NEED A BETTER DIGITAL CAMERA

[bebster]

I think we'll start to see a slow-down in the rate of obsolescence. Most of the past obsolesence has been due to resolution increases at affordable prices (under $500 range). You can get a good 3 or 5 megapixel camera now in that price range which has more than enough resolution for most amateur needs, and that resolution is now competitive with tradtional film (which although is more like 20 megapixels, the human eye can't tell the difference when printed on anything but extreme blown-up images).

Buying now won't be as "risky" in the past. What we'll see in the next phase of the digital camera market is prices come down but resolutions won't go up as fast as before, because the difference between 4 and 6 megapixels is not as valuable as between 1 and 3. What you'll risk is saving on the order of another $100 by waiting. If a camera is worth $100 for a year's use, then don't wait to save it and not have the camera to use.

 

[TresCrows]

I think what you are saying is true, obsolescence will begin to slow down. It is not so much the camera becoming obsolete in a few months that bothers me but that every few months there is a huge price decrease for equivlent performance.
Example, the first CD players cost a 1000 dollars, now I see them for under 50. DVD players were 1000 dollars, I see them now under 75. The new DVDR/RW units are at about 450 but soon they will be under 200. What would you do if a few months after buying your tractor the same model came out with improoved features for half the price?
Yeah, why do they look so funny as well, oh well, when the Fovean stuff is out I will probably get one. The new chip essentially increases density by a factor of three with the same number of pixels and uses less complicate algorythems for computation.
Oh, I have a new camera, my brother is sending me his virtually unused Olympus OM2 outfit, with drive, several lenses, he never used it anyway and called me the other day and asked if I wanted it. I have spent several fortunes on him so yeah, I will take it /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif.
My scanner here really does a nice job of converting film to digital and it is a cheapo unit.
Here is another question, I was looking at new TVs and I have been told by people who seem to know of what they speak that the LCD Plasma stuff only lasts about 6 years and that there are noticeable drop off in color saturation after several years use--IS THIS TRUE???--does this apply to digital cameras. How many pictures can a digicam take before it looses performance? Probably more than you ever would take unless it is a time function as well. J

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I have heard the same thing about the Plasma TVs degrading over time, but an LCD TV is NOT a PLASMA TV. Both are "flat panel" designs that are roughly 4-to-6" thick, but they use totally different technology and the science involved in creating the image is completely different. You can find LCD flat panel TVs and you can find LCD rear projection TVs, while Plasma TVs are typically only found in the flat panel configuration.

If the digital camera is using LCD technology it is not subject to the potential problems that may plague plasma technology.

However, I suspect much of the problems anyone might have with a digital camera will relate to enviornment . . . that is they are electronic instruments and are sensative to heat, cold, humidity, sand, etc, and they are probably much more sensative to those elements that any traditional camera would be because of the less sophisticated electronics found in most film cameras.

 

[bebster]

I have not heard about the degradation problem with either LCD or Plasma TV's. But if it exists, it may not be to a degree that affects the average user. In 2000 my company bought a 42" plasma screen and ran it 12 hours a day (it was used as an animated sign driven by a pc with graphics software). 3 years later it was just fine to my eye. That's probably the equivalence of at least 6 years of normal use. I'm assuming it's hours of use and not elapsed clock hours that would affect it.

But this is an area where prices are still dropping quickly. Consumers are just starting to buy these in quantities, and the whole HDTV thing will prompt more people to upgrade their TVs over the next few years. So volumes will go up and that means asian manufactures will be able to produce larger quantities and lower the price even more. So I'm waiting another year to ride these prices down a bit more before jumping in. Unless of course one of my tube TV's gives out before then.

What is probably better with these new TVs is the S-video and composite video inputs. Much cleaner signal than the old video cables. That's probably worth the upgrade alone.

 

[frank_f15]

the camera i am replacing is not really obsolete, its just i needed to have a camera with a little more user control, for the same price i paid for the 2 mp 3x optical zoom 2 years ago i can now have a 4 mp 10x optical with sp,ap, full manual, and auto p, hot shoe for flash,. every thing changes, i remember the first vcr i ever heard of was from a guy at work that bouth one(betamax) paid about $600 for unit and tapes were $20.00 on sale. i thought why? now ? well u know! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TresCrows]

"What is probably better with these new TVs is the S-video and composite video inputs. Much cleaner signal than the old video cables. That's probably worth the upgrade alone. "

SVHS and S-video imputs have been around since the late 80's. My current TV has all that and it is over 10 years old. I have a JVC SVHS player, a Pioneer Lazer Disc player, a Sony CD player. I am a good consumer /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Hmmm, well, when I married my wife she had a huge collection of LP records, we added to that until LPs became extinct. Soooo, I have all sorts of stereo stuff including a Tube amp and a beautiful turntable. We have converted all of the LPs to CD for her everyday use, mostly in her car. BUT, we also have hundreds of movie titles on LazerDisc and SVHS. Most are widescreen format. We need to get these converted to DVD thus my interest in the new recordable DVD players but I cannot bring myself to buy a recorder for 450 dollars when I know next year this time they will be 175 dollars.
You guys got me convinced I need a new digicam point and shoot, which one shall it be. I like, wide angle optics--not telephoto zoom stuff and make it tiny as well. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The world is analog, digital is only a fabrication so I will always keep my LPs, turntables, tube amps, DBX analog audio compressor, tape palyers and film cameras. J

 

[dmartin88]

Late to the thread but this was taken with an Olympus C700, 10X optical zoom, auto setting, on a tripod.

 

[_RaT_]

"What is probably better with these new TVs is the S-video and composite video inputs. Much cleaner signal than the old video cables. That's probably worth the upgrade alone"


I recently had the task of installing a audio/video system for a family. I have found through my years of dabbling in the stuff no difference in composite vs s-video and more recenty, componet video. I do agree though, having these output/inputs is a bonus over the old RF hookup. Another huge bonus is the addition of the COAX in on 5.1 and up systems. It eliminates the FL, FR, Center, and any additional rear channels or additional front effect channels. I personally have not got any adaptation of surround sound and may sound a bit old fashioned, but am not really all that impressed by the many systems I have heard or installed. I still pretty much go for a great set of front speakers with a strong power supply.

The digital camera arena though, so much has changed and as a old medium and 35mm format user have pretty much made the break. I have my old darkrom stuff but it has sat idle for many years. The digital arena has had a very positive influence on the amount chemicals I have not had to purchase and find a way to discard safely. I will still keep a 35mm film camera if just for the ability to shoot Velvia, a transparency film from Fuji. If your interested in digital, there are many great places to check out for reviews. Two of my favorites are dpreview.com and steves-digicams.com both offer detailed reviews and opinions of the many cameras available. It probably will not help you decide, but will surely be interesting and confuse you about what to purchase. Rat...

 

[frank_f15]

very , very nice photo, which is one of the reasons i ordered(this last friday) an olympus C750, should ship monday and be in my hands wed. or thurs.. then i got to learn how to use it /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[_RaT_]

Hi Frank. Olympus C-750 UZ