Which Camera for Alaska??

[Alaska5555]

Hello everyone. This is my first post so please forgive me if it’s posted in the wrong place or I make a mistake.

I’m looking for a digital camera. What I want it for is to take pictures of family, friends and Alaska wildlife. (I live in Alaska) What I need in a camera is just a few things. Not something that I have to take a class on to use the thing. I want to be able to take nice close ups like a bee on a flower that will take up the whole picture. But, if possible also to be able to reach out a little ways for pictures of Big Moose and Bears. I don’t think I need a 7, 8, 10 MP because the biggest picture I will print out will be an 8X10 and not many of those. I do have Adobe Photo shop so I can do some things there if needed. I don’t care about movies. I would love the camera I choose to come with a battery charger and enough memory to handle a days worth of pictures but that might be asking too much and from what I have read those things are extra?? Brand I don’t care about as long as it takes a good picture. I don’t care if it’s a small camera or a big heavy camera.

No camera shops around where I live so I hope someone has a good idea for me. I will have to order it on the net or get it from places like…. Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and other places where they sell them up here but no one knows anything about what they are selling.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Alaskan
PS> Good battery life and to be able to use an AC hook up would also be helpful. Price 200.00-300.00

[Mr Yuck]

Canon A520 is a safe bet, 4mp, 4x zoom, takes AA batteries, 4 NIMH rechargeables will get you through the day on a charge and fill up a 512mb SD card

Camera: $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830120168

512mb SD card: $20 after $6 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820160024

Batteries: 4 NIMH rechargeables and a 1hr charger: ~$20-$30

Case: $10

Shipping to 99615, the only AK zip I know, would be about $35, but it could be less because 99615 is kodiak...an island ;)

Dont forget the rebate! you can get a $50 rebate if you purchase it with a qualifying printer.

So this setup will likely come in at less than $280 if you order from www.newegg.com

Batteries (Skip the Lenmars, I have some 2000 mAH and they DO NOT last as well as my 1800maH Rayovacs)

[Speed]

Have you read the reviews here on PR? That's what I did when I was getting ready to buy my first SLR. Based on the manufactuers literature and what I read on PR, I decided to get a Nikon N80. I have never regretted it.

In the price range you list, you're going to be very limited in camera selection. A compact digital isn't going to do everything you listed, at least not well. Most of them have limited macro abilities and short (3X or 4X) zooms. A better bet would be to get an advanced compact digital. It's two or three times as much as you're looking to spend, but they have much better macro capabilities, (especially models that tout their macro like the Coolpix 5400 and 8400), and they usually have longer zoom ranges (7X to 12X).

In the long run, a good digital camera will pay for itself in what you save on developing film. (Just don't tell anyone at PR that I said that!) It depends on if you have that much to spend up front. And if you opt for an advanced compact, you might as well look at the digital SLR's. For very little more than an advanced compact you can get a basic digital SLR, and even more versatility.

A cheaper alternative (up front), would be to get a film camera like a N65, N75 or N80, with a 90mm macro (Sigma makes a very nice one that's affordable). You could then take closeups of bees, and you'll have a short telephoto for those moose shots. You can add other lenses as you go. You can always get Wal Mart or whoever to scan your images to a CD when they develop your film. I shoot film (mostly) and I have Half Hour Photo scan them to a CD when they develop my film.

Didn't mean to get long winded or confuse you. Just trying to lay out your options for you.

Good luck and let us know what you get. We'll be looking forward to seeing those images.

[another view]

Which digital camera? Mine! And I come with! Plus expenses, of course.

I haven't stayed up with all the new models, but I don't know if a Coolpix 5400 or 8400 is really the right choice for you. I have the 5000, which was replaced by the 5400, which was replaced by the 8400. I love my "old" 5000 and have no interest in replacing it. It's great for macro and goes fairly wide, but doesn't have much of a telephoto end to the lens at about an 80mm equivalent. The newer ones are the same idea and may go out to 105mm equivalent, but that's not much.

Some of the newer high end cameras have longer telephoto zoom lenses and VR (vibration reduction) or IS (image stabilization) built in - it's the same thing, just different trade names for different brands of cameras. What's nice about it is that when you get into longer focal lengths, the VR or IS will counteract some of the shaking by hand-holding the camera so your pictures will probably be sharper. It's more of an issue with longer lenses and slower shutter speeds (exponentially with the two of them together). The other option, of course, is to put it on a tripod.

With more megapixels, you also get more features - which will take some time to really get used to...