Best digital cameras?

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

What are the best (your own experience or what you bought) digital cameras out there now on the market? I’m looking to buy one and have no clue on what to get. Money isn’t an issue but if there’s one that’s over a grand, it better come with a woman…lol

2

“Best” is a hard absolute to define in anything as complex as a camera. What’s best for me may not be best for you. For example, I tend to prefer the stunning image quality that only a prime lens can deliver. However, a superzoom may serve your needs better. Maybe you’re looking for a pocketable camera, in which case no DSLR is going to work.

Answering these questions might help narrow down the field a bit:

  1. What do you intend to do with your camera? Is it strictly for railfanning, or will you be using it for other purposes?

  2. Is image quality paramount, or are you willing to make some sacrifices for convenience?

  3. Do you like the flexibility of an SLR system, or would you rather have an “all in one” solution.

  4. Is size a major concern? Do you have visions of hiking miles with the camera or just a little ways from the car?

  5. Do you plan to use the camera in dark situations? If so, will it be tripod mounted, or will you need something with image stabilization and good high ISO quality?

  6. I know you said that price wasn’t a concern, but what is a realistic price limit? Are you serious about the $1000+ woman requirement? I can recommend lots of cameras above that limit, but I have yet to find any that come with a woman.

I guess that should give me a little bit of info for a start. Answer those, and I’ll see if I can point you down the right path.

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  1. What do you intend to do with your camera? Is it strictly for railfanning, or will you be using it for other purposes? 95% railfanning in daylight

  2. Is image quality paramount, or are you willing to make some sacrifices for convenience? Quality should be there

  3. Do you like the flexibility of an SLR system, or would you rather have an “all in one” solution. Flexibility

  4. Is size a major concern? Do you have visions of

4

Chris:
I just purchased the Gary Benson book you recommended. I realize that to take good pictures of trains, I really need a DSLR camera with a nice lens. I do like carrying a cheaper digital camera in my pocket, just to take pictures along the way while hiking and mule riding.
Those are really super questions to consider before buying another camera for railfanning. Mr. Benson states he carried more than one, just to get different perspectives.

5

I was just shooting with one of those yesterday. They’re nice little cameras and I don’t think you’d regret your decision. However, I don’t think the XTi (400D) is significantly better than the Rebel XT (350D). You could go look for a Rebel XT, which because of its age is running around $450 with the 18-55 Kit lens, and have a little bit of a lens budget then. Additionally, the Rebel XSi was announced at PMA a couple weeks back. You might wait and see if it’s got an advantage over the XT or XTi.

6

Bob,

A DSLR will really open up some photographic possibilities. For example, if you buy into Canon or Nikon, you can rent the really big lenses from many different places. So if you wanted to play with a 600mm f4L for a weekend, you could without shelling out the $8K that it costs to own one. That’s one of the the perks I miss about Canon my Canon days.

Second camera bodies also open up other possibilities as you mentioned. Plus, it’s nice to have a back-up in case of malfunction on one body.

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…Chris:

What really did Canon do to “improve” the XTi over the XT…?

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Beat me to it, Quentin- I was about to ask the same thing.

9

…With Chris doing the answering, we’ll have a good answer soon…

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Quentin,

The key difference was the fact that Canon boosted the Megapixel count to 10 from 8. However, there wasn’t a huge increase in resolution from 8 to 10 megapixels. In fact, because of the physics of imaging sensors, the XTi actually does slightly worse at high ISO settings (it has to do with the size of the individual photosites). We’ll see how the XSi does, but I’m guessing that it will show an improvement in the resolution department over the 8MP bodies, but probably not the 10 MP XTi.

The other improvements that were added looked something like this:

  • Addition of Dust Removal System - I don’t know how functional this is, but dust is a real problem with DSLR systems, so if it really works, it’d be kind of nifty.
  • Increase in Size of Rear Display - This doesn’t affect image quality, but it is nice for viewing shots in the field.
  • Better AF system - And let me tell you, after using one at a basketball game, this is really a welcome addition. With a 135mm f2L, I was able to keep up with players really well. Still, for railroad photography, it probably isn’t too necessary. For sports/action though, I would definately recommend the 400D over the 350D.
  • Improved Buffer - Again, for sports this is huge. For railfanning, I don’t think it’s too big of a deal, unless you really like machine-gun style shooting.
  • Camera Settings on Main LCD - Previously, the original Digital Rebel and the Rebel XT both had a seperate LCD for camera settings. The plus is that the settings are easier to see, but it might lead to a little faster battery drain. Shouldn’t be too big of a problem except in extreme cold.

That’s all I remember off the top of my head. I’m sure you could find the full list at DPReview or something along those lines. As I said, I think the Rebel XTi is a great little camera. I just don’t think it offers a whole lot more to the average railfan. Getting a great deal on an XT and spending the savin

11

Thanks Chris, that really helps clarify how they stack up against each other. One of these days, I plan on moving up to one or the other, probably the XT based on your input.

12

…Appreciate your prompt answer Chris. Thanks.

Perhaps I will keep the XTi in mind, as railroad photography is probably not most of it’s actual use in my case.

13

Brian,

If you’ve got awhile before you upgrade, you might watch to see how the new XSi is going to do. It’s packed with 12 MP, so resolution will be a lot higher than your DigiRebel.

The other factor is that the price on the XTi will start dropping once the XSi becomes available, too. If it gets low enough, I wouldn’t hesitate recommending it. It’s just that, at the moment, I think the XT is the better bargain. We’ll see what the future holds.

14

Quentin,

I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Just like I told Brian, if you wait until the XSi is available, you’ll probably see the price on the XTi drop some.

15

…I hadn’t thought of that Chris…Good thought. I’m in no great hurry anyway. We can wait. Thanks.

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Unless I strike it rich playing the Power Ball (which won’t happen because I don’t play), I doubt that I will be able to purchase another $1000+ camera within the next several years.

Hey, if the XTi price drops, won’t the XT price drop as well?

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It might go down a little more, but I don’t think we’ll see it go much lower. Of course, since you already have the 18-55mm Kit, you could get the body-only XT, which runs around $400, IIRC. I’m guessing the bottom for unused XTs won’t go much below $350. I think there will be enough demand for such a capable camera that sellers won’t sell them below that.

18

At the recent Las Vegas convention, all manufacturers announced new models with even better features. Check out the Nikon D60 and Pentax K200 and K20D in particular. I almost bought a Nikon D40X and am glad I didn’t. I may buy a Pentax K200 in a few months.

19

Bigbird,

You might want to think about picking up a K10D instead of the K200D. The K200D uses the same Sony 10MP sensor as the K10D, so image quality should be very similar. The K10D has some added benefits over the K200D, though. Chief among these are the fact that it’s weather sealed and that it comes with a pentaprism viewfinder instead of the pentamirror that the K200D is going to have.

As an added bonus, a K10D can be had for less than $600 right now. The K200D is supposed to list at $800, IIRC. I’ve thought about upgrading from the K100D to the K10D, but I think I’m going to wait and see how the K20D does in reviews. It’s just about what I’ve been wanting in a DSLR for quite awhile, so I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that it lives up to the hype.

20

If you try to keep up with the latest SLR bodies you will go nuts. Get a decent body, xti, d80 and put your money into LENSES, good lenses. I use my Canon EF and Nikkor AF lenses (pre digital). Good glass stays good glass and retains its value over a long period, digital slr bodies are not retaining their value the way film cameras did. By the way my Nikkor 35-70 2.8D lens takes as superb a picture now with my d80 as it did on my N90s 10 years ago and probably will ten years from now with the d120.