Again, Digital Camera recommendation

[sweet maxine]

I bought a Kodak Easy Share DX4530 for my daughter for Christmas. She is traveling overseas this summer, and I wanted her to have something nice to take good pictures with. Let me just say I have not been overly thrilled with this camera, and think it belongs back at Wal Mart. That's probably the worst place to buy a camera, since the people working there don't know very much about them. I had read some good reviews of this camera before buying, but it doesn't seem to be performing up to the hype. I'm not sure about any further expenditure of money at this point for a new camera. Maybe we just need to play with the settings to see if we can get some better pictures. I hate spending money on something, and find out later it's not worth the price I paid.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by sweet maxine
I bought a Kodak Easy Share DX4530 for my daughter for Christmas. She is traveling overseas this summer, and I wanted her to have something nice to take good pictures with. Let me just say I have not been overly thrilled with this camera, and think it belongs back at Wal Mart. That's probably the worst place to buy a camera, since the people working there don't know very much about them. I had read some good reviews of this camera before buying, but it doesn't seem to be performing up to the hype. I'm not sure about any further expenditure of money at this point for a new camera. Maybe we just need to play with the settings to see if we can get some better pictures. I hate spending money on something, and find out later it's not worth the price I paid.

Go through the manual and make sure you're doing everything right. An idea, there is usually an option to select the compression (how many pictures will fit in the memory). You want to pick the setting that has the lowest compression (fewest pictures). If necessary buy an extra media card.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by sweet maxine
I bought a Kodak Easy Share DX4530 for my daughter for Christmas. She is traveling overseas this summer, and I wanted her to have something nice to take good pictures with. Let me just say I have not been overly thrilled with this camera, and think it belongs back at Wal Mart. That's probably the worst place to buy a camera, since the people working there don't know very much about them. I had read some good reviews of this camera before buying, but it doesn't seem to be performing up to the hype. I'm not sure about any further expenditure of money at this point for a new camera. Maybe we just need to play with the settings to see if we can get some better pictures. I hate spending money on something, and find out later it's not worth the price I paid.

Please don't blame the WalMart Associates for a camera that is not performing as you would like it to. Cameras are sold in the film lab, the folks in the film lab are trained to do film, not sell cameras. It was much better when they were sold in electronics.
I was a manager for a WalMart one hour photo lab, we get no training in the cameras and they are really thrust at us to sell.
We get a little book that explains all features of each camera and are more than happy to share it with the customer. I would come home at night and study the various cameras to know what was what. Then, they would go and change them again. Very frustrating.
In all honesty, I did not want to selll cameras, I wanted to process film.
If you go to the Kodak website, they do have some FAQs and help. They also have the instruction book, which can help too.

 

[OhMickey]

Just thought I would let everyone know I just ordered an Olympus C765 from Amazon. The price was $390 which seemed very good for a 4MP with a 10X optical zoom. I'll be sure to post how I like it after I take a few pictures.

I'm very excited to have finally made a decision. I want to thank everyone for their help. Especially Gail - you are the camera guru!

 

[sweet maxine]

Thanks for your replies.

I will check and make sure the setting is correct for the lowest compression. Maybe on this trip we can play with it and spend more time making sure we're doing the right thing.

I don't blame the people at Wal Mart for my camera choice, but it would be nice if they knew a little bit about what they are selling. Where I live, there is not a film lab at Wal Mart, and all film is sent out for developing. The cameras are sold in the electronics department. I fully understand how frustrating it can be to learn specifics about one line of cameras, only to have the maker change styles and models within a short time. The camera that I bought in December now comes with a free docking station for recharging. I wish I had waited, as the docking station usually sells for around $80. Who knew?

I live about 2 hours either north or south of a large city where I might find a better selection of cameras, and more information about them. It is kind of a stab in the dark here. As I said earlier, I did read several reviews of this particular camera, and it seemed to be a nice camera for the money.

I'll look at the Kodak site tonight and see what I can learn from there. I would love to see some beautiful pictures of Europe, and I hope this camera will comply. We just need to have a little more patience, I guess.

