Digital Cameras

Which one do I buy?

Requirements:
4 megapixels
Decent optical zoom
Even the brain dead could use it
Should have video
Little lag time between shutter click and exposure

Thanks

Item Number E25094

Fuji 4MP 3x Zoom Digital Camera w/ Movie Mode &Picture Cradle

Retail Value $395.00
QVC Price $218.50
Introductory Price $198.60
Shipping and Handling $7.22
Save! Buy two or more and save on S & H. Click here for details.
Easy Pay 3 Installments of $66.20, plus Tax and Shipping/Handling.

Advance orders ship 12/04/04.

Go digital! Great for beginners, this Fuji digital camera offers 4.0 megapixels to capture all your shots in crisp, clear color. A 3X optical and a 1.7X digital zoom combine to bring you up-close-and-personal to your subject. Movie mode lets you record short silent films. And with a picture cradle and a 16MB xD card, sharing your work is easy as creating it.

Measures approximately 4"L x 2-1/2"W x 1-3/4"D.

but you can also get there from qvc.com. just type the item number e25094 in the search box.

I order from them all the time and they have very good products and a 30 day return guarantee.

Nice camera. Took these pics recently:

Me like...

But seriously, I own an Olympus/ camedia c-5000, five mega-pixels, with a 3X optical zoom, and it's extremely fool proof, with a good range of advanced features.

Cost a pretty penny though, $469 at B.J.s.

The larger the lens the better

Glass lens, not plastic - plastic/acrylic discolors over time

5x optical or greater, anything less is not worthwhile

Get 5 megapixels if you can; the more the merrier.

Even if it has video capability, it's limited to 15FPS. A digital camcorder with 30FPS is preferable.

Lag time when picture is written to media is more important

Agreed.

One of the advantages of having more mega-pixels is, you can fit more pictures on the memory card just by lowering the resolution...and they still come out great. My Olympus came with a 32MB card, and I've never felt the need to buy a larger card, (though I've often wanted to, like when I'm taking lots of pictures) I can usually get about 66 pictures at a time, sometimes less if I feel compelled to take better quality pics.

detail.

And with 5MP, anything above 11x14" is going to show pixelization. :-(

http://www.dpreview.com

Dr Batsen D Belfry

Here's another good review site.
This list might help you narrow your choices,
note that "Cameras are not listed in order of preference"
http://www.steves-digicams.com/best_cameras.html

5 megapixels but otherwise fits your requirements. Also, you might want to visit http://www.dcviews.com/ for more info. Click on "cameras" button on the left for a information on the different makes.

We wavered back and forth between it and the Fuji Finepix for a while and ultimately chose the Olympus because hubby got a good deal on it online, and we'd already been using an older Olympus Camedia model and figured the interface would be similar (it is), and we both liked the older one.

The 5060 takes great pictures, we both like it a lot, and it does digital video.

Meets all your requirements. They had it on sale a few months ago - $99 after the mail-in rebate.

And when I bought the largest memory card I could afford, it can take between 500 and 800 photos before I have to download. The Princess and I took over 150 pictures on our trip to Texas, and had room in the camera to spare.

I have the A75, which is awesome at 3.2 megapixels. I hear the A80 is great too, for a 4megapixel camera

I got the A80 a few months ago and am in love with it...

I got it as an early X mas gift, and I love it!

4 megapixels. I've looked and they are more than that for 4MP
in the stores.

My elderly parents have one. It takes awesome pictures, and well, if you really mean one that even the 'braindead can use' the fact my parents can operate it, is proof of that quality.
I own a Fuji and it doesn't take anywhere near the quality of photos my parent's camera does, plus its no where near as user friendly when setting different exposure options, whereas the Kodak is a simple dial system with pictures of the different picture scenarios (like night, sport, landscape, very sunny, etc).

try to find one that comes with a battery recharger. Digital camera batteries can be expensive and they drain quickly (especially if you're using the video features).

Or you could always buy a recharger separately, and thank me later.

Then saw the same thing for $20 at Wal-Mart.

And when we're not using them in the camera, the batteries work great in my beard trimmer.

I just got one on a whim. Even though I'm a film loyalist, I have to say this camera is wonderful. The picture quality is excellent, 5 megapixels, and yes, the brain-dead can use it. If you want more, it's got it, but if you want to point and shoot, it's all ready to go.

The plus: the Mavica records to 8mm discs, and the camera comes with a CD adapter. Shoot the pics, snap the disk into the adapter, and load straight to your computer. You can still plug the camera in if you wish, but you don't have to.

