Hey guys and gals, here is a subject, that a dear friend of mine encouraged me to post.
Even tho I am no expert, I wanted to reach out, and see what most of you think, and in return
it might help her pick the right camera.

What camera do you have, and what was the reason you picked it? was it the high megapixel,
or the ease of use( automatic settings)
was it the bundle deal? ( some camera stores will sell you a lesser camera with one or 2 pretty decent lenses)
was it SLR? ( single lens reflex) canon, or nikon, or sony? sorry, those seem to be the top 3
I personally have 2, a older nikon d80, but then got a d300s which is already outdated
I am waiting for the newer nikon to come out later this year, and I have a couple of really decent portrait lenses, plus a 500mm lens that could capture the dew drops of a hummingbird on a nearby roof!
what are everyones favorites? and feel free to post pics of your favorite pics you have taken with them!

Is she interested in professional quality, posed shots or just something for day to day use where it's a shot of opportunity?  As you have already alluded to, one camera can't do everything.  She really needs to determine it's primary function and the work from there.  

Personally  I have an old Canon A-1 35mm film with a few fixed lenses, a Canon EOS Rebel XT (my current favorite), and a Sony Cybershot DSC-H10 if I just want to grab something and go.

With the rapid advancement in optical devices there is something newer and better every day.  Use the review sites to make the best choice.

Nikon Coolpix L20 which i use for casual shots because it is convenient and easy to use.

for more serious uses i find a DSLR such as the Canon EOS 1000D or 450D essential. those devices are entry level in the sense that the viewfinder image is formed by a mirror system rather than a prism, so the viewfinder image is darker. if you are going for shots in extreme lighting conditions it may be more convenient to go for a higher end unit. i think there is a 30D in my future.

I bought this camera last year.  It is a GE X5 14.1MP Digital Camera 2.7”LCD 15X Optical Zoom. This camera sells for $109-$129.

This point and shoot camera is awesome.  I love it.  With 14.1 MegaPixels you get a clean, crisp image.  In my opinion it is a great buy for the money.

And I'm thinking of the Samsung cameras because they have a dual display screen on the front of the camera in addition to the back which would supposedly make taking self portraits easier!  

Does anybody have one or used a camera with a dual display screen?  

what is the primary use going to be and what is the skill level of the user..
if it's candid point and shoot, there are some great cameras out there and any of the brands you named are excellent choices... I'm partial to Sony for point and shoot.. sized to fit in my shirt pocket..

if you move up to DSLR then the big players are Canon and Nikon.. based on attendance at several photo workshops I'd guess 90% of professionals that have embraced digital and amatuer enthusiasts like me use either Canon or Nikon. The prevailing opinion is that Canon makes the best lenses and when you get into DSLR, your investment is going to be in lenses.  Once you've bought 2-3 lenses, you're hooked on that brand because it's too expensive to abandon the lenses to move to another brand (yes, you can get adapters, but that tends to cost you in image quality)

There are some really good underwater cameras available at decent price points today also.  they are point and shoot, but an interesting alternative if you live and play near the water..

I could go on forever as this is my true hobby.... girls come in second place... unless of course a lady wants a photo shoot for her portfolio.. the the two hobbies can merge into a very pleasant interlude.. my personal idea of extended foreplay would be shooting Cecelia's portfolio update

Canon T-70 SLR with about 3-4 lenses & a big electronic flash unit, all in a nice big camera bag.  When I finally decided to go digital, I realized that I rarely took pics with the Canon because it was such a pain to drag all that kit along on a trip, so I went to a pocket digital which I would take with me.  I now use a Canon Power Shot SD890IS, which is only 10 megapixels (it's a couple years old) but it has a 5X optical zoom.  I attend a lot of vintage sports car race events & that optical zoom was most important to me (I have a 60-300 zoom & a 2X doubler for my T-70 for that very reason), as it allows me to get some decent on-track shots from spectator areas.  I am a solid Canon fan, but appreciate that Nikon also makes great cameras, I've just always been a Canon guy & don't desire to switch.  As was pointed out, what you intend to use it for makes a big difference in what is ideal to purchase.  If I was interested in a lot of indoor/studio-type of work I'd probably go Digital SLR but for me that invokes the 'too big to haul around' issue.
Good topic, thanks for bringin it up.

if you want to do self portraits, you need to get a small tripod for a point and shoot (gorilla pods are really good - google is your friend), compose the picture, set the self timer and pose... much less tacky than the mirror self portraits you see in all the ads...

And I love each one.  
I always have my point & shoot with me when I meet up with friends.
Tori

-- Modified on 2/3/2012 4:37:03 AM

what do you think of the Sony ? I find the mirrorless concept interesting, but not sure how I would feel about a system that was all lens... a bit old fashioned I know, but a camera should have some "heft" to it ?

while I am it's main focus, All my pictures are taken this way but I need to keep setting that damn timer for each one. Get's to be tiresome and since I never airbrush I would want to get a better picture from a larger group. I would by a simple digital camera if it would take time lapse photography but can't seem to find one.

Kisses Haley

I love my Sony due to the small size, and light weight it makes it easier to Handle, but I have small hands and had to start using a wrist support to shoot with my D2X.
I also do a lot of pet photography and find that shooting pets my Sony does not intimated or frighten them as much as my D2X.  

Tori Blake
I shoot this with my Sony at the Balloon Feista in Alb.New Mexico.

... it's kind of like the time I complemented a guy on his shot of Antelope Canyon.. he looked at me and said "we both know Stevie Wonder could take a good picture there"...

It's hard to go wrong at the Albuquerque Ballon Fiesta... so many great opportunities for good images..

now.. if I could shoot you nude in a balloon gondola with the mass ascension in the background that would make great foreplay

It's nice to know you like some things smaller and easier to handle too

Inexpensive... Will work on low end DSLR's like Canon Rebel, not sure about point and shoot compatibility, but that would be easy research... Receiver plugs into the camera and transmitter is in you hand and small enough to be inconspicuous..

I can PM you the brand if you like...

The better half looked at it, looked me in the eye, and said "compensating, are we?"

if you spare no expense the best optics are Zeiss which makes lenses for Canon and Nikon.

IMO next best are Nikon lenses. just a tad ahead of Canon and Pentax. my preference for Canon DSLRs has to do with features other than optical quality.