Friday 15 January 2010

What is a quality camera under $500?

I am going on a few trips and would like a camera that takes good landscape photos for under $500.
Please tell me your experience with the camera.
If you don't know of a specific camera, what brand do you think is best?

I would suggest Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

Answer by Andy on 05 Jan 2010 05:56:55
Best Answer

The usual Pavlovian response in here is NIKON! CANON! as though there were no other choices. If one does a little research one finds that Sony and Pentax offer excellent alternatives.

Sony and Pentax both have their versions of image stabilization in the camera body. They also have a focus motor in the camera body so any auto focus lens made for them will auto focus. The Nikon D3000 does not have a focus motor so you have to buy Nikon's AF-S lenses. Nikon and Canon have their versions of image stabilization in some of their newer lenses.

The Sony A230 w/18-55mm lens is $429.95 at B&H. [URL Truncated] You can use every legacy Minolta Maxxum AF lens made back to 1985 and that 25 yr. old lens will be an image stabilized lens.

No camera, however, "... takes good landscape photos ...". That is the photographer's responsibility.

Tips for good landscape photography:

1) Use a tripod. Make sure to turn image stabilization "OFF" when using a tripod.
2) Shoot at your camera's highest resolution.
3) Use ISO 100.
4) Shoot in Aperture Priority. I tend to maximize depth of field (DOF) for landscapes.
5) Use manual focus. To maximize DOF don't focus to infinity. Manually set a focus distance of 5'-0'' using the 18mm end of your 18-55mm lens.
6) Make sure the camera is perfectly level. Nothing ruins a landscape photograph quicker than a tilted horizon.
7) Use the camera's self-timer to release the shutter.

If you are confused by DOF this site will teach you about it. [URL Truncated]

Three factors control DOF:
1) Lens focal length.
2) The f-stop chosen.
3) The subject distance.

Your shutter speed and ISO have absolutely NOTHING to do with DOF. Only the three factors listed affect DOF.

Choose your camera from the list and then choose a focal length (18mm), an f-stop (f16) and a subject distance (5'-0''). The table on the right will show that your DOF is from 2'-0'' to infinity. This means that anything from 2'-0'' in front of your camera (3'-0'' in front of your subject) to as far as you can see - infinity - will be in focus.

Here are some examples:
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ISO 100, 21mm lens @ f16 and "focused" at 6'-0''. DOF from 2'-2'' to infinity. Camera tripod-mounted and perfectly level. Yes, I still use film.

Answer by Edwin on 06 Jan 2010 04:09:20

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