Mavica has video, lag time is almost non-existant, but the higher the resolution you use, the longer "save" time.

Optical zoom isn't a concern with 5 megapixels... you can zoom it all you want once you upload to the computer.

We are film people, wife has a couple of nice Nikon's, and a couple of others (Rico? Lacia? was brought back from Nam- and photos from it LOOK like 'nam press photos) I am not the camera guy :(

Anyway, we want/need something to use for web posting- photos of the house progress for family and mostly to sell some things on E-bay. This would never be used for "good" photos, if we wanted good + digital, the D70 Nikon would be the pick so our current lends would work, but $1000 is more than digital is worth to us right now.

So how may mega pixels do we need? 3.2 enough for things to look good on a web sight? E-bay sales will mostly be glass wear. IF it did work to photo my copper work, that would be a plus, but never a hurry on that so film to CD is working. I make hand hammered copper lights, and vases and stuff.


David

256 mb memory stick.

Haven't finished reading the manual yet so I still haven't used it.

See:

http://ww1.onecall.com/PID_24966.htm#

Seem to be a lot of fellow shutter bugs around here.

Maybe we should start a photography group? ;)

Thanks all. It looks like there are as many opinions as cameras, which is fine, but doesn't exactly make the decision making any easier.

I took a look at a couple of cameras at Ritz (one of their stores), and, of course, they're trying to sell me what's in stock. I'm going to check out one of the locally owned stores tomorrow (too damn wet outside at the moment).

In any case, I think it's coming down to three cameras:

Nikon CoolPix 4800
Canon A80 (or maybe the A85)
KonicaMinolta Dimage Z2

I like the last one on the list because of the 8.3 optical zoom. The viewfinder image is grainy, but I can live with that as long as the final image is okay. Ergonomically, it's a size that's a bit more manageable than the others that are on the market.

Now I have a couple more questions.
What do you think about the add-on repair/replacement policies that the shops try to sell you. My feeling is that it's a rip-off, and I almost never get them. At the same time, I got such a plan at Staples, and they replaced the printer no questions asked (it was after the warranty period but within the plan period). Any thoughts?
I'd kind of like to buy locally, even if not from a locally owned store. I have no trouble buying clothes and such on line, but I'm kind of inclined to buy electronics from humans. what think?

Thanks again. Will check in again later.

It's 4 megapixels, has 8.3x zoom, 15 scene modes, and is easy to use.

It does have video capability, but I think it's very short. I haven't played around with it yet. I just replaced my outdated Sony Mavica.

http://www.olympusamerica.com/oai_pressDetails.asp?pressNo=201

I bought my son a Kodak 3.1 for this christmas I think he'll be happy with it. (he isn't online so I'm safe revealing that heh)

on edit. inexpensive camera. (kodak) uses rechargeable AA's. purchase price $149.00
Not a bad starter camera.

Sony DSC-V1. 5 Megapixel camera with Zeiss lenses; can even take pictures in total darkness using infrared. On the downside, it is too small to handle well.

Olympus C-765 Only four Megapixels (but the lens is more important than the pixels anyway); this one has a 10x Optic Zoom.

Olympus C-770: basically a C-765 with a metal casing and a few added features.

Minolta Z3: Minolta has a bad name, but automatic image stabilization is an important feature in a 12x zoom camera.

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

Re the Z3, that's pretty much the one reason I'm wavering on the Z2 - no image stabilization, and we would be doing enough zoom action photos to make that a problem. That said, the reviews said that's more of a problem in low light conditions and can be dealt with using a monopod or tripod. So. . . I'm still wavering.

I'll check the Olympus.

One of the reviews I read noted that 5 megapixels is in something of a no-man's land. It's really more than you need for hobby work or putting images on the internet, but less than you really need for professional, high-res work. Which is why I'm keeping at the 4 megapixel range or the low price end of the 5 mp.

Or I don't know what I'm doing and will end up flipping a coin.

A Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ3.

It has only 3 megapixels, but I can live with that.
On the plus side, it comes with a 12x Leica Zoom (far better than the Minolta ) and Image Stabilization. I'd have taken the FZ15, sadly that one is not available on the European Market.


:hi:

since I was shooting with film cameras. Now that I graduated to digital, I own two Canons: A Powershot S50 compact camera and a 10D SLR and I couldn't be happier.
Canon has been on the cutting edge of digital cameras for years, always improving the technology. And they offer a wide range of camera sizes and prices. You won't go wrong with a Canon.

I thought you all might like to know that DU now has a Photography Group.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=280

It was kind of a pet project of mine for a few days, hence my mysterious post 23. in this thread.

Just thought you might like to know.