Advice on which Digital Camera to buy

[RachelTori]

I'm planning to buy a digital camera. Being a total "dummy" - I'd appreciate any advice. I hope there's one out there that'd be perfect for me as my very 1st digital! Here are my requirements/wishes!!

Would like to spend between $200 and $300 (so you know I want something pretty simple!);

Easy for someone who needs reading glasses but won't wear them, to use!

Want a "zoom" - don't have a clue if 3x is good or not (?);

What's a compact flash and is that available on many models in that price range?

What's a good size "memory card" to get; how many pictures would that hold?

Do these things take special batteries, like camcorders?

(now you know just how big a "dummy" I really am!!) Anyone have a suggestion for me (be kind!)? Thanks! Laura

 

[Disney_1derland]

Read This: http://allearsnet.com/btp/digital.htm (written by fellow DISer Zurg)

3x optical zoom is not bad. It's not a lot but should be sufficient for a beginner and landing you in the right price range.

All cameras take different types of batteries. Some use AA, some use rechargeable packs like a camcorder.

Compact Flash is a good storage medium. Stay away from XD as whatever you invest in that format you would have to keep buying those cameras so as not to lose your memory investment. XD is mostly a Fuji type card same as Memory Stick being just for Sonys.

How many pictures a memory card will hold will depend on the size(number of megapixels) your camera takes. Like, a 64mb SD card holds 30 pictures at 4 megapixels. My 64mb compact flash holds 16 pictures at 8 megapixels. So, it's going to vary depending on what you are using.

Look in the 3 megapixel range. My personal preference is Canon but I have a 2mp Toshiba that I love (it's a dinosaur but i love it so much I just can't get rid of it!) and I have a 4mp Panasonic that I cannot say enough bad things about! It's a personal preference. Go to a store with a good selection and put your hands on all the cameras in your price range and decide from there. Target usually has a decent selection. I noticed on their website they have a Canon Powershot A75 that gets good ratings and is in your price range with 3.2mp and 3x optical zoom. Whatever you get make sure it has OPTICAL zoom. digital zoom only eats your picture quality. For good reviews that compare cameras to others in it's price range look at dpreview.com

Good Luck!

 

[RachelTori]

Lori, thanks for the info - I'll look into that!

 

[tinkerbell13]

It's really only 2 years old, but there is nothing I like (for a point and shoot) as well as my Olympus(550)I think? Alas, it has a broken battery compartment and will not last much longer. To make life easier we had settled on the Canon 440(?) I think it's an elph, teeny and cute! Decent 4x6 prints.

 

[Disney_1derland]

I adore my Toshiba (even though it has no optical zoom!) but we upgraded last year to a less than satisfactory panasonic and then this year we seriously upgraded to a Canon Pro1. But, the Toshiba is still kicking and we are taking it with us to WDW for it's 3rd trip. I love it so much I won't even let my dd use it (she's 4.5) and she's dying to get her hands on it, but I just can't let go!

We are also taking the Pro1 to WDW for it's 1st trip and boy does that thing take beautiful pictures!

 

[GQQFY]

Don't get a Kodak EasyShare DX6490. The photo cycle time is slow and on the automatic picture setting, ALL of my photos come out dark. It's as though the timing on the flash is off or something...

It's a shame because I paid $399 for this 4mp 10x zoom camera!

GQQFY

 

[CaseyJr]

I have a Nikon Coolpix and like it a lot. But it eats batteries (I carry 2 extra rechargables with me and charge them in the room at the end of the day). It's about 2 years old, and I'm sure the newer cameras (all brands) have made lots of improvements since I got mine.

It uses CompactFlash cards, and we have a reader for the big computer and for the laptop (we take the laptop on our trips), so it's easy to "dump" the pictures from the cards during a trip and never run out of "film." I think my cards are 64mb (?), but they come bigger. My DH is the computer expert in the family, not me, so hope I'm using correct terms.

 

[RachelTori]

Originally posted by CaseyJr
I have a Nikon Coolpix and like it a lot. But it eats batteries (I carry 2 extra rechargables with me and charge them in the room at the end of the day). It's about 2 years old, and I'm sure the newer cameras (all brands) have made lots of improvements since I got mine.

Which model # do you have? How many MegaPixels? That's one of the problems I'm having in even starting my search for a camera - there are so many different models for each brand It should be easier than this!!!

 

[disneysteve]

I won't recommend a specific model because there are far too many choices, but here is my 2 cents.

You can get 4 megapixels in your price range.

I would favor a camera that takes regular batteries, not a proprietary battery not easily replaceable when you are on the go. My camera takes 2 AA batteries. I use rechargeables and get about 50 shots from a pair. I carry 4 pair so I'm good for about 200 shots. And if my batteries die, I can pick up regular AA anywhere I happen to be.

Ignore digital zoom. Its worthless. All that matters is optical zoom.

Sometimes cameras can be too small. Make sure the camera is comfortable in your hands and it isn't awkward to hold and hold still.

I have 2 - 256 MB xD cards. Each holds about 260 pictures at the best resolution. I also have a 16 MB card that came with my camera.

Check on the shutter lag time. That is the time between when you depress the button and when the image is actually captured. Some cameras are rather long and it makes taking any type of action shots a real pain. You get a lot of folks with their heads turned, or parade floats halfway past you, etc.

