New digital camera recommendations??

[arizonacolbys]

We are considering a new digital camera for our upcoming Disney trip & would love some advice from someone that loves their digital camera! We currently have a Sony Cybershot DSC-P73, 4.1 MP & I really liked it at first, but am looking to upgrade.

My biggest problem with our current camera is all of the blurry (mostly indoor) shots that it seems to be taking! I think I shake too much when taking the pictures. Does anyone have any input on this new Image Stabilization I've been reading about? Does it really work??

What I'd like in a new digital camera:

- Less blurry pictures!! (Image stabilization?)
- Descent optical zoom
- Slimmer, lighter design
- Maybe more MP
- Good battery life (love that my current camera takes 2 AA or 2 AA rechargables!

I originally wanted to stick with Sony (already have the Sony memory sticks, etc.) So, does anyone have a recommendation for me??

 

[YEKCIM]

OK...I'll take a crack at this.

For starters, I'd suggest you check a couple of the digital camera sites for reviews. A couple are www.dpreview.com and www.steves-digicams.com. Obviously, if you decide to stick with Sony, your choices are limited, which is a mixed blessing. A tool that might help you with your decision is this one:

http://www.myproductadvisor.com/mpa/camera/inputSummary.do

There is no perfect camera, but by working thru this little tool, you can see which camera(s) best suit your specific needs. Within the Sony family, the T9 or T30 look like they might fit your bill in terms of size and having image stabilization. The zoom ranges are nothing to write home about, however. Personally, I'd rather have more "reach" at the expense of extra bulk and weight, but that is a personal choice.

~YEKCIM

 

[Kelly Grannell]

strongly recommend S2 IS or S3 IS for IS capability (around $300 and $400 respectively). For flexibility, no shutter lag, relatively very clean high-ISO noise: Pentax ist*DL (around $600 including shipping and The Kelly Lens).

If budget is not too much of an object:

2x Canon 30D body + battery grips
Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS for one of the body
Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS for the other body

Gonna cost you (in Canada) about US$ 6,000 though.

 

[manning]

I could recommend a camera, but I like YECIM recommendation better. Get to know what's out there. Figure out what your use is going to be, then go out and put them into you hands to see how they feel. Then make your decision.

Don't get caught up in the pixel race. I would say anything around 5-6 megapixel is decent.

 

[arizonacolbys]

Thanks for all the advice - after reading numerous positive reviews on it yesterday, I decided to go with the Canon S2 IS! It's not smaller than my old camera like I originally thought I wanted, but I really like all the features on it. It seemed like I could get a tiny camera to fit in my pocket for about the same money as a nicer one like this Canon...so, that's what I went with!!

I took some pics around the house yesterday to play with it & so far I'm really enjoying it!

 

[Kelly Grannell]

you can put two 30D bodies with 70-200 f/2.8L IS lens in your pocket too if your pocket is really really really really really ginormous!

 

[MICKEY88]

you can put two 30D bodies with 70-200 f/2.8L IS lens in your pocket too if your pocket is really really really really really ginormous!

one more reason I like my vest, I could fit those in 2 of the pockets....

 

[Greg K.]

From all I've read and seen around these parts, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

And I can report, from my recent trip to WDW (just returned last Saturday from a three week adventure!) that I saw A LOT of S2s and S3s dangling around many necks.

Obviously, all 'disboard' regulars!

 

[handicap18]

one more reason I like my vest, I could fit those in 2 of the pockets....

The pockets on your vest is THAT big to fit a 70-200mm f/2 IS?

 

[aDVCguy]

Minolta ZR-1

Does it all...including "video!"

Just pick up an extra 512K memory card and your set!

Uses 4 AA bateries...picking up a 12 pack of Duracell Ultra
will ensure a full week of great photos. Also, camera has
a built in flash and auto-adjustments for red-eye correction.

Good Luck!

 

[Kelly Grannell]

no digicam takes decent video. It's a waste of time and money and attempt. IF you want to take video just for the fun of it, then that's fine. But to save a memory of a lifetime, I'd rather spend $300 on the cheapest miniDV because it will still yield a better picture than the the best digicam's video capture.

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

Maube you all could help me out a bit. I am looking at buying a new, fairly user friendly (I am no electronics wiz!), digital camera. I have looked at the Canon SD600 6 mega pixel Digital Elph, the Olympus Stylus 720 with 7.1 mega pixels and the Olympus Stylus 710 with 7.1 mega pixels. Of these, the 720 is the most expensive, the Canon in the middle, and the 710 the cheapest (with approx 50 bucks between each). I like the look and size of them all. I have two things I REALLY want in my new camera, good quality and quick shutter speed (my mom has a digital camera that has quite a long lag time between pressing the button and the pic being taken). Of these 3, which would you here recommend?? The Olympus' come with a "red eye fix" which sounds like you can "fix" red eyes after the picture is taken (thus not having to wait for the 2 flashes when red eye reduction is enabled). Is anybody familer with this?? Does the canon have something similar? Again, I am not a huge electronics know is all and would like something relatively user friendly and not overly complex...just takes good clear pictures! Thanks a whole bunch in advance....I tried asking this at Best Buy but the workers there did not seem to have much of a clue either way!!

 

[ktulu]

no digicam takes decent video. It's a waste of time and money and attempt. IF you want to take video just for the fun of it, then that's fine. But to save a memory of a lifetime, I'd rather spend $300 on the cheapest miniDV because it will still yield a better picture than the the best digicam's video capture.

My wife got me the sony W50 for our anniversary, I wanted a smaller digicam than our F707. It is one more toy to mess around with while I wait to get my Rebel XT anyway The video is no where near the quality of a regular vidcam, but it does take decent video. I would not use it for a memory of a lifetime, but the small videos we took of my little girl and used in credits on a DVD I made for my dad turned out great. If I get the chance I'll take a small video and upload it.

darren