Again, Digital Camera recommendation

[OhMickey]

I am in the process of researching digital cameras. (I've been in the process since Mom's day!!!) I would like to use the camera for family photos. Maybe I would enlarge the photos to 8X10 (but no larger). I also would like a decent zoom - I would love to be able to take pictures of my kids across the baseball field or on a park ride and be able to tell that the figure is my kid!

I have (I think) narrowed the search down to the Minota Z2 or the Olympus C765.

I know there are a lot of members that are photo experts. You may have some input that I haven't thought about. Any other recommendations would also be appreciated.

 

[mcorbo]

I purchased a Fuji S5000 several months ago before our disney trip. 10x optical zoom, takes short movies too with sound. OVerall I am very happy with the camera. If you would like to see some pictures taken, send me a PM and I will send you my ofoto link.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I love the Nikon 3400. Great shots. Easy to use.

 

[OhMickey]

Earlier in my search, I was considering a nikon 4300. The 3x optical zoom scared me a little. I really do want to be able to use the zoom to take pictures of my kids on sports fields - but I don't want to over buy. I could not locate the 3400. How many pixels and and how is the zoom? Where did you buy this camera?


The fuji does look like a good buy too.

Any other thoughts?????

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by OhMickey
Earlier in my search, I was considering a nikon 4300. The 3x optical zoom scared me a little. I really do want to be able to use the zoom to take pictures of my kids on sports fields - but I don't want to over buy. I could not locate the 3400. How many pixels and and how is the zoom? Where did you buy this camera?


The fuji does look like a good buy too.

Any other thoughts?????

I am sorry, it is the Nikon coolpix 3200. http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=2&productNr=25518
I did not buy it, I have a Nikon coolpix 950 and 5000. My 950, 2.11 mp takes beautiful pictures and they enlarge to 10x14 quite well. I also have purchased additional lenses (we can use these on both cameras), telephoto and wide angle.
I purchased my 950 from www.refurbdepot.com and the 5000 from a seller on Amazon.
I do have friends with this camera and they love it.

The Fuji, btw, is an excellent camera.

 

[Sheree]

i just bought a refurb olympus 740 on ebay. wanted the 10x zoom and the price was way better then the 765!! a few minor differences in features but not enough to justify the price difference IMO.

 

[fam4jc]

Hi Gail!! How you been?

I'm looking for a cheap digital camera. I'm still old fashioned about my photos for our memory books, but... I would like a fair digital camera to start my "ebay to WDW" business. I'm not good at judging hardware. Do you have any advice?

Thanks Gail.

fam4jc
shellie

 

[OhMickey]

Gail,

After talking to salesmen, I thought that I needed a 4MP camera. Are they trying to oversell? If 2.11MP takes excellent pictures wouldn't a 3MP be more than sufficient for the casual user?

Sheree,

Have you had a chance to try the camera out? How does it work? I see they have this camera for about $299. That is a big price savings (~$100).

LOL I will never get a handle on this!!!

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by fam4jc
Hi Gail!! How you been?

I'm looking for a cheap digital camera. I'm still old fashioned about my photos for our memory books, but... I would like a fair digital camera to start my "ebay to WDW" business. I'm not good at judging hardware. Do you have any advice?

Thanks Gail.

fam4jc
shellie

If you're ONLY going to be using the camera for E-bay (screen resolution) and NEVER GOING TO PRINT the pictures you can use almost any cheap POS. You don't need zoom or even 1 MP. You get something like that for almost free after rebate.

 

[ibleedblue]

Originally posted by OhMickey

I have (I think) narrowed the search down to the Minota Z2 or the Olympus C765.

If you like the C765, you should check out the C750. This is what I have. It looks to be last years model of the C765, but can be had for about $80 cheaper. I've taken many pictures with this camera and I am consistantly impressed with the image quality. I've also uploaded photos to print and you can tell no difference between this digital camera and a 35mm. I have not tried an 8x10 yet, but with 4 Mp resolution, it should look just fine. PM me and I'll be happy to email you some raw pictures at the next to highest setting. They are about 1 Mb each.