 

[RachelTori]

That sounds like good advice - thank you!

 

[jeancbpugh]

Originally posted by GQQFY
Don't get a Kodak EasyShare DX6490. The photo cycle time is slow and on the automatic picture setting, ALL of my photos come out dark. It's as though the timing on the flash is off or something...

It's a shame because I paid $399 for this 4mp 10x zoom camera!

GQQFY

I have a DX6490 and love it. I haven't had any problems with dark shots! I think you got a defective camera. You should return it to the shop or to Kodak!

As for cycle time...all digitals are slow. Get a faster memory card and turn off Quickview, and you'll see a great improvement.

Jean

 

[Tom Morrow]

I recommend the Sony CyberShot 5MP. I have had mine for about a year and it is amazing. My wife has a Cannon Rebel G SLR non digital that she swore she wouldn't get rid of. But after seeing the Sony and how well the pictures print out she was sold.

When you get ready to get with a printer look at the Cannon I960. It is am amzing printer for the price. Blows all others in it's price range away and is amazing on ink usage.

 

[My2Girls66]

You may want to go to an actual camera store where the employees will be more helpful than at a store that sells everything. We have a Ritz camera store in town thats manager is a prof. photographer- a great help when looking.

I use Nikon cameras and have had great luck with them. I have a Coolpix 4500 that takes great photos- an N80 35mm and a small point and shoot Nikon 35mm. I still prefer the 35mm SLR for the quickness but the digital does just fine for landscape and posed shots. Take your photos in a higher resolution if you plan on printing them. If you plan on using them just on the computer- a lower resolution should be fine. My Coolpix is very good on batteries- I can easily go all day in Disney on one rechargable. I carry the extra rechargable battery just in case, tho. As they get older they don't seem to hold a charge for as long.
In PC magazine this month they recommend the following for compact digitals:
Canon Powershot S60
HP photosmart R707
Kodak easyshare LS743
Nikon Coolpix 4200
Sony Cybershot DSC-P100
www.pcmag.com/cameras has some digital reviews

 

[turnerx5]

Please remember to budget for a bigger memory card with your purchase when you price cameras.

Most digital cameras come with a very small memory card that will hold just a few shots.

Many experts advise a minimum of 128MB card (Street price $25) for a 3 megapixel camera, and 256mb($35) (minimum 512 mb ($58) better - especially for vacations) memory card for 4-5 MP cameras.

I find this site has good price comparisons for memory:

http://dealram.com/

Good luck.

 

[poohbear7]

I have the Kodak DX6440 4.0 mega and just love it. I have had it since Dec.2003 and have had no trouble with it at all. I'm not good with cameras but I find this one easy to use. It's my first digital camera. It came with a docking station and rechargeable battery and I'm still using the same battery and we have used the camera a lot. I put it on the docking station to charge after I use it, and I have a 256 memory card and just put the camera on the docking station plug it into the computer and take my pictures off very easy. Then I'm ready to go again.

 

[sperk99]

I own a Sony Cybershot 3MP with 3X zoom...very nice and good for the money. They have newer models out now that are probably better. I vote for Sony...very easy to use and a nice holding camera...

 

[turnerx5]

At the $300 price point, you might want to consider the Kodak EasyShare DX7440. This is a well reviewed 4 mega pixel (MP) compact camera with a 4X optical zoom lens. For $50, you can pick up a 512 MB memory card, and you are under budget.

At 4MP, you can blow up your shots to 8 x 10, or more likely crop your digital photos and still have a film quality reprint. The 4x optical zoom is great for sports and other distant shots where a 3x doesn't usually cut it.

For a review see here:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/dx7440.html

and here @ Amazon for user reviews (13 reviews, 5/5 Stars):

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...6957?_encoding=UTF8&m=A3LJ5WMKNRFKQS&v=glance

If you are comfortable shopping online, look at the prices over at pricegrabber for this camera:

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php?masterid=2967792&prsrt=1

You can pick up this camera from $255, shipped. It produces very, very nice pictures. The BEST feature though is the fast shutter - it takes your picture virtually at the same time you press the shutter button - a rare feature in digital cameras. Many digicams have shutter lag of up to a full second after you press the shutter button. A second does not sound like much, but when you are trying to capture kids or sporting events, it is an eternity!

You will be very, very happy with this camera. Good luck!

.

 

[Melisa1]

I have a Nikon Coolpix. It is very small and takes really great pictures. I got it at Circuit City and got a really good deal!

 

[donkeysleuth]

I'm thinking about going digital. Since we'll be on vacation, I won't have a computer to download (however you do that) the pics - what do you do with the pics? Buy 2 -256 memory sticks? Would that be sufficient for 8 days at WDW?

 

[Disney_1derland]

I guess it depends on your picture taking habits and how many pics you can fit on a 256 card. I don't currently have a laptop either so I bought a digital storage library for $100. Now I can just use the one memory card I have and upload them to the library every night. Then when we get home I can transfer them to disk. The library thing is small and portable which is very nice and I figured that it will save me a fortune in memory cards or a new laptop.

But, I'm a picture takin' freak and so my 1 gig memory card holds 400 pictures which *might* get me through one day I also like to take a lot of video with mine so that eats up my space!