What Digital Camera Do You Think I Should Buy???

[NeoNSX]

Ok... everyone groans - yet another "digital camera" thread.

I'm looking to purchase a digital camera, and i've done all my homework on reviews, specs, etc., but nothing really stands out; they all seem to have balanced pro's and con's, which i why i'm resorting to personal recommendations.

I want something I can use on NSX drives so it needs to be SUPERB quality. Also needs a decent flash for indoor shots. i'll basically want 1600x1200 wallpapers so I don't need a super-mega-100+ megapixel camera.


<IMG SRC="http://www.sonystyle.com.au/objects/200x133/dscp73s.jpg">I've looked at Sony's Cybershot DSCP73S 4MPixel, which is nice. I love Sony equipment, the Memory stick is compatible with my Handycam, and the battery is advertised as being long-lasting. (is that true?)

<IMG SRC="http://www.canon.com.au/images/products/A80%20front.jpg">I've had my eye on a Canon A85 because i love Canon equipment. I love the quality build with a good hand-grip, but Compact Flash cards are pretty big.

<IMG SRC="http://www.canon.com.au/images/products/IXUS%20II%20s%20front.jpg"> Finally, there's a smaller Canon IXUS IIs, which has two BIG pluses - it is EXTREMELY small, and takes SD cards (compatible with my palm pilot!) But i'm suspicious the aperture isn't as good as other cameras.


If anyone can give some suggestions, opinions and recommendations, it would be greatly appreciated. The future of my NSX photos depends on it.

 

[FuryNSX]

I was always impressed by the richness of color in Sony digital pics. Image quality was good too. The fact that you're already using Memory Sticks already might be enough to seal the deal.

I am not familiar first hand with Canon compact digital cameras, but my impression from others is that they are top notch also.

-Randy

 

[Motegi]

I have two Canon Digital Elphs (IXUS) and love their compact size for everyday use. They easily slip into my pockets and I also will carry them using a metal neck strap. They are perfect for casual photos and snapshots. The photo quality is also relatively good (although the optical zoom could be better). You may also want to consider the Olympus and Pentax compacts. I have a Sony digital which I really am not too fond of due to image quality and now mechanical problems.

For more serious photos I use my Fuji S7000. It's a "prosumer" model and is quite a bit bulkier than the compact point-and-shoot Elph (IXUS). However the image quality and variety of manual adjustments make it much more versatile. I had been tossed up last year between the Fuji and the Canon Digital Rebel but chose the Fuji b/c of a pricing error at staples.com online store whereby I saved over $300!!!

One thing you may want to consider is the cost of the digital media. Compact flash is extremely cheap and SD and MemoryStick cost a bit more. Get plenty of media cards. I prefer to buy multiple medium capacity cards rather than a single large card due to cost, memory speed, and having had cards malfunction/quit working (If you use them enough, it WILL happen. IMO, it is better to lose just a few images than all of your photos at once).

 

[coolnsx]

Neo, I have that Sony camera and like it very much. The quality of the color is quite good and I very much like the memory stick.

 

[Inexcess]

If you want the best side by side reviews and information go to

www.dpreview.com

for the skinny on most if not all of the cameras.

My understanding at this point is that any 4mp or greater camera brought out in the last year or so are the same in image quality. Most of the deciding factors are personal issues with size, buttons, useablility etc.

I for example have a Canon SD10 that is absolutely tiny and it takes fabulous "snapshot" pictures as good as my DSLR the Canon 10D. But the 10D can handle all the abnormal super wide angle, long telephoto, dim light, flash situations much better than the SD10. So it depends on the difficulities of the shooting situation

For normal shots in daylight all the current crop of digital cameras produce great results especially if you are only using it for computer screen display.

Good luck on your search.

 

[Hiroshima]

I would do the A85. I have the A80 and love it. Wish I had gotten a G5 instead but that is OK. I like the A series better than the IXUS because it offers more adjustablility in shooting modes. I like to take night pictures and with a simple point and shoot they just don't come out that well, you need to be able to set the camera to shutter priority in order to get a decent pic.

I have seen the Fuji Finepix 7000 and it is OK. I have read (on dpreview.com) that it does not have quite the picture quality of others in its pricerange. I think I would rather have a Nikon or a Canon product over a Fuji one. My opinion only.

