Digital Camera Recommendations

[Ian]

Need a new digital camera. My current camera is a 2.0 megapixel with 3x optical and 3x digital zoom. I'd like to upgrade to something better while keeping the price between $300-$400. I also have a number of compact flash cards for this one. I really don't want to buy new ones if possible.

Fire away...

[JamieW]

http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/contro ... 24&sa=true

Winner.

[dodecahedron]

i'm definitely no expert and don't have much experience...

when shopping for a camera, i really liked the Canons.

most small digital cameras have 3x optical zoom. i was considering the Canon A75 (3.2 Megapix) or the A80 (4 megapix) now already a newer model is out A85 (improved A80. like the A75 is an improved A70).

but i wanted something more than 3x optical zoom.
i bought the Canon S1 IS.
i think it's within the price range you mentioned in the US.
got some good reviews and user opinions in forums too.
but only if you really want that 10x optical zoom.

if that matters to you at all, the S1 IS has very good video capability, it's video quality is much better than that of most digicams and rivals or equals that of videocams (some of them anyways). but for that you'll need to buy a really big compact flash card (1Gb = 9 min @ highest quality video).

its only downside as far as i'm concerned is that it's 3.2 megapix, not 4 or 5...maybe there'll be a S2 IS?

the pics of dodec jr. were taken with this camera.

all Canon digital cameras (AFAIK, this is definitely true of the PowerShot series of cameras) uses Compact Flash cards. the PowerShots use 4xAA batteries, rather than a custom battery, which i consider a plus.

if you want i can help you a little more reguarding info on these Canon models (you can benefit from my research )

[dodecahedron]

http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=9824&sa=true

Winner.

as Jamie's post and minde were posted at the same time (to 1 minute accuracy) and mine is longer, you can see that i started typing it first!

i agree, it's a great camera.

[bill]

I can't really suggest any of the current cameras on the market because its been almost a couple of years since I picked up an Olympus. I've been happy, it takes very good pictures, nice colors and has a good lens. The only thing I regret is the poor battery life. For some reason I never thought to research battery life when I made the purchase...

It might be snowing in Wisconsin by now but if you can make it to a B&M to handle the cameras on display it might be helpful. When I narrowed my list down to a few cameras we ( wife & I ) went to a few stores. It was there we realized a couple of cameras I was considering wouldn't fit both of our hands very well so we had to compromise. Good luck, I'll see if I can find the review site that I used and throw up the link.

Bill

[JamieW]

BTW, Ian, after 3 megapixels you REALLY get a diminishing return regarding picture quality for the price. I'll hook you up with some sample pictures tomorrow from Blair's 3.2MP camera I got her for Christmas last year, even though she's jewish. After 3MP, zoom is king of bang for the buck. 3X optical functions. 10X can make it your every thing camera. Canon, Kodak, and Nikon make good cameras. Sony makes neat cameras which cost a lot because it says "Sony."

[Ian]

I'm not so concerned with megapixels. I'd rather have something with decent picture and optical zoom.

My inlaws have a Fuji FinePix 3000. They have no idea how to use it, but its a nice camera. I thought about picking one up, but it uses the xD memory.

[CowboySlim]

I have the 2MP Canon A40 and am thinking about upgrading to either a Canon A75 @ 3.2MP or the A80 @ 4MP. They all use 4 AA cells which I also consider a plus.

I'm not sure that 10X optical is that much of a plus. Even with 2MP I can crop down to what I want and the resize to, or print at 4 x 6 and get great definition without "pixelization" (this is in effect a "digital zoom", but on the PC). I've also made some good 8 x 10s, but if one to a magnifying glass to those, they might look less than perfect.

I would also look at the editors' reviews in cnet.com and the universally accepted source for reviews is: Steve's Digicams.

I've also heard that some Olympus models are not all that user friendly with complex menus that are not intuitive and are difficult to memorize.

Good luck,
Slim
Who notes that his Canon A40 does a good job on his grandaughter.

[dennisturner]

I just bought a Gateway DC-T50 5.25 MPIX camera for $199.00!
I like it's features and quality of performance. Best Buy.

