Recommend Digital Camera

KubotaSteve · Feb 1, 2006

One other item I would add is to get a camera that doesn't have a noticeable delay when snapping a picture. My camera is over 4 years old and it doesn't have a noticeable delay, but my mom's camera is only 2 years old and after you press the button you have to hold the camera there for a second or the picture is blurry. Both cameras are good namebrands too. If you go to a good store, they will let you mess around with the cameras in the store so you can check for feel and the delay thing as well as ease of use. I can use my camera with one hand if need be which does come in handy.
I don't own one, but the new Kodak cameras look to be quite user friendly and take good quality pics. Both my brothers have Kodak and if I ever get a new one, I'm leaning that way.
Have fun.

CTyler · Feb 1, 2006

I recently bought a new one for my wife after looking and looking, reading reviews etc.. and bought a Fuji Finepix E900.
This is a 9 megapixel with digital and optical zooms. It will do video with sound etc.., very nice camera. I ended up buying it on Ebay for $495 with rechargable batts and charger, 512meg memory, USB card reader etc..etc. The auction number was 7566947033 if you intersted in looking at the package that was offered. This was new not refurb, display etc..

I started looking in the 4-5mp range and decided for the money and the number of years we'll have the camera that a higher mp was the way to go. Its not hard to spend a gran on one of these. You start spending a lot of money for small gains.

I'm very happy with the camera! The camera feels good in my hand and has a point & shoot w/auto focus as well as many manual modes for the shutter bug. The motorized lens and cover is particulaly welcome. Pretty much keeps the finger prints off the lens and less gripes to the wife. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

hunterridgefarm · Feb 1, 2006

KentT, KubotaSteve, CTyler,

More good points...and I thank you.

One thing about price is I have only looked at sales papers so I don't really know how much you get for the money. I would have no problem spending $500-600 for a good camera.

Are these like the old 35mm in that you can buy zoom lens to attach?

Bird · Feb 1, 2006

( The advantage of a camera that uses AA cells is that you can use rechargeable NiMH AA cells in it. If they go dead at an inconvenient time, you can use standard AA cells, which are easy to find nearly anywhere. )

Yep, that's what my Olympus D-460ZOOM uses. It was 5 years old last month, and the rechargeable NiMH Maxell batteries that I got with it still hold a charge just fine. However, I later bought a set of Rayovac Ultra rechargeable NiMH batteries and they work just fine, but for a much shorter time; just won't hold a charge half as long as the Maxells. But with the two sets of 4, so far I've never had to resort to the throw away batteries.

KentT · Feb 1, 2006

The nicer ones will already have a power zoom lens on them. My old Canon has a 3X, that is about the equivalent of a 35-70 on a 35MM. The 10 X ones are about the equivalent of a 28 - 200. I can't see you ever needing more unless you're a professional photographer... If you go 10X, make sure it has image stabilization built in.

The nicer ones still do have removable lens, however. If you're familiar with 35MM then I'd suggest you look for one that you can put macro lens or filters on. A UV filter is a great way to protect the lens, with improved pictures in some conditions, and no detrimental side-effects to speak of...

One final opinion/recommendation -- don't get caught up the "megapixel wars" if your primary use will be 3x5 or 4x6 snapshots, or use on the Internet and in email. As an example an old 2 megapixel camera takes a 1600 x 1200 picture in its highest resolution setting -- when most people use 1024 or 1280 (compared to that 1600) as their widest screen setting on their computers.

A good 4 megapixel camera will produce good quality 5x7 and fairly acceptable quality 8x10 prints (about like a 35MM using 200 ASA film) -- anything above that number of pixels can be overkill for most people....

Bottom line is to focus on the whole list of features (including optical zoom) and not on just the megapixels....

