Digital Camera recommendations

[sheila]

Well, we are going to buy a digital camera this week. I did a search here on the FutureQuest forums, and there were a couple of threads about digital camera recommendations.
http://www.aota.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8797
http://www.aota.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7214

Anyhow, if anyone has experiences or comments to share (not previously shared in the other threads), I am certainly interested.

We are shopping for a mid-range 3 megapixel camera (about $500-$600). We plan to use it for just about everything (web photos, family photos, special graphics work).

I've been looking over the reviews at amazon.com and cnet.com for Canon, Olympus, Nikon, Minolta and Kodak cameras. Yes, Kodak does seem a little odd in with the rest of those, but my brother recently bought a Kodak 4800 (and my mom also recently bought some Kodak digicam), and he is pretty tech-saavy, and he really likes the Kodak.

Anyhow, any comments for or against any particular camera models are welcome.

[Deb]

All I can add is that I received my Kodak DC280 ZOOM Digital Camera two years ago (as most of you know lol) and I've been using it every day since.... You've seen some of the shots right here in the forums... I snap the pic, upload it, resize it, and post it...

I've nothing but compliments for the Kodak as far as general home use goes and I've never had a problem with it.

My only wish now is for Santa to bring me a newer version of it ;)

Deb
- Me? Greedy? uhhh yep.

[Jeff]

I started out with a Nikon 900 and then I got a Nikon 950 and I have been 110% happy with both - the Nikon optics are really good, especially for such a small camera. I don't think you will go wrong with a Nikon.

A friend just got a Sony DSC-F707 (with the long Carl Zeiss lens) and it is pretty impressive. The quality of Sony always seems to be very good. And it has a ton of features and options for everything you can imagine. I really like all the options on the Sony, but at the same time I find the Sony might make some things a bit too many button pushes and clicks at times.

Myself, I'm still saving up for an Olympus. I really like the E10 and the E20 and some of the smaller ones as well because they seem to have a few more options than the Nikons, look a little better than the newer Nikons, and stil appear very fast and intuitive to use.

[Bradley]

I purchased a Kodak DX 3500 in October and am very satisfied with it! Kudos to Kodak! :D

[Bradley]

*whoops*

[Rich]

I'd have to agree with the Kodak recommendations here. I just bought their DX3600 camera (~$300) and the camera dock (~$70).

The camera dock is a real time-saver. The dock hooks up to a usb port. All you have to do is insert the camera into the dock, press the little button on the dock and your pictures start uploading and the camera starts charging.

Tip: Buy an extra memory card and lots of batteries. :)

Rich

[Monty]

I love my Olympus 460. It's a real SLR, it's easy to use, and I like the optical viewfinder and zoom for taking pics on sunny days. The rechargable batteries are a must, and I bought the adapter for the memory card that makes it into a floppy disk and really easy to upload photos. If you are offered an option for an extended warranty, I would go for it. So far, I have dropped mine twice in the boat, and each time, I just handed it back to them, and got a brand new one. I paid less that $40 for the extended warranty.

Mont

[Brian]

Sheila,

I own a Sony DSC-D770, and have loved it since day one. It does not have a 3megapixel range but I havent ever had the need for that, I never even shoot at its highest resolution. You should be able to snag this camera well below your budget range. I believe the newer versions of it that use the CDR disks will do the 3megapixels, however they are propably a lot more expensive.

What I like most about this camera is that it isnt "tiny" in that it is a normal SLR size camera -- i.e. you can hold it easily to take pictures accurately. For me this was a selling feature, however some people like compact/tiny cameras.

-Brian

[Dunx]

I'm on my second Kodak, a DC 210 with zoom. It's only just a megapixel camera, but it takes good pictures, and uses the CompactFlash cards which I like (mainly because I easily plug them into the laptop to copy the pictures across).It also has an optical viewfinder, so you don't chew through batteries quite as quickly from using the LCD to frame the shot, and the CCD is sensitive enough to take good pictures even without the flash.

The only downside of it is that the lens glass attracts dirt too easily, so I have too many indoor shots with blobs and sparkles on from dust on the lens. Other than that, I'd certainly look at another Kodak.

But then I'm also interested in the Canon Digital Ixus, mainly because of the size. I've got an Ixus APS camera, which I really like too.

(hmm... the Ixus range appears to be called ELPH in the US, and I can't find the digital model. How odd.)

a bit later: it's the Canon S110 (http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/s110/). At least I know.

[0degree]

I've got a Canon Ixus V (Elph) and all I can say is WOW!

