www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I'm no professional, but I've always played around w/ photography & cameras.
Right now I use a Pentax IST-DX2 slr. It's a great camera & takes very nice pictures. As far as CR, I only bring a Casio EXZ1000 compact . But It takes absolutely great stills & movies of the little yum yums up in la cama. Leary of lugging the big boy around while whoring.

Stratone

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ALL FLASH, NO CASH !!!!!!

we'll all want to keep this post alive so when we are in front of the del ray and someone whispers "hey i have aCanon 400D Xti 10.1 Megapixel DSLR for sale we'll know all about it""
haha... never did get the hang of all the jargon on my 35mm slr still in closet for the last 30 yrs....

Been shooting with a Canon 20D for the last three years or so, even in CR. Have the 28-135IS lens you mentioned. Best suggestion I can give is invest in a Canon flash and use the auto feature. It'll work for most situations until you can brush up on the ins and outs. Shouldn't be that much different from your good Canon film cameras. PM me if you need more info...
Here is a great website for Canon products, tips etc...
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/

Pacifica55,
The Canon DSLR is a great camera and lens. Maybe too great for a trip to San Jose.
The DSLR cameras are targets of street robbers and hotel thieves as they can be seen and are obviously of value.

Why not get a fine small Canon SD800 IS or something similar with image stabilization for low light situations? It is inexpensive and can be hidden in your pocket. If it rains put it in a plastic bag in your pocket. The girls do not get shook up by a big camera thinking they will be "posted all over the internet" if you have a small camera. They take good flash shots and are reliable. And you will have it with you when you are "out drinking" or whatever, all the time.

As I say, you have a great camera, but it is like bringing a studio to San Jose to get the photos of the good times. (I have a Nikon D50 DSLR and five lenses, but they stay home in the safe when I visit SJO. I bring my Canon SD700 IS, or at most my Canon G7 if doing touring)

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PacoLoco: "You pay for it one way or another."
Ace: "Rent everything, do not buy in Costa Rica"

Well in addition to the camera (Casio) which beats the hell out of my Kodak & Cannon.
I just today bought a Aiptek MPVR 6 MP MPE4.
It's a 6 megapixel digital camcorder thats no larger than a small digital still camera. Love taking movies of my little favoritas singing in the bath tub or dancing on the bed...Wooo Hoooo
Talk about makin a guy homesick for CR.
Stratone

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ALL FLASH, NO CASH !!!!!!

For compacts I picked up a Olympus FE240 7.1 pix very small and compact fits in my front pants pocket very easy. Takes a great pic as well. Still playing with all the features but will come it time.

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CRTB

Nothing like stuffin tica muffin.........
Thai... Phili.... Viet....
Oh what the hell ever.......

Today I bought a 4gb card for my SonyDSCT-1 (Pocket size). I will no longer have to constantly download pix to my laptop. I can also get a full hour of quality video action .
9 more days til my next trip...but who is counting???

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NON ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM

DG

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Im coming in after the bday party, but hope it's a great one !!!!!
Stratone

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ALL FLASH, NO CASH !!!!!!

Hold the phone...
Canon dropped a bomb yesterday announcing a boatload of new cameras, high end and consumer level.
For example see:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0708/07082 ... d870is.asp

Read the announcements. The older models should be a bargain.

Great cameras.

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PacoLoco: "You pay for it one way or another."
Ace: "Rent everything, do not buy in Costa Rica"

[quote="Pacifica55"]Second problem was the lack of pixels for blow-up and cropping along with the short zoom and marginal macro ability of the small cameras.
The Casio EXZ1000 is 10 megapixels, more than my SLR.
Yea Im sure that macro setting comes in handy in the hotel room.
Stratone

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ALL FLASH, NO CASH !!!!!!

Another option is to bump up your ISO setting. The default is usually around ISO 100, but most cameras (esp. DSLRs) will let you adjust to ISO 200, 400, 800, 1600, etc. Setting the ISO higher will allow the sensor to gather enough light with a much quicker shutter speed. One disadvantage (to some) is that the higher ISOs also introduce more noise or grain into your photo.