Best kind of digital camera?

[Ru1056]

I am intersted in what kind of digital camera you reccomend for around $300-$400. I am new to this hobby and would really appreciate any advice. I hadnt planned on purchasing a camera for this hobby, even though I really love the pictures on this site.

The picture bug caught me today when I saw an Amtrak GE P42DC pulling about a 50 car freight train today. But I had no camera!!

Thanks
Billy

[Joe]

First of all, what features do you want with your camera? I'd recommend a digital Kodak, but I'm sure some people will contradict me.

And second, where on earth were you when you saw a P42 pulling 50 freight cars?! I'm not even sure that's feasable, but hey, if I saw that, I'd want a camera too!

[Ru1056]

Thanks Joe I am not really sure what features do what on the camera's. Both day and night photography is what I would like to photograph. Sorry if that doesnt help much. I am new to this.

The P42 was on the Indiana Railroad next to their Indy yard. I never knew of this railroad having a power shortage so why it was on the train is beyond me, and they dont go near the Amtrak yard in Beech Grove.

[Chris Starnes]

Billy:
Sounds like just a standard point and shoot digital camera would suit your needs well. It would be better to learn the basics on something small (and cheap) before upgrading.

[morven]

You can certainly get pretty good results from a cheapish digital camera. All my photographs here (http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=6549) were taken with a $250 Kodak DX6440, some with a $50 2x teleconverter. I'd recommend the Kodak range myself, though others may disagree; the cameras are easy to use, and they produce pretty good results IMO. Get the camera dock; it's an easy way to recharge and download.

Get as much zoom as you can afford; trains are often a far-away subject, and some telephoto can buy you a better shot quite often. 8x or 10x optical zoom will be a big help. Most brands offer add-on teleconverter lenses to (normally) double the zoom; I have one of those for my camera, which has 4x native optical zoom.

Cameras with high built-in zoom are bulkier and harder to carry everywhere, while my 4x camera fits in a tiny belt pouch I can take anywhere; the teleconverter fits in a pocket. The disadvantage of my solution is that you have to fiddle with an add-in lens, which when installed is bulkier than built-in optics. You can't use wide angle with the teleconverter installed, of course, so it must be removed for them. 8x or 10x built-in zoom gives you more flexibility but a bulkier camera, and generally a separate lens cap to lose.

I'd recommend going to a store that lets you handle the cameras first. You may (and probably will) hate the ergonomics of some cameras, and love others.

[Ru1056]

Thanks everyone for the information.

[cactus65]

I personally recently purchased a Canon A95, would highly recommend it, can be used in both Auto and Manual focus. also has a high speed shutter setting for taking multiples . Can also purchase lots of extras , such as wide angle lens, tele-lens, and filters

[dsktc]

Billy, you have received excellent advice from everyone who has replied.

Two very good resources to learn about digital photography,
including camera reviews, are Digital Photography Review and Luminous Landscape.

http://www.dpreview.com/

http://luminous-landscape.com/

Dave

I am intersted in what kind of digital camera you reccomend for around $300-$400. I am new to this hobby and would really appreciate any advice. I hadnt planned on purchasing a camera for this hobby, even though I really love the pictures on this site.

The picture bug caught me today when I saw an Amtrak GE P42DC pulling about a 50 car freight train today. But I had no camera!!

Thanks
Billy

[C40dash8]

I bought a Kodak DX 6490 to replace my point and shoot film camera and I'm a big fan. (It has been replaced by the DX 7590, 5 megapixel, for the same price). I would highly recommend it.

[Joe]

I second C40-8s recommendation.

Of course, after shooting BNSF 7687, the camera has been making noises...
I guess you could say it was so ugly, it broke my camera! :P

[oltmannd]

I bought a Kodak DX 6490 to replace my point and shoot film camera and I'm a big fan. (It has been replaced by the DX 7590, 5 megapixel, for the same price). I would highly recommend it.

Ditto! I have shot hundreds of rolls of film with a manual SLRs since 1973 and just got a Kodak DX7590 and have no regrets. It's a wonderful camera. I don't miss my SLR even a little bit.