Camera suggestions

[TP Derrick D]

I don't own a Digital cam. yet and been wanting one since Lfest. Seen all the fun being had with them. I basicall want one thats user friendly and not that expensive because I probably won't be using it for Sports Illistrated swim suit layout. I just want one I can take pictures and post on the net if the need arise. I get the Star Telegram and look at FRY's, Best Buy, Circurit City,Comp USA... Sony, Minolta,Canon probaly my first chose. Last week Fry's had a Vivatar 3.2 mega for $89 sale price. Went up there a couple days later.. sold out!! I see Doug,Terry,Ronald,Steve,Tom doing things all the time so I figured you guys got a bit a knowledge about it.

[my2002lightning]

Derrick,

Just get the most Mega-Pixels you can get for your $! I've taken all of mine with the "Bazooka" as Andrew/microsuck calls it: http://www.ctyme.com/mavica/fd95big.jpg

It's the Sony MVC-FD95. Keep in mind, this is an older model and there are newer one's that take much higher quality .jpegs. Shop around for .mpeg capabilities too if you want.

It was the "sh#t" back in '01 and I paid $978 at Circuit City and there was only 1 other that topped it out and it wrote to a one-time-only disk.

It's taken all the .jpegs in my gallery and it has mpeg capability. ( http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/317MOV00877.MPG )

Also, mouse-around in http://www.mpsuperstore.com (http://www.mpsuperstore.com/)

Hope it helps!:tu:

Ronald

[L8 APEX]

Decide what storage media you want to use to transfer the pics to your PC. I use an old Sony FD88 that uses floppy disks. Floppys are convenient but the drawback is they only hold 4-15pics at a time. The cameras that burn mini CDs are nice but more expensive. The most common cameras use memory sticks or removable storage cards. But then you need a docking station or cable to plug them to the computer. You simply buy a big card like a 256Mb and it will hold a few hundred pictures. Two things to look for are power magnification optical and digital, and pixels which is quality.

[Silver_2000]

look at dpreview.com for good honest feedback on cameras. Great reviews...

My next camera will either be

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/CanonEOS300D/Images/specsview-001.jpg
or

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscf828/Images/exploded-001.jpg

Both will be over $1k with tax etc ...


BUT there are some GREAT deals now on the snapshot type cameras.

You should see if you can borrow one for a while - I find the zoom lens to be really important for action shots. You basically want to fill the frame with the subject.

for me an 8x optical zoom is minimum

Doug

[Sandman]

I have a canon digital rebel (300D) and its great! Its the cheapest digital SLR on the market right now and it rocks! Its 1k for the body and a lense. If you're a member of the best buy reward zone, watch your mail box and you can get a 10% off any item in the store. That will help.

If your looking for something cheaper, there are plenty of options... I prefer canon cameras... but my wife has an older kodak point and shoot camera that takes great shots also.

If you want some good review sites check out

http://www.steves-digicams.com/
http://www.dpreview.com/

and those are to just get you started... There are plenty out there.

[Silver_2000]

I have a canon digital rebel (300D) and its great! Its the cheapest digital SLR on the market right now and it rocks! Its 1k for the body and a lense. If you're a member of the best buy reward zone, watch your mail box and you can get a 10% off any item in the store. That will help.
Sorry to hijjack the thread BUT Do you have more than one lens ? If yest do you have trouble keeping dust off the sensor ?

Doug

[Nuhklz]

I bought an Olympia Camedia last year and it is great!

My wife can't figure out the remote control for the TV but she uses this camera as if she were an expert.

Just my $0.02

[98Cobra]

Derrick,
It was the "sh#t" back in '01 and I paid $978 at Circuit City and there was only 1 other that topped it out and it wrote to a one-time-only disk.
Ronald
Just out of curiousity, what kind of camera is limited to a one time only disk?

[George G.]

You can also check out http://www.steves-digicams.com/default.htm I bought Alpines camera a while back, great camera. you could get some 6 gazilliam megapixel but unless you going to be enlarging the photos, it's not really needed. I'll post some info about mine when I get home and look at it.

[Sandman]

Sorry to hijjack the thread BUT Do you have more than one lens ? If yest do you have trouble keeping dust off the sensor ?

DougDoug,

I do have 2 lenses that I use (one telephoto and one wide) and I have not had any problems with getting dust on the sensor yet... That being said, I have not changed out the lenses more than say... 20 times so far. I do lurk on some forums for the camera and I hear very, very few complaints about dust on the sensor. The camera does have a "function" that is supposed to clean the sensor if dust does get on it. Also, I bought a 4 year warranty thru Best Buy when I bought it for like $100. It includes a yearly cleaning by Best Buy. I am also very careful when I switch out the lenses to try to keep as much dust out of the camera as possible.

