Best Camera Between $500-$1000

[STAINLESS again plz]

Wow. Wasnt expecting such a good response. Gunna have to read all these when I get home.

For now keep discussing amongst yourselves haha

P.s. Im not an experieced photographer at all either.

Would rather spend more on bits that will help me rather than extra goodies that I wont know how to use. So yer im not dead set on dslr or anything.

My next question will be for some photoshop quick tips.

Edited 28/06/11 03:10 AM by STAINLESS

[Adam]

I'm not saying I won't buy anything ever again. Just not for quite some time.

The end choice comes down to what you're going to use it for and whether or not you expect to explore photography a bit.

If you just need a camera for the odd snap here or there then a good P&S probably is the best solution.

[Turbo6FG]

Thing with a DSLR is if you get into it it's gonna cost you a LOT more than a P&S (which can be quite good, especially the higher end Canon Powershot). I think I've spent more on camera stuff than I have on my ute. Latest addition being the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II. Bit of a waste of money (about $2500) actually as I mostly do underwater stuff & there's no port addon for my underwater housing that fits it.

Awesome bokeh though there's nothing else on the market that comes close.

[mjadeb1984]

I just bought a SIGMA 70-200mm 2.8 OS... Seems pretty awesome so far... havent tested it out fully... I think there is only slight vignetting when wide open... Need to have a cruise so I can test out the OS!

nice, ive had my eye on the canon 70-200 2.8 for a while but couldnt justify springing for the Image stabalized one and dont like the idea of buying it knowing that theres a model up from it. how much did you get the sigma for, and got any ideas of quality comparisons between it and the equivalent canon?

Edited 28/06/11 07:36 AM by mjadeb1984

[Adam]

It can't be better than the Canon, because the Canon is perfect!

[mjadeb1984]

im with you man but it is over a grand cheaper and im no pro

[Worm]

I paid just over $1k for it Inc post from d-d-electronics...

Can't beat it in terms of value for money... The difference between it and the canon is very minor... In fact some people review it as better in the middle... But wide open the canon a bit better...

However... I decided for $1500 less, it's a bloody good option!!! Very happy with my purchase...

Other option was IS canon 4.0f but I think you need 2.8f... And I thought about canon 2.8f non is... However, everyone seems to be selling em on eBay and wanting 2.8 IS... I'll do some shooting hanging out the side of a car... Hence need OS/IS...

Will post up some pics after we do a day cruise!

[Worm]

I also like Tamron lenses... Used to love my 28-75 2.8, but it got stolen and I decided on a different route for new camera... :-)

[mjadeb1984]

cheers, yeah you cant go past that value for money, ive been reading a few reviews and comparos found them on ebay for around the 700 mark. and I deff want the 2.8 as I do alot of low light and shallow DOF experimenting (muckin round). another thing to add to the ever increasing tax return wish list.

and also back on topic hearing your reasoning and what you would be using it for my vote would be for the canon powershot G12. had a mate who had an older top of the range powershot and it was very good, he even "cracked it" with some downloaded software and it could do some crazy stuff, very cool.

[Adam]

There is/was a lot of IS versions on the used market when the IS II came out.

I've heard good reviews about the Sigma and also some very bad ones too.

It seems the general consensus is that Sigma can be a bit hit and miss. Their quality control is on the low side and sometimes it takes a few different versions until you find a good one.