Thanks for the tip about the Canon G-series. I've been looking for a point & shoot with a fast lens, and I had figured they just didn't exist.

Unfortunately it appears Canon dropped the nice lens form the G9 and G7, and the G6 is discontinued.

Do you know of any other fast p&s models?

My friend works for a big company that makes SD cards, and he reports that in their destructive testing labs (taking photos over and over again to judge lifetime of the cards in real operation), the Canon cameras outlast the Nikon ones significantly. This is borne out anecdotally by a friend who shoots horse shows Nikon DSLR breaking down after a few tens of thousands of photos.

I would like to recommend the Pentax K10D. (I don't get
any money for the recommendation.) 10 MP, more bang for
the buck than any other camera, allows one to use essentially
all Pentax lenses ever made WITH shake reduction (since the SR
is in the camera, not in the lens), nice to use for people
familiar with traditional film-based SLR cameras (most stuff
one needs to change---and one can change a lot---can be done
via various wheels withouth having to go to the menu), has a
dust-reduction system, has the traditional 3:2 ratio for the chip
(which is about half the size of 35-mm film, thus traditional
lenses behave as if they had a longer focal length), can shoot
JPEG and RAW simultaneously.

For those thinking about changing to a digital SLR: Why a SLR and
not a point-and-shoot, apart from higher quality and the ability
to change lenses (the main advantages)? A viewfinder gives one
an immediate view, whereas a display is delayed somewhat. Also,
with a viewfinder one has much higher resolution than a display
(nice if one needs to focus manually). Also, if it is bright,
then one can't see much even in a good display.

Why digital rather than film? The resolution argument for film
is no longer valid, for almost everyone. 5 reasons: shoot like a
pro (take lots of pictures and keep those you want---with film you
have to change film or have several cameras), change sensitivity
("ISO") on the fly (even automatically) (with film you have to change
film or have several cameras), no worries with negatives, you have
the originals in high resolution (you can scan film, but convenient
scanning is low resolution and high resolution is a pain) and finally
it is easy to take a quick picture and upload it somewhere (say, for
selling something on Ebay).

There is a wide range of high-quality lenses and other stuff available
for Pentax digital SLRs.

Not sure why one would use a camera to test an SD card (rather than a test deck), but the number of cameras being discarded due to mechanical wear must approach zero: Anecdotal cameras in use on muddy dusty and dangerous race-track environments lasting only a few 10s of thousands of shots excepted :-).

On the "which model is best" front, I am happy with my magnesium framed Nikon P5000. It (and its successor the P5100) are very compact (much smaller than the G9), yet has great hand feel and excellent imaging. Combine that with full manual control and an SLR-style command wheel, plus compatibility with converter lenses and the Nikon flash systems (low light is the enemy of imaging and lack of it the biggest weakness in point and shoot) and you have a great always-there camera. No sign of it wearing out yet :-)

There's a good review with test images here http://imaging-resource.com/PRODS/CP5100/CP5100A.HTM

I have a Canon EOS 600 film camera with 3 lenses:

Canon 35-70mm 1:3.5-4.5
Canon 90-300mm 1:4.5-5.6
Sigma 17-35mm 1:2.8-4

My current Fuji S9500 has just gone wrong and I am thinking of buying a Canon 450D.

I understand that I have to multiply the focal lengths by 1.6 if I fit these lenses to the digital camera.

What I need to know is: will these lenses give good results with the 450D or should I try to sell the EOS600 and the lenses and start again?

With thanks in anticipation,
Agroped

This is a great article I am going to buy the canon 5d mark 11 but still can't decide on two lenses
1. Canon 100-400mm F4.5 L is USM
2.Sigma 50-500mm F4.-6.5

I need the zoom as I do wild life photography so what do you recommend please

Thank you in advance

Nalin

Hi Brad,

You said:
"The best: The 5D Mark II

If you want the best, the one I personaly carry, and you have $2600 to spend, then just about every serious Canon photographer I know today today is carrying the 5D Mark II. Really."

While the 5D MK II is a great camera it is not the one carried by most serious/professional photographers. Please check the Canon 1Ds series. The top of the heap is currently the 1Ds MK III.

Good article and I enjoyed your numerous and detailed web postings!

Regards

Sue

I have been looking for a camera and cannot decide on one. My daughter does gymnastics and my son bmx and i would love a camera that will take great action pictures without the blur. I love to take pictures of them and the scenery around us. I would love to get a good camera to start doing some photography. Price range would be no more than $1,300...any suggestions???? THanks

Hi Brad,
Thanks for the lens kit info. Maybe you can help me a little more. Back in the day I was a photojournalist for a metro daily. I started out with Nikons and Canons and remained there. My lenses over the years were (depending on brand) 18mm, 20mm, 28mm, 35mm 55 macro, 100mm macro, 105mm, 180mm, 200mm and 800mm (mirror). Never a Zoom. I had Nikon F2s and Canon F1s. But I gave up my career to raise a family and just did a little freelance here and there and wound up strictly using a P&S sure shot 99% of the time. I'm frustrated with the P&S shutter lag and pretty much used a camcorder for everything in the past 10 years. But I'd like to get back in the game. Not super serious given the costs of top of the line equipment but something 'prosumer" (I believe that's the terminology being used). I looked at the NIkon 300D a couple of years ago and recently looked at the D90 (hubby likes the video capability) The only thing missing from the D90 that the 300 has is a PC outlet which I could use but I guess you can get adapters? Anyway. I very much appreciated your explanation of the difference and why there is one between the 35mm SLR film focal length lenses and the digital versions (except for high end) and wondered if you could just translate for me what I'm looking to buy. If I get the Nikon and once had an 18, 24, 50, 55 macro, 105, and 200 what do you think I could reasonably translate that into in todays digital market. BTW I REALLY appreciated your pushing people to by the 50mm 1.4 or 1.8, I loved the 105 and 85. They were pretty much my standard. I promise to use your site to get to B&H when ready to purchase. For something more on me you can go to catlifephotography.com (I did that for a while too) Thanks for any assistance you can offer.
Deirdre

I like my Canon PowerShot compact digital but I wish I could set the focal length to 50mm equivalent or so to reduce the distortions I get with family group photos (big heads at the edges, smaller heads in the middle, small feet, you know the kind of thing). I try to zoom to what could be about 50mm but it is hit-and-miss.

Is there a digital camera which allows zoom focal length to be selected?

Brad, I "found" you while surfing for lens suggestions to go with the Canon 7d, which I had hoped to purchase very soon. Your article, "What lenses for my digital SLR (Canon)" was very helpful. I decided to go with (all Canon) the 50mm f/1.4 EF (USM) for a prime lens; the 15-85mm f/3.5-6.6 EFS USM IS; and the 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS EF-S. I also intend to purchase appropriate UV filters/hoods for the lenses, as well as a pack bag. The hang-up came when I asked about availability of the 7d. I was surprised--although, in retrospect, shouldn't have been--to hear that the camera is not available and probably won't be for some time due to the tragedy in Japan. Because of your article, I had contacted B&H Photo-Video, Inc., New York, with plans to purchase all item from that source (By the way, I mentioned your name as my link to B&H--told a sales rep. named Brian--, so, I hope you are able to collect the referral $$!). Whenever the 7d becomes available, I plan to purchase the package. Thank you for your help and for the links to many excellent resources.

Jim G
San Angelo, TX