What is a good digital camera for a beginner photographer?

The camera I suggest is a bit more in features than just point and shoot. But it is a point and shoot type. It's the Canon PowerShot A570 IS. It has an image stabilizer in case you have shaky hands, aperture/shutter priority, takes 2 rechargeable batteries and the price is quite good . Can be bought between $155-$170+a memory card. Anyone who buys a digital camera has to buy a memory card. I suggest for a 7 megapixel camera which this camera is , get at least 1 GB memory card. The camera has a viewfinder which won't drain your batteries like an LCD screen does. It's 4X optical zoom.

This camera and a memory card should cost you no more than $190- to $200-. Minimum for an SLR( which is really getting into photography) is about $500-a SLR kit.

So you have to ponder the thought, do I have the time and money to really get into this hobby(possibly business) and start out with a SLR camera.

Take a trip to your local library and read about different features on cameras in Nov'07 Consumer Reports. Also check out Website dpreview.com for reviews of many cameras and prices.

My friend had a photography class and the teacher told them to buy optical cameras instead of digital cameras. Apparently he thought they were superior to digital cameras but i couldn't tell you why other then maybe the quality is a little better. I know for sure they last a lot longer. With digital prints the paint eventually fades over the years.

If you're taking classes, they'll probably tell you what to get, and a lot of students will get discounts through their schools. My friend is a photographer and he started with Nikon D200. It's a little pricey (over $1200 for just the body.) The D40 seems to be a good introductory digital SLR that you can teach yourself to use. Same with the Canon Digital Rebel Xti. You can get these SLR's for under $500

First, you need to choose a camera type:

- SLR

- Compact

- SLR-like

If you do not want to become thoroughly engrossed in the digital photography world and waste all your money to lenses and flashes, it is better to begin with a compact camera. For more, be my guest at: http://fototramp.blogspot.com/2007/11/compare-digi...

There are some good and not expencive models as Canon Powershot A630 for abt. $270, Canonn SX100 for $280 -- look at:http://fototramp.blogspot.com/2007/11/canon-sx100-...

and Fujifilm FinePix F40 -- http://fototramp.blogspot.com/2007/12/fujifilm-f50...

These models have a large (for a compact) sensor and more than enough mega pixels. Do not look at any cool but useless features and 10-12 mega pixels. It is an excess for a good compact.

Regards

Pass on any Canon Rebel since they do not have image stabilization, only in their highly priced specialty lenses. And that also applies to the Nikon D200.

There's another alternative which you should check into: The new Olympus DSLR E-510 10 megapixel 2-lens camera kit with built-in image stabilization and active CMOS which is found only in the Nikon 200 and 300. And the E510 can be set to "vivid" colors. The 2-lens starter kit sells for around $689 at samys.com which currently does not charge the $58.00 CA sales tax up through Wednesday, December 12th.

Good luck!

If you learned how to shoot a 35mm SLR and develop film etc; you may quickly out grow a point and shoot digital. The advantage of a good DSLR is that it has your full auto settings and most of the advanced settings as well. I would recommend a Cannon Rebel T1i or perhaps the Nikon D3000. I have the T1i and I am happy with it.

If you want to start off into serious photography... this is the least you want to spend... http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-Rebel-XT-f3-5-...

Better still... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I1ZWRC/sr=8-3...

You can't go wrong with Canon. If you go with anything less than a DSLR, you'll just want to upgrade your camera again when you start learning more about photography. Spend the money once and you'll be happy for a good, long time. This class of camera has better light sensitivity and less noise due to the larger lens and sensor... a full compliment of manual controls... They're compatible with different lenses and filters... external flashes... They are still capable of fully automatic shooting so you can learn at your own pace. The picture quality is superb.

For Photography go with Film first!! Try a Nikon FM-10. If you really want digital....any of the nikons will do.

1

If you have the money I suggest the Nikon D300 or D200, or D80. Easy to use controls and a 2.5" screen to view.

www.besybuy.com

www.samys.com (my favorite)

ww.costco.com

Recommend a Scandisk memory card, about 2GB.

Check you Sunday paper for ad sales or coupons.