digital photo cameras

drazztikka · December 21, 2002 12:12PM

Hi all,

i'm looking for a digital photo camera to hook up on my powerbook g4.

It doesn't matter what brand it is, it only has to be small enough to fit in my pocket without me thinking all the time about it so it doesn't break.

It should have enough memory for let's say 100 pictures (not 640x480? but decent resolution).

Li-ion battery is a must.

It doesn't have to have a lcd display cause it'll only break down when i carry it around a lot.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

eliahu · December 21, 2002 3:06PM

I have a friend who was traveling through France recently. He was shown a Mustek digital camera. Very small. Very cheap. Decent pics.

<a href="http://www.mustek.com.tw/html/prod_camra/gsmartmini2.htm"; target="_blank">http://www.mustek.com.tw/html/prod_camra/gsmartmini2.htm</a>;

Note that the lens doesn't retract. Not sure this would hold up well in your pocket.

They also don't show Mac compatibility. No clue if this would work with iPhoto.

You should post the price range you're looking at.

eugene · December 21, 2002 5:12PM

Consider the Minolta Dimage Xi or Canon Digital Elph S230.

EDIT: It would be the Canon Digital IXUS in Belgium, I suppose. Kyocera also makes a smallish digital camera...the Finecam.

[ 12-21-2002: Message edited by: Eugene ]

gobble gobble · December 21, 2002 11:02PM

[quote]Originally posted by Eugene:

Consider the Minolta Dimage Xi or Canon Digital Elph S230.

EDIT: It would be the Canon Digital IXUS in Belgium, I suppose. Kyocera also makes a smallish digital camera...the Finecam.

[ 12-21-2002: Message edited by: Eugene ]<hr></blockquote>

Let me second Eugene's Canon recommendation, although I use the Canon S330, not the 230. Great camera. With a 128 MB memory card I get around 130 photos at 1600 x 1200 resolution with minimal compression. Very compact and easy to use. Enjoy. Also, check out Steve's Digicams for camera reviews.

jbl · December 22, 2002 12:10AM

[quote]Originally posted by gobble gobble:



Also, check out Steve's Digicams for camera reviews.<hr></blockquote>

Or the similar (but more detailed and IMHO easier on the eyes)

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

trevorm · December 22, 2002 12:39AM

Have a look at the Sony Range of Cameras. I have a great 3.3 megapixel camera about 11.5 years old. It uses memory stick and works fine with my TiBook 800Mhz. The image quality is oustanding and the resoultion is cool!

nothing · December 22, 2002 1:40AM

Don't be so stuck on Li-ion batteries. They do last longer, but when you are out with your camera and the batteries run out, you are screwed unless you buy another expensive battery from the mfr.

One of my requirements in a camera is the use of AA batteries. 1800mh NiMH batteries last a long, long time - and I can carry 2 sets with me.

As far as camera suggestions go, though - I dunno - I use the exact opposite camera you're looking for - an Olympus 2500L SLR camera - BIG, but takes very nice pictures.

eugene · December 22, 2002 1:44AM

I also have a C-2500L, but I don't find the AA requirement necessary. For one, alkalines will be devoured after taking ~10 photos with the flash. There's no real benefit to carrying 2 sets of nice NiMH AAs or two proprietary LiIons...in the end the results are the same.

jbl · December 22, 2002 9:36AM

[quote]Originally posted by trevorM:

Have a look at the Sony Range of Cameras. I have a great 3.3 megapixel camera about 11.5 years old. It uses memory stick and works fine with my TiBook 800Mhz. The image quality is oustanding and the resoultion is cool!<hr></blockquote>

You managed to get one 11.5 years ago? I bought the same camera last year. I guess these cameras aren't improving as quickly as I thought.

Seriously, I have two cameras which serve seperate purposes. I have a small camera (Sony P5) which I can keep with me all the time. It takes decent pictures but not great. You just cannot put good optics in such a small package. If I go someplace where part of the purpose is to take pictures, I take a much larger camera (Sony F707). If I were you, I would decide how big/heavy a camera you are willing to carry around with you and then pick the best image quality you can at that "size point." To my knowledge the best cameras at their respective size points (going from smallest to largest) are:

Minolta Xi

Canon S230

Sony P9

Canon S45

(There is a large jump in size here so probably something belongs here but I don't know what it is)

Sony F717

Canon D1s

matsu · December 22, 2002 10:18AM

Mebbe Olympus 4040/5050 or Powershot G3? A little bigger than S45. And there are some Olympus models with nice fast lenses, f1.8, iThink.

formerlurker · December 23, 2002 12:26AM

<a href="http://dealcam.com/prices/1323.html"; target="_blank">Fuji FinePix A200.</a>

You will simply NOT find any other camera anywhere near this good, for under $130

paul · December 23, 2002 1:07AM

[quote]Originally posted by FormerLurker:

<a href="http://dealcam.com/prices/1323.html"; target="_blank">Fuji FinePix A200.</a>

