Digital Camera

[MrsPete]

I'm coming in on this thread late, but my advice is BUY DIGITAL! I teach high school photography, and I am completely sold on digital. My 35 MM Cannon Rebel, which I loved, is ready for the graveyard, and I'm going to replace it with a Cannon Rebel digital.

When you choose your camera, you want to get plenty of mega-pixels. If you're just shooting family shots, 4 megapixels will get you good results. You can also blow up a 4 megapixel pix to 8x10 with good results. The 5 and 6 megapixels are coming down in price.

Also, consider choosing a model that uses rechargable AA batteries. You'll find that digital cameras EAT batteries!

 

[skyhawk]

WOW - little ol' humble me....I posted this question a while ago, and have received literaly 100 responses (ummm, what was the original question again?). Just want to thank everyone for their opinions.

 

[brack]

I have been using my Digital Rebel a lot. I am still very happy (I still am keeping my film EOS1). One of the things I have been watching is the battery power as many have given warings about this. With the option battery pack (it holds two batteries) I have been shooting over 200 pictures over a period of a week and have plenty of power left.

 

[ThreeCircles]

Glad to hear that you're enjoying the new camera Brack! I've pretty much settled on the D70 but I think I'm going to wait for it to come down in price a bit before I buy. (I am chomping at the bits though!)

At any rate, if you post any pics to the web I, and I'm sure others, would love to see em!

 

[skyhawk]

With the cruise less than a month away, we finally broke down and purchased a Canon A80. Very cool - but a bit intimidating for a firm film guy. Thanks for all the advice - and again just to clarify, Shutters can print from your card and/or transfer to CD? And what price is this?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Mark_F]

I know Shutters will transfer to a CD for you ... not so sure about printing.

I get my digitals printed by Ofoto (Kodak) ... which makes it very easy to share as well!

Here is an example

July 3, 2004 - Disney Magic

 

[april riddle]

We bought ourselves a 5.0 digital camera (Kodak) with docking bay and printer for christmas last year. Although I am convinced that the pictures are great from this camera - when we print them they look fantastic - I still love the canon rebel that we have and just bought DH two new lenses for it primarily for our cruise. We are driving to port so no one will be xraying the film I think there is a time for both. We will be taking both of them when we board because ship because the last time we took just a 35mm to Disney a lot of the pictures did not turn out and I was so disappointed because I had taken so many of them. With the digital when we don't want the picture - just hit the button and delete. I still believe the quality is better with the cannon. I quess everyone has an opinion on which is better - I like them both.

 

[wdw47]

we feel the same about 35mm and 5mp sony dsc-p92 digital we have a cannon rebal 200 that we would like to get additional lenses for but no store around here carries any anyone know of a good low price catalog store

 

[felixdacat]

The best website to purchase photo equipment is http://www.bhphotovideo.com .
Not only are their prices very good, but they have the best customer service. They're located in Manhatten and going to their store is a wonderful adventure.
If you want other opinions on B & H, go to www.dpreview.com .

 

[wdw47]

thank you we are wanting to get a good wide angle and telefoto lense befor our next cruise

 

[MarkRG]

The one reason I won't use an online digital photo processing service.

From Ofoto.com's privacy statement:

you agree to let our parent company, Eastman Kodak Company, send promotional information to you, we will share your name, email address, and photo-related activities with Kodak.

Translation, by joining, you are giving them permission in advance to use any photos you send them.

Just something to be aware of.

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by MarkRG


Translation, by joining, you are giving them permission in advance to use any photos you send them.

Just something to be aware of.

I'm reasonably certain that's not legal and I can't image Kodak or Ofoto doing that. Without appropriate, signed model and copyright releases, I just can't see this happening.

Sam

 

[Windermere]

Jason,
I too am interested in trying out that model in the link.




So why hasn't anyone talked about Olympus? I have owned several film and one digital from them, after recommendation from a professional photographer friend, and have no complaints. Are they considered more 'professional'. Why do I never see 'Olympus' on discussion threads?

 

[brack]

Originally posted by Windermere
So why hasn't anyone talked about Olympus? I have owned several film and one digital from them, after recommendation from a professional photographer friend, and have no complaints. Are they considered more 'professional'. Why do I never see 'Olympus' on discussion threads?

