Digital Cameras - Did I make the right choice?

Wingnut · May 17, 2002

Didn't get around to responding for awhile ... but I have a few minutes while this stuff recompiles ... so .... did you make the right choice? Well, if you're happy with it, how could it be a wrong choice? The reason there's so many different makes and models (just as with tractors) is that it comes down to personal preference. This isn't a Beta vs VHS type battle ... more like a "Which VHS should I buy" discussion.
My boss bought a Sony off eBay ... because he was interested in the 10x hardware solution. I, on the other hand, researched it all to heck and ended up buying what I thought had fabulous specs for the money ... a 3.3 mp Epson. Yeah ... the printer guys.
After months of taking horse pictures and progress shots of my manure spreader project ... we took it along to Europe last month ... also took the PC so it was easy to download in the evening and make sure I never ran out of CompactFlash memory. Batteries (regular alkaline AAA's) lasted through 380 pictures and still haven't been changed (been back a month). Pictures are awesome and the only bad shot was taken by a friend (the only picture of my wife and I together, of course). I left the camera set to hi res (2000 x 1600) which let me take 128 pictures on each of the 64 mb modules ... which meant that I could do all the cropping and goofing around on edit instead of composing. And the macro mode was awesome ... great flower pictures with stuff way in the background still in perfect focus ... so unlike my SLRs.
Anyway ... bottom line ... what counts isn't whether others approve of the model ... it's whether it gathers dust like all our SLRs ... or gets a good workout frequently to show the rest of us what's going on in Argee's world!

Argee · May 17, 2002

Wingnut,
Have not received the camera thus far but am convinced now that I made the right choice for me.
When first starting to research these technical marvels, one is overwhelmed by the different features and the sheer amount of models available. Once I narrowed the field down to the particular features I was looking for, it reduced the selection to a handful of models.
After much handwrithing it actually boiled down to "what felt good in my hands". The Sony won that test. That coupled with the drastic drop in price convinced me that I was getting the most "bang for my buck".
So I sit here anxiously awaiting the arrival of this little wonder and pondering all that I can do with it.

rf33 · May 17, 2002

I think that you will be thrilled with your digital camera. Regardless of the make or model, the ability to take pictures for free, then delete the bad ones and save the good ones is a really great capability. With my digital, I take many times more pictures than I would with my SLR, and wind up with alot of really good shots, along with alot of bad ones, but at least the bad ones don't cost me anything.

TresCrows · May 17, 2002

Fugi camera purchased at a closing Big K for 44 dollars. J

Argee · May 17, 2002

<font color=blue>Regardless of the make or model, the ability to take pictures for free,</font color=blue>

That was or is the big draw. I got the photography bug some 30 years ago. Had it so bad I enlisted in a correspondence school (School of Modern Photography) to feed my habit and thirst for knowledge. But the cost of it (the habit) kept rising for development and prints, etc. so I switched to slides. Then everytime you wanted to look at pics you had to drag out the projector and screen. Then along came kids and one income, so to support my habit I took up wedding photography. It paid for some neat equipment over the years but it became another j-o-b and really didn't feed the same urge that got me involved in the first place . So I eventually lost interest until the advent of digital cameras. I know they've been out for a few years, but all it takes is the opportunity to play with one once and the old impulses return. I'm excited about an old hobby that has been rekindled. Hell I even dusted off the old Yashica SLR the other night and reaquainted myself with it. Brought back a lot of pleasant memories.
I guess I started this thread to get some fortification on my choice of cameras, but as you, Wingnut and others have pointed out it is "whatever floats your boat" that is important. That pretty much justifies the decision. I can couple it with my other hobbies and show "what's going on in Argee's world".
Thanks guys.

ronjhall · May 17, 2002

TresCrow

/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif All that new looking high priced power equipment and you only paid $44 to take a picture of it? /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

Tim Allen would be proud of you. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Anonymous Poster · May 17, 2002

J...

That's a great quality picture for $44.... /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

But you left out the princess BX... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

TresCrows · May 18, 2002

John, the BX is in Louisiana /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif . That was just the power equipment piled behind the 2410 that I have to move to get it out. The Lawnboy was puchased new in 1982 as was the Sthil on the left. These are only a small part of my aersenal.
The camera seems pretty decent since compared to a Nikon SLR film camera any digital seems severely limited but for quick e-mails and snaps it seems quite a nice piece. Shucks, I even imagine that there are folks right here on TBN who might have paid the full price of nearly 300 dollars for this model a year or so ago. Nothing more worthless than obsolete computers and digital cameras. J

Anonymous Poster · May 18, 2002

<font color=blue>...this model a year or so ago...</font color=blue>

J,

What Fuji model is it?

Some of the earlier ones only had "serial" port output and were very slow... but the pictures were very good...

TresCrows · May 18, 2002

MX1200. It has a USB out. It is not fast but it is about as fast as most point and clicks. It is only 1,3 MP but notice the picture is equal to any I have seen here and I have the quality at normal and resolution turned down.
I like those Canon Digital Elphs and will likely buy one in the near future--yep--I like them because they are SMALL and have a stainless steel body. Their reviews have been good and while pricey and not the super mega pixel of some "bigger" units I am so impressed with this cheapo Fugi that I imagine the digital Elphs would be just fine. If I want a quality photo for print, slide, or enlargement I will just use one of my Nikon SLR's. Nikon FE, FM2 (old style with Titanium honeycomb shutter) or my old Nikon F, all of these purchased in the 70's and 80's. These cameras have increadible optics, are tough as nails, work just fine in a sandstorm or even on the moon or atop a mountain in a snow storm and are aluminum, brass, steel ands even titanium construction and leather covered----oh and film resolution is at the molecular level or about a bazillion, bazillion pixels, a level not likely to be obtained any time in the near future by plastic digital cameras. J