Camera recommendations?

[malaholic]

...but I don't think just one camera can do it all!

I'd have to agree with you on that! But, prices on both P&S's as well as DSLR bodies have dropped quite a bit recently, so maybe it's not so much a question of which one to get, but rather which one to get first.

I'd like a new SLR digital body that would work with my old Nikon lenses...BUT, I'd also like a POS that I could take when I travel, on the bike, to events, etc.

K, a couple of questions out of this....assuming that a P&S meets your needs for the functions you mention above, when/for what would you use the DSLR? If you got a P&S only, how often would you be taking a shot where you were wishing for the better image quality/lens flexibility/manual control of a DSLR? And conversely, if you got a DSLR, how often would you miss event/travel photos (or have to settle for low quality cellphone snaps) because the body & lens setup was too inconvenient to carry?

If you're thinking of eventually having both a P&S and a DSLR, I'd suggest getting both in the same brand (I'd also narrow down brand choices to Nikon & Canon if looking at DSLRs). It just makes things much more convenient because menus & settings will be similar between the cameras so you don't have to learn two different control systems. I've had 3 Canon P&S's and 3 Canon DSLRs and it's been easy to switch between them since they all navigate much the same way. Being able to make the adjustments I want to make quickly without futzing through trying to figure out where the setting is on this camera because I'm used to it being somewhere else in another camera can make the difference between getting the shot and being too late.

Anyway, since you have a birthday coming up - Happy Birthday!!!

[zoom-zoom]

If you're thinking of eventually having both a P&S and a DSLR, I'd suggest getting both in the same brand (I'd also narrow down brand choices to Nikon & Canon if looking at DSLRs). It just makes things much more convenient because menus & settings will be similar between the cameras so you don't have to learn two different control systems. I've had 3 Canon P&S's and 3 Canon DSLRs and it's been easy to switch between them since they all navigate much the same way. Being able to make the adjustments I want to make quickly without futzing through trying to figure out where the setting is on this camera because I'm used to it being somewhere else in another camera can make the difference between getting the shot and being too late.

100% what she said.

I should also add that we had 2 problematic A-series Canons, but I LOVE my 20D SLR (I also had a 10D when I did some portraiture work for a while) and my SX110 IS. That "little" camera is the most amazing thing ever. I love the image quality and all of the manual settings.

As far as point-n-shoots go, I think 5 years of solid use is VERY good. Unfortunately most PnS cameras are just not designed for longevity. Even digital SLRs don't seem as rugged as their 35mm film counterparts in many cases...but the technology has improved so rapidly that 5 years for an SLR model yields a ton of changes.

[Zen]

Wait...did you mean P&S or POS?

[OakLeaf]

I took it she meant both.

[Tuckervill]

Consumer Reports had the Nikon D90 as their best buy last year. Based on features, what you get with hit and price. I didn't get one and it seems it is not on top of the retailer's stock list anymore. Maybe it has been upgraded or something. I did a lot of research last year, and now I've waited so long I probably will have to start over when I go to buy mine.

Karen

[zoom-zoom]

I took it she meant both.

Heh, pretty much!

Karen, that is funny about doing all the research and then having to start over. 2 days after I ordered my Canon point-n-shoot they replaced it with a newer model. I hadn't even received my camera and it was discontinued. But I got a good deal on it and don't miss that single megapixel.

[Cataboo]

I would agree that you really can't have one camera do it all...

I had a bunch of old film pentax lenses and bought a pentax k20d because pentax made their dslrs compatible with every pentax lens ever made - yes, you don't always get autofocus. I haven't regretted going with pentax.

I do a lot of kayaking, so required a waterproof digital camera (I don't risk my dslr to salt water lightly - it rides in my deck in a pelican case, but it only comes out when conditions are calm and only briefly) ... I did get the pentax optio w60, because at the point that I bought, it was the best waterproof digital camera available (from what was important to me). I use that for biking, kayaking, and just quick things to have a camera thrown in my purse.

[Aggie_Ama]

My P&S is a Kodak Easyshare because my mom wanted me to have a purple case and image stability for my shaky hands. Too bad I didn't tell her waterproof! So I love the photo quality and the price in case I break it but it is lacking features.

[malkin]

I would agree that you really can't have one camera do it all...

I had a bunch of old film pentax lenses and bought a pentax k20d because pentax made their dslrs compatible with every pentax lens ever made - yes, you don't always get autofocus. I haven't regretted going with pentax...

Me too, but I got a K2000, cuz it is smaller and cheaper and I don't need the weather proofishness.