Investing in a new camera HELP!!

mjht76 · Aug 4, 2006

I am a budding photographer. I have been taking pictures for a few years now and I am looking at upgrading my digital camera. What I know I want is at least a 10x zoom, the ability to take 'burts' photos, (for high speed shots). I currently have an Olympus C700 and I do like it but It only has a 2.1 res. I take a lot of high speed shots and close ups. I have been asked to do school pictures for friends and family as I took my own last year and they looked very proffesional. Even blown up to 8 x 10. I have been looking at the Kodak 740. It is in my price range and seems like the camera I have been looking for. I would like to work slowly into taking event photography and portraits and I want a camera that will affordably give me that option until I can afford a high end model. I would apperciate any reviews of the Kodak 740 or suggestions for other cameras that would fit my needs. Thanks in advance

mjht76 · Aug 5, 2006

Anyone??

Shotkatcher · Aug 5, 2006

try the Fujifilm Finepix S5600

niccig · Aug 6, 2006

Recommendations really depend on how much you want to spend. Based on your comment that you want a 10x zoom, I'm going to assume you're looking for a high-end point&shoot vs a DSLR. I'm a big fan of waiting until you have the money to get a DSLR, personally. I got a KM dimage z6, and six months later, I really wish I would have waited for a Nikon d70 (especially since I now have a Nikon film body, and therefore Nikon glass). I recommend the z6 as far as image quality and zoom go (35-420mm in 35mm equivalent), but the autofocus sucks in low light and continuous shooting isn't that great. Plus you have to wade through menus to get to anything. I don't really have any experience with other point & shoots.

darin3200 · Aug 6, 2006

Here is the most help site ever
http://www.dpreview.com/
They have in-depth review of hundreds of camera including the Kodak 740. They give all the technial stuff and how they handle. Oh, and side by side comparisions with similar cameras

Shotkatcher · Aug 6, 2006

The S5600 is a great camera with a powerful zoom 10.7x optical and 5.7x digital =57x total zoom but u can buy a telephoto lens or wide angle lens for it anytime it is 5.1 megapixel Super CCD sensor which really almost doubles image quality. it shoots about 3 frames a second and is made to be a great low light performer (great macro also). The only real flaw is it doesn't have a hotshoe therefore u have to buy a mounting bracket for it. but i just got a 10.00 mounting bracket and a Vivitar 2600 flash and a .35 wide angle lens and this camera is great.

bitteraspects · Aug 6, 2006

if you want a p&s id highly suggest going with the cybershot line.

mjht76 · Aug 6, 2006

Thank you all for your replys. I have never used a slr so I am unsure of what I would be getting into with buying one. I found another camera that I am thinking of a: Pannisonic Lumix dmc-fz7. 6mp 12x zoom image stabilization ect. How much more complicated are slr compared to p&s?

darin3200 · Aug 6, 2006

mjht76 said:
Thank you all for your replys. I have never used a slr so I am unsure of what I would be getting into with buying one. I found another camera that I am thinking of a: Pannisonic Lumix dmc-fz7. 6mp 12x zoom image stabilization ect. How much more complicated are slr compared to p&s?

The lumix is also a good camera, it has a nice lens.

For digital slrs you would be spending more money on the camera and you would also have to buy a seperate lens. There is also more to learn. The quality of the pictures would be better and you would have some more features.

mjht76 · Aug 6, 2006

Th one thing I noticed with the Lumix is that I can get extra lenses if I want to. That is some thing I have not seen in a p&s before. I have a very basic understanding of S, A, M but I am a very busy mom of 4 kids, and a full time job. So Have have a couple book but I just have not found the time to really read through them like I need to.

Shotkatcher · Aug 6, 2006

you can get extra lenses for the S5600 and alot of other non slr cameras i.e telephoto lenses, wide angle lenses and filters and around 8 effective megapixels its about $200-300 with a great image stabilization and the lens is fixed in one place non protruding you shuld check it out