Considering purchasing a new digital camera...

[Sal-XK]

I had a Canon AE-1 for a long time but with the digital age I sold it to a high school student in my son's photography class. I sold the camera body, 2 extra lens, flash, auto winder, filters, hard case, etc. for $50.00

I like being able to adjust the photo but it has been a lot of years since I even tried. I forgot more than I currently know.

I did the same thing man, when it got to hard and expensive to develop film I had a choice learn to develop my own or just give it up. I decided to stop using my camera despite having several scenery shots still hanging up in peoples houses I really enjoyed the hobby. One of these days I'll spend the money and get back into it.

[Adondo]

I've had (and still have) a few Fujifilm cameras. I've been very happy with them, and I like that there are dedicated buttons even on their point and clicks. (No buried in menu crap) I have a Z100, (pack of cards sized point 'n' click) a Z1fd, and the HS10.

I replaced my good ol' S9000 with an HS10. That has now been replaced by the HS20, which is the same camera with a few updates.

The lens (in 35mm film equivalent) is a 24mm to 720mm. Nothing else made comes close to that - you go from very wide angle to 30x in a manual zoom lens. It also has IS so you can handhold long shots. Most of the photos I post here are from the HS10.

There are some neat features, some of which I use often. One is the low light mode. I got great shots of the Flavel house in Astoria. The place is too dark to see much with eyeballs let alone use a camera. The low light mode fire off four rapid fire shots, then melds them together. My shots of the dim library look like a well lit room.

I also like the panorama mode. You start the shot, an arrow tells you to keep panning until it's done, then it creates the panorama. Sure, you can stitch later in Adobe, but it's a PITA.

Another cool one is a motion mode. You use a tripod, take the shot at something busy and crawling with people, (a fountain in Rome for example) and the camera takes a series of shots, then edits out the people. (Anything that moves) You end up with a shot of something that looks like you snapped the shot with nobody there.

The HS10 (and HS20) have an electronic viewfinder rather than an SLR setup. I like that myself, as you can put grids for the rule of thirds, portrait boxes, and other shot helping items onscreen. The manual focus mode pops up a box in the middle with an expanded view for a more precise focus. (A screen in screen view)

The camera also takes full 1080p HD video, and does high speed video up to 1,000 FPS. I have some on youtube such as wasps getting sucked up into a vacuum, and bees on a flower. The bee flaps his wings and wobbles away slowly into the air at 480 FPS. (1/8th speed)

My only single gripe with the HS10 is the movie mode is in Quicktime format. (Only because I hate the Apple-crap software that you have to install, with its endless hounding you to update and/or upgrade)

Links:
Fujifilm's site
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/dig...nepix_hs20exr/

A review:
http://www.photographyblog.com/revie...s20exr_review/

[ScorpionCrawler]

Hate to throw this into the mix but,
I just bought a Nikon D 5000.
We have several point and shoots one Cannon and 2 Fujis.
But we really wanted a DSLR, mostly for sports and vacations.
The technology in these things is great.
I really need to go to a class to learn how to use all that it has.
But out of the box it worked great, and I'm sure the Cannons do as well.
I bought mine the old fashion way and went to reputable camera store, listened to what they had to say, didn't understand all of it, but listened.
I paid about $40.00 more than a box store but the info and their help was worth the money.
I have called there once to ask a question and they were happy to help. So the tech support was worth the extra dough.

Good Luck

[superacerc]

Love my Rebel. The D5000 is awesome as well. I love it when people ask me what photographer i used for stuff when it was just me (and i'm no photographer). Let us know what you choose.

[LWM]

Thanks for the opinions, I have not picked my camera yet so keep them coming.

[LWM]

Just an update...

I purchased a the Canon EOS Rebel T3i 600D from Amazon.com

[Sal-XK]

Just an update...

I purchased a the Canon EOS Rebel T3i 600D from Amazon.com

Sweet!!!