Looking for a new camera

[the.dark.lord]

As the title says I'm looking for a new digital cam, and I wondered whether Canon or Nikon is more Linux friendly. If there are other companies whose cameras are more Linux friendly, please tell me.

[esaym]

honestly the way the market is now a days, you need to just shell out the $400+ for a good slr digicam. These point n clink ones are crap. I paid $280 for my canon a70 and it has always had a long range focus problem, and I bought my girlfriend a canon a520 for $200 and one year later (after the warranty was up) the lens broke on it. I spent some time looking at digi cams and reviews and I have come to the conclusion that any point n click non slr model WILL break sometime. Ridiculous! Ironically even older 1.5mp slr cameras go for $400+ on ebay still. That simply reinforces the fact that the quality is there. :guitar:

[ohgod]

I have a canon digital rebel, and Linux recognizes it just fine. Or more specifically, the gphoto2 library recognizes it.

gphoto2 recognizes a ton of cameras though (around 800 according to the site), so you'd probably be fine with either canon or nikon.

Here's a list of the models supported:

http://www.gphoto.org/proj/libgphoto2/support.php

[ohgod]

I agree with esaym. Shelling out the extra $ for a digital SLR is *definitely* worth it.

[got_nix]

i third dslr statement i just sold my fuji s5200 which works perfectly iwth ubuntu btw to get me a rebel xt

[the.dark.lord]

honestly the way the market is now a days, you need to just shell out the $400+ for a good slr digicam. These point n clink ones are crap. I paid $280 for my canon a70 and it has always had a long range focus problem, and I bought my girlfriend a canon a520 for $200 and one year later (after the warranty was up) the lens broke on it. I spent some time looking at digi cams and reviews and I have come to the conclusion that any point n click non slr model WILL break sometime. Ridiculous! Ironically even older 1.5mp slr cameras go for $400+ on ebay still. That simply reinforces the fact that the quality is there. :guitar:

Money's no objection - I typically use DSLRs. Thanks everyone for the replies, but that still doesn't answer my main question.

Perhaps I should rephrase my question - Which company has linux drivers for their cameras?

[red_Marvin]

I have a canon eos 350d (another name for rebel xt I think) and my parents have a powershot S50, both work plug-and-play with ubuntu.

[drfalkor]

get an canon eos 400D ;) the best cam out there !

[RAV TUX]

I just recently purchased for my wife a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2K (http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&itemId=98051&catGroupId=24999&modelNo=DMC-LX2K&surfModel=DMC-LX2K&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702)http://images.panasonic.com/static/Content/spacer.gif

http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=32318&d=1178885152

Which is exactly the same camera as the
http://www.leica-camera.us/assets/image/headline/headline-d3469215713366fbdb3679eeca51eb09.png
http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/compact_cameras/d-lux_3/

http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=32319&d=1178885212


but about $200 less expensive.

I know this is not an SLR, but that isn't what my wife wanted.

I have to say that everything they say about the Leica lenses is true, they create the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen.

If you want an SLR I highly suggest the
http://www.leica-camera.us/assets/image/headline/headline-e550cabaf868b9085da27b46ff2b36d3.png
http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/m_system/m8/

http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=32320&d=1178885592

http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=32321&d=1178885592



It is in my personal experience that they both work great with Linux.

If you question the history of Leica, you may find this article interesting:
The interesting history of Leica cameras (http://cafelinux.org/forum/index.php/topic,117.0.html)

Also here are some images taken by the Leica M8
http://www.leica-camera.us/assets/image/related/related-link-b023c0c996366e28410178be7bfc07b2-1.png (http://tashley1.zenfolio.com/p834013227/?session=4887F6E318D650AD&_not_a_link)

[RAV TUX]

the.dark.lord (http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=171990) btw it is good to see you :)

[RAV TUX]

Perhaps I should rephrase my question - Which company has linux drivers for their cameras?

It has been my experience that most don't need separate Linux drivers, they just seem to simply work.

