Digital or 35 mm camera? which one and why?

[TENIA66]

I have been a 35mm camera owner for years. I own an olympus which is wonderful. Is it cheaper to develop photos from a digital camera at a one hour place that regular? I need to decide what a I need

I like up to 150mm zoom
bright flash
autofocus settings
if digital 7 or 8 megapixels

 

[alloyd1170]

My favorite thing about a digital camera is the fact that you can view your shots right away. That way if it didnt turn out, you can reshoot it. Also, I take lots of shots, then each night review them and delete the ones that are fuzzy, etc. When I get home from a trip Im basically left with shots worth printing. You dont have to worry about xray machines damaging your film, and the little memory cards take up a lot less space than film canisters. I upload everything to my computer, edit it, print the pics (if a lot I head to Walmart or CVS-not sure of the cost, if a few or for the kids' scrapbooks I print them on my photo printer), back them up on cd and email them to family and friends.

I got my son a digital camera as he loves to take pics. Hes only 5 so most of his shots are garabage. Not a problem though-I just delete them and save the good ones! Saves a bunch on film and printing too while he gets to learn about photography.

Olympus makes some good digitals cameras. Ive been a Sony fan for years so thats who Ive stuck with (and because I have the memory cards to swap between digital and video). Check out Photo Pc magazine. My latest edition had a free giveaway contest for the new Olympus SP-550 UZ (7.1 mpg, 28-504 mm, image stabilizer).

alison

 

[vanillarum]

I'm a 35mm junkie and have been for a looooong time. I currently own a Canon EOS Elan 7N, and have for about 4 years. I love the camera. I swore that I would never go digital ! BUT... after our last trip to Disney (05), I was tired of carrying it around, and it's not that big. So, I took the plunge and went digital ! I did a lot of research, and decided on the Canon SD700 IS. So far, it's been great. I haven't used it a ton, but I am taking pictures for a friend's 50th BD in a couple of weeks, so i'll get to "air it out" ! It will also come to Disney in Aug., and I can't wait to carry it around in my pocket (even with it in the case !). It's smaller than my cellphone ! Try it, I think you'll like it. Good luck !

 

[shelemm]

You already have a camera that you like. It will cost you a lot of money to by a new digital plus the stuff you need to go with it. You will not recuperate that money quickly by spending less developing the shots.

The major factors to consider: Unless you are some kind of expert, most digital cameras will take better pictures under difficult lighting conditions. Pictures under good lighting conditions will probably come out well either way.

Because you can look at the results of your picture instantly, you will take/develop pictures more efficiently. No need to retake perfect photos, no need to waste money developing the crummy shots.

Bu there is money to spend on the new equipment, and if you want to take advantage of the features of the technology you will also have to put in some effort to 'fool around' or manipulate the results you get. If you want to keep things simple, then use your camera until it stops working, then buy yourself a digital. If my old 35mm still worked, or did not need expensive repairs, I'd still use it. But there is no way I would by a new 35mm now.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

While my camera is only 6mp, I think its great. I own the cannon is s3, and my pictures are great. I had a smaller point and shoot, but really wanted the zoom, so I gave up some mp to get more zoom. I did visit the photography section of this board, and viewed sample pictures which I thought helped out a lot. As far as the 35mm, I would never go back. I love the fact that with digital you can preview your pictures, and even edit them to a degree.

 

[JacobsMommy11002]

I have been a 35mm camera owner for years. I own an olympus which is wonderful. Is it cheaper to develop photos from a digital camera at a one hour place that regular? I need to decide what a I need

I like up to 150mm zoom
bright flash
autofocus settings
if digital 7 or 8 megapixels

If you are planning on bringing a digital to Disney, make sure you have a few memory card, or plan to make a disc every few days. We didn't, and the very last night we were there, the camera malfunctioned and lost all 300 pictures I had taken. Granted, this isn't a commom occurence, but I was in tears. It was awful. Luckly someone computer savvy was able to recover them from the memory card, but I'd like to spare someone else this trauma

 

[jenseib]

I have a Canon Powershot A540. Not a fancy camera, but I think it takes awesome pictres for me. I really don't know alot about photography and it works well for me. My kids each have an Olympus and they take awesome pictures as well. I will never go back to 35 MM either. I upload my photos to places like clark color, snapfish, or york photo. They are cheap, and alot of times have some deal going on.

 

[MickeyMouseMomofSix]

We just bought a Canon Powershot SD630 Digital Elph and LOVE it! I am so excited to take our WDW vacation pics with it in a few days!

However like a previous posted said, if you do decide on a whole new camera system it will be costly. Our camera was $300, but it was another $80 for a case and extra battery, another $60 for a SD memory card. And I know some people spend alot more. If that's ok with you then I highly suggest this camera! Only downside to it is because the LCD screen is so large there is no room for an optical viewfinder. That wasn't an issue at all for me because I never ever use the viewfinder anyways, but if you are used to using one then that could be a problem for you.

