Does any one know of some good digital camreas in the $500-$800 USD range. Any information would be appreciated.
Check out the Olympus C-5050. It accepts CF, SD, and XD film. Has a 5.1 MP CCD, and lots of custome features. Many say it's the best value for features camera.
Also, You can find the Minotla Dimage 7i for under $800. (I have the Dimage 7 and love it)5.2 MP with CF memory. It is a killer camera with about the best lens on the market (7X optical).
Canon Powershot series, Powershot S45, Powershot S50. Best reviews. check out cnet.com's reviews and also Steve's digicams. Here is a review of my personal favorite 5 Megapixel digital camera.
Does anyone know if the X3 CMOS image capture technology is used in any other cameras besides the Sigma? You would think Foveon would have digital camera manufacturers lined up at the door.
Does anyone know if the X3 CMOS image capture technology is used in any other cameras besides the Sigma? You would think Foveon would have digital camera manufacturers lined up at the door.
Not neccessarily, so far X3 seems way behind conventional sensors when it comes to "film speed" the best thy can do is 400. Conventional sensors in professional cameras can get up to 3200. Just like film, there won't be one sensor for all occassions. Also, the image interpolation tech just gets better and faster all the time, and chips liek digic are just the tip of the iceberg, byt he time of digic3/4/5... interpolation may be as good as makes no difference. Neither have manufacturers quit developing mosaic pattern sensors. Sony has a new 4 color sensor, Nikon has new high speed sensor tech in the works (good for 8fps! at full res)
Obviously, then, the future of cameras will be one of varied technologies in varied appplications and there are just as many reasons NOT to use Foveon technology as there are to use it, probably more in most cases.
As i see them, the issues in Camera technology involve getting the resolution up, and getting dynamic range up and increasing ISO sensitivities and shooting speeds/lag times.
I was just looking at the Sigma SD9 that uses Foveon tech, it does some pretty amazing things-I am thinking of increasing my budget. The images are almost noise-free, even at ISO 400. Even though it is only around 3 mp, it has much more information in each pixel and is equivalent to a 10 or 11 mp camera.
Take one Foveon X3 with roughly 10.5 million sensors recoring an image, and one Canon, also with 10+ sensors.
The Canon returns a 10MP image, the Foveon, a 3.5MP image.
Even though the Canon interpolates the color info from a mosaic pattern, there's no question that it returns significantly more detail, more real resolution, than the Foveon sensor.
Now, let's say you wanted to lower noise in the Canon, if you shrunk the image down in software to 5-6MP you'd get equally noise free fotos with the same detail as the Foveon.
Likewise, the Foveon because it records accurate three color info at each point, gives a lot of enlargement potential for, and up sizing the image in software will lead to pretty good looking 5-6MP size files.
YOu might say that:
number of photodectors being equal, it's better to have them arrayed in a mosaic that extracts the maximum resolution from them. YOu can always down size the image later to clear up noise, if you don't need the larger file size, you get more performance spreading your ten MP in a Canon, than you do stacking them in a Foveon -- better overall resolution, faster "film speed", and the same noise cancelling posibilities (via software resizing)
conversely,
number of photosites being equal, it's better to have X3 pixels (that is full color at each point) than a mosaic, you get far superior resolution and color depth.
There is no one sensor panacea, not Foveon, not Bayer, not superCCD.
My vote's for the Olympus 5050. I have the 4040 (the 5050's 4Mpx little bro) and it does not disappoint. Best feature is the super bright f1.8 lens--rare on a digicam--versatile in lowlight and for a shallow depth of field.
The new Canon G5 is the clear winner IMHO. I just got one last week for $799. Excellent optics and image quality. Very well designed and built. And it has almost every feature you would ever desire from an SLR in a point-and-shoot form factor. In fact, it shares the new DiGiC technology from its pro Digital SLR siblings.
It really looks like you can't go wrong with any of the cameras mentioned here.
I've been looking for a camera with a range of manual control, but not DSLR pricey, and the C5050, the G5, F602, and 717 all seem to have strong points.
We may now add the 6/12 f602 successor I mentioned earlier in the thread. Two in fact:
The S7000 looks especially interesting, and we might expect Sony's 8MP F717 replacement soon.
While these cameras will probably be a tad higher priced than 800USD, it means there'll be a sweet little window for the next few months where some pretty good cameras will clear out cheap.
Watch out for deals on the 717, F602, and Olympus E20, all cameras either replaced or due to be replaced soon.
That's pretty darned good. From what I've read so far, the camera does have a couple of short comings: No AF assist lamp, but you can fix that with a pen light. It's supposed to have an improved focusing system though, so mebbe it will be OK. And, it doesn't have TTL flash, though it does accept external flashes and is supposed to have a very strong and useful internal flash. It doesn't have a really slow ISO mode 160, 200, and 400 speed only, and 800 up to 3MP, an 80-120 setting could probably be useful, but you can adjust the other fully manual settings to get the shot you're after.
For $799 you get 35-210 (f2.8 constant) equivalent zoom and 6/12MP SuperCCD image, which should guarantee some pretty big prints.
It really looks rather good to me, I wonder if you've picked up the 717 yet? The S7000 is due for Sept, and there may be an 8MP 717 replacement by then too. That's also an interesting camera, most any review I've read about the 717 says the lens is great and that the detail is as close as you can get to a DSLR, the 8MP verison should be even better. Shame about the memory stick though.
Also a bit more expensive than Fuji offerings here in Canada. I can't find one for less than 1600 Canadian, while the S602 can be had for 1100 (and has been that price for months) and the new S7000 should come in not too much more -- it will probably cost 1199 new when it hits the street.
