My Next Digital Camera?

[djswad]

Hello All, I now own an OLYMPUS Camedia C-5000 Zoom, This is My first Digital Camera. I have had it for 3 years now and would like to buy a new one and would just like some Help on what to buy next. My kid is now 7 and She is now into sports, and She has won a few awards at school and some times I can not get a good pictures as I am to far away, I would like My next one to be as varietal as I can get out of the box, I like this Olympus, and will keep it but I need to upgrade any help I would be greatful, and I have been told there is no Camera that is good for every thing, But can I get a little closer to it than I am now. If You own something You really like just let Me know it dose not have to be an Olympus but I do like the make it has worked great with no problem it dose what it was made to do, I am just ready to spend more Money now that I know I am not going back to 35 mm any info would be great.
Thank You Very Much,
Don Swad

[jdepould]

There are lots of options, each one is more expensive than the next. Sports shooting can be especially expensive.

I'd highly recommend investing in a Digital SLR (looks like a big film camera, but it isn't). Canon 40D has a good balance of frame rate and user friendliness, but it isn't cheap, and neither are the lenses.

[sheila]

Before we can properly answer, we need to know how much you want to spend in total If you decide in a digital SLR (which is the best option in my opinion) you will have the added expense of lenses. The zooming optics of digital "point and shoots" are not the best.

Cheers
Sheila

[djswad]

Hello, I Do want a Digital SLR for sure as far as Money I could go as High as $2,000 but do I need to? I did go look to Circuit and told the sale's person about the same I posted and He showed Me a, Nikon D40X 10.2 Megapixel Digital SLR 699.00 and a Olympus Evolt E-410
10 Megapixel Digital SLR Kit. Black 799.00 besides taking the Faimly outing Pictures, I like to just go out and shoot what ever maybe a plane landing at the airport some Ducks in a pond a Humming bird things, I can do alot better with My old Nikon 35 mm than My Digital right now I should have said before I like to just take Pictures that is why I like the Digital so much, I just did not want to dive in at the time I got this Olympus, I waited untill they got better and now I think its time to jump in with both feet so what do You think?

Thanks,
Don

[jdepould]

Do you want to shoot sports or snapshots? If you're just shooting family stuff and ducks then a D40 is fine, but if you're shooting sports it's going to cost. A D80 + 80-200 f/2.8 will run you right around $2k and you'll have a great kit. Not totally sure about Canon equivalents.

[djswad]

I just knew this way not going to be an easy, Well as far as Sports My kid is still young just 7 and She is into Karate and is doing well this is her 2nd year but when she gose to a Tournament and dose fourms it is not that fast yet or is t-ball, I Think I am going to go take a look at that Nikon D40x again, I was at best buy to day and they had a Olympus Evolt 410 2 lens kit Digital SLR 10 megapixel live -mos imager 2.5 Hyper crystal LCD Supersonic dust removal system the Lens are a 14-42 & 40-150 that was 724.66, I am a mess, there are alot of Cameras out there. well thank You for the help. I am going to get something this weekend, one thing I know for sure when ever I bring up getting a new Digital the name NIKON seems to be the first name I hear so I think it is going to be the Nikon and whats to say I can not get Me a new one in two or three years when she is a bit faster right. I will do some nore reading untill weekend and then it is buy time, it has to be better than what I have now.
Thank You,
Don

[jestev]

Just remember that if you get the D40x you won't be able to fully use many great, cheap(er) Nikon lenses because it doesn't have an auto-focus motor.

[supersignet]

If you're interested in a DSL-R and want a little speed for taking some pictures I'd recomend looking at the Canon 30D. It's now the older model only 8.2MP (but MP don't really mean much in the DSLR world) is built well and will still last a few years. You could probably find a new one somewhere for a decent price.

If not, the 400d, Nikon d80, Pentax K10D are all fine choices.

[niekirk]

Hi Don

You're an Olympus user who'd be happy to stick with the brand. Although Olympus is a minority choice, it would be a good one. I have an Olympus e510, having looked closely at the e410 too. If it's within your budget, I suggest you have a look at it at your local shop.

Some people find the e510 better to hold than the e410, because of the hand grip. I chose it because it has an image stabiliser (which means that you can hand-hold the camera at lower shutter speeds, in poorer light). It also is easier to set up because many of the important functions are controlled by buttons, as well as through the menus.

Olympus have recently re-entered the SLR market. Their OM series of 35mm SLR's were superb. They discontinued them when autofocus became the norm; they did not then have the technology to produce autofocus SLR's.

Their current range are the only SLR's and lenses specifically designed for digital. All other brands have adapted their 35mm designs. That means that the Olympus four-thirds design has a lot of potential.

