Digi Cam for Christmas

2»

Comments

  • Reply 21 of 34
    jaskejaske Posts: 73member
    The Canon A40 is a great camera for the money. Unlike many similarly priced cameras, the A40 is solid, and will withstand the wear and tear of daily usage.



    All "mid-range" cameras have their flaws, but I love the Canon A20 and A40. They are great cameras for their price. Here's a review for your perusal:



    <a href="http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/a40.html"; target="_blank">http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/a40.html</a>;
  • Reply 22 of 34
    Digital cameras are a whole new world of costs vs benefits. I recently purchased that Canon S45 which I believe is the best camera avaliable that is under $500 US. There are downsides to buying an inexpensive camera so my suggestion would be to save a little more and go for a camera that you can grow into.



    Things to look at and consider:



    Batteries and more importantly battery life.



    Media Used.



    Size



    Features (can you control the apeture and shutter speed? ISO? these are often overlooked features)



    Zoom (digital zoom is garbage( I strongly recommend getting a camera with at least 3x optical zoom. If you can't get in close to frame the shot correctly you will need to have some zoom.



    And finally megapixels. I'd say 3 is more than adequate but 4 is better.



    Most importantly what are you going to use the photos for? And what are you going to take pictures of?



    Invaluable resources:



    <a href="http://www.imaging-resource.com<a href="http://www.imaging-resource.com"; target="_blank">Imaging" target="_blank">www.imaging-resource.com[URL=http://www.imaging-resource.com]Imaging</a>; Resource</a>



    <a href="http://www.dcresource.com"; target="_blank">DC Resource</a>



    <a href="http://www.dpreview.com"; target="_blank">DP Review</a>



    <a href="http://www.stevesdigicams.com"; target="_blank">Steves Digicams</a>



    Check out these resources and go from there. Any questions I'm more than willing to help.



    Dave in Japan



    P.S. The S45 should be released in the US around the 10th of December.



    Also: Check out the links to Daves Picks at Imaging resource. (No I'm not that Dave...)
  • Reply 23 of 34
    [quote]Originally posted by bunge:

    <strong>I've been eyeing the Coolpix 5700. Does anyone have any stories to tell about it?</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Steve's Digicams is a site that comprehensively reviews digital cameras. The link for the Nikon 5700 is <a href="http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/nikon5700.html"; target="_blank">here</a>.

    ...
  • Reply 24 of 34
    tooltool Posts: 242member
    [quote]Originally posted by Leonis:

    I aways pick Kodak's cameras because they use regular AA batteries. And those NiMH based rechargeable batteries are very cheap and wildly available.

    I hate those proprietary ones like those on SONY's , Canon's cameras. Expensive. Don't last long....... can you imagine when you are taking shots outdoor and realize the batteries are drained?

    At least with those camera that are using regular AA batteries I can grab some from convenient stores.<hr></blockquote>



    But your post does make it sound like you use AA batteries.



    Personally, I use the Canon PowerShot S30 (3.1megapixel) and I love it. takes great pics and is not too badly priced. Plus it comes with a charger for your battery.
  • Reply 25 of 34
    bungebunge Posts: 7,329member
    [quote]Originally posted by Aphelion:

    <strong>



    Steve's Digicams is a site that comprehensively reviews digital cameras. The link for the Nikon 5700 is <a href="http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/nikon5700.html"; target="_blank">here</a>.

    ...</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Thanks (although the link didn't work I did follow through to the site.) I have read this and a few other really comprehensive reviews and that's what made me think about the camera in the first place. I'm kinda wondering if anyone here is using one, or has used one in comparison with some other models, and has any practical advice.



    It looks good, but they're expensive. It's a bit of an investment.
  • Reply 26 of 34
    cosmocosmo Posts: 662member
    I am also looking into getting a A40 for christmas, but i'm worried that its successor is on the horizon. The A40 has been out for 9+months now. Does anyone know if Canon is planning on updating the A40 anytime soon?



    Edit: the A40 was announced on Feb. 22/2002



    [ 12-08-2002: Message edited by: Cosmo ]</p>
  • Reply 27 of 34
    trowatrowa Posts: 176member
    as one poster mentioned. check out dpreview.com



    it is essentially the best source to check reviews on digital cameras. Also tons of rumors about upcoming digi cams. Make sure you check out the forums for first hand experiences on the camera you are looking to buy.



    another thing you want to consider is driver support in OS X (if that is your main OS).



    I have a Canon G2 that takes beautiful pictures. I also sometimes use the movie feature, but can't seem to get them unto OS X. I have to use my PC and the canon software to get them unto my Mac. pretty lame, but I don't use the movie feature that often. iPhoto may not support the newer digi cams, but just get a USB card reader and you should be fine.



