Yeah, I should clarify a point.
Lens size - While the physical size of the lens itself is not super important, if it is a cheaper small sized lens, it is important.
So yes, a cheap big lens is indeed just as bad.
So, it goes into build quality as well.
My point was, most point-and-shoot lenses are not only smaller in size, but are of less build quality than would be preferable in many cases.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
The camera that Lone Wolf and Santa Fe is showing is a Minolta bridge camera, not a DSLR. I'm surprised that you can still get one brand new since Minolta was bought out by Konica which in turn pulled out of the camera market.
Do not be seduced by megapixels, even though the manufacturers want you to pay for more megapixels. If you print out any photos a 10 MP camera will blow up to an 8 X 10 with absolutely no problem. If you want to put up a billboard by the side of the road, then the more megapixels the merrier.
You should be able to get a bridge camera for under 300$. Check out the Nikon Coolpix L series at around 200$ then get a tripod. At the higher zooms a tripod is absolutely necessary to avoid blurs from camera shake. Another reason for a tripod is that you will probably, at some point, want to take videos with your camera, virtually all digicams have that ability. Also, beware that shooting at the higher ISO levels starting at anything greater than ISO 400 will result in grainy photographs, so available light may be a factor allowing you to shoot at a lower ISO.
My guess is that you are also going to have to get familiar with some sort of photo processing software. There are several good free downloadable programs on the internet from the very basic to the more complicated that mimic photoshop but not at the photoshop price.
Bear "It's all about having fun."