Digital camera (2 Viewers)

[CATMECH]

Me and the wife were thinking of buying a digital camera. Any suggestions? We dont want to spend a lot of $ and I want something that is easy to use. My computer skills are not real strong so I need something easy to use. I have no experience with digital cameras and I,m not even sure what all the tech terms mean when I look at them.

 

[macneill]

We love our Canon Powershot SD20. It's our second Canon digital camera and we also have a Canon miniDV.

It was around $500 with a larger CF card and extra battery.

There are plenty of cheaper ones out there, but this thing is super easy to use and a decent megapixel.

 

[Mike S]

If you want to reprduce the photos in a larger size, I recommend that you choose a camera with a good lense and at least 4 megapixels capability. Get an extra battery pack and storage card.

M

 

[Scamper]

If you're just taking snapshots, all you'll need is a minimum of 2MP, though these days, it's just as cheap and a bit more flexible if you go with a 4MP camera or thereabouts. With either of these, you can blow the pic up to an 8x10 and it will look just as good as if it came from film (unless you're a photo critic who breaks out a jewler's loop to check).

I like the Canon digi's myself, and you can get them for less than $300. Do spend a few bucks more and get at least a 256Mb CF card to go with it, since the card you'll get will be useless (I think they come with an 8 or 16Mb card, which at full res on a 2MP will hold only about 12 or 24 pics, respectively--half that with the 4MP).

 

[V-DAWG]

I have had great success at Circuit City- can I say that here?- The higher the megapixels, the better the quality photo. Optical zoom is better than digital zoom. I have a sony camcorder with 120x digital zoom, but it is worthless past about 15x anyway.

Find a camera that is compact enough to carry everywhere, has at least 4 megapixels, and has some type of optical zoom. Buy an extra memory card and battery as has been stated, and enjoy.

Getting photos from the camera to the computer is simple. I have 3 steps to follow. I plug the camera in, I click aquire image, and then I save as.

 

[CATMECH]

Thanks for the advise we will pobably go look at some this weekend. Then if I figure it out I can start posting pics.

 

[esh]

Get a camera that you *will* carry with you. Make sure it starts up and focus/shoots to your liking. Some people get so fed up that their cameras take so long to focus and shoot a picture that they don't use them. Make sure the battery lasts at least a day's worth of shooting, and don't get stuck with a lesser used form of storage media- I like compact flash.

I disagree that MP = quality. Lens quality has a lot to do with it, as does image processing. Take a look at www.pbase.com, go see what a Canon EOS-1D with a paultry 4.1MP sensor can do. Another problem with larger MP cameras is that they eat up storage quickly. I can get about 100 shots on a 1GB card now, and I expect to take around 4-5000 shots at CM05. Translate that into storage (a bit extreme example).

I am a Canon bigot so I won't mention model recommendations, but I will say I really like a coworker's S40 for its combination of features and quality. Head over to dpreview.com and start reading.

I started with a Canon G1 because I wanted to learn how to compose and shoot with some control. Finally outgrew it and am now invested into Canon's bigger SLRs.

 

[Brentbba]

I've been very happy with my Canon A80, 4megapixels. I think the new derivative is the A85, larger screen. Very simple. Hell, if I can figure it out, anyone can. Never did load their software, just use what's with XP. I do have a card reader on the computer, so just plugging in the card to the reader automatically senses it and prompts you for what you want to do with the pics.

 

[Trollhole]

I use to have a Sony f828. A great camera. But still probably to much $. I use a canon 20D now with a 28-135is as my standard and a Sigma 50-500 for those close up shots.

 

[ryanjl]

I've got a mini 5mp Canon that I use. Bought it right after Christmas.

I looked at some of the nicer, more expensive SLR "Digital Rebel" cameras, but figured anything that I couldn't carry in my pocket would be worthless because I'd never take it with me anywhere.

 

[spressomon]

I have a Pentax 550...it has great optics and overall I am happy with it. I would say try to get one that has the least amount of shutter delay...that is the most aggrevating part of most non-slr digital cameras...although I have heard the brand new models are better in this respect.

