Digital camera help needed please

[Monkeyfeet]

I have a great 35 mm camera but I really want to get a nice digital camera. We have one and at the time a few years ago it was supposed to be a good one. Well, I hate it because there is a slight delay, so when taking pics of people the delay ruins the pose.

Can anyone recommend a digital that has a fast speed that is not a small fortune?

Thanks!

 

[Kies99]

You might try posting this on the PHOTOGRAPHY section of this board. Quite a few helpful people there.

That being said, we just purchased the Pentax K100D and so far are very happy with it. Lots of learning on a digital SLR though.

 

[Monkeyfeet]

I did not know there was a forum for that, thank you!

 

[pascal]

I bought a Canon S3.
12 * optical zoom.

32 - 420 mm lens.

Great Camera.

Pascal

 

[vanillarum]

Just got my first digital after vowing I would never own one ! I got tired of hauling my 35mm all around. I did quite a bit of research, and ended up with a Canon SD700IS and I love it ! Very easy to use. I highly recommend it. Good luck !

 

[djs113]

best SLR Disgital without a doubt is the new Nikon D80 with the kit includes an 18-135 lense

great camera, almost zero wait time

not cheap but worth everything penny being the best consumer camera out there

 

[FigmentGuy]

I currently have a 2year old Kodak Digital and love it. It has little wait time. I'm about to purchase the newer model this summer. the P650. I've played with it in the store and it has like little "wait time". I think any kodak cameras that contain the "color science chip" provide some of the best digital pictures I've ever seen. When I share my photos w/friends and family they cant belive it came from a little digital camera.

What I can suggest is that if you have some type of electronics super store (bestbuy, circuit city etc) go there and play with the cameras. Find out for yourself which one has the least amount of "wait time". Good luck in finding your camera!!!!

 

[sthnbell19]

I have a Canon Powershot and a Kodak Easy Share. I love both cameras. The kodak has 10x zoon but is bulky. The canon is more portable and also takes great pictures but doesn't have as much zoom. A friend of mine just purchased an Olympus with seven megapixels. It is a really good camera and takes great shots. Also, it has a behind glass feature which enables the user to take pictures through display cases, car windows, etc without the picture coming out like it was taken through glass.

 

[CleveRocks]

All point-and-shoot digital cameras have a delay. To ditch the delay, you need to upgrade yourself from a point-and-shoot to an SLR. Never mind what those initials stand for, in your case it stands for NO DELAY. Yiu press the shutter release button and the shutter instantly opens and closes, no delay like with the point-and-shoots.

The SLRs are not only more expensive, they're also physically larger. There's no such thing as an SLR than can fit into your pocket.

 

[eagles1281]

Canon PowerShot's any of them. Great cameras we have three of them s500 & 2 s600
We love them

 

[bevtoy]

I just bought a Sony DSC-H2 with 12 zoom and 6 Pixels....so far I love it.

 

[TaraPA]

Love love love our Canon Powershot A610. Had great ratings when I checked out Consumer Reports. 5 MP - pics are crisp & clear, even with 16x digital zoom. Very easy to use - I am a camera dummy & have no problems with it. It does have many extra features that I know nothing about, but plan to read up on & use in the future.

 

[GrumpyOne]

All point-and-shoot digital cameras have a delay. To ditch the delay, you need to upgrade yourself from a point-and-shoot to an SLR. Never mind what those initials stand for, in your case it stands for NO DELAY. Yiu press the shutter release button and the shutter instantly opens and closes, no delay like with the point-and-shoots.

The SLRs are not only more expensive, they're also physically larger. There's no such thing as an SLR than can fit into your pocket.

Agreed, one of the prices of not paying as much is that the camera is slower. If you want fast picture taking, go with a DSLR. If you want inexpensive, go with a point & shoot. Unfortuunnately, most of the ones people posted about in response to your question are point & shoot style. I own a Canon a620 (big brother to the a610 listed above) and while it's faster that older point & shoots, the delay is noticable.

 

[ZoZo]

Just bought a great digital last week! It's an Olympus SD600 "Elph" (pocket-size) camera. On sale at Office Depot last week for $200. Great little camera, truly pocket-size, 6 megapixel. I used it last weekend and loved it!

 

[mmessler]

I am going to be buying a new, more portable and park friendly camera before my next trip in May. (read : something that I can practically slip into a pocket) Any suggestions will be appreciated. Everyone's talking about different models, someone mentioned Canon PowerShot - this is where I'm headed, but trying to decide on a model. I absolutely LOVE my Rebel xTi, but way too heavy to cart around a park all day. I'm trying to decide between the A530/A540 and the A630. Anyone have any experience with either? Have to admit, the flip around viewfinder on the A630 intrigues me, esp. since it will be only two of us, and this way we could maybe even try to get pictures together without asking for help from our fellow Disney visitors. Only drawback I'm reading is that it's a lot heavier, because of 4 batteries instead of 2? Does this really make much of a difference?

