photography buffs, help me buy a DSLR camera

[neuroman]

Your "point and shoot" has 10X optical zoom??

[DING-DONG YO]

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Your "point and shoot" has 10X optical zoom??

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Yup, the S3IS does.

I just checked, 12X actually.

[neuroman]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Your "point and shoot" has 10X optical zoom??

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup, the S3IS does.

I just checked, 12X actually.

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hmm I guess I just never thought of a camera this big and bulky:



as a point and shoot.

[DING-DONG YO]

I see your point, but technically it is a point and shoot.

And it's really not that big and bulky, believe it or not. It's too big to put in your pocket, sure, but it is much smaller than any SLR. Cameras like the S3IS are kind of between a real SLR and a small pocket size point and shoot.

[4 High]

My Kodak Z712 IS is a point and shoot with 12x Optical.

[kerowo]

The truth of the mater is that you won't be able to tell the difference between a Canon or a Nikon lens. Not in everyday shooting. Maybe if all you shoot is brick walls or tennis nets.

A 12x optical zoom means the long end is 12 times the wide end. So if it is 25mm on the wide end it would 300mm at the long end.

[Jonny]

I personally like Canon better and own a 30D. I couldn't be happier at the price point. IMO canon has better lenses, but you really can't go wrong with canon or nikon.

[By-Tor]

40d

[otnemem]

DDY,

I just recently ordered a dSLR, also as a Xmas present. I had the same conundrum as you, but at a lower level (xt versus d40). I ended up ordering the xt. Most of the advice I was given came down to: they're both excellent cameras, and most of the differences between them are very nominal, therefore it all depends on how it feels in your hand. I did hear that Nikons (the d40 at least) aren't as good shooting in low light. Also, I heard that Canon lenses are better, but Nikon flashes are better, fwiw.

[Rushmore]

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40d

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Cannot believe it took this long into the thread.