DIGITAL AND FILM CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS
(in association with Amazon.com)

This camera guide has been prepared to assist you with purchasing a new camera.  It is built in association with amazon.com.  I have owned numerous cameras including digital compact (point and shoot) cameras, digital SLRs, 35mm film cameras, and even medium and large format cameras.  So this page is put together to pass some of my knowledge on to you.  I know that there are numerous review sites on the web, but most of them do not really recommend a best product.  This page makes some recommendations based upon your specific needs.  While I have a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, I try not to get too technical. In most cases, I do not discuss common features that you find on comparable cameras, and instead I focus on features that I think are different between comparable cameras, and/or are of greater importance. You can use the links for each camera to get the super low prices from amazon.com.  THANK YOU! 
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Digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) Cameras

If you already own a 35mm SLR, then you want to strongly consider a digital SLR by the same manufacturer so that you may possibly use your 35mm lenses with your SLR and save money on purchasing new lenses (check first though!).  Thus, I have organized this section by the lenses that the cameras are compabible with and given a few comments on, and/or personal experiences with, each of the more popular digital SLRs available.

Cameras for Canon Lenses

Canon EOS 6.3MP Digital Rebel SLR Camera (with 18-55mm lens)

This is the entry level digital SLR offering from Canon but it still packs 6.3 megapixels (with Canons proprietary DIGIC image processor that already gives it a leg up on the competition) and up to 2.5 frames per second of continuous shooting speed.  It uses compact flash (type I or II) memory cards and uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack (included with charger).  Other features include: Built-in, pop-up flash with an approximate 3-second recycle time; 7-point autofocus with several focusing modes; ISO speed range of 100 to 1600; and RAW plus 6 different JPEG resolutions.  It even has depth of field preview (but not mirror lock-up).  A great buy (presently less than $800 after rebates), and enough to make you think twice before buying another film SLR! (Click here to buy the body only). For a full range of specifications for this camera click here.

Canon EOS-10D 6.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

With a 6.3 megapixel sensor you have a resolution equivalent to a good photo CD film scan for making 8"x10" digital prints that are almost indistiguishable from film.  This body has virtually all the features of the higher end Canon 35mm bodies.  The shooting speeds for digital cameras tend to be a little slower than their 35mm equivalents, but this camera can shoot at 3 frames per second with bursts to a total of 9 frames.  It takes Compact Flash (type I or II) cards (I recommend at least 512mb cards) and can save images in RAW format or JPEG format if you need more images on your cards (JPEG images also give you higher speeds).  This model comes with a built in flash and some good software including Adobe Photoshop Elements for improving your images.  Note that the focal length multiplier for this camera is 1.6X, so your 100mm lens (for example) becomes a 160mm lens.  This is very nice for telephoto lenses, as a 300mm f2.8 lens becomes a whopping 480mm f2.8 lens!  Comes with a battery pack and a battery recharger. For a full range of specifications for this camera click here.

Canon EOS 20D 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body only)

This is one of Canon's newest SLR offerings. Like the 1D Mark II, the EOS-20D sports an 8.2 megapixel image (with a CMOS sensor) with a 2:3 aspect ratio similar to 35mm film cameras.  It can shoot at 5 frames per second for up to 23 images (but only 6 images if shooting in Raw or Raw+jpeg mode).  Compatible with not only Canon's new EF-S Lenses, but with the entire EOS System of lenses and flashes, the EOS 20D is a professionally featured camera with a consumer price tag.  The user can shoot in either JPEG or RAW+JPEG and write to a compact flash card (type I or II). The camera has a reputation for very low noise and vivid color. One neat thing about this camera is that it has a fairly wide ISO range (ISO 100 to 3200). Comes with some excellent software (presently Photoshop Elements 2.0), an auto pop-up flash with red-eye reduction, and a battery. In addition, there are numerous accessories available for the 20D including a battery grip (for easier handling and more battery power plus the ability to use AA batteries when you do not have time to recharge!).The focal length multiplier for this body is 1.6X (see above) making it an excellent choice for frequent telephoto use (i.e. it makes an 80-200mm f2.8 a ~128mm-320mm f2.8 lens!  For a full range of specifications for this camera click here.

