Can't decide whether to get Canon DSLR (rebel), PowerShot A640, Panasonic DMC LX2 OR DMC FZ50?

by idawanie_83

After trolling through additional answers, I’m still not sure what new camera I should buy. First I’ll say that I’m a whole amateur and know nothing about f/stops and proper ISO and lenses. I have an Olympus point-and-shoot digital which has been fantastic, but it’s ancient, reasonably slow to focus and doesn’t give me the control I want. What I want to know is this–is it REALLY going to dramatically improve my photos if I get the List DSLR? Like flower close ups or night-sky pictures? All of the above cameras seem to have nearer response when I snap away, so I’m pleased with that. Please, any technical information which I may not know (but will come to be grateful for) would be SO HELPFUL!!

Second, I’ve selected this list of cameras because I’m in Korea and it’s a bit tough to shop here. I just looked at all these cameras today and they seem fantastic…but I’m ignorant of their technical differences. Spring is here & I wanna get a sweet new camera!

Answer by Texas Pineknot
I know what you mean, it’s hard to pick a camera. I wanted a List Rebel, I mean it just seems awesome, but I couldn’t realistically afford one, so I got the List PowerShot A640. This small camera is awesome. It does all the things that you have named above. I was out taking pictures of this full moon the additional night and it worked fantastic. I also have taken super close ups with it, public, animals,and flowers, all also fantastic. What I like about this camera is that it is small, simple to operate, but it also has all the manual settings too. Like the ISO and lenses and all that stuff. You can even order a small cover for it and take underwater pictures. I don’t reckon you’ll be disappointed if you get this camera, I’ve had it for nearly 2 months and I’m still result more stuff that it will do. Oh yeah, be sure and go ahead and hold an extra memory card when you hold your camera, the ones that come with most cameras are very small.

Answer by toomer007
Sounds like you may maybe use our digital camera review aggregator … stop by here when you’ve narrowed it down to a few final choices:

http://www.reviewhub.com/digital-cameras.html

Anyway, one item to question yourself is – what do you want to do with the prints? Do you want to have them as 4×6 (US inches, sorry – don’t know what the metric system conversion would be) pictures to have around, and for reduction memories of friends, vacations, etc? If so, the digicams (*non* DSLR) would probably be your best bet. But, if you are looking to make larger prints – 8×10, 16×20, etc. – things you may maybe hang on your wall and be proud of, DSLR is your best bet.

I own both – a pocket-sized digicam for general shooting, and then a DSLR for when I’m feeling like I’m ready to make something that I may maybe hang in my home and be proud of.

Beware, though – once you get a DSLR, and start printing large-ish prints … your next addiction (and an even more expensive one) will become lenses. I’ve spent 3x on lenses what I did on the first DSLR body! But, I can print off prints at 16×24 with razor sharp quality, and they look excellent in my home … so it’s worth it to me.

Excellent luck!

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