If you have any more questions.. feel free to ask!:banana:

Andy

[my2002lightning]

Just out of curiousity, what kind of camera is limited to a one time only disk?
The Sony model one higher than mine at the time (instead of writing to a floppy or a floppy adapter with a memory stick) wrote one-time-only to a small CD.

The CD couldn't be erased and written to again and I didn't really like that hindrance.

[98Cobra]

The Sony model one higher than mine at the time (instead of writing to a floppy or a floppy adapter with a memory stick) wrote one-time-only to a small CD.

The CD couldn't be erased and written to again and I didn't really like that hindrance.
Are you sure? I used to have a Mavica CD-200 - it wrote to mini-CDRs, but also to mini-CDRWs. I always used to use CDRs though, because they are cheap, and its already burned to CD - take it out and put it in any computer with a CDROM drive.

Anyways, your comment just had me wondering...

[my2002lightning]

Are you sure? I used to have a Mavica CD-200 - it wrote to mini-CDRs, but also to mini-CDRWs. I always used to use CDRs though, because they are cheap, and its already burned to CD - take it out and put it in any computer with a CDROM drive.

Anyways, your comment just had me wondering...

Yep, see http://www.steves-digicams.com/cd1000.html

[Silver_2000]

Ok Found anothe choice - Just announced - be out in March

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0401/04012806nikond70.asp

It has ALL The bells and whistles AND it allows for continous 3fps shooting till you fill the memory card. AND it allows for another feature which is writing directly to a laptop using USB cable... ... Decisions decisions

[TP Derrick D]

I don't own a Digital cam. yet and been wanting one since Lfest. Seen all the fun being had with them. I basicall want one thats user friendly and not that expensive because I probably won't be using it for Sports Illistrated swim suit layout. I just want one I can take pictures and post on the net if the need arise. I get the Star Telegram and look at FRY's, Best Buy, Circurit City,Comp USA... Sony, Minolta,Canon probaly my first chose. Last week Fry's had a Vivatar 3.2 mega for $89 sale price. Went up there a couple days later.. sold out!! I see Doug,Terry,Ronald,Steve,Tom doing things all the time so I figured you guys got a bit a knowledge about it.
Man the responses have been great ...thanks everyone
I guess it would be more helpful if I knew what some of you was talking about.OK I confess I don't know anything about D-cameras. I got a 35mm I bought when I was stationed in Germany in 1985. Still works great and I had it at last FFW & Lfest.Threw away my 110 when I got it. Like I said in the first post Lfest got me wanting one so now I'm starting from almost a-b-c, 1-2-3....
I plan to shop around and look at some of the sites that have been posted for me to check out. I look at model #'s and see what you guys think(girls too).I'm not looking to spent 1K on some I want be using a lot. I seen a Nikon or Canon at Besy Buy I like it was $399 . Don't know how good it is but if I can post with it and the pictures are good (it was 3.2mp) its probably more in my range. I got to buy a V1 and another BR suite soon also. And since non of you TALON guys bought theb almost new F1's or the Washer/dryer I had for sale I got to budget :) :) :) :) The camera was similar to the one Ronald posted. I'll let you guys know. Hey Doug ..being the webmaster/photomaster for TALON and other sites I guess having a do all camera like yours or the one you want comes in handy..especially when you can use it to shoot me accepting carshow trophies again at Lfest and FFW Ennis this year.I plan on dethroning the F-150 club guys. :tu:

[Silver_2000]

Hey Doug ..being the webmaster/photomaster for TALON and other sites I guess having a do all camera like yours or the one you want comes in handy..especially when you can use it to shoot me accepting carshow trophies again at Lfest and FFW Ennis this year.I plan on dethroning the F-150 club guys. :tu:
I have been taking pictures on and off for a LONG time .. I was Photog editor for Newspaper/yearbook in HS and was Photog in college as well.. THat was WAY before digital . I bought 100 foot rolls of TriX pan black and white film - Rolled my own 40 exposure rolls of 35mm film and then developed and printed them as well. Things have gotten a lot easier...

For you first digital camera get a decent one you can afford that is easy to use .. check out the review sites posted here. The camera upgrade I want is so that ANY picture I take i can crop it enough so that the version you see on the web is exactly what I had in mind when I shot it no matter how far away the subject was....

Doug

[Sandman]

I have been taking pictures on and off for a LONG time .. I was Photog editor for Newspaper/yearbook in HS and was Photog in college as well.. THat was WAY before digital . I bought 100 foot rolls of TriX pan black and white film - Rolled my own 40 exposure rolls of 35mm film and then developed and printed them as well. Things have gotten a lot easier...