    From my experience you can't really go wrong with Canon or Nikon. depending on how you figure on printing your images, I would recommend at least a 3 MP camera (4 if you can afford it). You will get excellent 4x6 photos and will most likely be able to blow them up to 8x10 with slight color/sharpness dithering.



    check out dpreview.com it is a little overwhelming at first, but you will be glad that you did, because not all cams are made the same and you want to choose one that is right for you.



    [ 12-09-2002: Message edited by: trowa ]</p>
  • Reply 28 of 34
    I just bought the GF a Canon A 40 from Dell's website for $224 shipped.



    Cameras are 10% off plus free shipping and no tax. (I'm in CA.) The camera lists at 249 on Dell's site. I read the reviews and decided on this one over the Nikon CoolPix 2000.
  • Reply 29 of 34
    current digital cameras are about to become obsolete.



    <a href="http://foveon.com"; target="_blank">Foveon X3 technology</a>



    triple the colour fidelity and effective resolution of any CCD chip camera. read more and see sample images in <a href="http://discover.com/dec_02/featphoto.html"; target="_blank">Discover magazine Dec 2002</a>



    only one manufacturer this year (Sigma, $1800)

    but a flood of licensees online for 2003



    from the article



    [quote]Digital cameras have relied on image sensors that can't do what color film does: record all three primary colors of light at each point in the image. Instead, each light-sensitive point in the sensor measures just one color?blue, green, or red?and complicated software in the camera calculates the missing colors. Foveon's breakthrough X3 chip solves the problem with a three-layer design that captures red, blue, and green light at each point. To demonstrate quality differences, the monarch butterfly on this page was photographed with three cameras: an $1,800 Sigma SD9 with an X3 chip; a $300 Nikon Coolpix 2500; and a $2,300 Nikon 35 mm F5 film camera. Insets show magnified detail from each camera's image.

    <hr></blockquote>



    the article also notes the impressive record of inventor Carver Mead - VLSI, touchpads, digital ears, now eyes... Midas might suit him better



    dunno if your purchase plans are slowed now.

    just fyi and a chance to avoid new year's regret if MWSF brings a Foveon iCam from Steve



    edit: image url fixed



    [ 12-18-2002: Message edited by: curiousuburb ]</p>
  • Reply 30 of 34
    [quote]Originally posted by TOOL:

    <strong>

    But your post does make it sound like you use AA batteries.

    </strong>

    <hr></blockquote>



    AA refers to the size/shape of the battery. You can get a few different types of battery technology in the AA size.
  • Reply 31 of 34
    In your price range, I just bought the Olympus D550 last week, and it's a very nice 3MP camera.



    That said, I returned that camera today, because yesterday, I saw this one: the Olympus C50.

    <a href="http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/c50.html"; target="_blank">http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/c50.html</a>;

    This is my new/current lust object, available @ Costco for $570 US. Yes, it's more than twice as much money - but it's much more than twice as much camera!



    Certain things, it pays great dividends to overbuy, not underbuy, and cameras are one such; I've had several top-shelf SLRs, including Canon & Nikon, but Olympus makes first-rate, rugged, high-utility cameras too.



    I, too, dream of a high-grade Foveon-powered camera, but they can't make enough to meet demand, and they're selling for (IIRC) 8-10,000 USD. Don't expect Apple to do w/ such cameras what they did w/ the superdrive - not anytime in the next 5-10 years, anyway!
  • Reply 32 of 34
    ebbyebby Posts: 3,110member
    Just saw a <a href="http://www.sharpelectronics.com/products/ModelLanding/0,1058,1006,00.html"; target="_blank">Sharp 4MP</a> digital camera for $299 at Fry's. Seems to be a great deal. (Resolution vs. price) Camera Prices are dropping. And moreso after christmas.
  • Reply 33 of 34
    xaqtlyxaqtly Posts: 450member
    [quote]Originally posted by Leonis:

    <strong>Bad news to Fuji's camera......their new cameras use a proprietary storage card call xcard or something like that...........that means they are EXPENSIVE </strong><hr></blockquote>



    Well... just to add to this, my Fuji Finepix S602 (which is a fairly new camera) uses both Compactflash type 1 and 2, AND Smartmedia - at the same time. There's one CF2 slot (takes CF 1 and 2 including IBM Microdrive) and one Smartmedia slot, and you can load them both up at the same time.
  • Reply 34 of 34
    the consumer electronics show is coming in January...I am waiting till then....
Sign In or Register to comment.