I have never been that fond of Sony cameras. Even their upper line models w/ the Zeiss lense. Sony makes camcorders, walkmans, and TV's. I think a good camera is one that is made by a company that makes lenses. Canon, Nikon, etc. I have spoken to quite a few camera guys and they think the same. I have seen some of the Sony's and their PQ is good, but not great. However those were from cameras that were a few generations before the one you are looking at. (My opinion only. Don't want to start a flame war)

One of the other big plusses of the A85 is the ability to use a lens adapter. Look at :

http://www.lensmateonline.com/A80adapter.htm

There you can find a bunch of adapters and lenses that will take this camera well beyond what either of the other two cameras can. The cheap plastic one that Canon sources is overpriced (the one on the link is $19 and is aluminum and matches the finish of the camear perfectly. The one from canon is cheap plastic and is black.) Check out some of their samples. It will make you want the A85 even more.

PM me your email address if you want some samples of what some full res pics from an A80 will do. The A85 should be better but it will give you an idea.

HTH.

Jeff

 

[Enzo]

Hi Neo,

Take a look at the Canon Powershot S1 IS, I bought one 3 days ago (just before our NSX meeting ) and I am very happy with my first tests.

Only 3 mio pixels (which is sufficient for me) but a 10x optical zoom with an image stabilizer and 640x480 movie mode at 30 frames per second.

Regards,

 

[ccns23]

I recenty bought a Kodak DXC6000 (not sure if this is the exact model type) but is the one that comes with the printer dock. Only a 3.2 megapix camera, but I am pleasantly suprised with the picture quality. The build quality doesn't seem as solid as a sony, but we haven't had any issues. Coupled with the fact that it came with a printer dock for about $300, it was a great deal.

 

[NetViper]

Personally, the only thing I do not like about my Canon S50 is the optical Zoom. If I were to get another one, I would get at least 8x optical zoom. To really capture good shots of the NSX in action, the standard 3x optical will not be good enough. It also needs to have a very fast write speed so when you click, it shoots. It is very hard to take action shots with a lot of lower-end cameras. The SLR are best for that from what I read. My S50 is so-so.

I would suggest:
1) at least 5 MP
2) 8-10 optical Zoom
3) fast write speed when taking shots.

Of course, size might be an issue with the higher optical zoom cameras.

 

[RSO 34]

My personal preference has been for Canon equipment but with the introduction of megapixel consumer digital cameras I switched to Nikon Coolpix until Canon made an "affordable" digital SLR (I use the D60). Naturally, after having 5 other Canon film SLRs before going virtually exclusively to digital I am biased, especially because I have a set of Canon lenses, including L series, that I am loathe to give up if switching to a Nikon digital SLR.

I would not be so concerned with the size of CF cards which are still very small but very sturdy. I would not want to go with the "cheaper per meg" microdrives because of potential problems with errors if they are dropped. However, I do use SD cards in an MP3 player and I worry more about losing them because of their miniscule size. I generally carry at least 8 CF cards in my bag at all times and can't ever think of a time that I wished I would have used SD cards.

You also have to consider the "future" of digital memory and the likelihood that your storage format will continue to exist. My prediction is that your camera will fail long before the cessation of any particular memory format but I would venture to say that the CF card is most likely to prevail for the forseeable future.

Also, remember the memory stick is proprietary to Sony and, although I am sure you are too young to remember, Sony once made a very superior video machine using the Beta format but that disappeared when everyone else chose to go VHS.

The bottom line is get the most camera for your budget because your needs may change from wallpaper size photos to larger prints and I always would go with more megapixels first for the most flexibility.

 

[NeoNSX]

BIG THANKS to the guys who have replied... really appreciate it. I've been checking out info on all the camera's you've been recommending. But i have to say I'm no closer to making a decision. Thanks to <B>Enzo</B> now i want TWO digital cameras - the Powershot S1 IS and a smaller pocketsized camera. Thanks <B>Enzo</B> for making me want to spend more money.

I already have a Canon SLR with an IS lens... and i love my Image Stabilizer.

But while cameras are going 10x optical, i actually would prefer a wider-angle lens. I shoot twice as many wide-angle shots than telephoto shots.


Gotta go... i'm reading some info on cameras at the moment, plus i need to post photos of the sydney drive. Will probably post more questions later.

 

[Enzo]

Thanks to <B>Enzo</B> now i want TWO digital cameras - the Powershot S1 IS and a smaller pocketsized camera. Thanks <B>Enzo</B> for making me want to spend more money.

Hey Neo, I also have a Minolta Dimage XT as a pocketsized camera !

 

[NeoNSX]

No more Enzo!!! Please... i can't <B>afford</B> to listen to you anymore! lol

 

[AndyH]

I like Sony W1.

 

[tochigidream]

Check out digitallydiscovered.com when it comes time to buy. I bought my Kodak DX6490 4MP 10X optical zoom camera from them. It's great. Check out my gallery to see the images I've captured with it. Kodak has their "color science chip," which makes colors very vibrant. Since you don't care too much about the zoom feature, you will save some serious money with a high MP, low zoom camera.

Dave