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genie
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 Posted: 07/29/03 - 16:21 Post subject: Digital camera recommendations?
I'm finally deciding that I need to go techie, at least part time. I refuse to give up my nice hardcopy pics that are framed all over my house, but for RR events and family things, it'd be nice to insta-post some pictures so I am in the market for a camera. Knowing nothing about this process other than that I do not want to spend the equivalent of a week's paycheck on the thing, who can suggest a good model and why?
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elkid
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Posted: 07/29/03 - 16:31 Post subject:
I like my Fuji FinePix (or, the one that I pilfered from The Paramedic) but monk has a really shibby sweet one. PM him for the specifics.
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purple hayes
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Posted: 07/29/03 - 16:32 Post subject:
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kobyj
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Posted: 07/29/03 - 16:38 Post subject:
I would recommend the Canon Powershot A70. ($300 from www.bhphotovideo.com)
It has 3.2 Megapixels and a 3x optical zoom. The battery life isn't bad. Night shots turn out very well for a digital camera.
The optical zoom is better then digital zoom because with digital, the is just enlarging a digital picture. This produces distortion in the image. Optical is enlarging what the sensors see. No distortion is caused in this case.
The 3.2 Megapixels are nice because you can print a picture on a full-sized sheet of paper and it still looks great.
The camera has point and shoot mode as well as full manual. It will also take video clips. It has a tripod mount and an optional delay for group shots.
My only advice is to get a larger memory card then what comes with it. It comes with a 16MB card which I have found to be just too small.
If you are interested in viewing some sample pictures I've taken with mine, let me know and I'll post a link to them tonight.
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Morpheus99
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Posted: 07/29/03 - 16:44 Post subject:
After spending the weekend shoping I finally
decided on the Kodak DX6340 at Target ($ 329.99).
Features
• 3.1 megapixel sensor
• 4x optical zoom plus 3.5 digital zoom (14x total)
• LCD display
• 16MB internal memory (good for 17 pictures)
• Movie mode
Product Description
The Share button on the back of this Kodak EasyShare Digital Camera lets you tag pictures right on the camera for automatic printing or e-mailing after transferring them to your PC. You can even store up to 32 e-mail addresses in the camera. Features: 3.1 megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom plus 3.5 digital zoom (14x total), auto focus, MMC memory card compatibility, USB port, LCD display, two-position tilt feature for viewing images from the camera, 16MB internal memory, movie mode, built-in flash with red eye reduction, battery charger, USB and AV cables, wrist strap, Kodak EasyShare CD-ROM, and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.
One thing to keep in mind is spending the extra $$$ and getting an Digital Memory card (64,128,256 mb) to hold more pictures.
Also Retail outlets can take your memory card and convert them to hard copies. I finally bit the bullet after deciding I wanted a better camera for my trip to Calagry in October, and easier storage management.
S99
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elkid
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Posted: 07/29/03 - 16:56 Post subject:
Oh, I also have a few spare memory cards to flip in & out, and I took pictures the other night where the only illumination was from the flash and a tiki torch, and they came out really well.
(just in case you didn't want a technical answer)
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genie
Master of Prissface
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Posted: 07/29/03 - 17:10 Post subject:
LOL...I should have clarified this by saying that I do know a lot about photography in general since it's a hobby, just not much about digitals. I've also heard good things about the FinePix and your pics came out great from the Phil's 5K. Does yours have a tripod mount?
Keith, were the pics you sent me from Jackie's digital or taken with a regular camera?
Kobyj, that Canon sounds good too...I like the option of being able to do manual. All my cameras except the SureShot AF that I have were both manual and auto capable. Sometimes you just need to be able to tweak exposure settings and shutter speed.
Do any of them have wide-angle capability? That's one thing I miss from my old Minolta, being able to swap out lenses for better shot coverage.
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kobyj
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Posted: 07/29/03 - 17:27 Post subject:
| genie wrote: | Kobyj, that Canon sounds good too...I like the option of being able to do manual. All my cameras except the SureShot AF that I have were both manual and auto capable. Sometimes you just need to be able to tweak exposure settings and shutter speed.
