Help with Digital Camera

Repat · Nov 29, 2004

Hey, everyone!! I want to know, too, because this is what I have decided to buy for myself for Christmas!

palesarah · Nov 29, 2004

my computer geek hubby chose a Sony cybershot for our first digital camera 4 years ago, and we've stuck with the Sony cameras since. Excellent picture quality! (If you want to see some pictures that were taken with Sony cameras you can check oyt my photo site http://www.pbase.com/palesarah :) )

I've heard excellent things about the Olympus digital cameras too. http://www.dpreview.com has good reviews of pretty much all digital cameras on the market.

stbernardclub · Nov 29, 2004

my brother came over one xmas with a Sony Mavica. I got a slighly newer version for around 300.00, when he got his it was 800.00. It is a great digital. You can view your pics in the window and delete, copy disc's, change any type of lighting, numerous settings and easy to use....good luck:)

RNKPCE · Nov 29, 2004

Go to dpreview.com and they have camera ratings as well as you can enter what things you want in a digital camera, example how many megapixels, what size zoom(don't even consider a camera based on digital zoom, only optical), what size camera, what kind of media format it writes to(compact flash, sdcard,) and it will list cameras that meet your criteria. Their forum is excellent. There are many different ones to visit and the people are really helpful.

I haven't used my film camera in over 2 years and doubt I ever will again. My first camera was a kodak it cost 1K 5 years ago was quite large and was 2mp, but took awesome pictures. My current camera is a canon s40, it is 2 years old. I don't think the pictures are quite as good as the canon, but because the camera is a lot smaller I think there is more camera shake, which causes blurring. Prices have dropped dramatically and you don't have to pay big dollars for good quality. Should be able to get a nice camera in the $200-$250 range especially if you are a good shopper. Always looking for my next camera.

ktwlpn, LPN · Nov 29, 2004

after you check the ratings of the brands and determine which bells and whistles you want on your camera go to Overstock.com....I just got one for my sister for Christmas...I LOVE the Big "O"......

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Nov 29, 2004

It really comes down to how much one wants to spend. When you see ads and read reviews it comes down to Megapixals- ie picture quality/detail. For example a 1MP cameras photos are going to look much more grainy than a 3MP's, where as a 5MP will be sharper and clearer than the 3MP's.

I would stick with a brand you are familure with and get as high a Megapixal as one can get in ones price range. Right now 3MP is the low price end and a 5MP is about $300. A good place to check prices is pricewatch.com.

rj:rolleyes:

beckymcrn · Nov 29, 2004

Thank you I appriciate everyone's help.

please forgive me I know minimal about computer stuff.

Lets see I want to spend about 200-300 dollars. I do not know anything about megapixels. What I actually want is a camera that will take good pictures and last.

I actually have a minolta camera (not digital, regular camera) I have had it for 20 years!!!!! And it still takes great pictures!!!!!

Tearless Tom · Nov 29, 2004

At present I have a full time day job, and I work as a Part Time Pro Photographer (used to be full time) in my spare time between the day job and night/nursing school.

Needless to say not a lot of time left for it as it used to be. LOL

Giving you good advice while not knowing what type of photography your kids like is like trying to catch all the fish in the sea. Not going to happen!

But, I will make a effort.

For instance I bought my 1st DSLR about 3 years ago a 3 MP. Paid $3000.00 for it. Today if it were still in production it would sale for about $800.00, Compact Flash Cards sold for about $1.00 per megabyte, Now they sale for $0.08 per megabyte. I bought the second generation of the same camera a few months ago a 6MP used with a lens I paid 1/2 of what I paid for the 1st.

I said that to say this, The prices are falling faster than Humpty Dumpty!

Also what every you buy will be out dated in 6 months or less. However being outdated does not mean not good. the photo quality will still be just as good just less bells and whistles.

The question that you need to ask yourself are: What type of photography do they like to do?

Are they point and shoot people or do the get into the ART of photography in a serious way?

Is this something that will be carried in a purse? If so does she wear a lot of make up? (that stuff tends to get everywhere, especially the powders)

Or in its own case or belt or neck strap. How portable do you want?

Are they out door or indoor types? How rugged does it need to be?

(Olympus makes a Stylus that is Water Resistant and closes into a nice little self contain case. Last I looked they sold for around $300.

If they are into the ART of photography and may want to expand on the cameras abilities look for one that has a HOT SHOE and or a PC connections. (that is an external way to plug in a auxiliary flash.)

How big of prints do you want to get? MP (mega pixels) are important but they are not absolute determination of quality. The quality of the pixel is more important than the number of pixels.

With my 1st DSLR which was a 3.1 MP I've made prints up to 30x40 inches.

Most point and shoot are now in the 3-6MP range with some in the 8MP range. However there is no guarantee that the 8MP will give you better images than the 5 or 6MP. Actually from what I have read the 8MP seem to have a lot of noise in the images. (You can only push physics so far before failure)

I have an Olympus 5050 ( obsolete) that I bought to take Scuba Diving and I get some awesome photos from it. it is a 5MP and sharp as a tack. Very rugged too.

I would look for a camera that used Compact Flash myself rather than the proprietary types of memory. Cheaper and easier to come by.

Batteries are import as well. Rechargable AA's for me, again cheaper than the proprietary ones.

Personally I would recommend a camera about 5-6 MP, with a hot shoe, and / or external flash capabilities, PC plug if possible but this is usually only found in higher end camera.

One that can shoot in full manual mode as well as the automatic modes. in case they want to expand their talents. and uses AA batteries, and Compact Flash memory.

Oh and Zoom...Optical Zoom is important. Digital zoom is a waste of money.

Also Glass lenses are better than plastic but also cost more.

All the rest is just fluff!

Hope this helps a little.

Tom

PS: WWW.DPREVIEW.COM is an awsome site for information and reviews. Worth a look. Gotta get back to my MedSurg studies.

beckymcrn · Nov 29, 2004

The question that you need to ask yourself are: What type of photography do they like to do?
Are they point and shoot people or do the get into the ART of photography in a serious way?
Is this something that will be carried in a purse? If so does she wear a lot of make up? (that stuff tends to get everywhere, especially the powders)
Or in its own case or belt or neck strap. How portable do you want?
Are they out door or indoor types? How rugged does it need to be?
Tom
PS: WWW.DPREVIEW.COM is an awsome site for information and reviews. Worth a look. Gotta get back to my MedSurg studies.

Ok Tom, I will answer your questions.

No they are not serious photographers. Just point and shoot people. My daughter carries a very small purse so she will not be carring the camera in her purse. I would probally buy a case for her. They are both pretty much out door people.

By the way I did bookmark the web site for my husband to check out too.

Thank you

Becky

eak16 · Nov 29, 2004

Hi- my parents got me a digital camera for nursing school graduation- a Nikon coolpix 3200- and it has been just great. I am NOT a techie at all, but figured it out no problem. It takes great pictures and is tiny and lightweight. They run about $200. I am acually returning the favor to my parents and buying them the same model camera for Christmas!

nursepearl · Nov 29, 2004

I have a samsung 430. I use it all the time! The quality of print is outstanding. I chose the samsung but it can use two different kinds of memory. One being secure digital (SD), which i already use for my palm piolet and so i didnt have to buy more for my digital camera. It is also capable of taking short videos which was great on vacations for capturing certain things that the camera would not....such as running waterfalls and jumping off cliffs, which we also got pictures of but the video gives you the complete feeling. I think i paid $170 and thats with two year warrenty. It is a 4MP and yes the digital zoom isnt worth a dang!

Good luck with your purchase!

Pearl :)