Freeper Recommendations on Starter Digital SLR Cameras

Self ^ | 5/15/2013 | USConservative

[usconservative]

Not sure but this may be my first "vanity" thread since joining in 1998. In any case, I know there's folks on here who are deeply involved in photography and know lots about camera's and digital camera's -- something of which I know about zero.

I'm taking the better half on her dream vacation this summer to Alaska for her birthday. We have a small 12mp digital pocket camera, but are thinking we'd really need something better (better zoom, image stabilization for example) for some nice nature pic's.

I've been reading up on different camera's from SLR to DSLR and am frankly lost at this point. I don't know what I *should* buy as a good "starter" camera for taking nice pictures.

Our camera experience is limited to PHD (Push Here Dummy) camera's, although I've recently had some experience with a Nikon DSLR (?) Camera taking pictures at a charity event a few weeks ago. Received alot of compliments on the pictures. Don't remember the model of the camera I used, but it was pretty easy. Had a big zoom lens and auto-focus. Not much of a 'step up' from the PHD camera's we're used to.

I'm thinking most of the pictures we'll be taking will be of the Alaska scenery from ground and air (we have a plane tour and a helicopter ride to a glacier for lunch scheduled) and some whale watching as well.

Budget for a camera is $500-$750. Ease of use is key, zoom capability I'm guessing 30x - 40x.

[mdmathis6]

What is the Full frame equivalent of the 25mm to 600mm. What size sensor does it use?

[mdmathis6]

Uses a leica made or designed lens.. Sony does a lot with Zeiss!

[Noob1999]

Have a wonderful trip in Alaska!

More than the quality of your camera, be sure that your partner is window sitting on one side of the Denali bus, while you are on the aisle of the other. Both with cameras.

On the road up, the wildlife pops out of the underbrush on both sides within seconds, and you must be ready to move side to side.

We went up Denali in mid August, and as it was lightly snowing, the gravel road kicked up all kinds of dirt. Everyone closed their windows, so after five minutes of driving, at a rest stop, the driver tried to squeegee off the windows, which was good for maybe the next mile, until total brown-out once again!.

Don’t invest in big money equipment to get shots of Denali, get whatever shots you can, enjoy the ride and buy the $20 DVD back at the base lodge.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I’ll do some digging, lately I’ve been so busy with politics I haven’t kept track of anything else.

[Paladin2]

Take more than one camera. Include a video camera.

[laker_dad]

No matter which camera you choose, make sure you have extra batteries on hand at all times! (I learned this the hard way!)

Also, don’t spend the entire time looking at the scenery through a lense. Enjoy with your eyes, too.

[Woodman]

OK I think you are serious. Remember the polarizing sunglasses and how you can see through glass like it isn't there? Well a polarizing camera filter does the same thing to scattered light. It will make the sky look deep blue, the clouds look 3d, and bring out the shape of snow covered mountains. But it only looks like that when it has been rotated to the proper orientation for the light. You will see it in a through the lens viewfinder and it will look perfect. Then the lens will rotate when it focuses or you zoom and it will look like it did before. Get a lens that doesn't rotate when it focuses or zooms and you will be a happy camper.

[dickmc]

The Nikkor 18mm to 55mm zoom is an excellent lens particularly when coupled with this DXO software at http://www.dxo.com/us/photo/dxo_optics_pro/features The lens is very sharp under most circumstances, fairly light weight, and has an effective range from 36 mm wide angle to 110 telephoto. Buy a screw on circular polarizing filter and it will be the only lens you need for a vacation. I have used one for over 10 years with an old Nikon D70.

I might have switched to a Cannon T3i at one point since I like its color balance slightly better, but they really don’t have a similar general purpose lens of equal quality. Today, I would probably buy the D5100 or D5200. However, for vacation stuff, even a used D70 would be good enough if it had the Nikkor 18mm to 55mm zoom!

[Tijeras_Slim]

I use one of these in my lab work. I really like it.

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/canon_powershot_sx40_hs_review/

[yarddog]

This picture was taken a few years ago with a Canon S2, a 5mp point & shoot model. I guess a 24MP DSLR would have been better but just how much?

[Moonman62]

I second the fz200. Here are some samples.

http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/reviewsamples/albums/panasonic-lumix-dmc-fz200-review-samples/slideshow