If I were spending $500 on a digital camera today, here's the exact one that I would buy -- without question:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons2is/

This is one of the first quality SLRs (as opposed to "snapshot" cameras) that have been able to hit that $500 price point with 10X zoom and image stabilization. But, if you're looking for a snapshot camera -- these won't fit the bill -- they're much bigger...

Bob_Skurka · Feb 1, 2006

I'm shopping for a new camera too.

I've narrowed down my choice to a Panasonic Lumix DMC FC7. Unfortunately that camera is not available for a couple of months. However, the functionally similar camera that FC7 is going to replace is available right now and it is available in your price range. Take a serious look at the Panasonic Lumix DMC FC5. If I had to buy a camera today, it is what I would buy. I compared its features to far more expensive brands like Nikon's Coolpix 8700 and 8800, as well as the Canon PowerShot Pro1 and they simply cost more and provide the average camera user less (but may be better for very advanced users).

DP preview of the Lumix DMC FC7

DP full review of the currently available Lumix DMC FC5

Michael_E_Tx · Feb 1, 2006

You are talking about mucho $ for a digital camera that takes interchangeable lens. However, many will accept a wide angle and 2x telephoto adapters. We just purchased a Canon S2 IS also. What a great camera! It has a 12x optical zoom with optical Image Stabilization. IS is particularly handy when taking shots without flash in low light.

I believe SD cards are the latest sort of technology. Most cameras come with small memory cards. One hint: Don't buy larger SD cards from the camera manufacturer before you check out the prices online. I bought a 1 gig card from Buy.com for only $54 dollars. This will let you take about 680 shots at the highest resolution or over 1200 at the next resolution down. Or 12 minutes of quality video. While this may sound like overkill, my wife has accumulated over 200 on her camera many times.

One of the nice things about dp reviews is that they compare comparable models. We probably would have been happy with any of the comparable cameras to the S2 IS except one which did not have IS.

Knute · Feb 1, 2006

( I'm shopping for a new camera too.

I've narrowed down my choice to a Panasonic Lumix DMC FC7. Unfortunately that camera is not available for a couple of months. However, the functionally similar camera that FC7 is going to replace is available right now and it is available in your price range. Take a serious look at the Panasonic Lumix DMC FC5. If I had to buy a camera today, it is what I would buy. I compared its features to far more expensive brands like Nikon's Coolpix 8700 and 8800, as well as the Canon PowerShot Pro1 and they simply cost more and provide the average camera user less (but may be better for very advanced users).

DP preview of the Lumix DMC FC7

DP full review of the currently available Lumix DMC FC5

)

I've had the older FZ1 for a couple of years now and I'm looking to upgrade to the FZ30 sometime this year, I'd expect the FZ7 would be a good upgrade as well. The FZ1 has been a good camera, it's only 2mp so the photos aren't large but that 12x optical zoom really lets you get in close. It doesn't use standard batteries but we routinely get 300+ photos on a single charge.

Ignore the digital zoom claims, they don't mean squat. It doesn't get you any more resolution or information in the photo, you can get the same result by opening the image in your editor and blowing it up. If you want a zoom look only at what the optical zoom is.

Michael_E_Tx · Feb 1, 2006

One more thing that I would offer is to suggest that you search prices through several of the online shopping sources. Such as amazon.com or my particular favorite, Shopzilla.com. Look for bizrated businesses. If a company is highly rated by bizrate, IMHO, you can pretty much trust doing business with them even if you've never heard of the company before or it is very far from you. I think you will find better prices than you will in advertising flyers. Many offer free shipping.

WhyNot · Feb 1, 2006

I bought a Sony Power Shot DSC-200 about a week before christmas and like it a lot. I had it for a few day's when I dropped it on concrete and it busted the lcd screen went online made a warranty claim, told them what had happened, sent it to their factory and with in a week it was at my front door fixed for free when I am the one that damaged it. DCHQ helped me in my choice. One other note if you don't mind shopping online I have noticed that the big stores sell there item's a lot cheaper online and with free shipping.