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Digital camera ?

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SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/18/2007 : 09:27:52

Has any one found a decent digital camera ?
we had a Huit and Packert (HP) It lasted a year .
something in the 100 to 150 range or cheaper ?

Edited by - on

wmeinert@kconline.com
Past Commodore

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USA
353 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2007 : 09:57:14

I have found that if you have a decent cell phone with todays new technology they work the best when trying to shoot one handed, but if you must have a full camera, try the NIKON Cool Pik, camera. 6 mgapixals for $150 at Bestbuy. My daughter has one and it is amazing and very compact and stores well in you shirt pocket.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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2015 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2007 : 10:57:15

With all due respect Bill, unless you spend a large amount on your cell phone the pictures are going to be terrible. You only go around once in and 20 years from now you're going to want decent pictures of your life.
There are hundreds of good digital cameras out there, I own a Olympus. It's about 5 years old, 2 megapixels, shoots video, 8x optical zoom (all have digital zoom, but look for good optical 8 to 12x). Also has time delay, extreme closeup (macro) ability, auto and manual everything, date stamp, the ability to shoot over a hundred photos, and more. It probably cost $500 then. Now you can get a 6 to 8 megapixel camera with everything I have for $200 to $300. If I were going to buy a new one I'd get a [url="http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=9/19&pq-locale=en_US&CMP=KNC-621V82Y12352"]Kodak[/url]. There's every price range and configuration you can imagine, including one as small as your razor cell phone that takes wonderful pictures. And it will be obsolete before it breaks.

Edited by - DaveR on 04/18/2007 10:59:27

welshoff
Captain

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USA
253 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2007 : 12:30:36

My wife got me a Kodak Z710 for Christmas. Awesome picture quality and the 10x zoom really pulls things in close. I have a couple SD cards and they hold a lot of photos. Easy to download to the computer. It won't fit in your shirt pocket though!

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cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2007 : 12:32:53

You may, or may not, want to look at the same camera that I use. It is a Canon Digital Rebel XTI, 10 megapixel and will set you back about $899.00. I also had a Minolta Dimage with 5 megapixels and it was ok except for the autofocus being very very sloooww.

Edited by - cat1951 on 05/22/2007 07:57:17

danandlu
Navigator

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USA
174 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2007 : 19:02:01

I have an older Olympus Stylus digital. It is an excellent camera although it was a bit over your target price - no longer available anyway. I almost bought the newer version of the Stylus and then noticed that there's no viewfinder. Some of my best photos (in my opinion anyway) were taken in low light when a glowing display would have made taking them nearly impossible. Seems Olympus isn't alone in saving a few dollars (cents?) by omitting the viewfinder.

My 2 cents.

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SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2007 : 21:24:04

Thanks guys
Ya I was looking for a all around camera, and easy to use .
The HP was nice but to take a quick picture it was slow and you would always miss the shot .
the batteries went dead fast but I guess there all like that.
That Kodak site looks good

thanks

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2007 : 21:49:59

Check out the Nikon video camera, takes 6mgpix picture and is an awesome camera for around $250 or better. Beats the heck out of my Aiptek vidoe $99 special.

Paul

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2007 : 21:59:54

Here's my $0.02: Canon Digital Elph, my first one cost me $400, the last one with 3x the pixels, video & sound, $219. A bit more than you want to spend, but my first one is still going strong after six years although the colors are tending towards the blue part of the spectrum. Best part is, if you shut off the LCD screen you can shoot pictures for days (as long as you don't show them around to folks) on a single battery charge, and it's about the same size as a pack of cigarettes.

I've got the S500 model which uses compact flash for storage, but there are plenty of other options. If I didn't already have so many other devices that use CF cards, I'd have gotten the SD500 with it's larger screen.

Here's the [url="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Refurbished-Powershot-SD550-Digital/dp/B000ETWWGC"]SD550[/url], refurbished.

Edited by - on

Turk
Admiral

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736 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2007 : 05:43:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by delliottg
 Here's my $0.02: Canon Digital Elph,
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Agree with you entirely. Canon has been working with digital for far longer than other camera companies. Nikon got in late. Olympus started early also.

The Elph series of cameras are quite remarkable. Small in size and very durable (although get a small camera case to protect the LCD screen when not using it). The Elphs all use glass lenses that are superb. The newest versions (as with most point and shoots) have the ability to use higher ISO settings (800,1600) allowing you to shoot in lower light situations without getting grainy. Also, the better cameras like Elph have video modes as high as 640 x 480 at 30 FPS. A nice feature if you think video is in you needs.