It seems to me that the more "professional" cameras in the 35mm & SLR digital area are thought to be Canon or Nikon. The Minolta, Olympus and others are looked on as second tier products. I am sure that they have great qualities and they do have their following.

As for me and my household ... we use Canon.

 

[Windermere]

Humm, I'm not sure I agree with that, brack. I think canon and nikon are more commercial though.

 

[brack]

I am talking perception in this area. Now in the medium format market there are others (Mamiya, Bronica, etc) but for 35mm and digital SLR I think when the average person talks top tier they use Canon and Nikon. Large format has even different brands.

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by Windermere
Jason,
I too am interested in trying out that model in the link.

Isn't it great? It's a little bulky but with the quality of pictures that it takes it's worth it!

So why hasn't anyone talked about Olympus? I have owned several film and one digital from them, after recommendation from a professional photographer friend, and have no complaints. Are they considered more 'professional'. Why do I never see 'Olympus' on discussion threads?

Here's an excellent source for info on all types (point & shoot and SLR) of digital cameras. They have discussion boards for each make of camera and even boards specific to some models.

http://www.dpreview.com/

 

[Corryn]

When we went to the Not So Scary Halloween Party last October, I brought my digital camera, and boy am I pissed I did!!!!!!!
I have two digital cameras, but I brought my tiny Pentax. When the Headless Horseman came trotting past us, or I wanted to take ANY sort of action shot, it was lost.... I wish I had my regular camera for those fast action shots.

So for my last vacation I brought both, my APS and my tiny Pentax. When I was expecting some action I took out my APS, but when I wanted to take a shot of the girls or of something not moving, I took it with my digital.

A reason why I agree with Brack ....When I take pictures with my APS, I ALWAYS get a CD made. Years ago when they first came out with the Kodak Disk option when developing film, I always took that. This way I had both hard copy pictures that I didn't have to print out, and a CD so that I can use them for computer applications.

Here in NY it's about $14.00 for film developing, double prints and a CD for one roll.
Expensive? Yeah, but what about printer ink, photo paper and time and sweat.
Also, I'd rather take a couple action shots with my APS and wind up with One Good Picture out of 3 or 4 than wind up with nothing at all with my digital.

I made a huge mistake last October with the digital and actions shots, I will not do that again!

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by Corryn
I made a huge mistake last October with the digital and actions shots, I will not do that again!

I'm sure you're referring to the capabilities (or lack thereof) of lower-end point-n-shoot digital cameras. A decent digital SLR will smoke just about anything that's point-n-shoot - including APS film - in terms of capabilities.

Here's an example of an action shot I took with my Nikon digital. Processing required no money and about 3 minutes time to color correct. You could do this many of the digital SLRs and probably with a fair number of higher-end digital point-n-shoots.

The camera is only part of the battle. The other, of course, is the skill to use it. I've got a long way to go there.

Sam

 

[MarkRG]

In reply to Corryn
Not all digitals are created equal. For an action pitcure in low light, the digitals available from your local electronics store are probably NOT going to cut it, no matter whose name is on them. For low light shots such as the nightime parades and such, you need to look at another piece of information. The ISO(film speed) rating. Here, megapixels are meaningless, it's all about the ISO number, you need a camera capable of at least ISO 800 or better, and I'd suggest better.

In a film camera, it's more a combination of the rating of film, the type of flash and shutter speed.

In digital, all these run down to a common denominator in an ISO 'equivalent' rating, which is, in this case, a bottom line rating of how fast the camera can capture. And the faster it can capture also equates to being able to capture better in low light. (yes, for the heavier than me camera buffs, I know there are other terms, but for the average user, this is easier to explain than anything else, and most retailers are stating to specify it in the general specs. )

I went after a lower megapixel camera, specifically because it is capable to ISO 1000, and does take good pictures in low light situations.

Took me a few minutes to find it, this is my favorite pic as an example, I don't think there is a 'pocket' digital currently available that could take it. Pardon some of the grain, I resaved it to post here as .jpg, which does affect pics.