Digital Cam Help?

[Gilleni]

hi guys,

Me and my girlfiend are wanting to get a good digital camera for christmas...

Thing is, we dont know whats good and whats not...

Any info on a good digital camera and how much it is would be great...

Looking to spend around $600 or so...

Thanks in advance, Reed.

 

[splitty]

Go for something with at least 5 megapixels and as much optical zoom as u can get. Dont worry about digital zoom - it's crap.

Personally I would buy a reputable brand and not a no-name. For $600 you should be able to get a very nice camera. If you had the extra money a digital SLR would be the way to go.

Cheers
Splitty

 

[Moclobe]

Things to look for
Quick response times, both startup and time taken to take the photo from pushing the button.

Storage media format (different brands use different memory cards. Look for a camera that uses a widely available card format this reduces the cost of buying additional cards. Also check out the max capacities of the different cards).

Number of actual Mega Pixels, the more the better.

Do lots of research. Check out some of the camera review sites, there are plenty about.

 

[herptrader]

If photos of herps are on your todo list you may wish to post this question to the Herp Photography list:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Herp-Photography/

 

[Gilleni]

thanks everyone,

So im looking for something with at least 5 mega pixels, and as mutch optical zoom as i can...

its so confusing...

What sort of camera's does everyone here use?

Thanks again..

 

[alexr]

Hi Gilleni, I use a Sony DSC-W1S. (they now have the DSC-W7S http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscw7/which is 7mp! and rrp $649 - so you should be able to get it for $600) I like it because
- It is 5mp
- Has a water proof case available (down to 40m)
- very large 2.5" screen
- great macro
- takes standard AAs (and you can take a heap of photos on set of 2100ma/h rechargables!!!)

Downsides: only 3x optical zoom and uses memory stick (which is more expensive).

I agree with what everyone here has said - esp. start up/response times.

Very important to be able to squeeze off as many pictures as possible (esp. if you suck at taking photos as this increases your odds of getting that good shot!)

Check out http://www.dpreview.com


Good Luck.

 

[Duke_jensen]

I've got a fuji film s5500 there 4mp and 10 x optical zoom, you should be able to pick one up now for about $400, I'm really happy with it. another one i was looking at is the kodak z740 there 5mp and 10x optical zoom and about $500, haven't seen the photo's they produce.

 

[Duke_jensen]

heres a few pics taken on s5500

 

[westhamsc]

if people realy know how to use a digi camera you don't need a top of the line camera get a good $300 one and learn how to use it i have just finnished photography lessons at tafe and all it cost me was $150 for 5 nights each 3 hour lessons and my skills have improved dramaticly and all i am using is a canon powershot A400 which is 3.2 mega pixels with 3x optical zoom and 7x digital zoom and i am getting cantastic pics with it so just think about taking some lessons there well worth it

 

[Slateman]

Just want to point out that ALDI have on special digital camera 4 megapixels 4 time zoom for $100
I think that that deal is not bad. Look at aldi site. It is comming to be available thursday.

 

[pugsly]

yep fuji 5500 is fantastic, it depends what you are looking for as in what you will be doing with it, 3.2 mpixel still takes a good photo, if your just after your regular point and shoot then 3.2 is fine, but i would start at at least 4 just because if you get that great shot, or family photo or whatever you can blow it up without it losing any quality.

5mpixel is starting to get high teck, fantastic quality (see herp trip thread) but you dont need it if ya just using it for yourregular day to day use.

remember what ever the camera costs, you will also need to spend money on rechargable batterys and a recharger, make it a good one its well worth it. Then you need a memory card, no less than 256mb. so theres another $100+ for ya to add on.

 

[ether]

Dead right Pugsly, when viewing on a computer screen the difference between 3,4 and 5 megapixel is not that great at all. You only really need the very high resolution stuff 5mp+ when you start blowing up the images to much larger sizes. This is when you notice the difference.

I just bought this http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydsch1/ and its doing well so far.

Cheers Alex

 

[Caveman]

Hey Gilleni, i'm looking at cameras for christmas to. The three I came up with are, Panasonic Lumix (DMC-FZ5), Canon Powershot (S2IS) and Sony Cyber-shot H1. These are all 5mp cameras with 12x optical zoom around the $600 price range. Does anyone use one of these cameras? Of the 3 i'm leaning towards the Canon Powershot followed by the Panasonic Lumix.

I found this place pretty good http://www.dpreview.com/

 

[pugsly]

What ever you guys get the most important thing is the lens. Good quality lens = good quality photos.

 

[Gilleni]

Hey Gilleni, i'm looking at cameras for christmas to. The three I came up with are, Panasonic Lumix (DMC-FZ5), Canon Powershot (S2IS) and Sony Cyber-shot H1. These are all 5mp cameras with 12x optical zoom around the $600 price range. Does anyone use one of these cameras? Of the 3 i'm leaning towards the Canon Powershot followed by the Panasonic Lumix.

I found this place pretty good http://www.dpreview.com/

Yeah, i was looking at that Panasonic too... looks good..

also keen on the Fuji FinePix S56000 5.1mp 10x Optical zoom $519 from Dick Smith Elactronics...

Also... The Kodak Z740 5mp 10x optical zoom $479 same place...

But i have heard a few good things about Fuji's... and nothing about the kodak...

Guess its just up to me to make up my mind now... :?

Thanks everyone....