Bob Crum

Anyone keeping count? I am! This is column number 100! I'm proud of this milestone! More importantly, being Thanksgiving, I thank you because without the support of all 2,386,395 readers like you, it couldn't happen! I also thank the Fillmore Gazette for the opportunity to dazzle you with writings of Pulitzer Prize caliber.

Ready for Black Friday? Now that y'all know the benefits of a 'real' camera, you know that you want one! Or you know someone on your Christmas shopping list who would love to receive a real camera.

Cameras and multiple lenses are not essential for successful photography. Present-day point-and-shoot cameras with attached lenses are excellent, and generally cost less. For example, a new P&S just announced is the Sony HX99. For starters, the HX99 is the perfect travel camera. It packs a 28x zoom (24-720mm), 18MP 1/2.3" sensor, 180-degree tilting 3.0" touch screen and 4K/30p video with full pixel readout plus 10 fps shooting with a 155 image buffer and much more. All that fabulous technology for merely $448.00. Incredible! I'd be thrilled to receive an HX99. (hint hint)

For your convenience, I'm presenting some camera buying guides. Though not a comprehensive list, any Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal on the following cameras will surely scratch anyone's photographic itch. I'm not endorsing one over another and the numbers 1-10 are merely separators and do not infer that #1 is better than #5.

Consider for kids: 1. Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10, 2. Nikon Coolpix W300, 3. Olympus Tough TG-5, 4. Fujifilm FinePix XP120, 5. Ricoh WG-50, 6. Canon EOS 200D / Rebel SL2 , 7. Nikon D5600.

Cameras for beginners: 1. Canon EOS Rebel SL2 / EOS 200D + EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM, 2. Nikon D3500 + AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR, 3. Canon EOS Rebel T7 + EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II, 4. Canon EOS Rebel T100 / EOS 4000D + EF-S 18-55mm, 5. Nikon D5600 + AF-P 18-55mm DX VR, 6. Pentax K-70 + HD DA 18-50mm f/4-5.6 DC WR RE7, Panasonic Lumix GX80 + Lumix G VARIO 12-32mm MEGA O.I.S., 8. Fujifilm X-A10 + XC16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS II, 9. Sony A5100 + E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS, 10. Olympus E-M10 III + M.ZUIKO 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ.

Compact cameras: 1. Panasonic TZ200 / SZ200 2. Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II 3. Fujifilm X100F, 4. Panasonic LX100 II, 5. Leica Q (Typ 116), 6. Panasonic LX15 / LX10, 7. Ricoh GR II, 8. Sony RX100 VI, 9. Panasonic Lumix FZ2500 /
FZ2000. 10. Sony RX10 IV.

Mirrorless cameras: 1. Fujifilm X-T3, 2. Nikon Z7, 3. Canon EOS R, 4. Sony Alpha A7 III, 5. Panasonic Lumix G9, 6. Sony A6500, 7. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III, 8. Fujifilm X-T20 camera, 9. Fujifilm X-H1 camera, 10. Sony A9 camera, 11. Sony A7 II camera, 12. Panasonic GH5 camera.

dSLR cameras for photography enthusiasts: 1. Nikon D850, 2. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 3. Nikon D750, 4. Canon EOS 6D Mark II, 6. Nikon D7500, 7. Canon EOS 5DS/5DS R, 8. Canon EOS 7D Mark II, 9. Nikon D500, 10. Sony Alpha A99 Mark II.

Local retailers are Samy's Camera and Hooper Camera. If you are averse to paying sales tax, shop Adorama at https://www.adorama.com or B&H https://www.bhphotovideo.com. Shop only “authorized” retailers. Now you no longer have an excuse to remain cameraless. Just pick one and buy!

Blessings to you and yours this Thanksgiving as you gather with loved ones to celebrate the holiday. Preserve the precious memories with lots of photos to enjoy henceforth!

Send questions, comments or suggestions to: focusonphotography@earthlink.net