A tale of two cameras - share your comments, concerns and derogatory remarks

[d'Isigny]

First and foremost – a big THANK YOU to this community. Your WDW/DCL suggestions have always been ‘spot on’…we’ve enhanced our Disney vacations based on your advise and suggestions. This is my first post on the Photography Boards and would like your recommendations on 2 digital cameras.

A little history – I’ve almost exclusively shot 35mm…I love the feel and quality my Canon A1 has offered for over 20 years. Yes, he is still living in ‘yesteryear’. You’ll probably need to pry this camera from my hands when I am long gone. Two years ago…I did take the leap and purchased a Samsung 4mp digital (see…he has ventured from the cave – now and then ). For us…this ‘point-and-shoot’ was a good introduction to digital photography. As much as I’d like to go ‘full bore’ and get a SLR style digital…it’s not in this year’s budget.

I’ve probably lost half of you – with too much information…so here goes;

I’d like to stay in the 3 to $400 range
Size/weight is not an issue…I want a camera – well, that feels like a camera (back into the cave he went) – so, the compact cameras don’t really appeal to me
Image stabilization appears to be the best way to go – with 3 active DD’s and desire to use zoom…now and then (see…he can be trained to ‘search’ previous posts)
Like the screens that are 2” or larger…do want an electronic viewfinder (oops…back in – again….hey look…cave drawings)


Have narrowed it down to two cameras – however, you are free to toss in a different brand/model

Kodak Z612
Canon S3 IS

I’d be grateful for your comments, concerns and derogatory remarks (I grade derogatory remarks…go ahead…this thick-skinned Neolithic male can take it)



Take good care of you and yours, K

 

[Olaf]

I think you'll find that most of the folks around here are very pro-Canon.

 

[pjpoohbear]

Just to re-enforce the whole pro-canon thing. I had an A70, too small and not enough mp or zoom. Bought the S3 Is this year, have been very happy with it so far. I have always liked Canon, because of the colour results.

Pj

 

[Amy]

Another S3 fan here. I, too, had a Canon A70 and got the S3 a couple of months ago and I absolutely love it! Plenty of auto modes, plus enough manual modes to handle creativity.

 

[extreme8]

I'm pro Kodak when it comes to P&S, and I still think the S3 is a better camera based on everything I've read and heard about it.

 

[StrwLady]

I love my fuji S9100. It's a little more than your range ($500 at Buy.com ) but maybe you can find it on sale seeing its Christmas time. This camera might give you a little SLR feel even though the lens is not removable. But you do zoom with the lens ring rather than buttons. You can also set your focus to manual. Check out this link. It is talking about the S9000. The S9100 is the newer model

http://syndicate.tentoe.com/fuji/74...BV_EngineID=ccjdaddjhhgdkmlcefecemldffidfki.0

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I have one of caution about going from a film camera to a traditional (non-SLR) digital camera. You will probably be annoyed by shutter lag.

It isn't too bad if you pre-focus. Assuming that your subject is still, you can press the shutter button down half-way and let the camera set the focus and exposure level. Then when you press the button the rest of the way down, there is only a 1/10 second delay before taking the picture.

However, if your subject is moving and you can't pre-focus, the time from when you squeeze the shutter and it takes the shot is about 1/2 second. That delay can be really frustrating.

Those timings are for the Canon S3. The Kodak Z650 is just slightly slowly.

The only way to get film SLR performance with digital is to get a digital SLR, but they are much more expensive and you don't get a preview screen or movie modes.

