Canon S5IS Camera (8MP, 12x Zoom)

[Rich_macabre]

Hello there, i'm taking a photography class in the fall and I don't really have any experience with camera's past a simple auto point and shoot. I have been peeking at craigslist and i found someone who is posting at Canon S5IS Camera (8MP, 12x Zoom) for 200, i believe i can get them down to 150.
I hope this is the right area of the forums for this but my question is, is this worth it?


Canon S5IS in GREAT Condition: $200 OBO. Sells for more on other websites

- 8 Megapixel
- 12x Optical Zoom
- Image Stablization
- up to 1600 ISO
- 2.5" Swivel LCD Screen
- Digic III processor
- Uses 4 AA batteries
- Uses SD memory card

those are the notes that were pasted into the craigslist ad.

Thank you for your time.

[Rich_macabre]

also, i know what a newbie im being but is this camera a DSLR? it doesn't state in the ad.

[prabbit237]

Originally Posted by Rich_macabre

also, i know what a newbie im being but is this camera a DSLR? it doesn't state in the ad.

It's a "bridge" camera. Not an DSLR but it's better than most "point&shoot" cameras. I have one that I paid $350 for new back about 3 years ago. I'd say $150 is a decent price for it.

[Rich_macabre]

once again i'm not very informed so i don't know what a bridge camera is. Unfortunately i need a DSLR for the class.

[Phillydog1958]

Although the Canon IS series of cameras are great, and they do have great zoom capability and several DSLR features, they're not DSLR's. They're more of a fancy point and shoot. I had a CANON S2IS. I loved that camera, but I quickly learned of it's limitations. I quickly outgrew it. It was a prelude to me upgrading to an actual DSLR. I eventually gave it to my son. For a photography class, I'd suggest a true DSLR. I recently saw a post on this site where the poster was entering a photography class, where the required equiptment was a SLR as opposed to DSLR. It was a back-to-basics approach. I'd suggest you seek out eBay, and Craigslist. You can find a DSLR for a reasonable price. Also, try this site. There are some great deals posted.

[Rich_macabre]

thanks guys! saved me from spending money i barely had on something that would not have helped. I sure hope i can get a proper DSLR before school though, I have wanted to be a photographer for as long as i can remember but have never had means of getting equipment.

[inkista]

This is a table of the Canon dSLRs (there are also links to dSLRs by Nikon, Pentax, Sony, and Olympus on the page). The tables list cameras by tier (vertically) and by generation (horizontally).

Generally speaking, it's going to be hard to find a dSLR for under $300 unless you go used and probably about two generations back. A new entry-level dSLR with a kit lens is generally in $500-$600 territory.

What distinguishes the dSLRs (typically) are the sensor size and an interchangeable lens mount (i.e., you can take the lens off the camera and change it out for a different one). If you see the sensor size given as 1/2.5" to 1/1.x", it's a P&S camera. There are cameras that have larger sensors and interchangeable lens mounts that aren't dSLRs (MILC, EVIL, mirrorless compact) like the Sony NEX, Samsung NX, and micro four-thirds cameras, but they won't have the viewfinder "hump" on the top of the body.