cameras - what's good

[Tony T]

Tony - 2 years ago I bought my wife a mid range Canon point and shoot in Dubai.

I am spending some time with Canon again today, so I'll quiz them more on this one. It could make a big difference.

Also - don't hesitate to look at second hand - some of the Nikon and Canon deals are so good as most get looked after really well that you could save bucket loads buying a camera through a dealer second hand.

That's a good thought too. Most cameras are rated to about 150,000 shutter actuations, so unless it's had really heavy use, it should have many years of life left. My old 5D MkII has done over 60,000 and is still fine.

[firko]

   But don't rule out the happy snap cameras the professionals keep in their pockets either

I've got a 12 Megapixel Kodak pocket camera I got at Aldi a couple of years ago. It works a treat but now Kodak's gone out of business they're probably not available any more.

Also - don't hesitate to look at second hand - some of the Nikon and Canon deals are so good as most get looked after really well that you could save bucket loads buying a camera through a dealer second hand.

Good point....I got my EOS 1 body second hand from the USA eBay for $300. I didn't think I'd win the auction with my bid but lo and behold it came up a winner. I figured something would be wrong with it but so far it works like a new one.
                                                                           
                                                         

[EML]

Thanks guys, more good info.
We have an on-line store too so we need to get excellent shots for that to post up and don't want to spend lots of time editing.....
As well as the odd motocross shot.

[firko]

My old 5D MkII has done over 60,000 and is still fine

Billy Forsyth takes that many shots just at Classic Dirt .
Boots off today.

[Tony T]

Thanks Mark.   

If they weren't so heavy, I'd get an old 1D of some sort just for fun.
They're built like a brick, last forever and have excellent weather and dust sealing.
They're not big on megapixels, but most of us don't need more than 8 or so anyway.

Just on my way out to pick up a whole new kit for myself today. 

[firko]

They're built like a brick, last forever and have excellent weather and dust sealing.

Yeah they're as heavy as shit alright Tony...they're supposed to have a magnesium case but I reckon it's Russian mild steel . When Barry Ashenhurst edited Dirt Action he had a couple of EOS 1 film cameras and when he got his first 1D he let me use it for a shoot. Compared to my EOS 650 film camera it was a brave new world of the best photos I'd ever taken. Being so expensive when new I never thought I'd own one but with todays eBay driven prices I finally got one. Sure it's a bit down on Pixels (my Kodak pocket camera has more) but all of the other stuff makes it worth the dough I paid.

[Tony T]

There's a bit of a trick with pixels too. 
An 18 megapixel camera won't necessarily have better resolution than a 10 megapixel one.
Long story short, the physical size of the sensor has a lot to do with it as well.
Just to confuse things even more............... 

[Rossvickicampbell]

yes - if you can afford full size makes a big difference.

[Tony T]

yes - if you can afford full size makes a big difference.

I wouldn't know about that......  :'(

And just to prove I am a complete wanker, here's what I lugged home from Ted's today..........

[firko]

an EOS 1D and an EOS 50 .  The Santa photo season must have been a boomer .

[Tossa]

Christine uses and swear by her Sony A77 uses it for all her stuff from landscapes to MX, reckons it leaves the Canon's and Nikons for dead

[mxmaniac]

Nikon.. easy to use

[Tony T]

an EOS 1D and an EOS 50 .  The Santa photo season must have been a boomer .

Not really. I just got offered a really good deal, so it was a good time to renew everything.
Is your camera a 1D or 1Ds? Either way, that's a bloody bargain but especially so if it's a 1Ds MkII. 

As for the original question, you won't go far wrong with pretty much any current name brand camera.
I'm glad I'm not the one who has to choose which camera to buy! Good luck! 

[Tossa]

I'm lucky I choose the motorbike and she chooses the camera, problem solved!!!

[Mrs Hardo]

I have and use a Canon EOS 60D and I love it.. come to think of it, so do all the guys in the Heaven VMX Club.