Hello...
I am so happy to see this photography chat place - I love it! I am a photography gooroo in that I love to take pictures and do so whenever given the opportunity!
I am not sure what kind of camera that you want but I use a Minolta Stsi and a Minolta Maxxum five with a zoom lense (75-300mm) and can get real close to subjects without a problem. I like Minolta alot though I am disappointed that I had to go to Cannon for a digital SLR even if they are good too. And I have never had a problem with one, except for my one messing up but I think that I did something to it while changing the film...something stupid and I dont count that against Minolta. Anyways, they are great!
Then you also have lenses though which you can get all kinds of. Like I said, the 75-300mm is great for what you need - pictures come out very close and extremely clear. I do recommend, for cost reasons, going with the Quantary lenses rather than the Minolta brand ones. This also means that when you buy another camera later on, same brand, the lense will fit. So, if Minolta goes digital later, you can use that lense on the digital. Good money saving!
As for prices, you can easily get a Minolta 35mm for under five hundred dollars, heck you can get the Minolta and the lense for under that right now - prices for 35mm cameras are dropping big time since digitals are out. I know that Ritz has some good deals when buying cameras, you can check them out online for prices and what not. Another place to look is BH Photo in NY but you have to order online or on the phone from them, they are reliable and great to deal with you just wont hold the camera first. Sometimes they have better deals though. Just a thought - but check out Ritz first!
Also, I recommend going to Ritz or another camera store if you know of one to try the cameras out and talk to the sales people. I would say to check out a camera store rather than another store like Best Buy or Circuit City because they usually know more about the cameras and are more helpful as they wont push the sale as much and will help you find what you need, even just to look and find what you want - then you can buy them anywhere! The people in Ritz in the mall are very nice! This way you can find one that is comfortable for you and suited to your ability. What I mean is that a Maxxum nine is used for more experienced photographers (most times!) because it has more options when the Stsi or Lower Maxxum number is used to less experienced ones - kinda move on up the numbers as you go. Also you might another brand that suits you better, just because I love minoltas doesnt mean everyone does, some will speak highly of Canon or Nikon. Make sense?
Oh and also try out the lenses, make sure that they get close enough for you. Watch out though, dont get one that is too big because it is real hard to take pictures with them. I have a telephoto lense but it is hard to use and I have to work with it alot to get it perfect. It has to be used on a tripod with a remote because it is very sensitive to movement. Just another idea!
I hope that this helps, I know that I have written alot but this is what should go into getting a camera, especially if you are serious about doing it. Might as well spend the time researching and find what you want and what suits you than rush and not be happy, right?
If you want, you can check out my website
www.worldshots.net to see what I have taken. This can kinda give you an idea of what the minolta can do with that lense. There is a picture of wood ducks on the home page that was used with the camera/lense I talked about and almost all of the close-ups of the animals and flowers were taken with it also. Maybe that can help, maybe not.
Hope this helps, let me know if you want more - like I said...I love photography!!!!
Jill
