Help with my Kodak bargain

[InstImpres]

I will start by saying I am technolgy stupid when it comes to terms. I have had 2 Kodak EasyShare camera and loved them. (One attempted suicide in WDW - aka jumped off a shelf & the other was stolen in WDW). I bought the C315 that Target had on sale and other posts say people are not going to be happy with this because of the zoom. It is a 5.0 megapixel camera with a 5x zoom (which I thought was a good number). Can anyone give me an idea why they are unhappy with this or what is better in numbers for me to look for

TIA

 

[maggiew]

I don't know anything about your particular camera, but usually when people are unhappy with a digital camera and zoom it is because the camera has a DIGITAL zoom vs. having an optical zoom. Maybe that is the problem.

Maggie

 

[InstImpres]

I DIGITAL zoom vs. having an optical zoom. Maybe that is the problem.

thanks, that's a start for me to look for....what does it mean though?

 

[cseca]

Hi InstImpres,
I'm the one who posted about the C315 camera. I just returned mine today actually...
The difference between Digital vs. Optical zoom:
Digital means that you can manipulate the picture on your computer before you actually print it out.
Optical means you can manipulate the actual camera zoom while you're taking the picture (you can be physically further away to the subject when taking the picture).

Without Optical zoom you will have to move closer or farther than the subject yourself instead of letting the camera do the work.

I hope I'm not confusing you.

Here's another explanation for it: http://www.photoxels.com/article-optical-digital-zoom.html

As for what is a decent camera for non pro users, I'd recommend anything with 3 mp or above with at least 3x OPTICAL zoom.
The larger the Optical zoom the bigger the camera will have to be. If you look around the camera makers are selling up to 7 or 8 mp with just 3x optical and still have the camera be reasonably small in size.
However, remember that regular people will not be able to tell the difference between 3 mp picture and 7 mp picture when printed on a 4x6 or even 5x7. You will start to see some difference when you enlarge your picture above 8x10.

 

[tggrbuny]

Optical zoom is when the camera brings the image closer like binoculars. The larger the number is better.

Digital zoom is when the camera enlarges an area like when you zoom in on the computer. If you zoom too close the pixels will distort. This is good feature, just not as good as the other.

I have a Kodak camera and I am very happy with it.

 

[bellarella]

Actually my guess is that it isn't the optical vs digital on this camera that people are complaining about (at 5 MP there is unlikely to be any distortion for printing out 4x6 or 8x10 prints). The annoying thing about the zoom on the 315 is that the zoom is the up/down buttons for the menu area and not a separate left right button up near the top right of the camera (where most cameras put the zoom). This makes for a somewhat awkward hand placement to try to zoom and take the photo. I didn't notice it until after I bought it. I feel bad because it was a gift, but the person who is the recipient won't mind much I think, since this is a "starter" digital camera for them until they can afford one that has the bells and whistles on it that they want.

For the price, I still would keep this camera over others that are in this price range and are at lower mega pixels.

 

[4formickey]

I have kodak camera and I'm please with it. I wish some times that the optical zoom was higher. The have the 4 meg. pix with the higher optical zoom but I got the 5 meg. pix with the lower zoom.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Consider yourself LUCKY even if it isn't perfect. My mom and I each went to get one yesterday (for each other unbeknownst to each other) and they were out by the time we each got there (I'm in SC, she's in PA.) If it's just due to minor inconveniences that people are upset I'd say keep it. That was a GREAT deal. The cheapest I've seen for that same camera was about $80-$100 more than the Target one.

Now I'm upset to know that so many people are returning them and they won't be at the sale price anymore and those of us that would've been happy with them missed out because of it.

 

[HaleyB]

Zoom. First of all each 1x in digital zoom is like 35 in a 35mm camera so if you had a film camera with 105 zoom that is like 3x in digital. Make sense?

How much zoom you want depends on how you use it. If you take a lot of indoor photos then really you don't need anything more than the range of the flash. In you have kids that play baseball (or whatever) you might want 10x zoom.

I have the Kodak Z7590 it has 10x optical zoom and is a 5mp camera. I like it but it is not great in low light (my cheap HP was, but it died) and it is a little big. Other than that I am happy with it. I think it is around $250 if you catch a good sale but it might have been more... I am trying to block my summer spending spree from memory (and it is working).

How a camera feels and ease of use is a biggie. Play with it and see how it feels to you. I have small hands and find some cameras just don't fit me. My Dad has the equal but oppisite big hand problem.

 

[HaleyB]

Ok I have to ask. What was the price/camera?

 

[SRUAlmn]

Ok I have to ask. What was the price/camera?

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-3783292-5731842?asin=B000BS2TJG
It was on sale for $89.99. It's normally $159.99

 

[SRUAlmn]

My sister just bought a digital camera about 2 months ago, and the salesperson told her that unless you plan on enlarging photos and making reprints frequently you really don't need the optical zoom

 

[n2mm]

Thank you for all of the help. I got this camera at Circuit City in a bundle for earlybird $179, but it includes the printer dock too. I got it for my 11 year old grandson and thought it would be a nice starter camera (and also includes the dock/printer package). Thanks for explaining the zooms, optical vs digital. I was struggling trying to figure it out.

 

[CarolynNC]

Thank you for all of the help. I got this camera at Circuit City in a bundle for earlybird $179, but it includes the printer dock too. I got it for my 11 year old grandson and thought it would be a nice starter camera (and also includes the dock/printer package). Thanks for explaining the zooms, optical vs digital. I was struggling trying to figure it out.

As a starter camera for your 11 year old grandson the lack of optical zoom probably won't be much of an issue. I would not buy a printer dock for myself but he might enjoy having one. The paper/ink packs are expensive (in my opinion) and I find it cheaper to order prints online.

I like the Kodak cameras and think a great do it yourself bundle would be a camera, SD card, and one of the packs of digital camera rechargeable batteries with charger. Just be sure to check the type of batteries a camera uses. I almost purchased a camera which used a special battery. It's easy to keep AA NI-MH rechargeable batteries on hand in case the ones in the camera die.

Consider yourself LUCKY even if it isn't perfect. My mom and I each went to get one yesterday (for each other unbeknownst to each other) and they were out by the time we each got there (I'm in SC, she's in PA.) If it's just due to minor inconveniences that people are upset I'd say keep it. That was a GREAT deal. The cheapest I've seen for that same camera was about $80-$100 more than the Target one.

Now I'm upset to know that so many people are returning them and they won't be at the sale price anymore and those of us that would've been happy with them missed out because of it.

I'm sorry you weren't able to get the deal you wanted on BF. I know there were lots of disappointed people this year. Keep your eyes on the sale papers and online deal sites. There will most likely be many other opportunities to purchase camera deals. Several great sites for checking on deals are fatwallet.com, slickdeals.net, gottadeal.com, dealsofamerica.com. There are many more out there I check regularly when shopping for what I consider a big ticket item.

The figures are coming in for BF and sales weren't up as much as expected. Vendors will be trying to entice buyers in between now and the holidays. There's still time.

 

[figment52]

Consider yourself LUCKY even if it isn't perfect. My mom and I each went to get one yesterday (for each other unbeknownst to each other) and they were out by the time we each got there (I'm in SC, she's in PA.) If it's just due to minor inconveniences that people are upset I'd say keep it. That was a GREAT deal. The cheapest I've seen for that same camera was about $80-$100 more than the Target one.

Now I'm upset to know that so many people are returning them and they won't be at the sale price anymore and those of us that would've been happy with them missed out because of it.

If it is convenient contact you local Target and see if you can get on a waitlist fort he returned cameras. No guarantees but heck, its only a phone call away from a yes. Good luck.

 

[SRUAlmn]

If it is convenient contact you local Target and see if you can get on a waitlist fort he returned cameras. No guarantees but heck, its only a phone call away from a yes. Good luck.

Good point. Target is usually really good about returns and sales. It helps that we have a Target within walking distance of our condo Thanks!

 

[cseca]

If you're just looking for the cheapest digital cameras without optical zoom I've seen some stores around with similar deals. Ritz Camera had something similar for $70 and I think one other store too... but I don't remember where... sorry.

I was as disappointed too since I got up early and expect a nicer camera. But it didn't fit my expectation hence I returned it so that some other people could have a chance to get it. There's no reason for anyone to keep an $90 camera just because it's a cheap digital camera if it doesn't fit their needs.

 

[chesirechik]

We just picked up the Kodak EasyShare C310 & printer bundle at K-mart on Turkey Day for $197.00, plus they threw in a 128MB SD card and a $20 K-Mart giftcard that we used to buy kodak camera printer paper.


Now I'm nervous they won't like the camera. I always heard good things about the Kodak Easyshare's though.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

I bought the Target Kodak camera for my DD 6. I think it will fit her needs for a starter digital camera. I can't image her wanting to zoon in on anything that far away. She just loves to take pictures and this way i only have to pay for the ones that are good.

 

[cseca]

If someone is still looking for a cheap digital camera without optical zoom, walmart has another kodak camera for $98.84 (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4324511) and Circuit city has a polaroid camera for $89.99 (http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pola...6719/catOid/-13062/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do).