Digital Cameras - Olympus or Sony????

[WDWorld2003]

I have finally narrowed it down to the above two brands for a digital camera after spending hours looking at websites and in the stores

We have an old Sony Mavica and a newer Camcorder - both have been very reliable and take great pics and movies. We also have a small Olympus 35mm zoom camera - love it - goes everywhere with us and takes great pics.

If anyone has had experience with the newest Sony and Olympus point and shoot digital cameras I'd love to hear it. I believe they both run around $400. Thanks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I have a Sony Mavica that uses floppies and just got the Sony Mavica that uses CDs last December. I used just one CD for the entire vacation (took about 120 pictures) and still had room on it. I could hook my camera up to my computer to download the pictures and print them out or do what I wanted with them. The photos were great. I love my new Mavica, but will still use the old as well.

 

[Robinrs]

I posted a thread about purchasing a digital camera a few days back and Gillian gave a link that I found extremely valuable...http://www.steves-digicams.com/

It gives in depth reviews of just about every camera out there! After finding out by the experts on this board WHAT to look for the reviews are helping me to decide!

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://wdwig.com/digital.htm

 

[DawnCt]

Consumer Reports rated the Kodak digital well so that is the one we chose. The ease of use and quality of pictures are good. The down side; I would prefer a self storing lens cap that I did not have to keep replacing. Not a big deal but a minor inconvenience. I did see where Olympus has a weather proof digital now. That would be a big attraction to me. You don't have to be worried about getting caught in the rain or on a boat, etc. I would check out the weather proof Olympus.

 

[Steve H.]

Of the two choices you've narrowed it down to -- I would choose the Olympus. I've had better experiences with Olympus than Sony as far as digital cameras go.

 

[Carl]

Don't buy a camera which stores images on a floppy. The images are too small to get high quality prints from. You CAN print them, but they are fuzzy. If you just want the images to put on a computer screen, then the small sized images on a floppy would do.

 

[Tess]

I have a question for you--you said you have an Olympus 35 mm zoon--what model is that? I just purchased an Olympus Epic 35 mm zoom. I really didn't want a digital camera--storing photos on my computer just doesn't appeal to me and if I want to do that I can have them put on a cd. I researched and researched regular point and shoot 35mm and finally settled on this camera. I have a Pentax right now that I've absolutely hated from the get go. I kept thinking it was me--but I know I can take better pix than that thing ever produced! It was terrible.

Anyway, I just wondered what you thought of your Olympus point & shoot? I haven't taken the first shot yet--still using film up on a disposable and the cruddy camera!

 

[December99]

Along these Olympus lines I have a question. I did some minor damage to our Olympus when I was at WDW in December and we need to get a new camera and we'd like to stay with the Olympus because I've been very happy with it and the quality. Now my question is - can we use the cards that we have now in the Olympus with the new Olympus? It appears like we can but I just am not sure and I want to make sure before we buy a new one and end up having to get new cards.

Thanks if anyone can answer that.

 

[Steve H.]

What brand of Olympus do you have now?

Normally, I'd say yes right away, but after my MIL bought a new Kodak (she had an older Kodak digital) we learned the hard way, that sometimes manufacturers change their technologies used.

 

[helenabear]

Honestly I couldn't say based off of just a brand. I'd have to look at a specific camera to make my decision on which would be better. Both Sony and Olympus are two of five or so brands I look at (I honestly do ignore some out right by name based off of past histories). Initially I would probably pick and Olympus over a Sony, but really I'd have to look at specifics.

As for using cards, as Steve says, it depends. Some use compact flash (I own a TON of CF cards now) and some use SD and a few other types. I was lucky, when I bought my 1st digital over 2 years ago, I got one that took CF. My second one I just purchased uses CF as well. Just read what it says and you'll know. If it appears to be the same, it probably is, but just read carefully

 

[WDWorld2003]

Thanks everyone for your help.... I still don't know which to choose..... The Olympus and Sony both have a movie feature but the Olympus one has no sound!!!! That's one of the things holding me back.

Tess, I have an older 35mm Olympus (3 years - which is old in the camera world) with a small zoom. I believe my sister has the one you just purchased. Both take wonderful clear pictures and the camera is compact and easy to carry to places like WDW!

As far as not going digital - you don't have to store the pics on your computer. You can have them printed at your local Target, Wal-mart, etc. from what I understand. You just bring in the memory stick.....

 

[Steve H.]

Originally posted by December99
Along these Olympus lines I have a question. I did some minor damage to our Olympus when I was at WDW in December and we need to get a new camera and we'd like to stay with the Olympus because I've been very happy with it and the quality. Now my question is - can we use the cards that we have now in the Olympus with the new Olympus? It appears like we can but I just am not sure and I want to make sure before we buy a new one and end up having to get new cards.

Thanks if anyone can answer that.

I just did a little research and it appears as if the new Olympus cameras use a different memory type (x-D Picture Card: http://www.memoryxflash.com/xdpicturecard.html ) than the older Olympus cameras (which typically use SmartMedia). Sorry.

 

[December99]

Oh shoot Steve - you would ask that now wouldn't you I think it's the 260 zoom. And I believe it's the SanDisk that is used - actually I'm positive. Maybe I just need to go to their site and check things out (duh - why didn't I think of that earlier ROFL)

 

[yepod]

I have owned 2 Olympus digital cameras & am very pleased with them.

My only minor complaint is the older cameras use Smart Media (flash memory cards) which is less common than Compact Flash (the most common for digital cameras). The newer ones use their newest format FM cards (shared with Fuji) called Xd. This format is presently more expensive & harder to find.

My main complaint about Sony is their exclusive 'memory stick' FM cards & proprietory batteries.

Good luck!

 

[Tina]

I've been considering the Sony P72, which is new this year. Its the upgraded model of the P71, which has sound in the movie function. If you decide on Sony, be sure to get one of the new 2003 models (I think most end in the number "2") because they will accept the new larger memory sticks.

 

[mrsstats]

I wouldn't buy the sony, its is not really user friendly unless you are a real camera buff. I have a Sony DP1 I think. Paid around $700. for it 3 years ago. Sorry I have it.

 

[December99]

Oh crud....I guess I gotta do some more shopping now.

 

[BarryHom]

I like Sony cameras for the main reason that most have a Carl Zeiss lens, which is considered the Rolls Royce of lenses. Olympus makes good cameras too.

 

[Mskanga]

I have an Olympus D460 ( same as you Chris , remember? ) and I love my camera, it takes pics in different formats , large, small , and sequence. Chris , as long as the camera you buy uses the same kind of memory as the olympus, yes you can use those cards.
I was there when the little incident happened , remember??