More Important: 1/7 Sensor or Backlit? [Digital Cameras]

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From: David J Taylor on 10 May 2010 03:15

"Bubba" <digitalrube(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:a16c33df-bcef-46f7-a815-100849fa117b(a)l28g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
[]
> I've read several suggestions to compare cameras, but at least where I
> live (the U.S.), it's impossible to compare them without buying them.
> Possibly I'm posting to the wrong group; I'm not of the income bracket
> to buy cameras often.
>
> Having posted here, however, I learned which cameras would be
> pointless to buy and which might be better. Thank you for your
> suggestion; I wish I could taken it.

Time to arrange a visit to a nearby city where you can handle the
different cameras! Make it a short holiday, perhaps?

If your prime concern is taking good photos, then the actual equipment may
be of secondary importance, and developing your "eye" for a good shot is
the thing to concentrate on. If you've already done that, you will have
some idea of where your present kit falls short, and thereby know what's
important in your next camera - zoom range, macro capability, accurate
viewfinder, manual controls, low-light capability or whatever.

Cheers,
David

From: bugbear on 10 May 2010 05:02

Bubba wrote:
> Thanks.

You're welcome.

BugBear

From: Martin Brown on 10 May 2010 06:00

Savageduck wrote:
> On 2010-05-09 15:23:22 -0700, Bubba <digitalrube(a)yahoo.com> said:
>
>> On May 9, 12:52 pm, "David J Taylor" <david-
>> tay...(a)blueyonder.co.uk.invalid> wrote:
>>>
>>> Compare the review shots, and handle the cameras which meet your
>>> requirements.
>>
>> I've read several suggestions to compare cameras, but at least where I
>> live (the U.S.), it's impossible to compare them without buying them.
>> Possibly I'm posting to the wrong group; I'm not of the income bracket
>> to buy cameras often.
>>
>> Having posted here, however, I learned which cameras would be
>> pointless to buy and which might be better. Thank you for your
>> suggestion; I wish I could taken it.
>
> Reading reviews, specs & tech data, is going to give you a mixed bag of
> information. Some of that will be factual and indisputable. (the specs &
> tech data.) Some of the reviews might be unbiased, others will be skewed
> one way or the other depending of the biases and/or loyalties of the
> reviewers.

And there are paper based photo magazines - their reviews tend to be a
bit more even handed and compare a few roughly similar cameras together
over a series of tasks with sample photos.
>
> It is not impossible to make comparisons of cameras in the U.S. without
> buying them.
>
> Depending on where you live in the U.S. I am sure you will be able to
> find a camera store or two prepared to let you handle the camera(s) you
> want to compare. I am not talking BestBuy or Walmart. (you might have to
> go to more than one store, there is no guarantee a single dealer will
> carry all the makes or models you want to check.) If you bring a clear

At least in the UK a surprising number of big high street computer
retailers have the most popular cameras out on tethered alarms. And you
can handle them to your hearts content. No batteries in them though.

> SD or CF card with you, some stores will let you take test shots.
> Don't commit to buy anything on your first visit. Take notes, mental, or
> otherwise on how the camera feels in your hands, check ease of
> operation, menus, etc. Go home and review your notes. Buy the camera
> which is the best compromise for you.
>
> You might try an internet search for camera stores in and around your
> home town. If not there, consider a visit to a bigger center close to
> you. In my case the nearest photo/camera specialist store is 35 miles
> from me in San Luis Obispo. They are primarily a Canon dealership, but
> they carry Nikon, Olympus, Leica, and much else. They will also work
> with any of their potential customers to buy the camera which works best
> for them, and they appear brand neutral in discussion.

It is also the case that if you do go and burn an hour of their sales or
technical guys time testing a camera that there is an obligation to buy
it from the store rather from some cheap jack internet box shifter.
Photo stores are rapidly going out of business - some will even match
internet prices if you ask nicely.

By far the most important factor is having a camera with you when you
want one and being comfortable with its handling. It doesn't matter how
good the reviewer thought it was if it doesn't feel right in your hands.

I get the feeling we are playing the photographic equivalent of fantasy
football here.

Regards,
Martin Brown

From: ransley on 10 May 2010 07:19

On May 9, 10:40 am, Bubba <digitalr...(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
> Thanks.

You keep asking questions on whats best, whats best is your technique
and visions, and how well you know the camera you choose. Its not the
camera thats going to "make" the photo, its you. I could take the best
camera and get crappy results just snapping photos compared to
composing and figuring out lighting etc with most any cheap P&S, You
think the camera will make you a photographer, wrong, its you.

From: Peter on 10 May 2010 19:47

"Savageduck" <savageduck1@{REMOVESPAM}me.com> wrote in message
news:2010051005204198142-savageduck1(a)REMOVESPAMmecom...
<snip>

> If I go into a car dealership to test drive a car, spend an hour or two
> (or more) with a salesman, that salesman will try to make me believe I had
> an obligation to finalized a sale with him, I do not. If in a test drive
> and in the sales negotiations there were issues with either the product,
> or the deal which did not work for me, I would not commit to the purchase.

I have little patience for conversations with pushy sales people. When
buying a car I test drive several makes and do an evaluation of the dealer.
To me a car is nothing but four wheels and steel. But, I love gadgets. I set
a budget in advance and pretty much stick to it. After I do a few test
drives and narrow the field I then rent the one I like best for a week. Only
then do I negotiate terms. With cameras, it's a little easier. I borrow one
from one of my friends and then buy, if I like it. Nikon, Canon and other
manufacturers periodically hold events at which they will let you test drive
a lens for a few hours.

--
Peter