Expert: Don Wood - 12/22/2004

Question
Hello Don,
 What type of camera would take high quality photos, both night and day...of generally anything or anyone? Would also want it to be able to adapt to a large Zoom lense also.
 I have always kind of admired "Nikkon" brand. Heard they were good...maybe the best. Are there any other brands that would be better than "Nikkon"?

 Thank you very much.

 Sincerely,

 Michael D. Eidson

Answer
Hi, Mike
Nikons are the cameras of choice of most of the news photographers because they are backwards compatible, meaning that the newest body won't need new lenses but will be able to use your favorite lens of several years ago. There are tradeoffs to this, older lenses will not be able to use the newest bells and whistles of the body.
This being said, Canons are also used. Depends upon what you feel comfortable with.
The Nikon line is quite complete ranging in prices from the point and shoot variety to the extremely professional. They are also coming out with an excellent line of digital equipment with the same variety of prices and cameras. You may want to consider the digitals, they are the wave of the future and the future is here now. Witness the fact that 5 years ago Wal-Mart gave a space to film equal to 6 ft. wide by 4 feet deep. Now it is lucky to have half a shelf of the most popular brands. Kodak is no longer making a film camera other that the disposables.
Good luck to you. A website that may be useful would be http://pixdw.bravepages.com/photolinks.html (you may have to copy and paste the link) as it would give access to almost all of the major brands, and some of the major advertisers in the photo magazines. I do not endorse any of these advertisers as I prefer to go to the camera store and go hands-on. But they will give you all the specs of the cameras to help you make up your mind.
Thanks for asking, if I can help further, let me know.
Don