bellgamin Loc: Ewa Beach, Hawaii

QUESTION1--Is there a website where I can get answers to terminology questions, such as those that follow, but where I do not have to read several pages to get the answer? If so, please let me know. I am still camera shopping but I do not understand many of today's camera specs. For example, the following...

A.. fx format cmos sensor
B.. dx format cmos sensor
C.. aps-c cmos sensor
D.. low pass filter
E.. megapixel full frame sensor

QUESTION2-- May I have the names of good, reliable online camera stores in the western USA (because of shipping costs to Hawaii)?

QUESTION3-- When shopping online for DSLR cameras I seldom see brands other than nikon, olympus, cannon, & sony. Are there any other, less popular brands, that are worth seeking out so as to possibly get more bang for the buck? (I once had a russian-made slr film camera that I found cheap in a pawnshop in okinawa. It took okay pix &was the one I took along when deployed. If it got lost or clobbered, no big deal. Any such dslrs nowadays that might be worth a dice roll? If I roll craps then... que sera sera.)

Aloha from Hawaii. 😇

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

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chase4 Loc: Punta Corona, California

Check these links out and it may answer many of your questions. Cheers, chase

http://www.dpbestflow.org/camera/sensor

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/photography-glossary/index.page

JPL

Aloha to you!!

I will answer some or your questions.
A.. fx format cmos sensor - Sensor that is 36x24 mm in size. (Same size as 135 film in slr cameras)
B.. dx format cmos sensor - Sensor that is approx 23.6x15.7 mm in size.
C.. aps-c cmos sensor - Same as dx format size, unless if it is in Canon camera, then it is slightly smaller.
D.. low pass filter - See here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-pass_filter
E.. megapixel full frame sensor - Refers to how many pixels are on a full frame sensor.

Question 3. Other brands to look at are Pentax, Fuji and Panasonic Lumix. All make good cameras. Leica of course too, but not if you are on a budget.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Better to just ask Google for answers to your questions....

JPL

Forgot to mention a tip regarding getting more bang for the buck. Look out for refurbished cameras. They are sold at KEH, B&H, Adorama and probably at many other stores. They are always somewhat cheaper than new cameras but they are checked by the seller and have a warranty for some more limited period than new cameras. Those generally considered as good as new cameras and sometimes even better. Older models also are usually sold at discounted price when newer model upgrades enter the market.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

For west coast retailers, you might consider Samy’s Camera (www.samys.com), a full-line retailer with several outlets. I’m sure there are others.

bellgamin Loc: Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Google is a robot. In this forum, there are real people, some of whom may eventually become my internet friends.

I make an not-very-valid analogy to the sex robots available now in the UK ... an interesting development but not my cup of tea. 😇

It might be fun to ask an astronomy professor, "Have you ever seen Uranus? " Asking that question of google would just not be the same. And there you have another not-very-valid analogy. 😈

JPL

Tell us what you plan to shoot and there will be some people ready to give you tips about the best camera for the intended use. There is quite a difference in cameras that are optimal for shooting sports and fast moving objects vs. cameras for landscapes or studio portraits etc.
Also what budget you are looking at and do you have any lenses from film cameras that you might still use. Even old russian lenses work fine on some modern digital cameras.

bellgamin Loc: Ewa Beach, Hawaii

@ chase4 - 2nd link is excellent. 10Q!
@ jpl - did cut&paste of your definitions into my files. Excellent.
@ all - so far the stores I have made "favorites" are b&h adorama keh & samy-on-ebay

chase4 Loc: Punta Corona, California

If you are a vet, check this out: Veterans Online Shopping Benefits | Shop the Exchange
I don't know if they have camera gear but you can take a look. chase

https://www.shopmyexchange.com/veterans

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Crutchfield is very good, and they're in California. Have you checked shipping costs from Adorama and B&H? I just checked rates, and I can send a 5 lb package to CA or HI for the same price - $23 Priority Mail.

As for a dice roll, I'd rather not. If I'm going to someplace iffy - mountain hiking, near water, etc., I'd take a Tough camera, and Olympus makes very good ones.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Wikipedia is a pretty good source. Just enter your terms and you'll get pretty informative articles.

Here's a very good brick and mortar store that also services online customers. http://www.tempecamera.biz
I purchase a considerable amount of materials from them.
--Bob

bcrawf

Wikipedia is an good source for finding definitions/descriptions for terms. You will find a good account of digital camera sensors and so on.

bcrawf

This discussion group provides a "Quote Reply" option, which lets readers know what a person is replying to. Very useful.