Reefs.org Forums

[Hwarang]

A reply to the OP, not the fussin mid-thread:

a) You're familiar with Nikon. Nikon is an excellent brand (lol fuji)
b) The nikon d50 is what you might look at. It is a dSLR, very popular, excellent quality, price that's not outrageous.
c) If you want something a little more basic go for the d40. It's newer than the d50 actually, and a little less bonkers.
d) Nikon lens interchangeability.
e) I do agree with those who said "you need to learn how to use a dSLR" - what I strongly suggest is keep using your camera now and do what you can to improve the macro photos.
- experiment with the macro settings.
- remember your environmental variables. light pollution, tank lighting, glass cleanliness
- tripod?
- basically do what you can "outside of your camera" to hone your macro skills. i didnt' realize for a long time that my pix were crappy because i wasn't setting everything up right.

As someone said, DPreview is an excellent site. You can also go to flickr.com and see what cameras people use, and what type of pictures they are taking. See?
http://www.flickr.com/cameras/

[bubblepuffer]

I totally agree with above. There is so many brand of dSRL out there.. some is easy to use and some is complicated. You need to ask yourself, what is the future of your Camera.. what you want to do with it. You intend just for fish tank photo, or more different kind of photos that you will get yourself into.

Go to those Old School Camera shop/store in your city that do retails for Manual SLR, dSLR and PnS Camera. Ask the Sales person to let you play with the camera and take some picture with it. Choose the Camera that most comfy on your own hand, also easy to access to those control panels on the Camera. Don't let the Sales fools you by talk you into getting something expensive that you don't feel comfy holding it, or the control in the wrong area that you feel hard to use.

Go home and think about it and take time to decide which one to get.. Once you owned it, go take as much picture as you can and try out all the setting to get yourself familiar with it. Post your picture at dpreview and ask those Pro to give opinion on your picture. They will tell you what is wrong with your picture and guide you to the right setting under certain condition and so you can take the same picture 2nd time with huge improvement on it.

[mcaddo60]

It think this, (http://www.smartratings.com/photography/digital_cameras), will help ease the burden off your shoulders as far as selecting which camera is right for you. All the reviews for every product listed on the site are available. All you have to do is read them. Hope it helps.