 

[chet]

I have a panansonic FZ3 it has a long zoom (12x) and optical stabilization for when you are zoomed in on something it stops the shake. They have an FZ5 now that is what I would go for. If you like taking outdoor/animal shots getting the long zoom is well worth it. forget about digital zoom its next to useless.

also check out www.dpreview.com for user reviews of almost any camera on the market.

 

[Live to Ski]

Don't forget to check out the Consumer Reports digital camera review. One of the most important issues is battery life. They do a nice comparison on this. By the way, you can subscribe online and do searches there instead of getting the printed version. No Paper!

 

[Tools R Us]

My Olympus digital cameras have preformed very well, now shopping for a Pentax DSLR. Good reviews at Steves too.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/default.htm

 

[Tools R Us]

Great bird shot! I snuck up on this hawk the first week I had my Olympus E20.

 

[j-dub]

if you're looking for something affordable, easy to use and readily acessable i would recomend the canon powershot a70. my wife and i got this when we had our son about a year ago and didn't know the first thing about digi cams. 3.2 mp which takes (i think) exceptionally good photos, user friendly controls and hooks up to almost any computer. my son has gotten his hands on it a couple times and it has hit the ground hard... still works great, plenty durable. it was a gift, but i think they're priced around $250 at walmart. definetly upgrade to a bigger memory card at least a 128. that'll store about 200 pictures on it. a case is wise too if you'll be carrying it in your LC. good luck

 

[Grouseman]

I have a Olympus Stylus (410) Digitial. It is 4.0 Mg, 3x optical zoom, and it is a great camera. I use this camera for work and pleasure. You can probably purchase it for around $249.00 at Electronic Express. Great little camera. I take approx. 100 pictures a week , every week for work, and it has worked perfectly. PM me for more details.

 

[roscoFJ73]

I bought a Kodak 4mp DX 6490 and cant fault it.
I looked at the 2-3mp but its worth getting something better and these have dropped in price by half.
It has a top quality Schneider KREUZNACH VARIOGON lens

This the 1st pic I took and needed no fiddling with controls.
The full size original is better.

 

[haystax]

I've been hunting for a deal on the Canon digi SLR lines - the more I looked the more it seemed like the general concensus is that those are the only way to go. Thanks to everyone here and some other photo pros I talked to - my hunt is getting much more specific but also more expensive. The new 20D gets rave reviews as a consumer level camera with almost pro level features w/o the pro level pricetag...but close enough for me

I've used Canon, Minolta, and Sony pocket sized digis for snapshots and such - I like the Sony best but don't know anything about it - they all have too much shutter lag for my liking but seem to take decent enough pics.

Good luck - these fawkers will have you drooling over millions of dollars of stuff if you listen to their advice

 

[expeditionswest]

There could be volumes written on this subject.

Here are just a few guidelines:

1. Invest in lense quality before image size (MP). Find something with a 6-10x optical zoom (digital zoom has no value) and an apeture starting in the 2's (like a2.8 is typical for the all in one cameras).
2. Determine MP based on use. If you intend to print 16x20 enlargements, then an 8mp camera is a good idea. If you are going to post to the web and email, etc. 3-4mp is perfect and still allows for some cropping. Remember, mega pixel is NOT an indication of image quality, but of image size. There have been many crappy pictures taken at 14mp.

This image was taken with a Sony Cybershot U waterproof camera with 2mp and a fixed 2.8 x 50mm lens. This photo has been featured in Toyota calendar's, etc.

So the point with that picture is: It is not the MP of the camera that takes a great image. These are some of the key elements to great shots:

1. Composition
2. Lighting
3. Filters (or photoshop)
4. Optics (F stop/aperture and glass quality/coatings)
5. Resolution (anything over 3-6mp is overkill, unless you are going to print 16x30" posters)
6. Exposure control
7. Focal length

If you do want to use your images professionaly, then you do need a high MP camera. I use a 20D (8mp) for most of my magazine and web work, a FUJI S5000 (3mp) for the more extreme adventure work (for weight) while treking or climbing, and that little Cybershot for the extreme environments, like spearfishing in the Atlantic... 6 miles off shore