 

[Groucho]

If you want a true SLR, the Pentax K110D with kit lens (a pretty good 18-55mm) can be had for $407 after rebate. Normally I would suggest spending the extra $100 for the K100D to get image stabilization, but if you budget tops out around $400 and you like using an SLR, this gets you an honest-to-goodness (and very nice) DSLR for right around your price range. The downsides compared to the $300-$400 SLR-like camera are that you don't get image stabilization ($518 after rebate for the K100D that does have it) and you don't get as much zoom, without buying another lens. Of course, you can get just the K110D body for $339 after rebate and buy a cheap all-in-one lens... it won't have the quality of a nicer lens but will probably be as good or better than anything in the PnS cameras. The upsides compared to the PnSs are that it's a real DSLR, you have all the real SLR controls, you have a much, much larger sensor for higher image quality, and you can buy lenses in the future to suit your needs. It does have a nice 2.5" LCD, too. Plus you won't have to go buy a DSLR next year when you outgrow the PnS, as it sounds like you expect to! The prices on the K110D are just astounding, it probably is the best bargain going in any camera style at the moment.

If you do want to stick with a PnS, the comparable Sony one (H5, I think?) also gets consistently high marks.

 

[3dog2kidmom]

I used to have a Canon EOS Elan and love love loved it. It lost a fight with my ceramic tile floor, though, and I chose not to have it fixed and got the S2 IS instead.

While the shutter lag is somewhat noticeable, it is not all that evident and I am very happy with this camera. I chose it because the "feel" resembled my SLR, it had auto features that I could manually manipulate if I chose, and the zoom is incredible. The IS is helpful because I take a lot of shots of my dogs, which are ever moving targets. I also hauled it around Disney World last year (which I would never have done with my SLR) and was very pleased with our photos.

 

[jann1033]

i'd go with the canon also...also the pentax is a great idea but by the time you'd get a lens with the zoom of the canon you'd be way over budget plus no IS...although i might try to find a s2 if i could since it might be cheaper and i just haven't heard the raves about the s3.

i think the biggest diff. is the 1 mp and maybe a longer movie mode...not that much imo...not sure why so... if anyone knows the s3 to be as nice as the s2, i will happily be corrected

( especially since i really am thinking of getting one of the 2 for a p&s...either that or a flash for my rebel but that will make me look like the true camera nerd i am... or wait until i can save enough for the 70-300 is....can't decide where to put my meger savings ) but i have gotten way op

 

[Groucho]

i'd go with the canon also...also the pentax is a great idea but by the time you'd get a lens with the zoom of the canon you'd be way over budget plus no IS...although i might try to find a s2 if i could since it might be cheaper and i just haven't heard the raves about the s3.

No disagreement from me about those statements. The Canon (or Sony or quality similar camera) is a very good choice if you don't want to move into the DSLR world yet. Even with a very inexpensive DSLR, you'll looking at multiple lenses to match the range of an SLR-like PnS, and by then you're down that slippery slope and buying all sorts of lenses, support systems, bags, filters, maybe some flashes... it's dangerous territory!

 

[tinksdad]

The S3 is a terrific camera. But, like most prosumer types, suffers from some shutter lag and some other non-SLR woes.

I've heard some intersting things about the new Nikon D40 these days. As a entry level, digital SLR it might offer another option for you.

 

[manning]

Let me venture out of the cave and mention two.

The Sony h2 or h5 both 12x zoom. actually sister cameras one 6mp the other 7.2 MP and the h5 has a 3" LCD

Also the Panasonic FZ 50. It is a 12x zoom, RAW format and TTL hotshot for an external flash.

Go to this site to see samples of pictures for cameras listed click "review samples.

 

[StrwLady]

I used to have a Canon EOS Elan and love love loved it. It lost a fight with my ceramic tile floor, though, and I chose not to have it fixed and got the S2 IS instead.

I had a similar fight with my fuji s5200 camera and the ground at Disney World! As your floor did so did the ground at Disney! But such is life. At least I had a reason to upgrade and I love my Fuji S9100!