For you first digital camera get a decent one you can afford that is easy to use .. check out the review sites posted here. The camera upgrade I want is so that ANY picture I take i can crop it enough so that the version you see on the web is exactly what I had in mind when I shot it no matter how far away the subject was....

Doug
Well, my Digital Rebel is a 6 MP camera and it takes some pretty nice shots, especially at the high resolution settings. But you don't need me to tell you that you'll always be able to crop to a point that section in the crop doesn't have enough resolution to be clear. But hey, I guess we could fall back on this technique :bows http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/gigapixel.htm.:bows I wonder how long it will be before they develop a GigaPixel camera for consumers...

[Silver_2000]

Well, my Digital Rebel is a 6 MP camera and it takes some pretty nice shots, especially at the high resolution settings. But you don't need me to tell you that you'll always be able to crop to a point that section in the crop doesn't have enough resolution to be clear. But hey, I guess we could fall back on this technique :bows http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/gigapixel.htm.:bows I wonder how long it will be before they develop a GigaPixel camera for consumers...
Compared to my 2mp wonder I have now its a BIG improvement... I can barely crop a shot to straighten it and still make a decent print

Doug

[Sandman]

Compared to my 2mp wonder I have now its a BIG improvement... I can barely crop a shot to straighten it and still make a decent print

Doug
Check these out for a comparison... http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/300d_samples.html. Those are in the highest jpg setting. It also has a RAW setting.

Andy

[George G.]

Be sure to look out for shutter lag. On the Stevedigicam site it will talk about that and he'll give is opinion. The less the better. some cams seem like forever to take the pic from when you press the button.

[Silver_2000]

Be sure to look out for shutter lag. On the Stevedigicam site it will talk about that and he'll give is opinion. The less the better. some cams seem like forever to take the pic from when you press the button.
No doubt - great point - For the pictures I take the way I take them shutter lag would be a show stopper... The Olympus I have now UZ-2100 takes a picture instantly. As long as you are already autofocused.... Thats the standard I am comparing to - I can get my current camera refurbed for about 125 and plan to do that to keep as a backup.

Doug

[TP Derrick D]

Are you sure? I used to have a Mavica CD-200 - it wrote to mini-CDRs, but also to mini-CDRWs. I always used to use CDRs though, because they are cheap, and its already burned to CD - take it out and put it in any computer with a CDROM drive.

Anyways, your comment just had me wondering...
Hey guys, Been out checking out cameras for a couple hrs. today .Frys,Circuit City & Best Buy. Saw the Sony Mavica CD-400 @ Fry's (Arlington)for $399 red tag price. Several guys that was also looking to buy that camera or the next model up, said that it was a very good price for that camera.It use the mini disk no stick.First time I ever saw that. I think they bought one.Comments? Went to CC and a salesman there said Sony don't make that CD-400 camera any longer. Not sure he knew what he was talking about.I also saw theFuji Fine Pix S3000 @ BB for $299 and the same price @ CC. BB had a FujiFine Pix S5000 for $399.99 . CC did't carry that one and Fry's had neither of them. Kind of liked that S3000 & S5000. On a couple of the responding threads there was links to MP Superstore & Steve's DigiCams.I checked them out and Steves had the Fuji S5000 for $296.99,but not sure if the experts here think its a good camera or not. Keep in mind I'm only wanting it for novice picture taking(family gatherings, Car/truck events,user friendly a must) I also looked at Minolta Z1 ,it was $399.99 and had 3.2 mp w/ 10x zoom. The S5000 has 10x zoom also. There were others in the Sony line,P-52 $229, P-72 $269,P-8 $299, & P92 $329, My bro-in-law has one of those models that he used at Lfest, I'm just not feeling those.Maybe I'm just use to the big 35mm looking ones. For you big ballers,the Sony F717 was @ Fry's for $700 and @ BB for $700 on sale ($100 off) I'm still looking and learning. Thanks for all the suggestions & links .Waiting now to make up my mind and hear what comes back after this. Steve, you live a few miles from me, how much for camera & computer lessons? :)

[Ken]

Those cameras sound a little pricey.

Check out the Canon line, the A70 is 3.2 MP for about $300 and the A80 is 4 MP for $100 more. They both get great reviews. Best Buy or you'll save 30-50 online.

Watch out on those Fuji's the megapixel claims are misleading. The "enhancing" they do aren't worth the tradeoff.
Ken

[TP Derrick D]

Those cameras sound a little pricey.

Check out the Canon line, the A70 is 3.2 MP for about $300 and the A80 is 4 MP for $100 more. They both get great reviews. Best Buy or you'll save 30-50 online.

Watch out on those Fuji's the megapixel claims are misleading. The "enhancing" they do aren't worth the tradeoff.
Ken
Thanks for the feedback, go to show what I know. I thought those were good prices. I'll check out the Canon line. Decisions,Decisions...