Large Scale Central

Digicams -- How do you choose?

Model Photography
#1

Been looking at digital cameras the past couple days, in hopes of finally acquiring one in the $200 range. They’re so different from film cameras, I’m having trouble figuring out which is best, especially between different brands with similar features.

It’s hard to test camera features in the store without the manual – IF they even have them powered for testing. The store clerks are all clueless and can’t help me.

What I want: High enough resolution for large prints and for publication. Good closeup capabilities, and good depth of field when shooting the layout up close.

Any suggestions?

#2

Ray look at the Cannon Powershot A590 only $115 got real good reviews I have a fuji finepix 2800Z i use all the time dropped it the other day wouldnt download so i was looking for somthing good and something less expensive and found the Cannon check it out with shopping.com or one of those searches. The Regal

p.s. the camera started working on one of those sites there is a video of all the features on the camera i suggested, real informative, just google the camera and i’m sure it will come uphttp://www.fotoconnection.com/p84354-canon-powershot-a590-is-8mp-digital-camera-4x-optical-zoom.html
whoops there it is forgot i had it bookmarked. The Regal

#3

Oh, another thing – I wish they’d give some info about the wider angle of the lens. So far, all these cameras tout the magnification of the zoom (3X, 4X, etc) but I’m more interested in wide angles for closeups.

#4

You need to look for high quality optics, just as you would a film camera.
A high(X) OPTICAL zoom is desirable and can be an indication of better optics. DIGITAL zoom is pretty useless without a tripod.
Ralph

#5

Last ytear about this time I was in the market for a new digital camera. My old one had bit the dust; a Canon Powershot A300. While it wasn’t the best camera around at the time the price was right…FREE! So when it crapped out I wasn’t out anything, but convienience.

I spent close to a month checking out different camera websites ( Wal-Mart. Ritz Camera, Best Buys, etc…) before settling on a Fujifilm S8000fd. It had all the featurs I was looking for at a price I was willing to pay: about $300. 18x optical zoom, SLR, Macro for closeups, fast shutter speed, slow shutter speed, AP, SP, auto, plus a bunch more. I’m very pleased with it.

#6

I like the FujiFilm cameras for the price. My first digital was an S602Z and I bought my son a more recent model of the same camera (S700Z) for his birthday 2 years ago. I recently upgraded to an SLR, but I still keep the Fuji around. I love the optical zoom and macro capabilities they have.

The best place to do research is http://www.dpreview.com - They have comparisons and in depth reviews of almost every digital camera made. You should be able to find the answers to your questions there.

#7

I really like my Kodak Easyshare Z812IS I got back in June…does pretty much everything I want with it…add in a 2 gig memory card and I’m set. The Only thing I didn’t think to check out (was a close comparison of a Fujifilm that has since been discontinued) was what kind of battery it used. I had assumed it would be AAs with I have a ton of NICAD laying around, but instead it was that CRV3, which I ended up finding a rechargable for, since the tossaways were about $10 a pop!

#8

The Kodaks take nice pictures. We have one of the point-and-shoots here at the office. It also takes a CRV3, but I can get the lithiums from a wholesaler for under $5 each. We do try to use the rechargeable whenever possible though. What I don’t like about the Kodaks is the software. My Fuji’s both show up as a USB Storage Device if I don’t want to use their software, which is very nice. I’ll have to admit that my Cannon also requires me to use their software unless I pull the CF card from the camera.

#9

I’ve had 2 Kodaks and now have a fuji. All 3 are $100 cheapies. All take very nice pictures. The first kodak passed away when Caleb knocked it off the counter. It was already taped back together and Ethan said it would take more than tape this time. The second Kodak took forever to save the photo, which was the only thing I disliked about it. I’m very pleased with the FujiFilm Finepix J12.

(http://www.outsidetrains.com/mls/fugifilm.jpg)

I chose it by deciding how much I had to spend, and visiting Best Buy, 'cause part of what I had to spend was a Best Buy gift card.

#10

My newset Nikon Coolpix L18 is arms and legs better than my 3 year old Nikon Coolpix 3200, 8 megapixels, which is 3 times the memory of the and 1/2 the price. tons of features and its a very easy camera to use. Highly recommended

http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-Camera/25596/COOLPIX-L18.html

Look around you can find it for even less online

#11

I’ve had three Kodaks and Two Hps and now the JRVPS Fujifilm…all download with the Win XP wizard and I use Paint Shop Pro for editing…

#12

I’m an odd duck, I guess. But I LOVE my Olympus c-4000… Yes, it’s a few years obsolete. Yes, it’s only 4 megapixels. Yes, the only place that you can still find the memory cards for them is evilBay. Yes, it uses CV3s (but they last a good long time unless you leave it on) BUT it WAS a $300 camera, with a pretty good lens (and 3x optical zoom PLUS digi zoom and macro mode)… that’s now only about $25 used :smiley:

#13

After many, many hours of research online, I’ve narrowed it down to two choices:

  1. The Canon Powershot SD790 IS

  2. The Canon PowerShot SD880 IS

Both have 10 mega pixels and have received very good reviews. I really want the SD880, because it has a 28mm (equivalent) wide angle, 4X zoom lens. The SD790 lens is only 35mm wide angle, 3X zoom. For “ground level”, closeup shots of the layout, wider is better, and 28mm is the widest I’ve seen on a point and shoot digicam.

The SD880 also allows you to do manual adjustments, which is also a big plus. There are a lot of times when auto-everything just doesn’t cut it.

The problem is, the 880 would cost me nearly $260 at the cheapest reputable source. The 790 would be under $200 including a free 4GB memory card.

#14

Save up!
And get what you want.
Ralph

#15

I agree with Ralph. The extra $60 will buy a lot of performance from the lens. Just the differnce in 4x Vs 3x zoom is probably worth it. I love the long zoom on the Fuji and the multi-purpose lens I bought for the SLR.

#16

In store, I tried 2 things: 1. Take a picture. How long before it’s ready to take another? 2. Turn on macro and take a close up.

(http://www.outsidetrains.com/mls/dscf0007.jpg)

#17

I agree, the wide angle, extra zoom, and manual options are well worth the extra bucks. So bit the bullet and ordered the 880 last night!

#18

Dear All,

Here’s one of the Canon pages.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113

I just saw an S5IS last night at a New Years Eve party, owners raved about it, thought they use it mostly for group pictures.

On the above page you can compare the specs on up to 3 Canon models. The 880 does have a shorter focal length than the S5IS, though.

Good researching job, Ray.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik

#19

I guess I’m an old dinosaur. I still prefer my Mamyia C220, with its 2 and a quarter inch square negative. :lol:

#20

Steve - Your camera probably takes better pics than most of the new digi, but it’s such a pain to email and post negatives :smiley: A quality negative scanner is big bucks and I haven’t been happy scanning prints with a desktop scanner. That’s why I went digital.