What's the best professional camera for a beginner?

waterproof digital camera dpreview image

Z

I'm starting now and I want to get a camera that I'll be able to use as a professional.

Answer
my first digital camera was the olympus E-300 and I'm still using it right now although I will be upgrading to the E-3 when I can afford to. It is very easy to use and the quality is amazing. It was very easy to learn and the functions are intuitive. Zuiko lenses (olympus) are one of the best glass out there and the lenses were designed for digital cameras not just using 35mm lenses and making the mount for the digital camera like most of the other brands.

here's a pro talking about his experience with the e-3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciyWOjrbHKQ

the E-3 is a 10mp pro camera made out of magnesium for durability and shock resistance and waterproofing (there was a video of someone cleaning their E-3 by showering it)

olympus is claiming the fastest auto focus system in the world thanks to their new SWD lenses.

and it has live view LCD and the LCD is fully articulated and waterproof as well.

here's a review of the e-3 on dpreview

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0710/07101603olympuse3.asp

most people will recommend a canon or a nikon but I wouldn't consider those because that is what everyone has. if you want to stand out as being different and innovative then olympus is the way to go.

remember though that the camera is just the tool, it's your eye and talent that will be what makes you a great photographer...don't be afraid to be creative and find what your style is (freeman patterson, in one of his workshops, actually gives each person a hoola hoop and you close your eyes and throw it as hard as you can and then you spend the afternoon photographing stuff in that circle).

Which digital camera would you suggest buying?

destiny21

I'm looking to spend less than $150, but will go up to $200 if necessary. I'm just looking for the best camera I can get for a low price. Which digital camera would you suggest and why?
Thanks! :)
Answers are great so far! Just a couple more details on what I'm looking for : small, easy to carry, used mostly to take pictures of outings (more people than scenary, but probably that too). Thanks! :)

Answer
Some of our best answerers always recommends the Fujifilm FinePix F20 camera as the best-for-less choice. I have to say that I like the sample images at Steve's site (below). If Morey000 or SpaceCowboy show up after me and make this recommendation, choose them as the best answer, because I'm just passing along their suggestion. I have no personal experience with this camera. I see it at B&H Photo (available through Yahoo! Shopping) for $150; $190 with a 1 GB Sandisk memory card.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/fuji_f20.html
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Fujifilm/fuji_finepixf20.asp

My brother has the A540 and my mother-in-law has the A530 - on my recommendation - and neither one has stopped speaking to me yet. Based on this and experience with other Canon Powershot cameras, I am now recommending the A550 as a nice and relatively inexpensive camera.

Canon just introduced the A550, which has more pixels, but offers less user control. I'd be happy with the A540, but the A550 is probably also worth considering, especially since the A540 has been discontinued. I've seen it for $140 in some stores like WalMart and Target.

The A550 costs $160 at B&H and, of course, you'll need a memory card.

A550 review: http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/a550.html

Steve's reviews updates the "Best Camera" list periodically:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/best_cameras.html

Consumer Reports from May 2007 has a short article on digital cameras and they recommend 10 different point and shoot cameras in the following order within groups according to camera design:
**COMPACTS**
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 (Overall score 75) [$410]
Kodak EasyShare C875 (Overall score 73) [$165] - Rated better for shutter lag
Nikon Coolpix P4 (Overall score 65)
**SUBCOMPACTS**
Canon Powershot SD500 (Overall score 72)
Casio Exilim EX-Z850 (Overall score 72)
Sony Cybershot DSC-W50 (Overall score 70) [$180] [Similar to W55] - Rated better for shutter lag
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX3 (Overall score 69) [$200] [Similar to FX-10, FX-12]
Olympus Stylus 720SW (Overall score 61) [Similar to 770SW - $360] (Waterproof)
**ADVANCED COMPACTS ("Near SLR")**
Fujifilm Finepix S6000fd (Overall score 77) [$300] - Rated better for shutter lag
Fujifilm Finepix E900 (Overall score 73) [$250]

[Things change so quickly in digital cameras that I can not find all of these models listed for sale and it's not even May yet. Prices are from B&H Photo, April 2007.]

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