You will simply NOT find any other camera anywhere near this good, for under $130<hr></blockquote>

[quote]

INTERNAL MEMORY: NONE

INCLUDED MEMORY: 16MB

MEMORY TYPE: NONE<hr></blockquote>

ummm...

so there is no internal memory, and no memory type... but it comes with a 16 MB card... that I assume you cant use?!? <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />

eugene · December 23, 2002 2:13AM

I would place the Canon Powershot G3 ahead of the Sony DSC-F717 because it's a much better enthusiast's camera. It's 4 mp instead of 5, but I still prefer the G3. Plus, it doesn't have a big honking lens barrel like the F717 or even my C-2500.

xaqtly · December 23, 2002 2:19AM

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Nikon. Look into the Coolpix 2500.

eugene · December 23, 2002 2:38AM

There's always something wrong with particular Nikon generations that really turn me off. Originally it was price...then it was purple fringing...then it was build quality...now it's color stepping. try taking pictures of bright contrasting colors with sharp adjoining edges... If the edge is diagonal, you'll notice what can best be described as 2x2 jaggies. The results are very unpleasing to the eyes.

drazztikka · December 23, 2002 3:00AM

Thanks for all the reply's, i couldn't find such a lot without you guys.

I'm going to check out the sony dcs-U20 in about an hour. I believe it's about the right camera for me, small, good pictures, not too pricey.

I'd love to get one of those mobile-phone-cameras but i believe they need more work to do before the quality of these things are the same as an stand alone digital camera.

xaqtly · December 23, 2002 3:02PM

[quote]Originally posted by Eugene:

There's always something wrong with particular Nikon generations that really turn me off. <hr></blockquote>

Really? These were taken with a Nikon Coolpix 990.

<a href="http://www.xaqtly.com/fish.jpg"; target="_blank">Fish</a>

<a href="http://www.xaqtly.com/pooh.jpg"; target="_blank">Winnie The Pooh</a>

<a href="http://www.xaqtly.com/oval.jpg"; target="_blank">Milford, New Hampshire</a>

<a href="http://www.xaqtly.com/exige.jpg"; target="_blank">Lotus Exige</a>

<a href="http://www.xaqtly.com/paris4.jpg"; target="_blank">Eiffel Tower</a>

I'm not a professional photographer by any stretch, but Nikons have always produced really good pictures for me. I wouldn't have recommended one if I thought otherwise.

aquatic · December 27, 2002 11:52PM

Aww Eugene I'll have to look for that now. I got a Nikon 3500 for Christmas and so far I think it kicks ASS. The lense swivels so I can take a pic of myself or something behind me, the interface is easy (#1 priority in my book), works with iPhoto, 3x OPTICAL zoom, rugged, and 3.2 megapixels. I recommend it, although I am kind of new here, this being my first digital camera.

A few questions actually: when I point the camera at something bright like a lamp it turns off! Is this bad for the camera?

Also is there CF memory out there fast enough to take a pic instantly, like an analogue camera can? I need to be able to take embarrassing pics but it'd be kind of hard if I had to ask someone "excuse me, can you do that again? My Coolpix takes 3 seconds to actually take a picture." <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />

[ 12-28-2002: Message edited by: Aquatic ]

jbl · December 28, 2002 9:05AM

[quote]Originally posted by Aquatic:

My Coolpix takes 3 seconds to actually take a picture." <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />

<hr></blockquote>

Not to speak for Eugene but that would appear to be something wrong with that particular Nikon. Anyway, this is not a CF problem. Slow memory prevents you from taking sequences of pictures quickly but has nothing to do with the first picture. The problem is most likely that the autofocus or auto-exposure system is slow. With most digital cameras you need to push the shutter release down half way to focus the camera and it is then fairly quick to take a picture when you push it down the rest of the way. I don't understand why but often it seems that pushing it down all the way is even slower than pushing it down half way, waiting and then pushing it down the rest of the way.

ast3r3x · December 28, 2002 9:33AM

i just got the Canon A40 for christmas and its everything i wanted.

Its smaller (fits nice into a coat pocket, pants pocket not so much unless you are wearing pretty big jeans)

It takes 1600x1200 pictures very nicely and can hold large amounts of pictures, at the best quality i can hold around 200 pictures with my 160mb Compact Flash card.

It also sports many manual options like shutter speed, iso speed, different flashes. if you are going to europe and want a panorama this is the camera for you since it has a mode made for that which makes it easier then owning a mac.

even a crappy movie mode is built in and all this for $250.

<a href="http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/a40-30/index.html"; target="_blank">Link To Page With More Info</a>

[ 12-28-2002: Message edited by: ast3r3x ]

aquatic · December 28, 2002 4:01PM

JBL you're right! when I hold it down half-way it seems to take a picture but it's probably just focusing as you said. At first I thought it was actually taking a picture. I'll look into this and get back to you. Anyway the Coolpix is really cool. :cool:

digital photo cameras

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