 

[TaraPA]

I am going to be buying a new, more portable and park friendly camera before my next trip in May. (read : something that I can practically slip into a pocket) Any suggestions will be appreciated. Everyone's talking about different models, someone mentioned Canon PowerShot - this is where I'm headed, but trying to decide on a model. I absolutely LOVE my Rebel xTi, but way too heavy to cart around a park all day. I'm trying to decide between the A530/A540 and the A630. Anyone have any experience with either? Have to admit, the flip around viewfinder on the A630 intrigues me, esp. since it will be only two of us, and this way we could maybe even try to get pictures together without asking for help from our fellow Disney visitors. Only drawback I'm reading is that it's a lot heavier, because of 4 batteries instead of 2? Does this really make much of a difference?

I have the Canon Powershot A610 - not identical (but almost) to the A530/540 or A630. I find that we don't often use the flip around viewfinder - but then again we don't tend to take pictures of ourselves - but now that you mention it maybe we should start! My A610 also uses 4 AA batteries which does add a lot to the weight of the camera in my opnion. My last camera used one battery & was noticeably lighter. I still love the camera & wouldn't choose not to buy it solely for the weight from the batteries, but it is something to keep in consideration. If you do go this route - definitely get rechargeable batteries & a charger!

 

[G8RFAN]

We have both a point and shoot Sony DSC-W50 and a Canon E350D (DSLR). The Sony was a recent replacement of a broken Sony Cybershot that DS dropped. I really disliked the shutter lag, but the size of the Canon is really inconvenient at times. So when the Sony broke, I tried to bring the Canon to every event or trip and really wound up leaving it in the car or back at the room because I didn't want to lug it around half the time. It is a very light and compact DSLR and for the most part takes stunning images with rapid fire ability but the size is really a detractor when you can just stuff a point and shoot in your pocket. So, I broke down and bought one. The delay can be reduced by selecting a lower pixel density and/or by using a memory card with fast write times, but it will never be as instant as a DSLR or your 35mm. Some of the more higher end point and shoots may have faster capture times. So for birthday parties or times when capturing the exact moment is crucial, I go with the DSLR.

 

[mmessler]

I have the Canon Powershot A610 - not identical (but almost) to the A530/540 or A630. I find that we don't often use the flip around viewfinder - but then again we don't tend to take pictures of ourselves - but now that you mention it maybe we should start! My A610 also uses 4 AA batteries which does add a lot to the weight of the camera in my opnion. My last camera used one battery & was noticeably lighter. I still love the camera & wouldn't choose not to buy it solely for the weight from the batteries, but it is something to keep in consideration. If you do go this route - definitely get rechargeable batteries & a charger!

I definitely wouldn't let the weight of batteries deter me from choosing a camera with good picture quality. Anything I choose is going to feel like carrying around a feather as compared to my DSLR. Which I still might bring on the trip, but it most likely will spend some considerable time in the hotel room. Does your A610 take nice pics? Do you have any complaints about it?

 

[TaraPA]

I definitely wouldn't let the weight of batteries deter me from choosing a camera with good picture quality. Anything I choose is going to feel like carrying around a feather as compared to my DSLR. Which I still might bring on the trip, but it most likely will spend some considerable time in the hotel room. Does your A610 take nice pics? Do you have any complaints about it?

I am amazed at the quality of the prints - all I can say to describe them is that they are crisp! People are always commenting on how clear the pictures are. I can't think of a negative - really! If I had to pick one thing, I'd say that when I use the full digital zoom - 16x - if the subject is moving I cannot get a clear shot. However there are endless modes on this camera to use, that I haven't begun to figure out. I'm sure there's something to assist in motion pics when using full zoom! It did take fantastic shots of the fireworks at WDW, and night shots like Osborne Lights & when the castle is lit up in different colors. I could never get nice shots of those things with my other digital cameras (Vivitar & Olympus).

 

[mmessler]

I am amazed at the quality of the prints - all I can say to describe them is that they are crisp! People are always commenting on how clear the pictures are. I can't think of a negative - really! If I had to pick one thing, I'd say that when I use the full digital zoom - 16x - if the subject is moving I cannot get a clear shot. However there are endless modes on this camera to use, that I haven't begun to figure out. I'm sure there's something to assist in motion pics when using full zoom! It did take fantastic shots of the fireworks at WDW, and night shots like Osborne Lights & when the castle is lit up in different colors. I could never get nice shots of those things with my other digital cameras (Vivitar & Olympus).

Thanks for all your comments, I think my mind might be made up. As soon as I get my Circuit City gift card in the mail from trading in an older camera I had, I might be headed down to the store! (I'm a photographer by trade - albeit an unpaid one right now - so I get excited about this stuff.)