????'s about digital cameras

[goofy4tink]

I'm in the market for a new camera. I do just fine with my little Fuji 35 mm point n shoot. But, I think it's time to make the jump to digital. However, my dh got me one for my b-day a year ago and I made him return it!!! I couldn't even come close to understanding the instruction manual. I am not terribly literate technically. So, my question for those of you familier with digital cameras....what would be a decent camera, mid-priced, that an idiot like me could actually operate? You know...digital for dummies!!! Thanks.

 

[becka]

I bought DH a Kodak DC210 (I think that is the right number) and we really like it. There are some features that I have no clue about but it is very easy for me to use and I think it is almost as easy as a point and click. Plus it takes great pictures. I think I paid about $250-300 for it and we have been very happy.

 

[tkd lisa]

We have a fujifilm digital camera. I think it was about $200. It's very easy to work. Couple of drawbacks. 1) it uses aa batteries instead of a plug in re-charger (you can buy a recharger but it's more $) 2) Once you download the pictures onto your computer, you can't upload them back onto the camera.

I'm not sure if the 2nd point is common with digitals, but when we were at the in-laws at Xmas, i uploaded the pics to make room on the memory card, but couldn't put them back onto the camera to transfer home.

 

[Zurg]

Couple of things:

How computer comfortable are you? Do canbles bother you?

You need to get the pictures into the PC,

There are three basic paths:

1) usb cable from camera
2) card reader on the PC
3) docking cradle

AA batteries are very good news IMHO. You can get good rechargables and they work great.

You can get the picture back to the card with a usb cable the camera acts like another dirve

If you like Fuji makes some nice easy to use digitals.

My opus on digitals is at http://wdwig.com/digital.htm

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

You may want to consider why you're thinking about a digital camera and the sort of pictures you usually take. DH has a pretty decent digital for work and could be that on occasion we may have tried it out.

It is handy if we need something really quick - single shot or two for a school project, etc. But I do not like it for most of the pictures I take.

The reason is that I like the flexibility of film - different speeds, filters, lenses. Also fast film - 800 or faster - catches and freezes action better. And the resolution is better if you are enlarging pitures at all.

DS plays football and no way could I use a digital to get close up on the field shots, unless I went to a REALLY expensive, interchangeable lens version (and I've priced them - talking lots of zeros!)

Digital can be handy but I'll stick with my Pentax.

Deb

 

[goofy4tink]

Excellent point Deb. I guess I'm just playing follow the leader here. I really have been having great success with film up to now. Maybe I should just stick with what I know. Speed is not an issue with me. But I sure do like the 800 film!! Thanks all for your imput.