Recommend Digital Camera

stevenf · Feb 1, 2006

hunterridgefarm, I bought a Kodak P850 at Sams it is 12X optical zoom 2.5"LCD view screen and 5.1 mega pixel. I researched all the 10X or better cameras that I could afford and this one fit the bill nicely it was $397.63 at Sams. I also got thier digital camera kit only for the largest bag it was $19.47 it includes a smaller bag and a very small tripod but the big case by itself anywhere else was $27 or so. The only drawback is it does use a proprietary Kodak battery they are $13+ at Best Buy its rechargeable I've taken over 200 pictures and haven't had to recharge it so I'm pleased so far. I needed the optical zoom for our game ranch pictures and as others have said unless your printing posters or wall size stuff 4 or 5 mp cameras are fine. I have found one thing so far I really like about it I can take fully zoomed in 12X pictures after sundown getting dark but not black yet with no flash assist bring the photos into a photo program like adobe photo shop or Microsoft Digital image and increase the lighting via computer and am able to have pretty darn good pictures of game that comes in as it gets dark where a flash camera would have sent them running. Under normal conditions it takes beautiful pictures although in this day and age I'd expect any name brand camera with the same specs to be just as good. Price and 12X zoom sold me this particular camera it is comparable to the Canon S2IS in abilities just a tad cheaper and it has the bigger view screen. Sams has the Canon as well it is $447.-- also 12X with a 1.8" LCD view screen. I did find in my test side by side that the Kodak was ready for second shot photo quicker the the Canon. Also I bought a 1 gig Ultra II SD card at Best Buy for $67 or so make sure you get the Ultra II as it also will have bearing on how fast subsequent shots can be taken I think if memory is right that it writes 40X faster then the standard SD memory card and is only about $20 more its worth it for me. Ultra III SD cards will be out soon but they will be very pricey to start with I'd expect a couple of hundred bucks for a 1GB card
Steve

Gatorboy · Feb 1, 2006

( ... 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. ) 

You need to hold the shutter button down half-way to lock in the focus and exposure, and then when the camera is ready, press the shutter when you want to take the picture. Don't just press all the way down in one swoop if your camera has a long shutter lag.

RobertN · Feb 1, 2006

Always go for optical zoom first. It will give you the clearer image. As you digitally zoom, the picture will start to pixelate, ie get blocky or choppy.

Good glass can make or break a camera. Always get the best glass you can afford(it's the same in microscopes, telescopes, rifle scopes ect). A good camera with medicore glass will make a mediocre picture. A medicroe camera with good glass wil typically make a better picture than the other way around.

hunterridgefarm · Feb 1, 2006

You guys are better than Consummer Reports.

I plan on printing this and taking it with me this weekend /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

I can say " look so-and-so on TBN said to get this and that was not really needed" /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I now know enough to not to get taken by the person selling me the camera.

Thanks to all for bringing me up to speed on a digital camera. I'll let you know what we buy.

rox · Feb 1, 2006

unterridgefarm,
Hey I have a subscription to Consumer Reports, on line.
It only costs $5 a month. I am jsut about to kill it.

Whenever I am going to buy something digital, like a camera, computer printer etc. I sign up for on line consumer reports.
www.consumerreports.org

They have extensive reviews that are based on their tests. They go buy the products form the stores, they are right off the shelves. Especially on their digital reveiws they keep them very much up to date. It is always worth it for me to spend $5 to invest in information before I go out shopping.

Consumer reports lets you cancel at any time with no problems at all. I ahve done this at least 3 times now.

Others here shared terrific information which will be a big help but I would check out consumer reprts on line as well.

Can't wait to see the photographs.

Oh and I have a Pentax digital and it uses 2 AA battereies, however I buy these extra long wearing batteries. They are not re-chargable, however they last a real long time. Somebody here will probably know the name of those special batteries, I cna't remember what they cost, but they are worth it.

ronjhall · Feb 2, 2006

I would have no problem spending $500-600 for a good camera. 
Since you have raised the bar a little. I will make my suggestion. My camera is a Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 . It has many of the features of the SLR's. But they are built in to camera. After buying SLR's and did not use many of the attachments and features. I decided to buy one that had all the features built in. I have taken several thousand pictures since I purchased it last year. It can be found on the Internet for less than $600. I got a 1 gig high speed memory card with it. It allows me to store about 300 pictures before download.
My other camera is a Olympus 560. Great little camera that uses 2 AA batteries. It is always in the car ready to take pictures. The current closest model to it is a Stylus 710.
Look for a camera that has image stabilization. It will make a difference with picture quality.

KubotaSteve · Feb 2, 2006

Dave,
Thanks for the advice, but we have tried everything and it still has the hesitation. I have read the book to see if I was missing something. Like I said, the ones I take with my camera are fine but the pictures taken with her camera are blurry if you don't hold still that extra second.
Thanks again.

hunterridgefarm · Feb 2, 2006

rox,
I usually do the samething. I research everything like this before I buy. Just thought I would speed the process up and come to TBN and get consumer reports for all across the nation /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.

ronjhall,
I like the looks of that camera and it is the style I want. I don't really like the small cameras. My wife will not purchase anything on line so I'll see what Best Buy, and Sams carries.

EddieWalker · Feb 2, 2006

Great advice here. It's rare that I agree with just about everyone so strongly! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Your budget is huge for what you need. I'm not sure your first digital camera needs to be a lexus. Start out with a honda and get a decent camera and see if it's what you enjoy.

There are allot of good brand names ones for under $300.

Make sure you get one that uses AA batteries. We have a charging dock for 8 batteries for our cameras. It's really nice haveing them because the cameras eat up batteries so fast.

Optical zoom is all that matters. Ignore digital numbers because they aren't realistic and pictures under digital zoom are fuzzy.

4.0 is pretty darn good resolution. Anything more is just overkill for most applications. Mine is 2.0 and Steph's is 3.2 and a much better camera than mine.

My current favorite online store to buy from is newegg.com

For Christmas, I bought Steph a photo printer. It's the Epson Picture Mate for $170 and it prints 4X6 prints as good as any film print. Nobody can tell the diference. They cost around .30 cents per print, but you only print what you want and you have them right away. It's also protable and very easy to take with you.

We brought it to Grandma's house for Christmas dinner and printed pictures for everyone right there!!!

For under $500 you can get a very nice camera AND a digital picture printer!!!!

Good luck,
Eddie

BillG_in_TX · Feb 2, 2006

"I'll see what Best Buy, and Sams carries." 

I suggest that you check with your local camera stores. I know that Wolf/Ritz will price match anything available locally, and they usually have knowledgeable sales people, good selection and extras - like free photography classes.

If I don't buy on-line, I always try the local specialty stores first, especially ones that price match like Wolf/Ritz.