digital cameras

**"* P* <r*@richpomerantz.com>**

Kate wrote: I am considering investing in a digital camera so that I can accompany
magazine or newspaper articles with photos. I am reasonably confident about
aesthetic and composition matters but less confident in the technical issues
involved making the photos beautiful. I'm eager to learn techniques but
don't really want a digi camera that requires advanced training and
elaborate computer programs to fiddle with. Is there a camera under, say,
$1500-$2000, that can be used with some training to make high-quality images
for publication? Any guidance on matters like "pixels" and such would be
*greatly* appreciated!

Hi Kate - if I may chime in here, and I am sure Larry will have some thoughts of his own on this too. For the price range you mention you can choose from a whole range of excellent "pro-sumer" level digital cameras from Nikon, Canon and a few other manufacturers.  There are digital SLR cameras in this range that not only will do an excellent job but are being used every day by serious pro and amateur photographers. I know more about the Nikons, so I can't speak to the Canon line, but I believe Canon has lots of camera choices. Canon has really developed a reputation for being innovative in developing digital camera technology. Having said that, I use Nikons because they just have stuck to their strong points, making cameras that are tough as nails, last forever, and their digital technology is excellent too.  

The Nikon D200 is a relatively new 10 megapixel camera that has received alot of praise from professionals I know who are using it for publication photography. It is retailing for around $1400, without a lens. You'd have to decide what lens you want, and you can certainly find something usable to keep you under $2000 but the better mid-range (that's 28-80mm, give or take) lenses will run you over $1000 more.  

A simpler camera is the D80, which might be a better option for you - it's also 10 megapixels but has fewer features and runs about $1000. There are others, but my suggestion is that you go to www.dpreview.com. and look up the reviews of different cameras you might hear about.  Here's what you are about to experience, and this post of mine is a perfect example - there are literally thousands of digital cameras out there, and certainly dozens (maybe even hundreds) in the price range you mention. No one knows enough to really give you an educated and honest answer to your question, accounting for all the possible choices, because there are just so many out there. We will each address what we know. So after you hear about some of the options, going to a place like dp review will help level the playing field. 

You can also look for cameras there under different criteria. It is far and away the best on line resource for researching digital camera equipment. There are articles there to teach you what you need to learn about before you even start comparing cameras, and then you can learn about the different programs you can use to work on your photos (which is independent of the camera you choose). As far as not using "elaborate programs", I am sorry to tell you that you will need some understanding of preparing your files before sending them to publications. That does not mean you have to become a Photoshop expert.....You might also consider taking a course to help you get acclimated to the new universe you will be traveling in. And if you only learn one thing, learn this: Read your manual. You don't have to memorize or study it cover to cover, just learn to review it and be used to referring to it regularly in order to best utilize the features of your camera that you will need and 
 use the most.  Digital camera users should consider the manual as important a feature of their camera as the lens. 

Good luck!

Rich Pomerantz
rich@richpomerantz.com
www.richpomerantz.com
(860)355-3356
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