Right now you can get this series of cameras in the $225 to $350 range, a little bit higher than you originally wanted to spend, but well worth the additional money for the additional features and quality you get. I've owned 2 Canon Elphs (I have one now) along with a digital Canon 20D SLR with gazillion dollars in lenses. I really like shooting with the small camera and in fact, only took the Elph on my last vacation. That was tough, but my wife (and friends) appreciated the lack of equipment I usually drag around with me to record the event!

Look into the Canon Elph series. You will find they get incredibly great reviews.

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2007 : 00:27:27

[url="http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-PowerShot-A550-Digital-Camera-MPN-1775B001-CHEAP_W0QQitemZ280103625140QQihZ018QQcategoryZ107900QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]New Canon Powershot A550 on Ebay $147.75[/url]

Great little camera. My parents have one and love it. I have the predecessor A520.

[url="http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&from=R10&satitle=canon+powershot+A550&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&bs=Search&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=98513&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=33%26fsoo%3D2&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp"]Or check all the listings of A550s on Ebay[/url]

Just be sure to ONLY buy "New, unopened, in the box" from a seller with a high rating.

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SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2007 : 18:09:26

We wound up getting the Canon power shot s3 with the 12x zoom .
it takes a fast picture and video the zoom is something .
Its a nice camera , it was pricey but does a lot.

there's wires that go to the TV to review .

the batteries last too

thanks for the help .

Edited by - SEAN on 05/21/2007 18:11:17

Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2007 : 22:54:19

Well, I suggest this one from Olympus. 18X Zoom many features. Not an SLR, however one of the best just short of going to a SLR.
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1289

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2007 : 08:10:46

The term SLR is losing its meaning now that many digitals rely on the LCD display, which is the actual picture seen through the lense (as with an SLR). I do like having the option of looking thru a viewfinder on my pocket-sized Canon SD600, although that's not as precise. Fantastic pictures, and if it were any smaller, it'd be harder for my clumsy hands to use.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2007 : 09:40:56

Nice choice Sean! Looks like a great camera and Canon is a quality name. The Olympus looks outstanding too Chris, sometimes wish my old 2 megapix would die so I would be forced to get a new one

Edited by - DaveR on 05/22/2007 09:41:27

Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2007 : 12:15:48

Dave,
I have an older version of this that was 10X and did have the low light or the image stabilization. I love everything about it, takes great picture and with this model they took care of the two issues that I have with mine. I think it would be worth a accidental dropping of the 2 MP. Other option would be to find a good home for your old one. Gave my old 2 MP to my son. Now I have to find a home for my Olympus 10X so my wife will let me upgrade!!!

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
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Response Posted - 05/23/2007 : 09:07:01

Excellent suggestion Chris! I may have to give it a ...... whirl

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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3441 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2007 : 20:21:26

I have a Canon Powershot G1. It was a great camera in it's day but with only 3 megapixels, it is outclassed by today's cameras. Now they are up to a G7 Model.

I have a big vacation this summer - 30th Wedding Anniversary and I wanted to buy a new camera before the trip. So I have also been researching the cameras and considering what I want.

I like having a separate viewfinder which the G1 has along with a pivoting LCD screen which is good for taking shots at unusual positions or when there is sun glare (allows tilting the LCD screen). I also, like the idea of having a rather large quality lens since my thought is that if it is a quality lens, the larger one will take a better quality picture. (This may not be always true since some of the compact cameras can take pretty good pictures.) One of the things that I would like to improve upon is the zoom lens. The G1 had a 3X optical zoom. Many cameras come with same. The G7 believe comes with a 6X optical but the G7 is very expensive. Canon has had the S31S on the market for about a year and it has received very high marks for picture quality, stabilization and it's 12X optical lens. Some do not like the rather small 2" LCD screen but that seems okay to me. It does come with a viewfinder as well. Canon just announced that they have a new camera coming out in early July - the S51S and it has a slightly larger LCD screen and addl refinements. Both the S31S and the S51S also have the LCD pivoting screen feature. STeve Digicams (do a search on Yahoo for it) is a good website for camera reviews and they have the initial review for the soon to be released S51S.

I think one of the biggy decisions to make is versatility of a compact camera versus the features photo quality and zoom capability of the not so compact cameras. The S31S and S51S seem to be just slightly larger than my G1 and the G1 is already a bit big but will fit into a jacket pocket. A possible compromize between size versus features/zoom capability would be to go with the Panasonic Lumex believe model Fsomething with the 10X zoom. It is larger than a compact but thinner and smaller than the Canons. It has had fairly decent reviews. It lacks a viewfinder and has a flush mounted LCD screen. The Canon G7 apperars to be same size as my exisitng G1 but believe the camera is a whopping $599 with a 6X zoom.

Anyway...these are what I am considering...still weighing going for a smaller more compact design but....I really want that greater zoom capability of the larger cameras.

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