Really, this camera is amazing. It's an entry level camera with fewer options than normal and has a resolution of 2-3 MP. Furthermore, its shutter speed is a little on the slow side. However, what made me buy it is its size: One thing I hate is walking around carrying a camera and looking like a tourist. With the Ixus, it just hangs comfortably on my belt and I can hardly feel it. Connection to the PC is through USB and its TWAIN software is excellent.

I've never tried to print on paper any of the photos I've taken, but on screen, the pictures are beautiful. You can see examples of my photos at: http://stock.d2.hu/index.phtml?f=showauthor&l=OmirOnia
All of these have been taken with the Canon Ixus V.

My best recommendation would be towards this camera, however, I do feel sometimes that I would like more advanced features. This is a good choice if you are looking for a simple, small in size, yet highly convenient camera.

Hope this helps you in deciding.

Tony.
- Shoot me.

[Dunx]

Originally posted by 0degree:
I've got a Canon Ixus V (Elph) and all I can say is WOW!

Groovy! It's certainly moved further up my list of things to buy... The full size pictures you have show that the softness on the pixels is better than I get on my Kodak. A good thing.

(sorry, Sheila - drifting away from your question)

[sheila]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. It is very interesting to read them. And also very interesting to note that everyone seems to be happy with the camera that they have, regardless of what brand it is.

Well, we really wanted something that was more than just point-and-click simple. We wanted to be able to do manual override settings and such, if desired. It is also important to us to get a 3 megapixel camera. We intend to do family photos, enlargements and printing of the shots, and I just wouldn't be happy if we went with only a 2 megapixel camera and then were disappointed with the printed photos. (For web and email, I'm sure 2mp, and probably even 1mp is fine. But for prints and enlargements, I think the pictures get grainy.)

After reading many, many reviews, (at Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000050LUE/qid=1008545411/br=1-18/ref=br_lf_p_18/002-0765300-1592018) and at Cnet.com (http://www.cnet.com/electronics/0-6613935-1304-4220399.html?tag=st.ce.1429209-1303-canon.pdtl.6613935-1304-4220399)) and some trips to different camera stores this afternoon (to actually see, feel, and heft the little buggers) we decided to go with the Canon Powershot G1 (http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/G1/index.html).

I REALLY liked the Minolta DiMage 5, as far as having the real feel of an SLR camera, however, it is rather large. The Nikon Coolpix were just too small and toylike for my taste. The Olympus 3040 Camedia was OK, but I really like the tilt and swivel viewfinder the Canon had. Plus, the Canon is supposed to be a lot better on the batteries, uses Compact Flash cards (as opposed to Smart Media) and takes faster successive shots. The Canon Powershot G1 is not as small as the ELPH line, but still rather slim, but feels substantial. It has some AMAZING features. It is superseded by the G2, which is a 4 megapixel twin.

Anyhow, I just placed an online order for the camera. Got it for under $550 (not including shipping and accessories...such as extra batteries). I did pay for overnight shipping (whew! that was expensive). Well, you will certainly know once it arrives. I'm sure I will have to post and tell all about it.

(Here are some online photos I found, taken by amateur photographers using the Canon G1:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~bot/paint/photo.htm
http://www.peter-pham.com/PP/photo/HBPark_110401/index.htm
http://www.peter-pham.com/PP/photo/DeathValley_112401/index.htm
http://www.rocks-and-crystals.com/wallpaper/page20.htm


Of course, buying the camera doesn't necessarily mean you can take photos like that! ;) )

[Rich]

Of course, buying the camera doesn't necessarily mean you can take photos like that!
Whew, what a relief! I thought my camera was broke!

Rich

[Deb]

Whew, what a relief! I thought my camera was broke! ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[YFS200]

Good choice.



I have had several of the Sony FloppyCams as it seems to get called around here. Current is a Mavica FD81. You can't take bad photos with this camera. Even if very low light, it takes a great photo.

Point and shoot.



I also have a CoolPix 990. This thing does great photos. Detail and color is outstanding. But the thing I hate is that it is an outdoor camera only. I was at a car show and took about 200 photos. 20 came out OK so I could use them. The rest was way to blury. I had turned the flash off because that makes the photos look nasty. You can't see that the photos are blury on the small LCD. But the shutter speed was way to slow with the flash off, and I did not notice it untill I got home.

You can get around this staying very still and holding your breath when you take the shot. :)

Outdoor, I use nothing else.



YFS

[farlane]

While it's not a 3 MP camera, my vote for the best camera for use with the web is the Olympus C-2100 UltraZoom. The pictures are amazingly clear and it packs a 10x OPTICAL zoom (far superior to digital zoom. It has a host of features that help it to behave like a "real" camera and the battery life is excellent!

Steve's Digicams (Great Review Site) (http://www.steves-digicams.com/)