Olympus are innovators. For example, Olympus pioneered a device to keep dust off the digital sensor (a problem for SLR's, because dust can get in when you change lenses). Other brands offer similar devices, but the Olympus system is regarded as the most effective. The e410 and e510 both have a live viewfinder on the LCD on the back. Canon and Nikon are following suit on some of their models, but I believe they cost considerably more than the equivalent Olympus models. In fairness, I'd say that you'd find that live viewfinder really useful if you want to do close-up photography, and if you often use a tripod, but it's not often important for day-to-day use.

The Olympus sensor is smaller than that used by other makes. That has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that the cameras and lenses can be smaller than the competitors. And you get greater effective magnification with telephoto lenses. So the 40-150mm kit lens is equivalent to a 80-300mm lens on a 35mm camera. The e410 is still, I believe, the smallest digital SLR. The disadvantage is that, all else being equal, ultimate picture quality will be less than you would get with a bigger camera and lens of equivalent quality.

Olympus lenses are as good any other. Olympus are primarily an optical company making, for example, microscopes and other specialised medical equipment. The kit lenses (14-42mm and 40-150mm) are highly regarded, and exceptionally good for a kit lens. You would probably find they are all you need, at least to start. They would give you a 35mm equivalent of a 28mm wide angle reaching to a 300mm telephoto, and are very portable.

Having said all that, I am an Olympus fan, but I don't think there is a bad modern digital SLR from any brand. Pick up plenty and have a play. See what feels right, and think about how you might use the camera.

I hope this helps!

[djswad]

Thank You all again, I must say I have got better info here than at bestbuy, I hate when I ask a question and I get back "it should" that is not an answer. niekirk you are right, It is hard not to buy a 2nd Olympus for because I am not unhappy with there C-5000 zoom it is like I said, It was my first Digital to get My feet wet, now I am ready to leave the 35mm in the case and go over to the other side 100%, It is nice to view the Shot, well there are to many things I like over 35 mm to go over them. I went out today and took a hard look at the Olympus E-410 and E-510 also the Nikon D40 and D80, Oh the Canon Rebel XTI. I must say as far as looks and feel there were all great but something inside keeps Me going back to the Olympus. That E-410 2 lens kit 14-42mm & 40-150mm seems it would fit the bill for now. but You did bring up a few points about the bigger 510, well I am now down to the E-410 or E-510 I am going out again in the morning look at them both. I must say after niekirk post the E-510 must be looked at again. Well Thank You all.
Don Swad

[niekirk]

All great choices; you can take cracking picures with any, and none will disappoint. But a couple more notes on the Olympus. It has two card slots, so you can carry both a CF and an XD card in it. You can't shoot to both at the same time, but you can back up from one to the other, and you can switch them quickly.

And there will be a new professional Olympus launced on 17 October, in case anyone worries you about future development of the range.

Cheers!

[brickfielder]

You currently have what equates to a 38-114 zoom lens camera which has a small sensor. You will get improvements with a digital SLR purely from the fact that the sensor is bigger. Improvements include a better dynamic range (less blown out highlights and blacked out shadows), better focus accuracy and exposure. Buying an SLR will also allow you to have a sharper more contrasty lens infront of the sensor. If your current lens is not reaching far enough then you probably need at least a 200mm lens if not a 300 or 400mm one (200mm will probably increase the size or something on a print by 70 percent aprox compared to your current camera zoomed out fully)
You also suggest you might want to photograph humming birds and again you need a fairly long and fast lens to do justice to these.What you are looking at is some quite bulky and heavy kit compared to your current camera. In your position I would be considering the Olympus SLR's because you are likely to be familiar with the menus and they are light weight. However I think in terms of the right balance of what you are familiar with ,cost and ergonomics you should maybe look at the Nikon d80 (based on your familiarity with the nikon 35). In terms of lens I am tempted to suggest the nikon 18-200VR but I am afraid this will be a bit slow for indoor action like karate. You will also find similar problems in the olympus lens line up with you needing to spend a fair amount for a 200mm f2.8 or f2.0 range lens.
The first thing you should do though is go to your local shop and try some of these out for both weight, menu options ,ergnomics and shooting conditions. As an after thought you may also want to look at the canons for their wide breadth of lens choices and the fact that I like mine.

[e2thaa]

hi the oly's are decent entry-level dslrs that give you a lot of bang for the buck if you don't think you'll ever upgrade lenses. definitely a step up from P&S-land. the 14-45 kit lens for oly is kinda weak, tho. the 50-140 has a wider aperture at the long end! oly makes pro lenses but they cost. sigma also makes 4/3 lenses. i'd strongly consider getting body-only if you're set on oly and starting out with the sigma 18-50, which is a 2.8, and adding a tele down the line. oly's arent great for low-light af, although the 410 and 510 are reportedly better than the e-500. if you're set on oly, be prepared to buy an external flash like the fl-36. if you don't take low-light shots with no flash dont worry about it.

in terms of other choices, the d40 is probably a little more user-friendly in terms of learning curve. you're somewhat limited in lens options but it's the best $500 (body only) dslr out there.

here's another tip: try out the camera at best buy and buy online. no tax, free shipping.