Do any of them have wide-angle capability? That's one thing I miss from my old Minolta, being able to swap out lenses for better shot coverage. |
The manual mode was one of my "must haves" in a digital camera. I typically will keep the camera in point-n-shoot mode, but will sometimes switch to manual for a faster response or better quality.
The Canon does have the option for an add-on lens that does wide-angle. The lens is a 0.7x Wide converter. It is $99 plus $20 for the conversion lens adapter. I have not tried this since I have not been able to justify the cost.
The only problem I have with the Canon A70 is it doesn't have a hot shoe for an external flash. You get a flash built-in on the camera and that's it.
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Morpheus99
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Posted: 07/29/03 - 17:34 Post subject:
| genie wrote: |
Keith, were the pics you sent me from Jackie's digital or taken with a regular camera?
Do any of them have wide-angle capability? That's one thing I miss from my old Minolta, being able to swap out lenses for better shot coverage. |
No that picture was from the box camera I bought while in Banff.
I need to look at the specs again but I don't think so.
S99
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genie
Master of Prissface
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Posted: 07/29/03 - 17:42 Post subject:
| kobyj wrote: | | genie wrote: | Kobyj, that Canon sounds good too...I like the option of being able to do manual. All my cameras except the SureShot AF that I have were both manual and auto capable. Sometimes you just need to be able to tweak exposure settings and shutter speed.
Do any of them have wide-angle capability? That's one thing I miss from my old Minolta, being able to swap out lenses for better shot coverage. |
The manual mode was one of my "must haves" in a digital camera. I typically will keep the camera in point-n-shoot mode, but will sometimes switch to manual for a faster response or better quality.
The Canon does have the option for an add-on lens that does wide-angle. The lens is a 0.7x Wide converter. It is $99 plus $20 for the conversion lens adapter. I have not tried this since I have not been able to justify the cost.
The only problem I have with the Canon A70 is it doesn't have a hot shoe for an external flash. You get a flash built-in on the camera and that's it. |
Yeah, I see what you mean about the cost, for the amount I'd use it I probably wouldn't get it either. Like PH, I just want to be able to toss up some quick pics.
Hmmm....I imagine most digitals wouldn't have a hot shoe, I guess it just depends on the quality of the internal flash as to whether that would make a difference. Or, I guess you could use a portable external if you wanted to go to that much trouble...I've done that with regular photography but it's a pain.
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elkid
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Posted: 07/29/03 - 18:06 Post subject:
| genie wrote: | | I've also heard good things about the FinePix and your pics came out great from the Phil's 5K. Does yours have a tripod mount? |
Yes, but we don't have a tripod.
Hmmm ... that would make an excellent gift for my birthday, G....
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monk25
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Posted: 07/29/03 - 21:20 Post subject:
I have a Nikon CP 990, which is a couple of years old.
I like it a lot, but there are much better cameras out there now. I have a separate flash, a zoom and wide angle lens, as well as a tripod. (all bought, pre kids)
A good source to research camera is here: http://www.dpreview.com/
and here: http://www.steves-digicams.com/
I really like Nikon, but the Fujis, Sonys et al are all good, too.
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mjwithtwins
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Posted: 07/29/03 - 21:28 Post subject:
Finally, something I know about. I am actually a bit of a shutter bug and I went digital about 3 years ago. I personally love Sony camera's because they have really nice zeiss glass on their high end cameras. I also like Canon and Olympus as far as usablity goes.
Check out www.dpreview.com for really good indepth reviews and very active forums for each brand of camera.
I would recommend that you buy from an electronics store, not a camera shop. I was a die hard local camera shop fan until I went digital. I found the die hard film guys are very bias where digital cameras are concerned and they don't really understand the electronics.
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omega lambda
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Posted: 07/29/03 - 22:35 Post subject:
The Canon Powershot G2/G3 or whatever the heck number they are on now has 4+ megapixels, fully automatic, fully manual modes, a hotshoe, a tripod mount and you can swap lenses (they do have a wide angle lens and I think a macro lens available). I have the G2. It has 3X optical zoom, very long battery life and it's really easy to use. Might be a little pricey still, ~$500.
But if you just want to take snap shots, you don't need all that stuff. Especially if you've got a decent 35mm.
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