If we can keep this thread alive a bit I'd like to hear what the rest of you reccomend.
with 6-8 MP on offer (soon) in consumer cams, the time is finally right for Matsu to go digital! Hehe, I didn't have to play with film too much, or for too long either.
Comments
Originally posted by Rick1138
Does any one know of some good digital camreas in the $500-$800 USD range. Any information would be appreciated.
Check out the Olympus C-5050. It accepts CF, SD, and XD film. Has a 5.1 MP CCD, and lots of custome features. Many say it's the best value for features camera.
Also, You can find the Minotla Dimage 7i for under $800. (I have the Dimage 7 and love it)5.2 MP with CF memory. It is a killer camera with about the best lens on the market (7X optical).
Good Luck
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/s50.html
If you want compact with awesome image quality, look at the Elph series, like the S400.
Originally posted by JBL
The Sony F717 is now down to $800. It is big but it has the best lens of any non-SLR digital camera. Check out what dpreview has to say about it.
this one is really really good, you can get oune from $650 to $800 if you search around
Foveon X3 Technology
--
Ed
Originally posted by Ed M.
Does anyone know if the X3 CMOS image capture technology is used in any other cameras besides the Sigma? You would think Foveon would have digital camera manufacturers lined up at the door.
Foveon X3 Technology
--
Ed
Not neccessarily, so far X3 seems way behind conventional sensors when it comes to "film speed" the best thy can do is 400. Conventional sensors in professional cameras can get up to 3200. Just like film, there won't be one sensor for all occassions. Also, the image interpolation tech just gets better and faster all the time, and chips liek digic are just the tip of the iceberg, byt he time of digic3/4/5... interpolation may be as good as makes no difference. Neither have manufacturers quit developing mosaic pattern sensors. Sony has a new 4 color sensor, Nikon has new high speed sensor tech in the works (good for 8fps! at full res)
Obviously, then, the future of cameras will be one of varied technologies in varied appplications and there are just as many reasons NOT to use Foveon technology as there are to use it, probably more in most cases.
As i see them, the issues in Camera technology involve getting the resolution up, and getting dynamic range up and increasing ISO sensitivities and shooting speeds/lag times.
Originally posted by Rick1138
Does any one know of some good digital camreas in the $500-$800 USD range. Any information would be appreciated.
any camera for that price is good
Take one Foveon X3 with roughly 10.5 million sensors recoring an image, and one Canon, also with 10+ sensors.
The Canon returns a 10MP image, the Foveon, a 3.5MP image.
Even though the Canon interpolates the color info from a mosaic pattern, there's no question that it returns significantly more detail, more real resolution, than the Foveon sensor.
Now, let's say you wanted to lower noise in the Canon, if you shrunk the image down in software to 5-6MP you'd get equally noise free fotos with the same detail as the Foveon.
Likewise, the Foveon because it records accurate three color info at each point, gives a lot of enlargement potential for, and up sizing the image in software will lead to pretty good looking 5-6MP size files.
YOu might say that:
number of photodectors being equal, it's better to have them arrayed in a mosaic that extracts the maximum resolution from them. YOu can always down size the image later to clear up noise, if you don't need the larger file size, you get more performance spreading your ten MP in a Canon, than you do stacking them in a Foveon -- better overall resolution, faster "film speed", and the same noise cancelling posibilities (via software resizing)
conversely,
number of photosites being equal, it's better to have X3 pixels (that is full color at each point) than a mosaic, you get far superior resolution and color depth.
There is no one sensor panacea, not Foveon, not Bayer, not superCCD.
Originally posted by Rick1138
And the winner is: the Sony DSC F717.
Good choice. I have a 707 and am very happy with it. Great image quality.
I've been looking for a camera with a range of manual control, but not DSLR pricey, and the C5050, the G5, F602, and 717 all seem to have strong points.
We may now add the 6/12 f602 successor I mentioned earlier in the thread. Two in fact:
S5000
S7000
The S7000 looks especially interesting, and we might expect Sony's 8MP F717 replacement soon.
While these cameras will probably be a tad higher priced than 800USD, it means there'll be a sweet little window for the next few months where some pretty good cameras will clear out cheap.
Watch out for deals on the 717, F602, and Olympus E20, all cameras either replaced or due to be replaced soon.
$799 US MSRP
That's pretty darned good. From what I've read so far, the camera does have a couple of short comings: No AF assist lamp, but you can fix that with a pen light. It's supposed to have an improved focusing system though, so mebbe it will be OK. And, it doesn't have TTL flash, though it does accept external flashes and is supposed to have a very strong and useful internal flash. It doesn't have a really slow ISO mode 160, 200, and 400 speed only, and 800 up to 3MP, an 80-120 setting could probably be useful, but you can adjust the other fully manual settings to get the shot you're after.
For $799 you get 35-210 (f2.8 constant) equivalent zoom and 6/12MP SuperCCD image, which should guarantee some pretty big prints.
It really looks rather good to me, I wonder if you've picked up the 717 yet? The S7000 is due for Sept, and there may be an 8MP 717 replacement by then too. That's also an interesting camera, most any review I've read about the 717 says the lens is great and that the detail is as close as you can get to a DSLR, the 8MP verison should be even better. Shame about the memory stick though.
Also a bit more expensive than Fuji offerings here in Canada. I can't find one for less than 1600 Canadian, while the S602 can be had for 1100 (and has been that price for months) and the new S7000 should come in not too much more -- it will probably cost 1199 new when it hits the street.
If we can keep this thread alive a bit I'd like to hear what the rest of you reccomend.
with 6-8 MP on offer (soon) in consumer cams, the time is finally right for Matsu to go digital! Hehe, I didn't have to play with film too much, or for too long either.