[LoneWolf]

This is an easy one, because I just got one of these for my birthday.

http://www.fujifilm.com/JSP/fuji/epartn ... e=overview

I was pretty picky, but knew we wouldn't have a lot of money for a camera. It's got a digital viewfinder that's through the lens (really important for me) as well as LCD (get both, LCD's wash out badly in sunlight so it's good to have a real viewfinder), 10x optical zoom, program, aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual modes, and uses 4 AA batteries (I got NiMH rechargeables with it). You can also switch it to continuous autofocus, which uses more battery but is good for motion shots. It 's a 3MP camera with interpolation (that I'll never use) that doubles to 6MP. It retails for around $300 to slightly less. I just ordered a 128MB xD Picture Card for it, enough to store between 100-180 pictures depending on resolution.

They've also just come out with the FinePix S5100, similar to my FinePix S5000, but with a 4MP resolution.

[pranav81]

When you buy any camera,just dont settle for anything below 3 MP.I have had a very good experience with Sony cameras.The support is excellent and the build quality rocks.The major downside is that the cameras are quite costly,but IMO they are worth it.

I now have a MiniDV Handycam with a digital camera function,using which you can click 3 MP good photos.The quality is awesome.The model is DCR-PC 330E.

See ya later.


::Pranav::

[pranav81]

I noticed just now JamieW,the change in your avatar.The effect is really horrific.



::Pranav::

[hoxlund]

hey, hey can I speak? i work retail here

try to stay away from the fuji cameras, i see way to many returned

i just bought the HP R707 5.1MP w/ 3x optical zoom

mostly bought it cause $250 rebate through HP, and i paid $349 for it, had to use my $604 staples card

with free 128mb SD

BTW almost bought that S1 Canon camera, nice camera but again that $250 rebate kept creeping back into my mind

[NuGuy]

Here's a great site that has lots of in-depth reviews and lots of camera mfr.-specific forums.

http://www.dpreview.com/

[CowboySlim]

Oh, yeah,

Jamie's avatar reminded me of another tip with respect to usage. I hate the delay added by the auto redeye reduction feature. I leave it turned off, to decrease shutter lag, and then edit any redeye out on the PC.

Slim

[dodecahedron]

I have the 2MP Canon A40 and am thinking about upgrading to either a Canon A75 @ 3.2MP or the A80 @ 4MP. They all use 4 AA cells which I also consider a plus.

'Slim, see my post above.
the A80 has been superceded by the A85.

as for websites - CowboySlim and NuGuy beat me to it. these 2 sites are the ones i checked out before buying.
http://www.dpreview.com/
http://www.steves-digicams.com/

if you want a 10x optical zoom camera, some choices are:
Canon S1 IS
Olympus C765/C770 UltraZoom
Minolta Dimage something
Fuji Finepix S5000 (thanks to LoneWolf).

the Canon has a big advantage - it has an Image Stabilizer, which i believe the other models don't have (maybe the Minolta does, i'm not sure ??). very useful if you're going to actually use that 10x zoom without a tripod.

[hoxlund]

ive found that my olympus c-730 3.1mp 10x optical zoom gets blurry very easy while taking pics

quite a lag between click of button and recording of pics to the xd card

[CowboySlim]

Oh yeah, dode, I forgot about the A85. In addition to the A75, I am looking at the A85. My daughter made a great talking movie of my grandaughter, on the left, with her camera and the A40 can't do that. Or, at least that is the best excuse that I can think of for moving up.

Slim

[dodecahedron]

Oh yeah, dode, I forgot about the A85. In addition to the A75, I am looking at the A85. My daughter made a great talking movie of my grandaughter, on the left, with her camera and the A40 can't do that. Or, at least that is the best excuse that I can think of for moving up.

yep, sound is nice
also the bigger megapix number is a plus.
also the bigger better LCD screen is a plus.
and the higher resolution video (640x480) is a plus.

if i wasn't for the 10x optical zoom, it'd be the A80 i would've gotten (the A85 wasn't out yet at the time - this is only a month ago i'm talking, the A85 is brand new!)

[hoxlund]

return the a80 and get a85

[dodecahedron]

return the a80 and get a85

was that for me?

not so easy to do in Israel returning a product is usually not possible.
but you misread my posts. i got the S1 not the A80.

besides, believe it or not, there's a thing or 2 in which the A80 is better than the A85.

[CowboySlim]

or me, I haven't bought either yet, but would be A75 or A85.

Slim

[hoxlund]

ok sorry

[dodecahedron]

np

[ruderacer]

Try the Canon S-410. I have one and it works great. It has 4 Mega Pixels and the price is about 399 at Best Buy. It comes with a 32MB Compact Flash Card and the pictures quality is awesome. It also will do 3 minute movies. It has a rechargeable lithium battery and it last. Good Luck!