Greg

 

[MaMudduck]

Originally posted by OhMickey

After talking to salesmen, I thought that I needed a 4MP camera. Are they trying to oversell? If 2.11MP takes excellent pictures wouldn't a 3MP be more than sufficient for the casual user?

I'm also in the research part of digital shopping.
I have EVERYTHING- wide angle, 6 different zoom lens etc.etc.etc. for SLR's .......Point being that I "used" to know what to look in cameras. But now it's a different story.

Soon the price of 3+ MP will be really low because - most companies have already discontinued making them.

One sales rep. I talked to showed me a "book" of 8x10 photo's he had taken of the same thing, some day with all the different cameras. There was a very noticeable difference (at the 8x10 level) between 2MP & 3MP. And 4MP is not always better it really depends on the company that made it.

The best pictures (in the same price level camera) were taken with the Olympus 3040 and next were the Canon A70. The color was better, resol much better. The Panasonic line was THE best but the price was out of my range.

Don't let the 3X or even the 10x OPTICAL lens scare you. Without an optical zoom, you won't be able to get good parade pictures or even good baseball pics.

As my Daddy always said " Price being equal: ALWAYS buy a higher product than what you need for today. Because tomorrow you will want those extra features"

This is so true when it comes to digital ANYTHING...in 5 years from now you don't want to have to be upgrading again because you need your camera to do more.

I'm also leaning towards the Minolta's for my purchase.


Here's a good place for reviews for many cameras
Digital Camera Reviews

 

[Sheree]

the camera isn't here yet! i've played with it in the stores so I hope I'm comfortable!
I got it for $215 plus $18 shipping, bid when something ends mid day during the week!
I also bought a 256mb xd card on ebay and rechargeable batteries. way less then any store!
I'll let you know how the pics are as soon as it gets here, should be any day!
Currently I have an old kodak digital but it doesn't have any optical zoom so I've never really liked taking pictures with it other then for ebay selling

 

[weezer64]

Another vote for Olympus!

I have a Nikon Coolpix 995....paid $800 after doing "much research" and even going in to play with the cameras in person.

Within a year our football club (I was on the board of directors and the team webmaster/photographer) decided to purchase a digital camera to post pictures on our website. After playing with my camera on the sidelines, I knew what was lacking. An OPTICAL zoom. The digital zoom only proved to pixelate the pictures that were on the other side of the field. I needed something with an optical zoom and I needed EASE of use. The Nikon can be a bit technical.

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. And for the previous poster who didn't know the quality of printing an 8X10. I went to our star player's birthday party and took a great action shot up to Target to the Kodak machine, inserted the card and within 3 minutes I had a beautiful 8x10 action shot of this kid carrying the ball. I framed it and gave it as his gift.....he loves it.

I am trying to convince DH to let me buy the Olympus before our trip....but he ain't biting.

So maybe I can spare others the waste of money on expensive cameras with lacking features.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by fam4jc
Hi Gail!! How you been?

I'm looking for a cheap digital camera. I'm still old fashioned about my photos for our memory books, but... I would like a fair digital camera to start my "ebay to WDW" business. I'm not good at judging hardware. Do you have any advice?

Thanks Gail.

fam4jc
shellie

Hi,
How are you doing? I am doing well.

The pics in my sig. are from a Nikon Coolpix 950. It is 2.11 mp and enlarges to and 10x14 quite well. For ebay this would be a great camera (I also figure you will want to do more than ebay with it!!! )
You can probably pick up one of these for a very reasonable price at www.refurbdepot.com or on ebay. Another option is Olympus Stylus digital. Very reasonable, very nice.
Fuji also makes a nice digital camera. I love my 2.11 mp, but, if the price is close, go with a higher rated mp.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by OhMickey
Gail,

After talking to salesmen, I thought that I needed a 4MP camera. Are they trying to oversell? If 2.11MP takes excellent pictures wouldn't a 3MP be more than sufficient for the casual user?