Canon EOS-1D Mark II 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Lens Not Included)

If the EOS-10D is not enough camera for you then step up to the EOS-1D with a price just under $4200.  It sports an 8.2 megapixel image with a 2:3 aspect ratio similar to 35mm film cameras.  It has most all the features of the EOS-10D, but can shoot at 8.5 frames per second even at full resolution, making it the world's fastest digital SLR at the time of this writing.  This camera has almost every feature you can imagine, including the ability to write in RAW and JPEG formats simultaneously and numerous custom and personal functions.  It is made with a rigid magnesium alloy body and comes with some pretty good software.  The focal length multiplier for this body is 1.3X (see above).  For a full range of specifications for this camera click here.

Canon EOS 1Ds 11.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

This camera sports a large 11.1 megapixel CMOS image sensor which is enough rival the performance of medium format film.  It accepts Canon EF lenses and shoots at 3 frames per second.   It takes compact flash (type I or II) cards and has an equivalent ISO range of 100 to 1250. This was arguably the best digital SLR around until the EOS 1Dx Mark II (see below) was introduced. Those that do not need the extra megapixels of the 1Ds Mark II should look carefully at this camera. While no longer the new kid on the block, it still is one of the finest digital cameras ever made and now sports an even lower price tag. The focal length multiplier for this body is 1.0X (see above) meaning there is no crop factor.  An awesome camera. For a full range of specifications for this camera click here.

Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II 16.7MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Looking for the ultimate digital camera, i.e. the best all around digital SLR on the market today?   This is it, although the upcoming Nikon D2X may be a better choice for sports shooters.  The camera sports a huge 16.7 megapixel CMOS image sensor and should give medium format film shooters pause.  The EOS-1Ds Mark II captures up to 32 consecutive shots at speeds up to four frames per second and features dramatically decreased startup and card-writing times (the camera is equipped with two card slots, one for CompactFlash and one for Secure Digital memory cards).   Early camera testers report very low noise and super image quality.   The camera is not cheap (presently just under $8000) but worth it for the serious or professional shooter.   With such high resolution and low noise, this may be the last digital camera you have to buy.   Supposed to come with excellent software including raw processing, viewer, and stitching software but this has not been verified yet.   Due for release before Thanksgiving, but you can pre-order yours now and be one of the first to get one! The focal length multiplier for this body is 1.0X (see above) meaning there is no crop factor.  For a full range of specifications for this camera click here.

Kodak - DCS Pro SLR/C Digital Camera Body

Need a whopping 14 megapixels for less than $5000? Then consider Kodak's SLR made for Canon EF lenses. While image capture is at 1.7 frames per second (making this camera a poor choice for sports or action shooting), the camera delivers fairly low noise images over a very broad ISO range of 6 to 1600. Allows you to shoot in raw or jpeg. This camera is an excellent choice for portraits, landscapes, etc.

Cameras for Nikon Lenses

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro 6.17MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

If you shoot with a 35mm Nikon SLR and want to use your Nikkor lenses, you have a choice of digital SLR bodies (kudos to Nikon for convincing Fuji and Kodak to make digital SLR bodies compatible with Nikkor lenses!).  This Fuji digital SLR, with its 6+ megapixel sensor, can produce an image of over 12.1 megapixels using Fuji's Super CCD.  It has dual media slots for SmartMedia and Compactflash Type II memory cards and can shoot continuously at up to 2 frames per second for a total of 9 frames.  Prices have been falling a bit lately due to the introduction of the S3, so this camera is becoming very well priced.  The focal length multiplier for this body is 1.5X (see above).  For a full range of specifications for this camera click here.

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro 12MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Presently, this arguable the best all around camera for use with Nikon lenses (although sports shooters may opt for the D1X) until the new D2X is released early next year. The FinePix S3 Pro's Super CCD SR sensor (23 x 15.5mm) uses 6.17 million S-pixels and 6.17 million R-pixels (for 12.3 million effective photodiodes) to deliver 12 million recorded pixels and noticeable image improvements to that of single-pixel cameras. The SR sensor's unique double photodiode design broadens tonal capability, from bright highlights to deep shadows. The ISO range of this camera is 100 to 1600 and it offers dual media storage to both xD and compact flash (type II) cards. Shoots both raw and jpeg files and comes with FinePixViewer, ImageMixer VCD2 for FinePix, Raw File Converter LE software.  The focal length multiplier for this body is 1.5X (see above).  For a full range of specifications for this camera click here.

