[Lindsayanne]

I think I am going to be camera shopping again this year. I am looking for a very easy to use digital camera and my priorities are (in this order)

1. Picture quality, obviously.
2. A continuous shooting mode with processing speed to write several frames a second to the card. (lots of cameras have this mode, but the hardware can only write 1 or 2 hi res photos per second. )
3. An available ISO setting above 1600 (for shooting in indoor arenas)

But easy enough to use that you don't have to be a professional photographer. I don't want to have to worry about shutter speed and what not, I want to focus on my subject, and not getting trampled by yearlings in the process.

Cost is not an issue. It's a total write off since a better camera means better product photos on www.raraequus.com and www.bigdogboutique.com

[HUS_WP_lovr]

I vote a Canon Digital Rebel XTI. My mom can use it, anybody can

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...&modelid=14256

Taken by my technology disabled mom with a 300 mm lense.
http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com...ums-felix.html

These all were taken with it by me.
http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com...otography.html

[Lindsayanne]

thanks. Can you make the pictures smaller? It distorts my screen.

[Jess!]

I have a Casio Exilim EX-Z77 and it takes like 6 shots per second, this is how I got these, and without any editing:

[18thTomorrow]

I'm in love with the Fuji FinePix line. The latest one is 12 MP and goes up to 6400 ISO. In a point-and-shoot, they are hands-down the leader in low-light photography. Most of the horse photos on my flickr account are from my FinePix cameras:
http://flickr.com/photos/brittanyhunter
For example, here's a dark photo--
http://flickr.com/photos/brittanyhun...7594159222031/
THe only light source in the barn was two 3x3 foot windows, one at each end. It's seriously dark in there.

Another great thing is it is FAST. 1.5 seconds to power up/down, and no shutter delay. That's big, in a digicam...

The Digital Rebel XT is good too; my mom has one of those and I can use it whenever I want. However, I find it inconvenient and nerve-wracking to tote around such a large, expensive camera at the barn and horse events. Additionally, while it is pretty easy to use for a DSLR, it still takes more effort than a point-and-shoot. I've missed good shots while i was trying to focus or was all, "oops, wrong setting, I need to change this a minute..." you know?

[yertle]

Canon slr's they are simple and good to use and sorry nothing beats a zoom lens point and shoots generally aren't the best when you have to be some distance away - granted they are improving but still nothing beats a 70 - 300mm lens on your camera

until you get used to settings - have it sit on sport - it's the same as point and shoot and when you want to experiment you will have that chance to.

the canon 450D is 12 meg and goes up pretty high in the iso - has the standard settings and custom as well. although i think it's got a different name in the states - the upgrade to the rebel? my friend has it and wow it's great. it also has a fps of 5

all of my shots have been with a canon 40D - i've taken some showjumpers and put them on this website.

anyway good luck in finding a camera - the other thing i recommend is going into the shops and holding cameras and taking test shots and see what feels right for you

[No1Dazy]

My hubby says:
He recommends the Nikon D90 for your situation. It has similiar ISO capabilities as the D300 (upwards of ISO 3200) with low "noise" levels. It has some of the automatic modes (portrait, sports, landscape, etc), plus you can shoot short high-def video at 720p.

HOWEVER, in low light situations, it's not the camera, it's the lens. You need to buy a fast lens (ie. small aperture numbers), and that's where it gets expensive. Nikon has a 70-200f\2.8 (good for low light) for $1800 at retail.

P.M. me if you want to talk to hubby more about all this. He knows his cameras.

[Heavenly Jumper]

LA - I have a Nikon D-60

Here are some (untrained) photos from it -

Up close small item



portrait setting



There are more manual settings and mine came with a really good tutorial DVD series as well as 2 lenses and a case.