[the.dark.lord]

the.dark.lord (http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=171990) btw it is good to see you :)

Same, I've been busy with exams!!!! :)

[the.dark.lord]

It has been my experience that most don't need separate Linux drivers, they just seem to simply work.

My Canon PowerShot A95 just works, but I want to support companies who are Linux friendly.

[adamklempner]

I have to say that everything they say about the Leica lenses is true, they create the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen.

I agree. I have one of the Lumix superzooms with the Leica 12x lens (30-400mm equivalent) and it takes clearer pictures than other superzooms that I have used. Also, having such a large lens diameter, especially for the small size of the camera, really helps collect a lot of light for dim or indoor pictures. It is nice not to have to fire the flash all of the time.

I think I have had the Panasonic Lumix FZ-3, FZ-5, and FZ-20 all connected to various flavors of Linux with no problems at all. I would expect that the more recent versions work as well.

Of course if your budget allows for it, I'd say go with a SLR and a good set of lenses. The cheap plastic lenses that come with some entry level SLR's may not live up to the cameras true potential. I went with the non-SLR Lumix FZ-5 a couple years ago because of the Leica lens and the fact that it is less than half the size of an SLR. Well, actually I think it was the cost of the camera that was really the deciding factor in the end. I would have no problem recommending the FZ series to a Linux user who wants an easy to use camera that has great capabilities, but doesn't want/need the cost or specific abilities of a SLR.

Regarding SLR's, I tend to prefer the Nikons over the Canons. Not really for any technical reason, just personal preference. I would expect both to work properly with Ubuntu.

[bastiegast]

Lots of camera's use the same protocol usb memory sticks use, so most of the time you can just plug them in and copy your files, otherwise you can always use a cardreader

[H.E. Pennypacker]

My Canon PowerShot A95 just works, but I want to support companies who are Linux friendly.

If you want to support a Linux friendly company, please do not buy from Canon. If you can afford it, go somewhere else. Canon's printers are a source of trouble for many Linux users.

If they don't appreciate us, why support them?

[mips]

If you want an SLR I highly suggest the
http://www.leica-camera.us/assets/image/headline/headline-e550cabaf868b9085da27b46ff2b36d3.png

It's not a SLR, it's a Rangefinder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangefinder_camera)

For SLR I would go Olympus and then Nikon.

For a pocket camera I would get a Fujifilm f31d

[lyceum]

My wife has a Nikon, and it plugs into Ubuntu just fine. I was reading in a magazine that the prices of the high end cameras will be dropping drastically by the end of the year. I guess they thing that more pixes will be better, but that no one will really care. Also, you can get more lens with the Nikon.

[Spr0k3t]

My wife has a Nikon, and it plugs into Ubuntu just fine. I was reading in a magazine that the prices of the high end cameras will be dropping drastically by the end of the year. I guess they thing that more pixes will be better, but that no one will really care. Also, you can get more lens with the Nikon.

Well said, more pixels != better. It's all about the quality of the lens that is used. I'm using a carl-zeiss with a canon 82mm 95 degree wide angle with 1.4x mag... the detail of the pictures on a 4MP camera is just stunning. My only problem with the camera is that I don't have a hot-shoe to go with it.

[timcredible]

if i were you, i wouldn't worry about which camera can connect to linux, you can always buy a $20 media reader if needed. personally, i'm looking at either the sony alpha (i like the anti-shake being built in to the camera instead of lens), or the nikon d40x. of course, if price isn't an issue, the nikon d200 is probably one of the best cameras out there.

[steve_k]

I've just purchased an Olympus SP-510UZ (http://www.jessops.com/Store/s48531/0/Digital-Compact-Cameras/Olympus/SP-510-Ultra-Zoom-Digital-Camera-(Black)/details.aspx?&IsSearch=y&pageindex=1&CatId=236&comp=y)which works without any hassle whatsoever with Ubuntu. I've even managed to take some damn good pictures with it too. :D