Hi dougbert. I'm sure you will get a lot of helpful replies in this forum, but while you are waiting, may I suggest you take a look at www.dpreview.com.
I have no connection with that site other than as a computer/photo enthusiast. The site has reviews (with 15>30 sample pics) and details of many different makes of camera.
Also they have forums for each camera within those makes, so if you pose your question there as well, you will get a lot of useful information from both amateurs and professionals. I am always learning lots of new things on both sites.
Have fun....
Like many of the other Digital Cameras Forum readers, I am researching the purchase of my first digital camera, and need advice. For the last 25 years, I?ve used a Pentax 35mm camera with two lenses, one being a zoom lens, and have always got excellent pictures from it. However, the processing of film and scanning pictures has just gotten too laborious, so I want to go digital.
However, and this may sound really weird, I?m concerned about losing the ?intangible? part of TAKING pictures in switching to a digital camera. I am NOT a professional photographer, and probably not even a very good amateur one, but I enjoy the PROCESS of taking pictures. I like being able to hold the camera up to my face, look through the viewfinder, do my own focusing, and shoot. So, that being said, here?s what I need advice on (my starting ballpark is around $500, but if there were a camera that were ideal, I?d certainly consider spending more):
1) As opposed to getting a digital camera that is as small as possible, I?d prefer one that is similar in size (but not as heavy) as my Pentax ? one that I can grab onto with both hands, with a viewfinder to look through. However, my wife will also be using the camera, and she?d prefer the simple ?point n? shoot? flat display screen to look through, without holding it up to her face.
2) On my old Pentax, I don?t use the zoom lens often, but enjoy using it when the occasion warrants. How do digital cameras handle this? Separate lenses, or built into the camera?
3) As I mentioned, I really enjoy doing my own focusing. However, my wife will prefer just the opposite (story of our marriage!). I know all the digital cameras have millions of controls, but are any EASY to switch back and forth between manual focus and auto-focus?
4) One of the things that I really enjoy about my Pentax is that once I?ve got my subject focused, when I click, that?s the picture I get. I?ve heard horror stories about the ?lag? time for digital cameras between click and image captured. A recent post from Helen1 said that she found very few cameras that even list their click-to-capture speed in their literature ? how would I research this (it sounds like she already has)?
Thanks so very much for any responses to this! It?s harder than buying a car! - Dougbert

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