OK, I've made a decision. I'm going to start saving money for a new camera. Not just any, it's gonna be a REAL camera.
Right now I'm just doing the research, but have narrowed it down to two possibilities, the Canon EOS 350D XT Digital Rebel, or the Cannon EOS 10D.
The Rebel is about a year old and is a Digital SLR (Like dads 35 mm camera... exactly the same, only digital) so you can get different lenses for it and stuff. Oh yeah and it shoots at 3 frames per second up to 9 images. Also this one has 8.3 megapixel resolution.
The 10D is an upper level camera that is out of production (still only 3 years old) that retailed for $1,600. Now you can get them used around $750... the same as a NEW digital rebel. This one shoots at about 4 frames per second and only has 6.3 megapixels. (Although they both appear nearly the same) Some I know actually is offering me one for $650 right now that also comes with a vertical grip/battery pack. (which sells for another $150). This is another handle complete with "triger" and other functions so you can hold the camera sideways as if it was level.
AND THEN... since your camera is only as good as your lens... I will soon be on the market for a lens, but not just any lens. Unfortunately I believe the problems with dads camera is actually the lens. And with a camera of the quality the two above are, the lens will not do the job. So the next (really first) lens to get would be a higher quality one like dads, (75-300mm) that is around $600. After that comes the big one... 170-500mm. This baby will let us read the expressions on the pilots faces at the very tops of their loops! But that one's only $800.
Here are some samples of what the 500 can do with the cameras above.
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0918552/L/ http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0917271/L/ http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0780388/L/ <-- Yeah, that's some good zoom power.
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0795282/L/ <-- this is with the 75-300mm lens.
So, my goal is that by NEXT YEAR I will have the body (ie. camera, with no lens) and one of the other lenses the year after that. Those cameras/lenses are in the "prosumer" level (consumer... ie average joe, and professional use.) With either combination you will really be able to get PROFESSIONAL level photographs. How's that sound for a plan?
Now after I said all that... do you realize that if we had applied all the money spent on film/developing we'd be able to buy almost EVERYTHING? (I have 40 rolls of film from last summer ALONE)
This summer I think I will put aside all the money I would have spent on film/development and only shoot video.
