I was wondering what you guys thought about the different cameras and which one is best suitable for photographing paint defects etc. I would like to keep it under 500 any help would be appreciated thanks alot!
You could go with a small DSLR kit. Great control and picture quality for the price. Nikon D40, Nikon D3000, Canon XS. On sale now at 399$, 499$ and 499$ with a 18-55 lens. Maybe someone can come up with a good Point and Shoot. I can't help with those, I abandonned them a long time ago.
I'd definitely go with a DSLR. I don't care how high quality of a point-and-shoot you get, it still won't compare to a DSLR, and you won't have nearly as much control. I'm a Canon guy, so I'd recommend any of the Canon Digital Rebel series. All top notch. I have the XTi as my backup now and I love it.
Digital SLR, or Digital Single Lens Reflex. Here's a link that explains it: Digital single-lens reflex camera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
DSLR camera's are where it's at LoL. I mean their are a couple of point and shoots that are producing some very nice images too.
Like they said - even the lowest end of Digital SLRs will outshoot any cheap point and shoot. Just search autotrader.com - you can tell which dealers have cruddy PNS cameras by amateurs and which ones have SLRs on the staff. Get a Macro lens, something around the 18-55mm range or lower. The only Point-n-Shoot camera our "photographer" friends use is the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Digital Camera, about @350 for the 2009 model, $500 for 2010 version. Its supposed to be great for photographers to take quick shots before they start shooting.