Sheree,

Have you had a chance to try the camera out? How does it work? I see they have this camera for about $299. That is a big price savings (~$100).

LOL I will never get a handle on this!!!

Yes, I have used this camera, well, tried it out, I really liked it.
My pics in my sig are from a 2.11 camera- Nikon Coolpix 950.
A 3mp is more than adequate for a casual user.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by ibleedblue
If you like the C765, you should check out the C750. This is what I have. It looks to be last years model of the C765, but can be had for about $80 cheaper. I've taken many pictures with this camera and I am consistantly impressed with the image quality. I've also uploaded photos to print and you can tell no difference between this digital camera and a 35mm. I have not tried an 8x10 yet, but with 4 Mp resolution, it should look just fine. PM me and I'll be happy to email you some raw pictures at the next to highest setting. They are about 1 Mb each.

Greg

a 4mp will enlarge quite nicely. Just make sure you use a good quality lab.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by MaMudduck
I'm also in the research part of digital shopping.
I have EVERYTHING- wide angle, 6 different zoom lens etc.etc.etc. for SLR's .......Point being that I "used" to know what to look in cameras. But now it's a different story.

Soon the price of 3+ MP will be really low because - most companies have already discontinued making them.

One sales rep. I talked to showed me a "book" of 8x10 photo's he had taken of the same thing, some day with all the different cameras. There was a very noticeable difference (at the 8x10 level) between 2MP & 3MP. And 4MP is not always better it really depends on the company that made it.

The best pictures (in the same price level camera) were taken with the Olympus 3040 and next were the Canon A70. The color was better, resol much better. The Panasonic line was THE best but the price was out of my range.

Don't let the 3X or even the 10x OPTICAL lens scare you. Without an optical zoom, you won't be able to get good parade pictures or even good baseball pics.

As my Daddy always said " Price being equal: ALWAYS buy a higher product than what you need for today. Because tomorrow you will want those extra features"

This is so true when it comes to digital ANYTHING...in 5 years from now you don't want to have to be upgrading again because you need your camera to do more.

I'm also leaning towards the Minolta's for my purchase.


Here's a good place for reviews for many cameras
Digital Camera Reviews

I can tell you, from experience, that a photo finisher can make a low resolution picture look great and a high resolution picture look like crap. Depends on the photo finisher and the talent of the person taking the picture.
Minolta has not done well in some ratings, but, quite well in others, depends on who is rating it.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by weezer64
Another vote for Olympus!

I have a Nikon Coolpix 995....paid $800 after doing "much research" and even going in to play with the cameras in person.

Within a year our football club (I was on the board of directors and the team webmaster/photographer) decided to purchase a digital camera to post pictures on our website. After playing with my camera on the sidelines, I knew what was lacking. An OPTICAL zoom. The digital zoom only proved to pixelate the pictures that were on the other side of the field. I needed something with an optical zoom and I needed EASE of use. The Nikon can be a bit technical.

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. And for the previous poster who didn't know the quality of printing an 8X10. I went to our star player's birthday party and took a great action shot up to Target to the Kodak machine, inserted the card and within 3 minutes I had a beautiful 8x10 action shot of this kid carrying the ball. I framed it and gave it as his gift.....he loves it.

I am trying to convince DH to let me buy the Olympus before our trip....but he ain't biting.

So maybe I can spare others the waste of money on expensive cameras with lacking features.

I bought a telephoto lense and a wide angle lense for my Nikons.
Well worth the money. I took the shot of the hippo through the glass at AK and he, as you can tell, was on the opposite shore.

 

[weezer64]

I bought a telephoto lense and a wide angle lense for my Nikons.
Well worth the money. I took the shot of the hippo through the glass at AK and he, as you can tell, was on the opposite shore.

That is exactly what my DH wants to purchase.

Shhhh! I don't want him to hear!

(seriously, thanks....I'll let him know. )

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by weezer64
That is exactly what my DH wants to purchase.

Shhhh! I don't want him to hear!

(seriously, thanks....I'll let him know. )

LOL, you are welcome.