 

[ibleedblue]

Originally posted by OhMickey
Just thought I would let everyone know I just ordered an Olympus C765 from Amazon. The price was $390 which seemed very good for a 4MP with a 10X optical zoom.

That price is EXCELLENT for that camera!! Congratulations!

 

[melanie18]

I bought a Nikon Coolpix 4300 before our trip in Oct 2003 and I'm very happy with it (I take a ton of pictures too...I'm into scrapbooking). I've never had a problem with it and it's very easy to operate with some great pre-sets.

 

[crazelion]

Even go into a electronic stores such as Circuit City and Best Buy we only train to sell a few cameras that are the most expensive and try to sell you the warrenty for the camera. Circuit City give there employees a sheet with a few cameras and there features what they can't do. I suppose to be selling computers for Christmas for Circuit City and I end up in the camera department most time and did not much about digtical cameras but had to sell to the customer.

I would go by what won't in a camera and what be using it for. I bought a HP camera for myself and love the camera. It's easy to use and takes excellent pictures. But this coming from a person that never could put film in a 35mm camera without destory the film. Before digtal cameras came out I was still using a 110 camera.

Guess what I still use my 110 camera for taking pictures because it's easy use. The film is simple to put in.

 

[ejgmom]

We just bought an Olympus (Camedia line, not sure the number)digital for our upcoming trip and the guys at Best Buy told us make sure it has an optical zoom (3x or more) and 3.2 or higher for pixels. So far I am so happy with the camera. It has cool features and is easy to use. It's light and small which were 2 of my requirements. We had a Kodak DX3600, but it only has 2.2 megapixels and it was unreliable.
Good luck!

 

[4boys4me]

I just got a Canon PowerShot A80 and so far like it alot. 4 megapixels and 3x optical zoom. Digital zoom is 11X -what's the difference between optical & digital? ( I believe I can buy an additional optical zoom attachment) It's my first digital and I was nervous about learning to use it but found it very easy, was up and running after about 10-15 minutes of reading. I've got a lot more to learn but it's been much easier than I thought it would be.

Gail, I'd love to get your thoughts on this camera. Paid $305.00 thru BestPriceAudioVideo.com, it arrived 2 days later! Was that a good price? Found it for as low as $260.00 but the vendor's rating was questionable so I thought it best to pay a little more.

I knew nothing about digitals, but did some internet research and this seemed to be a highly recommended camera. Hopefully I'll soon be able to post some pix, hope that part only takes me 10-15 minutes of reading the manual as well!!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by 4boys4me
I just got a Canon PowerShot A80 and so far like it alot. 4 megapixels and 3x optical zoom. Digital zoom is 11X -what's the difference between optical & digital? ( I believe I can buy an additional optical zoom attachment) It's my first digital and I was nervous about learning to use it but found it very easy, was up and running after about 10-15 minutes of reading. I've got a lot more to learn but it's been much easier than I thought it would be.

Gail, I'd love to get your thoughts on this camera. Paid $305.00 thru BestPriceAudioVideo.com, it arrived 2 days later! Was that a good price? Found it for as low as $260.00 but the vendor's rating was questionable so I thought it best to pay a little more.

I knew nothing about digitals, but did some internet research and this seemed to be a highly recommended camera. Hopefully I'll soon be able to post some pix, hope that part only takes me 10-15 minutes of reading the manual as well!!

Posting the photos is easy, if you need help, let me know.


Looks like a GREAT camera. I like the fact you can purchase additional lenses (look on ebay for these). I would also suggest you go to www.sterlingtek.com and get a battery charger, with a high capacity rating. I am using NIMH batteries with a 2100mah.
If you are a member of BJ's they do have a fantastic price on the Panasonic charger with batteries.
Another thing you might think about purchasing is a ZIO, makes downloading the photos to your computer very easy and you don't waste battery time on your camera. Very inexpensive, again, Sterling Tek or ebay.

I hope you enjoy your camera, it looks like a wonderful one.

 

[ScottJoy]

Originally posted by 4boys4me
I just got a Canon PowerShot A80 and so far like it alot. 4 megapixels and 3x optical zoom. Digital zoom is 11X -what's the difference between optical & digital?

