Who's into digital cameras here, need some advise. Thanks.

 

I've been shooting digital for 25 years or so. I don't know how much help I can be but I'll give it a try.

 

Something not complicated, easy download to W10 picture files, good clear zoom, overall sharp photo. Not concerned about make, just good quality.
Tired of using my phone, just want to take better pics and get away from google's picture grasp.

 

That is wide open to individual preference and how much you want to spend. With interchangable lens cameras the picture quality is more in the lens and technique than the camera. All of the modern DSLR and mirror less units will give you nice images across all of the major brands. You will probably get more bang for your buck with a DLSR but the technology is somewhat better with mirror less.
My preference is Canon and my current kit includes a R6 body and a 24-105, lens, a 70-200 lens and a 100-500 lens made for the RF mount. This assortment allows me to shoot any genre that interests me. The big downside is the cost. My kit cost over $6,000 used. You can probably get a compatible DSLR kit for half that and not see a big difference in images unless you really get picky over the images.
Now for my recommendation for you. Go on Facebook market place and look for cameras and lenses that come as a kit for one price. Canon Nikon and Sony would be my choices in that order but that is only my preference. If you find something that interest you, post it up here and we can give you an opinion. Good luck, Jerry

 

Appreciate the info, very informative for me, thank you.

 

You have a couple options to consider. Either the interchangeable lens variety or an 'all in one' or compact cameras. I'm going to assume you're not interested in something with an interchangeable lens. That option will require -at a minimum- two separate purchases. A camera body and at least one lens. On the positive side, you can expand your system with the addition of various focal length lenses. It much more flexible.

The 'all in one' compact option will have a lens -almost always a zoom- permanently attached to the camera. Most of these cameras will also have a built in flash. One positive is these cameras are easy to haul around. They're very portable. The negative is you really can't expand them like you can an interchangeable lens camera. These cameras will almost always have an optical zoom AND a digital zoom. Digital zoom sucks. Don't get excited about a 20x digital zoom spec because it will always suck. The compact camera market has been decimated by the camera phone in the last 10 years so options are *somewhat* limited these days.


You should also budget for a spare battery regardless of what you choose.

 

Thank you for that info, I have some research to do before I jump into this. Really not a photographer by any stretch, just want some clear photos for easy downloading, email and forum posting for the most part. I guess I'm looking at entry level stuff.

 

My vote for something older would be a Nikon D700 ($300ish), something newer maybe the Nikon Zfc ($900ish). For general walking around picture taking, emails, social media etc. the best bang for your buck will be the iPhone 14 Pro ($1000ish).

You don't need new top shelf stuff for general photography, my D700 takes great pictures at a cost point that is affordable. What is your budget?

 

Comments are appreciated, thanks.

 

You're getting good advice. I'm no camera buff by any means, but here's my $.02.
Look at the...Shooting Birds...thread where I posted a picture of bluebirds outside my kitchen window. I took that picture with a basic point & shoot Panasonic DMC-TX5 camera that I bought some time ago. And it was shot through 2 windowpanes. Point being, even these simple point & shoot cameras take great pictures & good way to start out. If you find yourself wanting to get more involved in picture taking, you can always move up to cameras with interchangeable lenses. And the skies the limit in how much you want to spend, from basic to high end. Not mention the choices in different manufacturers, with models from Canon & Nikon being very popular.
Good luck.

 

^^^ Good info, thanks. ^^^

 

You will eventually end up like this.

 

I don't think so................

 

I have been shooting sports for years and have $20K + in cameras and lens, plus computers and editing programs
Start off slowly and get some used gears to start out.

Look Here for used gear with a warranty
https://www.keh.com/shop/cameras/dig...m-24x36mm.html

Adorama and B&H also have used gear

Learn how to use the gear and edit on these forums
https://www.fredmiranda.com/

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/
there are others, buit these are my favorites
They both have sections for what interests you the most, cars, birds, sports and editiing
If you need special advice, PM me and I can try and point yoou in the right direction

 

^^^ Thank you for the info and the offer. ^^^

 

That's like, one big white and a body these days.

 

Right !
My last body was the MarkIV for 6K and a used 400 for 5K !
Plus I shoot real estate and have other bodies and lens and flashes and triggers for that
and I also have a few drones !

 

I’ve got 5D MK IV and it wasn’t $6K. Are we talking about the same body?

 

Disclaimer - if there is something below armature photography that would be me.

My first film camera in the 60's was something along the lines of a Kodak Brownie my grandfather gave me, rolling into the 70's it was all the inexpensive point and shoot stuff that was popular for the time. My first 35mm SLR was a Yashica (FR or FX series) I bought in Japan in 1978 and used that into the mid 80's. From here going forward through the 90's and 2000's I found myself using simple film and digital point and shoot type stuff just to capture the moment or for lack of a better term snapshot picture type stuff. Fast forward to COVID lockdown I decided I wanted to get back into photography and up my game a little with some professional equipment. Having been around past friends that were into photography they all seemed to own Nikon, the Photog's in the US Navy I knew also carried around Nikon. When my brain thought of photography it always defaulted to Nikon as the standard, kind of like the whole Chevrolet vs Ford thing.

I did a lot of research on various Nikon DSLR models with the intent being to get the best camera at the lowest price point possible, new was out of my budget so I tracked to older used equipment. The D700 won out as the best for quality of picture and cost point. I found a low count D700 in its original packing for $300. Couple years later I found a similar deal on a D3 also with a low count and original packing. Buying lenes and various camera accessories has proven to be more expensive that buying a camera, funny how that happens.

Guess my point is don't discount older professional equipment as there are some good deals out there that don't break the bank.

 

When not using my iPhone I use a Canon Rebel T7 Premium Kit. Older model now I am sure but it has two lenses and does well for what it is and will not break the bank. I Purchased at Target but Best Buy or other camera shops online should have this or similar. Canon is my choice and wanted something that also supported more lenses if I ever wanted any. Rebel T7i might also be a choice as well.

that is my quarters worth knowledge.