digicam

[arethinn]

I would like to redevelop my photographic eye. Any time I take my camera out to shoot something, I tend to get tons of ordinary/lousy pictures. I've lost the unique perspective (un-great as it may have been) that I developed during my college photography classes 3-4 years ago.

To this end, I've decided that I really need a digital camera, something that I can whip out and take pictures at will with the way I used to with my Pentax when I was in school. I carried that thing around with me constantly because of the classes (was I really taking 3 at once? no... maybe 2? in some semesters); I always had it in the trunk of my car, even if I didn't happen to be carrying it actually on my person. Besides the greater chance of getting a few really great shots the more rolls you burn, the act of composing umpteen million shots gradually hones and.. um.. distinctifies (sure!) one's photographic style.

Now, while I would love to have one that is all manual with interchangeable lenses, since that's what I'm used to from conventional photography, I realise that that's way outside my price range right now (i.e. 4 digits, or high 3 digits... if anyone has other information, please let me know!) Instead, what I would like is a digital camera that I can carry around anywhere I go, like I used to do with my Pentax, only rather more convenient. I do find completely automatic cameras to be confusing and frustrating, however, in the same way I find an automatic transmission on an automobile to be awkward. (Having gotten used to a more precise level of control, I find it hard to go back!)

My price range for this is under $300. It's bonus if I can control the camera manually (light meter, shutter speed, aperture), as described above, but, I suppose, not required. I want a good megapixel value. It has to have some kind of memory-stick-card-thing (as opposed to disk.. do they even sell those anymore?) which can be hooked up to a USB port.

Recommendations? (that was the point of all this ramble...heh)

Comments

[twopiearr.livejournal.com]

Means you can screw on other lens attachments and filters. you can't actually remove the built-in lens, so if you were to add say a 2x zoom on top you'd have to be a little careful about vignetting, but other than that, it's essentially the same thing -- you just have to think of whatever you're screwing on as adding to, rather than replacing, the camera's own lens.