 

[Groucho]

For people who are real butterfingers and/or are carrying something that is valuable but aren't using a neck strap, it might be worth picking up a Gotcha strap, from Op/Tech. It's slightly silly looking but not TOO bad. It's basically a velcro strap that goes around your wrist, with a quick-release buckle on it. The other end goes to your camera/camcorder/whatever. Snap them together and if the camera slips out of your hand, it will stay attached to you.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

i think the biggest diff. is the 1 mp and maybe a longer movie mode...not that much imo...not sure why so... if anyone knows the s3 to be as nice as the s2, i will happily be corrected

( especially since i really am thinking of getting one of the 2 for a p&s...either that or a flash for my rebel but that will make me look like the true camera nerd i am... or wait until i can save enough for the 70-300 is....can't decide where to put my meger savings ) but i have gotten way op

This is from the Amazon.com website re: the S3 (BTW, they have the S2 for $279 w/ free shipping):

Successor to the popular PowerShot S2 IS, the latest addition to the PowerShot S-series incorporates a 6.0-megapixel CCD sensor, Canon's renowned optical Image Stabilizer technology, and video functionality rivalling that of dedicated digital video camcorders. Sporting a striking new finish in gunmetal grey, the compact PowerShot S3 IS answers the demands of advanced photographers with several improvements over its predecessor, including an increased sensitivity range of ISO 80 to ISO 800, a larger 2.0-inch vari-angle LCD screen, widescreen (16:9) recording, new movie features, and an additional Sports mode.

 

[StrwLady]

For people who are real butterfingers and/or are carrying something that is valuable but aren't using a neck strap, it might be worth picking up a Gotcha strap, from Op/Tech. It's slightly silly looking but not TOO bad. It's basically a velcro strap that goes around your wrist, with a quick-release buckle on it. The other end goes to your camera/camcorder/whatever. Snap them together and if the camera slips out of your hand, it will stay attached to you.

My fight started when the tripod got knocked over by the backpack!!! I always use a camera strap. I can't wait until December cus this trip my souvenir will be a Mickey Mouse one!

 

[captaincrash]

Just some general thoughts...

... I have to say there is merit in the early remark on you sounding like you'd eventually end up with a DSLR. I also see the powerful value and tempation of a high end point and shoot like the S3. And as Jann1-33 pointed out the S2 might make for an excellent discounted alternative.

MY thinking is why not consider a discounted DSLR... like a Canon XT or digital rebel ... or 10D used off ebay? A digital rebel with kit lense might be had for UNDER $400 and know a new Pentax DSLR off nicely. Or if you drop a little more you should be able to snag an 350XT with kit lense and although there is no IS (yet) it would be a gosh powerful DSLR! You'll never look back and think about it!

On the other hand - I would toss my in to look for the biggest bang for the buck ... and in a P&S I think an S2 or possibly even a discontinued G3 or G5 would render superior service... and the 4MP G3 can be had for about $150 while the 5MP G5 with "extras" runs about $200-250. That would be CHEAP. On eBay the "history" shows that several 5MP S2 with "extras" have sold for about $250-300.

So... any way you slice it - I think you'll do fine. Even if you got a Kodak or any non-Canon model you'd do fine. But with a Canon I think you'd enjoy more "peace of mind" being "in" with the herd mentality here. And you DO KNOW that Canon sells more DSLRs than all competitors combined world wide? And that is because they do more things right and arrived to market first with an effective combination of technical achievements for tolerable money. So - you might want to take a firm look at the appropriate Canon model before you decide on any comparable non-Canon model.

Now... I just tried to google the quote that Canon sells more then 50% of the global market in DSLRs - but could not find a reliable source. I do recall having read a print article interviewing a Canon exec who made that statement though. Maybe someone out there can quote the source for me?

Cheers!

Captaincrash

 

[Groucho]

MY thinking is why not consider a discounted DSLR... like a Canon XT or digital rebel ... or 10D used off ebay? A digital rebel with kit lense might be had for UNDER $400 and know a new Pentax DSLR off nicely.

What does "know a new off nicely" mean?

A K100D has features (important ones) that the Rebel XT lacks (and a better kit lens), the only minuses are a shorter burst mode and fewer megapixels - the latter not being a real difference, you're talking about a small actual difference in resolution.

Canon certainly makes many good cameras (and we did just buy one for the wife) but I cannot go along with the idea that big sales = better choice. McDonalds and Wal-Mart have huge sales numbers too but that means nothing about quality. What was the old advertising line... "we try harder"...!