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Old 29-09-2006, 01:24 PM
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jjjnettie (Jeanette)
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Question Advise on Camera purchase

I'm looking to spend around $400 on a half decent camera. One that is suitable for snap shots as well as being used for a little astrophotography.
Reccomendations and "Don't buy This One" sort of advise is what I'm looking for.

Thanks in advance.
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Old 29-09-2006, 01:39 PM
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ving (David)
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for asrophotography i guess you are really looking at a DSLR of some sort, but they dont fit the $$$. you could go for a film SLR tho... they can be picked up pretty cheap these days.

if you want to just take happy snaps i can recommend a nikon coolpix p2
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Old 29-09-2006, 01:44 PM
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iceman (Mike)
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It will be tough for that price, but you could try a Sony DSCP100 or one of it's brothers.

I had one before I got my DSLR, and used it for terrestrial and astrophotography. Most of the shots I took with it are in my gallery, but you'd have to go back to the beginning as the recent shots are with the webcam.

It can do 30s exposures for good milkyway shots, and has enough manual controls to use afocally.

The P100 is 5mp, there's a 7mp version out now too but might be a bit more ($600-$700).
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Old 29-09-2006, 01:47 PM
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I've done a little bit of research on this, but can you really believe what the manufactures say about their product?
I did the rounds of the electronics and camera stores, then went to Cash Converters but they charged the same price 2nd hand as when the camera was new.
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Old 29-09-2006, 02:14 PM
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you thought of getting a second hand Canon 300D DSLR for around $500, might be lucky from ebay
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Old 29-09-2006, 02:59 PM
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Striker (Tony)
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I would say look for a second hand 300D DSLR like Houghy has mentioned.
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Old 29-09-2006, 03:37 PM
Sharnbrook (Mike)
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Can't go wrong with a Canon DSLR. A used 300D would be my favourite, even if you have to save up a bit more cash.

Regards,

Mike
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Old 01-10-2006, 07:14 AM
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I'm with the others, go for the second hand 300D or 350D DSLR, even if you have to pay a few extra dollars. A compact camera will ultimately be disappointing when it comes to astro use. A collegue at work bought a high end compact for a trip away, then after trying it immediately bought a DSLR.
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Old 01-10-2006, 07:41 AM
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Don't forget the extra costs - compact flash (or other media) cards, extra battery, remote timer, and if you're getting a DSLR, lenses as well.

The second hand 300/350D's probably don't come with lenses. They may come with the stock lenses, which will be suitable to start with (they're still suitable for me )
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Old 01-10-2006, 09:09 AM
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Don't forget the "slip it in your pocket or purse" portability factor too! A smaller camera tends to get taken out more that a more bulky camera with interchangeable lenses.

Cheers

Dennis
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Old 02-10-2006, 12:55 PM
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http://cgi.ebay.com.au/CANON-EOS-300...QQcmdZViewItem
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Old 02-10-2006, 01:10 PM
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http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Canon-Eos-300...QQcmdZViewItem
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Old 02-10-2006, 02:58 PM
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The real problem jjjnettie with point and shoot is they have small sensors and very small size pixels on the sensor. The more megapixels the smaller the physical pixel size. The upshot of it all is that a point and shoot has as much noise at 100 ISO as a Canon DSLR has at 1600 ISO. By all means get a P/S for happy snaps but it will be close to useless for anything but the bright astro objects.
In fact anything more than about two to four megapixels is a waste of time and money in a point and shoot as the noise gets to quite noticeable (intolerable) levels when shooting on lower light levels.

I guarantee that a older Canon Ixus with two megapixels (or similar) would leave the current 6 to 10 MP P/S cameras for dead as far as signal to noise is concerned. It is all marketing hype.

The situation is a bit better if the sensor in the P/S is larger.

Bert
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Old 02-10-2006, 04:43 PM
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I've got the lenses from the Canon EOS 50, a 28-80mm and a 75-300mm. I can't remember what size lens I've got on the EOS 5000, but I think it is different from the above.
I take it that they will still fit the newer cameras.
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Old 02-10-2006, 05:01 PM
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That explains a lot, Bert. Thanks for the info.
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Old 02-10-2006, 05:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jjjnettie
I take it that they will still fit the newer cameras
If it's an EF lens it will fit an EOS digital. Some of the newer 2/3 format digital lenses (e.g. 18-55) will not however fit film or full frame DSLR's due to the rear elements protuding further in to the camera body. FWIW I've taken more photos in the past 18 months with my 20D than I took over the past 8 years with my Kodak compact digital.
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