What digital camera do you have/want?

Tractors4u · Oct 24, 2003

It conserves your battery by pulling the card and putting it into a card reader. My first digital camera was a Fuji and there were 2 or 3 steps to down loading the pictures. It was really time consuming and the camera was on the whole time.

_RaT_ · Oct 24, 2003

Having sold my Canon A2E and it's lens with plans on checking into the Sony DSC F-828. Sony DSC F-828 Then Canon introduces the 300D, an SLR digital and it throws a wrench into the works. Folks have been mentioning some great cameras I've only heard or read about. The Sony 717 is a very popular camera. The color was improved upon over the 707 which I also thought was superb. I have actually seen some some samples from the 11 megapixel Canon and it is indeed spectacular. As mentioned, the body will cost about $7K. The lenses can cost as much as $75K for the longest telephoto. That would make the body relatively cheap so one could always go that route. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Canon 1Ds

Sony DSC 717

Muhammad · Oct 24, 2003

Alright, I'll bite, too.

I currently have an Olympus C2500L (2.5 MP), which I bought four years ago. The fact that it's still usable is a credit to the technology of the camera at the time. When I bought it I believe it was around $1500, with an MSRP of about $2,000. Now, you can get them for ~$250 on eBay.

My next camera will likely be either a low-end professional digital SLR, or a high-end pro-sumer digital SLR... like the Canon EOS 300D ($899) or EOS 10D ($1499) ... prices don't include lenses:

They both have 6.3 MP sensors, but the 10D offers more features.

My needs are a lot different than most digital camera users, so professional SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses would be considered overkill for most users. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Gatorboy · Oct 24, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It conserves your battery by pulling the card and putting it into a card reader. My first digital camera was a Fuji and there were 2 or 3 steps to down loading the pictures. It was really time consuming and the camera was on the whole time. )</font>

I have a Fuji FinePix 6900 and use Ulead Photo Explorer which with 1 mouse click, copies the files off of the camera into the proper folder on my PC, and then deletes the files off the camera. Simple.

The 30-60 seconds the camera is on to offload the pictures sure doesn't concern me, especially with rechargable batteries.

I am still not convinced there is a need for a card reader.

Robert_in_NY · Oct 24, 2003

Card readers are much faster then using the camera. And if you are trying to unload over 1000mb of pictures you would want the fastest way to do so. However, if you only unload a few pictures at a time then the card readers are not a priority. Also, rechargable batteries are the only way to go.

Robert_in_NY · Oct 24, 2003

We are looking at getting the F828 for my father who is still using a 35mm. The only way he will get one is if it is better then mine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I am waiting for the 828 to be out for a while and see some of the reviews on it and hopefully some sample pics before we buy. Then I don't have to worry about him wanting to borrow my camera all the time when he wants a picture right now /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif (of course, I would still have to go over and show him how to unload the pictures everytime but its fun)

Mark_in_NH · Oct 24, 2003

Some of the other advantages of card readers is the ability to read differant types of cards. My Kodak will read 3 differant types.
I also like the ability of not only being able to read from the card but also the ability to write to it. "Copy to and from".

_RaT_ · Oct 24, 2003

Muhammad, thats were I am at. The Canon 10D has greater flexibilty and more ways to customize the camera whereas the Rebel is pretty much a dumbed down version of the 10d with comparable image quality. It also comes in at $600 more in cost. The larger sensor of the SLR's and ability to use exisiting or even some very nice new lenses has it's benefits. Shutter lag is virtually eliminated. I could easily see purchasing the Rebel with the kit lens and adding a 70-200mm f4 L or even a f2.8 L down the road. I'm still in a holding mode, waiting to see if the Sony F-828 works out. My feeling is the noise on the F-828 will be considerably higher then the Canon DRebel even with a greater pixel count. Theres some amazing stuff out there.

Canon 10D

Canon 300D aka Rebel

Richard · Oct 24, 2003

Since we are only in discussions, I usually find the Contax brand being rarely mentioned. Perhaps because they do not advertise as much /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif perhaps if they DID advertise then their already expensive lens would become REALLY expensive /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Kyrocera / Contax

Speaking of their FILM cameras, they will hold their own against anyone and (not to start camera color wars) their optics (Carl Zeiss) are considered some of the worlds finest (and expensive).

Ever notice Doctors doing surgery with the "binoculars" on their glasses? Look closely next time and Lunch on me says you will see MORE of them saying Zeiss on them than any other brand.

The Zeiss lens will hold their value too. I put a post here a short while back where I had a Contax (made by Zeiss) lens 85mm 1.2 special anniversary edition. I bought it back in 1983 for roughly $800 and just sold it 2 months ago for $2,350. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

When you are taking a picture, what is the SOLE thing between the object and the film (or ccd) but the lens? Point being, you want a good lens.

Look at Contax, I'm not associated with Kyrocera/Contax/Zeiss, just a major fan and owner of some of their SLR lens/cameras.

Richard