HELP - I Need a Camera Quick!

[skater]

We are leaving on the 7th for 11 nights at WDW and we just decided we might have a little $ left over for a new digital camera. I have no time to research this (we have an incredible amount of things going on in our lives right now) and thought I would ask my DIS friends for help. Our current one is a Canon with 2.0 MP, very little zoom and its very slow. Our budget is about $3-400. My priorities are a better zoom and a much faster shutter speed. I was also hoping a new camera would use the same memory card (compact flash) although this is not a necessity. Any suggestions?

 

[all4fun]

I just bought a Fuji Finepix S5200. Got it yesterday so haven't had a bunch of time to play with it yet but the little bit I have used it seems very nice. This camera is not a "compact" one though. It has 10x optical zoom which is really good. I also already had xD media cards and didin't want to switch to a new kind which helped narrow down my choice of camera to Fuji or Olympus.

If your camera very old the media cards have changed and been improved so what you have might not work with a new camera anyway...

If you want something a little more serious than a "point and shoot" compact camera, then I have seen the S5200 and the Canon S2 IS recommended here.

If you want a more compact P&S camera then I don't know what to recommend because it isn't what I've been researching lately.

hth!

 

[manning]

Canon S3 IS 12x zoom (36-432mm)

Panasonic FZ 5 and FZ 7 12x zoom (36-432mm)

Panasonic FZ 50 12x zoom (35-420mm)

Panasonic TZ1 10x zoom (35-350mm)

Sony H2 12x zoom (36-432mm) 6MP

Sony H5 12x zoom (36-432mm 7.2 MP


Did I miss any???

 

[JR6ooo4]

In your range you can get a realy good camera that wil fit in your pocket and take good pictures. Or you can get a medium sized camera that will take realy good pictures Like canons S2 or S3.

narrow the choise to two then check back here for details of each. This forum is nice because so many different cameras are used.

Mikeeeee

 

[skater]

Thank you for the replies. It really helps to have my choices narrowed down. I've tried to get help like this at Circuit City or Best Buy, but I can always tell that the sales people are guessing when they answer my questions - too bad they don't have better training.
I like the reviews and the price range of the Canon S2, but I'm concerned it may be too heavy to lug around WDW. Of course I'm guessing that anything with a good zoom is going to be heavier than my little camera. Also, is it reasonably priced in stores or should I give up on it for this trip and order it online when I get home? And one more thing - if I do purchase it this coming week, can I learn it fast? Thanks again for the help!

 

[JR6ooo4]

Thank you for the replies. It really helps to have my choices narrowed down. I've tried to get help like this at Circuit City or Best Buy, but I can always tell that the sales people are guessing when they answer my questions - too bad they don't have better training.
I like the reviews and the price range of the Canon S2, but I'm concerned it may be too heavy to lug around WDW. Of course I'm guessing that anything with a good zoom is going to be heavier than my little camera. Also, is it reasonably priced in stores or should I give up on it for this trip and order it online when I get home? And one more thing - if I do purchase it this coming week, can I learn it fast? Thanks again for the help!

Certainly you can learn it fast. Shoot in auto mode. The only thing I suggest is change the focus point to center only. Canon Auto focus will grab the closest object in any of the focus zones and that can cause trouble.

The canon S2 or S3 has Image Stabilization, which is nice.
But it does take a winter pocket or medium size to hold it. But compared to my DLSR and three lenses and 3 memory cards and polarizing filter and extra bateries and case.... you get the point. Check out the size of all of them in the store.

Mikeeee
Mikeee

 

[Master Mason]

Certainly you can learn it fast. Shoot in auto mode. The only thing I suggest is change the focus point to center only. Canon Auto focus will grab the closest object in any of the focus zones and that can cause trouble.

I learned that the hard way over the summer. I had the best picture of my wife, and then one of the kids leaned a bit forward and it focused on his hat bill.... Great pic of the hat bill, with my wife out of focus in the back ground.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I learned that the hard way over the summer. I had the best picture of my wife, and then one of the kids leaned a bit forward and it focused on his hat bill.... Great pic of the hat bill, with my wife out of focus in the back ground.

if you still have the file...
someone (my bad memory here) just posted a PS pluginthat can actualy fix missed focus.

sorry I can not remember any more details.....
Mikeeee


I will admit my limitations, like forgetting I bookmarked it:

http://www.focusmagic.com/

 

[manning]

I would go to a camera store to gather the info on all the cameras. This way you get to handle the cameras and get better info (hopefully). Then look around for the best deal.

 

[skater]

Thanks again for all your help. I purchased a Canon S3 IS. I think I'm going to love it. I like the feel of it and love the zoom. It also seems very fast (especially compared to what I was using - I missed so many shots). Having my choices narrowed down really helped me make up my mind.

 

[JR6ooo4]

It also seems very fast (especially compared to what I was using - I missed so many shots).

another good point!
I got my DW a canon 650(?) and the shutter lag seemed to be about half a second long. OS we went with the S2

so far the only thing I do not like is that when the camera is on and ready to shoot you can not have the lens cap on.

I reccomend a good UV filter for protection. BUt I hear you must use a converter/adapter ring.
Congrats on the cam!

Mikeeee

post back with some pics!

 

[JR6ooo4]

Hmmmm, 11 nights....
11 days x 100 pics per day is 1100 pics. about 2 gigs at full resolution. bring memory or a laptop. Or head to walgreens for cd backup.

Mikeeee

 

[lazydazy8]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Canon S2 IS. It is a 5MP. The 12x zoom has been fabulous, but it is bulky, especially compared to your 2x zoom. Just keep that in mind!

I am actually on the hunt for a small camera bag for it. The bag I am using is rather large and holds all the cords, etc.

I have a 1G card. I plan to buy a back up. I don't want to have to bring my laptop. I have it set right now, I get approx. 1000 pictures. (The resolution will allow me to print my pictures up to a 8.5x11.) If I want to be able to print my kids a poster for their rooms, I'll have to change the resolution to higher and then get less pictures on the card. If I have a back up, then I can shoot at will!

The S2 IS is the older model now, so you can find it for a good deal (under $300)....