Time to go digital?

[monalsw]

I'm the one still carting my 35mm and film through the x-ray machine at the airport and I've finally decided it might be time to 'get with the program' and go digital!

The problem is that I am technologically challenged! I get overwhelmed by the extras on the newer cameras; i.e., anything that I don't need to use regularly. I want to capture pics of my kids at WDW, along with the attractions and scenery, and I want to be able to get close-ups. I'll need to take them somewhere to print them, like Wally World, since I don't have regular access to a computer right now. Other than that, I don't need much, at least to start out with. I'm sure I'll want to upgrade later, once I get familiar with the whole concept of 'computerized' cameras!

With that info in mind, which 'beginner' camera would our DIS photographers recommend? If you can provide a make/model, so that I can just walk into the store and request it, all the better!!!

TIA

 

[tinker&belle]

I'm looking to upgrade. (I'm just a casual picture taker as well, vacations, family events etc.) I am looking into the Olympus Stylus 710 because it seems to be very easy to use. It also has an easy to use guide for what setting to use, and a setting that will recommend how to take certain shots. Take this with a grain of salt because I don't actually own it, I have been shopping as well, and this is the one I am interested in I actually posted a thread about this camera (I just bumped it) and am hoping to get some feedback. I have an old HP and I would not recommend that brand. I'm sure there are others on here with more information and knowledge than me, but those are my thoughts.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

How about this camera:

But seriously, what's the budget?

 

[Andrew Bichard]

I'm the one still carting my 35mm and film through the x-ray machine at the airport

You are not the only one.

I have been debating a change to digital for some time but cannot bear (bare? <sp>) to part with my Canon T90 and lenses. Sometime this year, I intend to buy a good scanner so that can create digital versions of my photos going back to the mid 60's when I bought my first SLR (a Zenit E). I figure I can get a few years yet out of the T90 and maybe take advantage of some good prices on used lenses.

I already have a point & shoot digital for when I can't wait for a film to be developed.

It seems to me that digital technology is moving so fast right now with better and better cameras coming out all the time, that I am better off waiting a while before going digital.

I suggest to try this link for reviews of the latest digital cameras. http://www.dpreview.com/ They add new reviews two or three times each week, so it's worth going back from time to time.

Andrew

 

[monalsw]

Oops, budget is about $200, since this is new to me!

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I would recommend Fuji F10 with more than acceptable ISO1600 capability. It's priced around US$350 in Canada, but usually for point and shoot, Canadian prices are far higher than the US equivalent so you may be able to get this for around $250 in the US.

I have used this camera and it's very good (if the price is around US$250). The only reason I didn't buy it because the price (at the time) was around US$500 including taxes in Canada.

 

[captaincrash]

I recommend you BORROW a pocket digicam from a friend to try it out. Once you drop $250 on a digicam... you may find your feelings will EVOLVE and a 2nd more capable digicam may be in the works. On the other hand..... if I were to recommend a good digicam to start with I would say the Canon A610. At COstco.com it is only $215. You could add a 1 gig memory card for as little as $30 when they go on sale! Just this past weekend a 1 gig compact flash card was $30 for 1 gig. The A610 http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11091350&whse=BC&topnav=&browse= gets good reviews ....

I too was very guarded about digital photos initially. I used to wonder how do you get prints made. I had NO IDEA of how much more could be achieved by going digital.

I ended up borrowing a $300 digicam that shot 1.25 megapixel images at 48 images (best quality) to the memory card at the time. I used it on a 10 day cruise where I shot 800 images! I reasoned that my 800 digital images with 300 "good" ones were comparable to having shot 30 rols of film to obtain 800 decent images with 300 "good" ones. This 30 rolls would have cost me $20 for film, processing and double prints.... my usual routine. So these 800 digital images would have cost me about $600 to produce. I was thrilled at the savings and freedom to shoot so much at near zero cost!

Well... 5.5 years later I've spent about $3,500+ on 5 digicams, 2 DSLRs, 3 lenses and 2 repairs. 2 of the digicams are little more than "toys" while two of the better digicams and a DSLR were sold on Ebay for about $800 to help pay for the next better replacements. Looking back on this and the rapid depreciation I sufferred... I must say that the progression of personal ability and need for better equipment were constant. As such, in the past 6 years I've shot about 55,000+ images. That works out to 15.7 cents an image in equipment cost alone. But with all these images I've got tons of detailed memories for the future!