucks to spend so that just tells you how high quality their lenses are. Leica wouldn't risk ruining their reputation if they didn't stand behind the product, so Panasonic must be doing something right for Leica to support their product. Plus, if that camera didn't have the words "Panasonic" anywhere on it and was fully manufacturered by Leica, you'd be spending thousands, not hundreds of dollars for a camera. Last but not least, I've always found Panasonic to make very reliable products.

Anyway, scroll up and read everyone's answers again and you might actually get some direction towards what to buy. I've already made my suggestions, and someone else also suggested the S2IS/S1IS from Canon. Based on what you asked for, your selection is going to be limited because most cameras on the market don't have image stabilization.

Here is what I think of image stabilization:

In most cases, it's generally the user who causes pictures to come out blurry. The blur is caused by either some fast action with a long exposure, or the user not holding the camera steady enough. On some cameras I admit that it is more difficult to get a nice clear picture, but there are ways to try and fix it and that's what makes the difference between your amateur granny photographer vs. a professional photographer. Professional photographers will find clever ways to steady their camera.

If you don't know how to ride a bike, and you complain. "Dude everytime I ride this bike, I fall off because I can't keep my balance. It's a crappy bike. It should have came with training wheels." Does that mean that every bike sold should have training wheels? Or every bike in the future that you buy should have training wheels? No! It just means you gotta learn to ride a bike properly!

The same goes for taking pictures. Just because you took 2000 photographs doesn't make you Ansel Adams. For all we know you could have taken 2000 ****ty pictures!

[Phiber]

Mmm.. :) I shoot Canon and Olympus. Canon Rebel XT and an Olympus E300. If you're looking for a camera with a bunch of IS lenses Canon is the way to go. However, ANY camera may be attached to a gyro mount (for a grand or two) and stabilised. The IS lenses are pretty expensive but they seem to get the job done.

Before I babble a page or two, go here: www.dpreview.com :)

[mtlelantra]

There's only so much you can do with small CCD point'n'shoots, even the top-end megazooms of the new large sensor Sony R1. For the money, they can do a lot more than SLRs, but even compared with an under-equipped SLR, PnSs can't do it better.
(that being said, I do have a PnS mega-zoom that has full manual... I like the extra versatility and the almost-WYSIWYG preview)
For example VTElantra's hockey shot- it stated you want no flash without blur... well, with any sort of action shot, you're going to need a high shutter speed to prevent the blur of the movement of the person... Motion blur is going to outweigh any type of blur caused by hand shake, and IS isn't going to help you. Once you hit higher shutter speeds too, you won't see the blur due to hand shake.
Flash range of built-in units are generally too short to cover an arena... Therefore you need a sensor that is super sensitive (i.e. can handle high ISO without much noise), which basically means you need an SLR for the shots you want to take.
As an example for PnS,
Even with a bulb-lit small room with ISO 400 with no flash, I need 1/25 shutter speed at f2.8 for my Sony H1 to get decent brightness on a photo. IS helps for stills, but anyone moving in the shot will blur. With the flash, though, I can use ISO 64 and f2.8 and still get enough light at 1/1000 shutter speed... but this is a small room, not arena-sized.

[SWortham]

My roommate has a Canon Digital Rebel XT, and it's impressive. I know he'd recommend it if you're looking for an 'inexpensive' Digital SLR camera.

[ArunSenior04]

When researching (dcresource.com is awesome, they give comparison of many cameras and example pictures) I found at alot of places that the Nikons also have an unmatched lens when it comes to zoom and macro shots.

[Nerraux]

I work in graphic design, and I can tell you the best images I have seen shot digital are with Cannons (not counting the $20k cameras the mega-pros use -- which aren't enough better to be worth the money, btw). Beyond that, the boobie thing is all I care about.

[Vampyrate]

i just got a fairly cheap olympus (5mp) and so far im happy with it, but i know what you are looking for, and damn, i drool over those everyday... i carry my camera with me everywhere (even to work, so let me know if you want to know what the inside of an airplane bin looks like)

but yeah 400 isnt gonna get you anything in the field that you are looking for unless you go on ebay, and even that is a long shot. but your choice on newegg i highly recommend, of all my friends (all both of them) that have them, they havent said anything bad about it yet.