The difference is that optical zoom is useful and digital zoom isn't (except if you prefer to crop your pictures when you take them instead of later on a computer). Optical zoom gets you in closer to the action. Digital zoom just throws away pixels.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by ScottJoy
The difference is that optical zoom is useful and digital zoom isn't. Optical zoom gets you in closer to the action. Digital zoom just throws away pixels.

On this particular camera the 11x is a mix of the optical and digital.
I have managed some pretty nice pics. with the digital zoom.
Would not want to enlarge them too much, however.

 

[sweet maxine]

I bought a CX 4310 Kodak for my son to learn with and it only has a 2X digital zoom. It has 3.2 megapixels, and that's about all I know about it. I put this camera up, and haven't opened the box yet. I thought we might take it on this upcoming trip to WDW, but now I'm not sure without the optical zoom that we will do well. Does it really matter whether or not there is an optical zoom? I'm about as close to camera illiterate as they come!

 

[figgy4me]

Originally posted by weezer64
Another vote for Olympus!
......After much research I came down to the Olympus C740 (C750 is the same basically....it has sound with the MPEGS, 740 does not). Boy, the camera cost HALF of what I paid for my Nikon and I loved it twice as much! I have since resigned from the board and had to give the camera back....and I'm going thru withdrawals.

This camera took the best action shots...and believe me, I took 150 per week. ....

I bought this camera new on ebay and have only taken a few shots here and there trying to get a feel for the camera. My problems are the time delay before I can look for the next shot and sometimes really blurry pictures. Can you give me any suggestions on what I can do to take care of either of these problems? I would like to be able to take all kinds of action shots at WDW and sometimes Sea World.

 

[Candlemaker]

A few years ago we were given a Nikon coolpix 885...I love it...I think it is 3 MP, it has a really good zoom, so close that when my son is playing hockey I can't even get the pictures cause they move so much, lol. I only learned this year, doh, that it zooms as much as it actually does, what a dope.

Anyway...I know it is outdated a bit, as it is black and its replacement is silver (saw them today) and MUCH lighter...the new ones make it seem like there isn't anything in your hand, lol.

I read good reviews on the Vivitar 3735 for a beginner...VERY simple to use and has 3.3 MP.

Good luck in your search

 

[disneydebk]

Hi!
I purchased the Nikon Coolpix 3200 just last weekend. It is a great little camera. It is small enough to fit in your hand comfortably, but isn't so small that it would fit in an Altoids box like some of the newer ultra compact cameras.
I am a very "non-technical" person, shall we say. and I was able to figure out how to take pictures, load the software, transfer the pictures, etc. with the Coolpix.
I did consider the Canon A75 or A80 and they didn't feel as good for ease of use to me.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Candlemaker
A few years ago we were given a Nikon coolpix 885...I love it...I think it is 3 MP, it has a really good zoom, so close that when my son is playing hockey I can't even get the pictures cause they move so much, lol. I only learned this year, doh, that it zooms as much as it actually does, what a dope.

Anyway...I know it is outdated a bit, as it is black and its replacement is silver (saw them today) and MUCH lighter...the new ones make it seem like there isn't anything in your hand, lol.

I read good reviews on the Vivitar 3735 for a beginner...VERY simple to use and has 3.3 MP.

Good luck in your search

What is the 885's replacement? Color means nothing. It's whats inside that counts.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by figgy4me
I bought this camera new on ebay and have only taken a few shots here and there trying to get a feel for the camera. My problems are the time delay before I can look for the next shot and sometimes really blurry pictures. Can you give me any suggestions on what I can do to take care of either of these problems? I would like to be able to take all kinds of action shots at WDW and sometimes Sea World.

There is about a 10 second delay (sometimes less) between shots, you can use it on continous, if it has that feature. Blurr is cause by auto focus, take it off that setting.
There are FAQs on the website.

 

[SonicLogic]

Purchase the Nikon CoolPix 4300. It's the BEST point and shoot on the market.



http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=2&productNr=25507