Good luck!

 

[littleteapot]

www.dpreview.com is a great site for camera information.

The people that "hang out" on the Disboards photography forum also give great advice.

I say digital all the way! My dh is a photo nut (Canon digital SLR) and we took over 1500 pictures on our 10 day trip. That doesn't even could the bad shots he deleted off his memory card. We got our first digital camera when our youngest two were born (twins), instead of having no baby pictures we have thousands.

My oldest sons got Canon A540s for Christmas. They take really nice pictures for the price, we've been very impressed.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

If you are planning on bringing a digital to Disney, make sure you have a few memory card, or plan to make a disc every few days. We didn't, and the very last night we were there, the camera malfunctioned and lost all 300 pictures I had taken. Granted, this isn't a commom occurence, but I was in tears. It was awful. Luckly someone computer savvy was able to recover them from the memory card, but I'd like to spare someone else this trauma

We bring our laptop and download the pics every evening to avoid this. I can't imagine this!! For the record I have taken way over 1,000 pics during a week.

I have a Canon Powershot s80 and love it. I recommend checking on cnet. com They have a digital cam section with ratings, etc.

 

[akamom]

I say both. Our first trip to Disney we took our digital and it died on the second day there. I had to buy a 35 mm which isn't cheap in Disney. So now I take both types of cameras.

 

[Dawn414]

I concur with many of the posters here...Digital, Digital, Digital...

For some bizarre reason, when I take pictures with a 35mm or 'regular' camera, I end up with blurry pictures...hand shaking or whatever. With the digital, I take FABULOUS pictures. And to another's point...you can delete what you don't want.

Plus, we take TONS of pictures and you can often find memory cards on sale. I create photo albums for each child so they have memories of going where we go.

We have 2 digital camera's. A canon 3.0 megapixel and a canon 3ESI 6 something megapixel. The ONLY reason we got the new one was because it often takes the 3.0 a few seconds to cycle the picture and my feeling is when you're taking pictures with characters, you don't have time to wait and see if it came out the way you want. I take the memory card to Wal-Mart and edit/crop, etc. LOVE THEM!

Dawn McG

 

[shelly3girls]

I think you have gotten great advice but I would just add that more MP is not necessarily better. It reaches a point where there is very little benefit if you only plan to print 8x10 or smaller and you are just taking up extra memory space on your card. Although I love my 8MP camera I always have to reduce the size to email the pictures and cannot fit many pictures on my memory cards. My 5MP takes awesome pictures and doesn't take up as much memory space. Sure you can use the 8MP and reduce the quality but then why bother paying the price for that quality camera.

I have the Canon SD400 which has many newer models out. If you are looking for a budget camera that takes great pictures I would consider a lower MP than 7. That said my older 4MP Canon (A80) takes better pictures than my SIL 5MP Kodak.

 

[bless7ings]

I think you have gotten great advice but I would just add that more MP is not necessarily better. It reaches a point where there is very little benefit if you only plan to print 8x10 or smaller and you are just taking up extra memory space on your card. Although I love my 8MP camera I always have to reduce the size to email the pictures and cannot fit many pictures on my memory cards. My 5MP takes awesome pictures and doesn't take up as much memory space. Sure you can use the 8MP and reduce the quality but then why bother paying the price for that quality camera.

I have the Canon SD400 which has many newer models out. If you are looking for a budget camera that takes great pictures I would consider a lower MP than 7. That said my older 4MP Canon (A80) takes better pictures than my SIL 5MP Kodak.

I love to hear that!! That is what I have a Canon A80. I love it!!! I lost it for over a month and bought the a95. I like it, but I think I like the A80 better! You always get a great picture w/the A80. Because the processor is faster w/the A95 it can sometimes take a blurry picture, so you have to practice w/it. I was told that some of the older cameras like mine do take better pictures because the processor was slow and made for a great picture. The faster processors will sometimes take blurry pictures depending on how you take it. My old Cannon Powershot A80 is point and shoot and end up w/awesome pictures. The reason I bought it was because in 2004 it was said to be one of the best for low light pictures and it is! I have actually had pictures taken in the complete dark come out better than in low light w/funky lighting. I believe it is because of the funky lighting. So I just shut the light off and take the picture w/the infra red. Wella, I have a picture that looked like it was taken in the day!

What I didn't add to my post was the only thing I don't like about my A80 is it takes so long to take a picture! What makes the best non blurry pictures takes time!!

 

[jenseib]

I have read that too about the Megapixels. I have heard anything over 8 is a waste. I have 6 and it is great. I had a probelm with sony that took nothing but blurry pictures. I took it back. They told me I had to stand perfectly still and have a still subject. Come on! I have a 2 year old that I am taking pictures of, so I returned it and got the canon A540. It is awesome for me.