Nikon D70 6MP Digital SLR Camera

At first this might seem like a poor man's D100, but many D100 users have traded in their D100 for a D70.  This is because the D70 has as many megapixels as the D100 and most of the features but costs less.  In addition, it is known as a slightly sharper camera than the D100 and, by some estimations, has lower noise for a given ISO. Some features are actually improvements over the D100, like the 1/8000th of a second shutter speed.  It is completely compatible with the Nikkor DX lenses and uses an advanced LSI processor.  Shooting can take place as fast as 3 frames per second and is improved buffer allows you to shoot at this rate for up to 144 images! It has a built in speedlight, so if you grab a Nikkor lens and load a memory card you are ready to shoot just about anything. This camera takes Compact flash (Type I or II) memory cards (my favorite type of flash memory) and inside the box comes the Nikon D70 camera body, strap, body cap, eyepiece cap, LCD monitor cover, USB and A/V cables, rechargeable lithium-ion battery (EN-EL3), battery charger (MH-18), CR2 battery holder (MS-D70), and Picture Project CD-ROM. I own a D100 but if I were buying a camera tomorrow I would probably buy the D70. However there are some users who will want some of the D100 features that are not carried on the D70 for more specialized or some professional uses. For a full range of specifications for this camera click here.

Nikon D100 6MP Digital SLR Camera

Ok, let me confess up front that this is the model that I bought for myself about 18 months ago (but please see my comments above on the D70).  I  have several Nikkor (or Nikon compatible) lenses thus I first ruled out everything but the Fuji, the Kodak, and the Nikon D100 (the D100 has better features for most photographers).  I did not think the Kodak was worth it just for the number of megapixels and the D100 was cheaper than the Fuji.  Reviews of the Nikon and Fuji have found them to produce equally excellent images.  The focal length multiplier for this body is 1.5X, same as that of the Fuji (see above).   It shoots in both RAW and JPEG (like most of the other SLRs) and also shoots in TIFF format if you have the time to wait for the image to write to disk.  The biggest downside is most of the digital SLRs is the shooting rate and this one is no different.  It has a shooting rate of approximately 2 frames per second.  I have found that, in RAW mode it shoots off about 4 images and then you must wait about 5-7 seconds or so for it to write to disk before you can shoot another frame.  This is sometimes annoying but alone is not worth paying an extra $3000 for the latest Canon (or upcoming Nikon D2X) even if you do not own any lenses yet.  If I absolutely must shoot faster, I simply switch to the fine JPEG resolution and that usually solves the problem.  This baby has lots of menu options and I have still not used them all and probably never will.  Prices are falling due to the introduction of the D70 (which is a better choice for most photographers). For a full range of specifications for this camera click here.

Other Cameras

OLYMPUS E1 Digital SLR Body

Olympus has joined the digital SLR fray with this 5.5 megapixel camera made for Four Thirds lenses manufactured by Olympus and others. One of the novel features of this camera is the supersonic wave filter that causes ultra-discrete high-speed vibration knocks particles (i.e. dust) away from the imager. The filter is operated automatically at start-up and during pixel mapping, and can be manually turned on at any time. Photographers having dust issues with their digital SLR will appreciate this feature. Another neat feature is the Mixed AF/MF mode that lets you make fine adjustments or focus manually after AF is performed in the S-AF mode. The E1 uses compact flash (type I or II) memory cards and comes with Adobe Photoshop Elements. For a full range of specifications for this camera click here.

Pentax * istD 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Pentax has joined the digital SLR fray and produced a body that is compatible with many Pentax lenses including PENTAX KAF2-, KAF- and KA-mount lenses (Power zoom function is not available). K-mount, S-month, and Pentax 67/645 lenses are usable with an adapter and restrictions).   This SLR is capable of 2.7 frames per second, uses Compact (type I or II) memory cards, shoots in JPEG, RAW, or TIFF formats and sports a moderate range of features.  Best feature is the price at less than $1300. For a full range of specifications for this camera click here.

Sigma SD10 10.2 MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Sigma offers a unique digital SLR powered by a Foveon X3 image sensor, which captures all RGB colors at each and every pixel for SA bayonet mount lenses. Several Raw mode resolution can be selected (no jpeg) and the shooting rate varies from 1.9-2.5 frames per second depending upon the selected resolution. ISO sensitivity ranges from 100-800 with 1600 possible as an extended mode. This camera is reported to be somewhat noisy at ISO 400 and higher and thus is probably not a great choice for serious sports shooting. Uses type I and type II compact flash cards. For a full range of specifications for this camera click here.