Digital Camera: Spend My Money

[MossRoad]

OK. Old digital camera is dying, got more than our money's worth. It is 2.3 megapixels, 3X optical zoom. Worked fine. Took great family photos and fun shots. But it is doomed and has to be replaced. New budget is $300.00.

Get me the most bang for my buck sticking to $300.00 +- a few bucks.

So far, I've looked at:
Minolta DiMage Z1
and the
Toshiba PDR-M700.

Both are about $300.00, 3.2 megapixel with 10X optical zoom. I like the Minolta's features a little more: faster autofocus and faster shutter speed, better movie resolution, too. I've read some reviews that had some concerns about purple hazing, but reviews by actual owners of the camera said they got around it by using the P mode(which I am very happy with on my 35MM Minolta), so that is not much of a concern for me. It is supposed to shoot in darker conditions better than most cameras of that price range and the flash is listed as being very powerful. Has a boot for an additional flash, if needed. The Toshiba comes standard with a tube to add a filter. To do it on the Minolta, you have to buy a wide angle adapter for $100.00. And the Toshiba has a much larger LCD screen. So far I'm leaning towards the Minolta.

Anyway, with that said, there has got to be more cameras in this price range, but I can't seem to find any with the 10X optical zoom. So, please spend my money wisely. Thanks in advance. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[TresCrows]

I have about convinced myself to get the Canon Powershot S50. It is a 5MP camera with a 3X zoom and a 4X digital zoom. It has the Pictabridge direct printing capability and F2.8/4.9 lens. The problem with zoom lenses are that they are highly compromized even for SLR cameras much less a sub 500 dollar point and shoot. I think all that magnification is a selling point to the uninformed. I would prefer a sharp "prime" (single focal length) lens or limited "zoom" (2X/3X) over a slow fuzzy super zoom any day. The lesser zoom range or prime lens does not have to suffer the compromises that a super/extended range zoom would have to. There is no magic here just simple optical physics and not even computers or "digital" can bend those laws. What are the compromises--weight, cost, complexity, resolution, fuzziness, curvature, light fall off at eges, flare (when shooting toward bright objects like the sun or lights seen as reflections and loss of contrast worse in zooms because they have more elements), increased refraction and light loss causing reduced performance and lower contrast, lower light gathering capability--ie---slower lens so lesser ability to shoot in dim conditions (larger minimum F stop), just goes on and on. The sharpest, clearest, most colorful pictures are taken by getting close, the closer the better with a sharp lens. The further you are away from a subject the more atmosphere you have to shoot through (dust, haze and the more affected by UV) and with a zoom the more elements it has to produce the high zoom rate the more lens elements the light has to traverse before it hits the film or CCD. Everytime there is a transition from glass lens (or plastic) to air there is a loss from refraction because no lens or lens element is 100% efficient so if a camera lens is a 3X and has say 3 or 4 elements and all things otherwise being equal a 10X might have 5 or 6 or more elements, which one will be sharper, more contrasty, more efficient?
Anyway, good luck. J

 

[_RaT_]

Moss, check out these sights for a little more info on various cameras. Just stay away from the forum on DP Review, I think camera buffs are some of the most dogmatic folks I've ever encountered /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Rat...



Steves Digicams

DP Review

 

[rockyridgefarm]

One thing that is hard about digicams is that one can have all the "right" stuff and still take crummy pics. I really like the Leica/Panasonics, they have amazing features (Like a 28-420 f2.8 zoom.) But reviewer after reviewr can't get over how weak their performance is. Just like TresCrows is saying about the tradeoffs on zooms. The problem with the Panasonics seems to be in image processing. (Who could blame a Leica lens?)

I was never a Canon fan. But Look at the most popular cameras on dpreview:

CanonCanonCanonSonyCanonCanonCanonOlympusCanon

(not scientific, but sure interesting)

I went to a Pro Photojournalist site. In respose to what do you carry for a small/backup/fun camera? CanonCanonCanon

So I am not too proud I bought a Canon. It is out of the budhet you mentioned, as it was for my retired phtog friend. He bought a Canon A80 anf loves it. I think I'll buy one or an Canon Elph as a go everywhere camera

Maybe I'll get a 2x zoom. TresCrows would be proud

 

[BillG_in_TX]

My son-in-law just went through the same exercise and settled on the Minolta. Look at Digital Camera HQ for a compilation of reviews. If you go to any particular camera's page, there are links to lots of reviews on the web, from both professionals and users.

They have the Minolta rated #1 in the Ultra-Zoom category, #1 in the 3MP category, and #3 in the $300-$400 category. Of course, it's now dropped below the $300 threshold, and would be rated #1 in the $200-$300 category.

ps: on the other hand, what I have is a Canon A60, little brother to the A70 and A80. If you don't have to have a 10x zoom, the Canon A series is hard to beat.

 

[hazmat]

I got my Sony DSC-P7 for $300 at a sony outlet. I don't think any are too close to you.

Sony outlet locations

It doesn't have 10X optical zoom, but I've never had it so I don't know what I'm missing there...

 

[TresCrows]

"I was never a Canon fan. But Look at the most popular cameras on dpreview:"

Me neither, I never understood why anyone would get a Canon SLR over a Nikon. I think it was than Canon had better street advertizing, remember the Jimmy Conners AE1 adds? Anyway, when it comes to Point and Shoots it is the other way around, I like the Canon film and I guess /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif their digital stuff better than the Nikon P&S. I have two Canon P&S film cameras and they are nice little units, one has a 3X zoom and the other is an Elph with no zoom using the APS film. The Nikon P&S are just kinda goofy. I also have noticed that Soney makes some nice P&S digital stuff and that Fuji does as well.
The Canon S50 (and I am not trying to tell you what to get--just an example) sells for 399 in Shutterbug adds and the matching Canon I960 direct to camera (or computer) printer sells for under 200 dollars.
The photograpers at work, and there are several, use Nikon cameras. They had to document a few tests last afternoon and I noticed, once again, they were using an older Nikon film camera but the helper was shooting backups with a Nikon with a digital back. Being a nosey sort /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif I peered into his bag and noticed a little Sony P&S as well.
Some advertizers in photo magazines sell gray market stuff. Usually the advertizing guidelines require that to be stated in the add. Some show both USA and Gray market prices. There is often a substantial difference. What do you loose out on---warranty /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. J

 

[BobinCols]

I have the Canon A70. I purchased it from Dell with 10% off the everywhere price of $299.99 with free shipping.

 

[frank_f15]

i just bought(last week) an olympus C750 4MP 10x optical paid $438. now as TRESCROWS say's there is some trade off when going with high zoom, but for the use i i wanted for this camera it was right FOR ME. it is not my only camera! you have to deterime what features u want and then go for the best camera in your price range that is right for u.all the manufactures make many different models, with different features, know why? because everbody has different needs, wants, and $$$$$. as with your tractor buy what feels right for u.

 

[BigDave]

I haven't looked at cameras in a while, but I picked a Minolta digital camera & haven't had any problems with it. I'm not an expert and I don't know how to use half the functions on the thing, just wanted to pass along a positive experience. All of my TBN shots are with that camera. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif