Help with my Kodak bargain

[Mom2Ashli]

In the sunday paper Walgreens had a Polaroid camera for $69.99.
Here is the link.
Walgreens

 

[Magical-Memories]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to clarify something one poster said about what a clerk told them about the optical zoom not affecting the picture quality if the picture was kept at a 4x6 size or whatever. The clerk got the information wrong. What she probably was the Megapixels not the optical/digital zoom capabilities.

Right now you can get some great deals on 3. megapixel cameras..which is totally sufficient for most people that print out 4x6 pictures. Even 8x10's come out good at this megapixel size. However if you are frequently printing poster size or even 8x10's..than a larger megapixel might be better for you. (The more megapixels the 'tighter' the picture..but if you aren't going to blow them up than it's reallly tough to distinguish a 3 megapixel from a 4 or 5 on a 4x6 picture.)

The difference between optical and digital zooms? I like to think of it as Optical is 'before' you take the picture. IT allows you to get up closer to your subject without being in their face. (The lens will actually move back and forth as you set up your shot.) I personally think a minimum of a 3X Optical is a must for any digital camera.

THe Digital zoom..think of that as AFTER you take a picture. You can zoom in closer on a picture you have already taken but the quality just isn't the same. This can definitely be useful and is good to have...but really you want to pay attention to the optical zoom. The retailers know that this confuses most people and will try to highlight the digital zoom as being this big benefit. I don't think I've ever used it..but I like having it just in case I wanted to.

There are great deals on 3 megapixel cameras with a 3X optical zoom out there. Maybe not as cheap as $89..but definitelly $150. To me it's worth the investment especially when you are doing something as important as taking pictures and preserving family history.

I have a camera with a 10X optical zoom. It's great for when I want to capture my kids on the ball field when I'm sitting on the stand. However the camera is heavier because of this. And is also more expensive. (If you are looking to get an optical zoom this big than make sure you opt for one that has some type of image stabilization. The further the lens exteneds the more it picks up on the shake of your hand..causing pictures to come out blurry. Note..this is only for the larger optical zooms..not the 3x opticals.)

If you go to dealcam . com you can plug in what you are looking for and it will bring up least expensive deals. It also will show you most popular, etc.

Reviews on Amazon are also helpful to get other's takes. Some people are very camera knowledgeable and pick apart things that I never would have realized. But you'll definitely get a feel if it's a decent camera. Also try epinions.com

A few years ago I bought a Kodak 2.0 megapixel with a 3x optical zoom for my inlaws. She is JUSt starting to use it this year..and loves it. Pictures are decent enough. I think it's getting harder to find 2.0 megapixel camera's though..but I would think if you did..they would be very reasonably priced. And fine for 4x6 prints...probably not great for 8x10's though.

Amazon has the Canon PowerShot A410 3.2 megapixel (MP) with a 3.2 optical zoom on sale right now for $134.94. I think it's free shipping too..but not sure. I just looked quickly in their best sellers...and that's the first I found for that low...so thought I'd post..but there could be others.

HTH and Good luck!

 

[InstImpres]

Update... I just bought the C340 (5MP, 3x optical zoom, 5x digitial zoom) with a price match ad at staples for $142.00 plus it included a free 256 card. I am returning my Target and Walmart bargains. If anyone wants it before I do so, please PM me.

 

[ceecee]

Update... I just bought the C340 (5MP, 3x optical zoom, 5x digitial zoom) with a price match ad at staples for $142.00 plus it included a free 256 card. I am returning my Target and Walmart bargains. If anyone wants it before I do so, please PM me.

That's the one we are looking at, but haven't found it for less than $179.00 where did they price match it from??? We returning ours for the zoom feature as well.

 

[InstImpres]

That's the one we are looking at, but haven't found it for less than $179.00 where did they price match it from??? We returning ours for the zoom feature as well.

I went through every ad in the Sunday paper. It was Electronics Expo. It's amazing how the prices very, they are obviously a rip off as they claimed this was $82 off. (starting price $50 higher than staples). Staples than gave me the free 256 disk and some special software that were all freebies this week.