Advice on a new camera

[Minerva]

In order to win the competition, I decided to buy a new camera.

Seriously, I'm using a 13 years old camera at the moment (Made in Japan, so it's really well built. What else do you expect?). It's auto focus with 105mm lense, and has been doing a great job all over the world (except in the "New World". I have no plan to travel beyond the Atlantic nor the Pacific at the moment).

However, I'd like take it a bit more seriously, and want a new camera which is not too... well, touristy camera. I've been also considering to get a digital camera instead (can't afford both ), to make it easier to place on our website (for my research place). I am not sure if I should buy a camera and made it available on CDs when I develop films, or buy a digital camera and print them when I need.

I am going to Japan from next week, and hoping to buy one (budget permitting) while I'll be there. Much cheaper than UK without VAT and more recent models available there.

Any advice welcomed.

[Phantom Lord]

Difficult question - it depends a lot on what you want to do with it.

Good conventional cameras produce the highest quality and you can scan your photos afterwards. A good scan from a good photo is better than anything an affordable digicam can produce. Advantage: Superior quality. Problems: You'll need the scanner and much time, plus developing photos costs money.

Digital cameras are great for all kind of snapshots, they're small and have little weight. Advantage: No developing costs, have your photos as data without work. Problems: You don't have a normal photo, making or printing one is expensive.

Third alternative: Digital camcorder. Nothing is better for moving targets - you can pick fotos out the movie, allowing you much easier to capture things that would otherwise require perfect timing. Advantage: Record tons of stuff in motion and capture single images later. Problems: Like digicam plus high price.

So far I had positive experience with following brands:

Conventional photo: Minolta, Pentax
Scanner: Canon
Digicam: Canon
Camcorder: Sony

[Minerva]

Thanks.

I'm leaning towards conventional camera (SLT?) than digital camera, because I want enjoy photographing. I've already got a scanner, which is hardly used , so that's not a problem.

[dragon wench]

I have used an old Olympus, manual, camera for years...it is really excellent ! I also have experience with other Olympus equipement..and I would highly recommend their stuff.

[Osiris]

I have used an old Canon SLR for some years, with a range of interchangeable lenses and filters for different purposes. I've had no problems and a lot of fun with this gear (good photos too). You can check out their stuff here.

If you want to go upmarket, Hasselblad is probably the best, but are really costly, and are mainly used by professionals.