Best cheap-ish digicam

[CaptainChops]

I usually don't post... Mostly just read the forums. But I think I've got something that's worth talking about.

I'm looking to get a digital camera to get some pics of the family at Christmas and vacations and all that that's coming up. I'd like to spend somewhere around $200-$300. There are so many choices out there that I don't even know where to start.

I've had lots of luck with Canon's products... I'd love to go out and buy a digital rebel, but that's a bit out of my price range. Any other ideas/suggestions?

Thanks AO!

[fire1811]

just bought this for the old lady for christmas
played with it a little today, nice camera

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Kj2VpSW...310&I=280PSA75


i have the 300D(digital rebel) its a great camera.
but she says it to confusing for her
lol

[fire1811]

also a good rule of thumb for digital cameras is stick with people that have made cameras for a long time. they use there own parts and optics.

[fire1811]

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/a75.html

a good review

if you search google there are tons of reviews on it.

[CaptainChops]

fire1811 > joo

thanks alot, man. i'll take a look at one of those this weekend.

i see that it comes with a 32 mb compact flash card... i'm new to the whole digital thing... am i going to need more space than that?

wow, cool... it has a water proof case available for it... that could be fun


**edit to ask another question- what about the powershot A95... i think that it's basically the same thing except more megapixels...?

http://www.dealtime.com/dt-app/GS/PartnerId-2681/BEFID-7185/Keyword-Canon%20Powershot_A95/IsPrd-0/LinkinId-2072595/

[i_baked_cookies]

olympus makes great cameras, imo

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051826106716&skuId=5351111&productCategoryId=pcmcat44100050010&type=product

[Bluestrike_2]

It depends. With the prices of today's storage media, it's worth it to buy a little extra. However, don't think that should mean you should waste every shot. Like with film, compose properly, and remember that volume does not equal quality.

Good luck and I'd like to help you out a bit more tommorrow.

[tony3]

Olympus makes awesome digicam in the low price range. We have owned a sony, olympus and canon. Olympus is simpler, and just an overall better camera.

[FragTek]

Just a word of advice... stay away from Sony in the digicam department. I've owned two high dollar Sony's now and i'm not impressed with either of them. They take vibrant pictures outdoors with lots of sunlight, but when there's a lack of lighting outside, or your shooting inside, be prepared for the most craptastic pictures you could ever imagine.

Most of the pictures I take are of products I am trying to sell on ebay or on my homepage which means lots of indoor dim light shooting. The Sony just doesnt cut it for me.

A few buddies of mine have Cannon's, Nikon's, and Fuji's. All of which take outstanding photo's indoor and out, no matter what kind of lighting situation.

Just my $.02.

[CaptainChops]

yeah i've heard from quite a few sources that Sony's stuff can be pretty craptacular.

another question-

How much difference in image quality am I going to see in a 3 mp camera comared to a 5?

[fire1811]

about your card question you usually get about one picture per mb on max settings. so thats only 32 pics. but most dont need max settings. on medium normal you will get about 108 pictures. now thats a lot of pictures and the quality is pretty good.

I personally am only getting here the card that comes with it. if she needs another one i will buy it later.

on my digital rebal i have a 1 gig card and get about 700 pictures on medium fine setting

[Bluestrike_2]

Thats not how it works.

Both will look the same(except for color, etc.) at a 4x6. However, the 6 megapixel unit will allow you to print larger.

Don't think that megapixels are everything. They're not. It's really the only thing that's truly measurable, and can be blasted across by the marketing types.

Look for good quality optics, a good dynamic range, a unit with a very short shutter lag, and a quick startup time. Good luck!

Also, stick to Canon, Nikon, Olympus, and Rollei makes a point and shoot.

Actually, I'd go with the Rollei if I could afford it....

[CaptainChops]

so... ok... at a 4x6, both a 3mp and a 5 will look essentially the same? at what point do you start seeing differences? lik, let's say that i wanted to print 8x10's... would it matter?

[scarpa43]

If you are going to print pictures the limiting factor may be your printer. Some printers may not print to the level of clarity that you will want in a picture.

Concerning the MP capability of the camera, I went with 3.2 because I was told that was good enought for 8x10's, definatly good enough for 5x7's. I figured that my printer does not take paper bigger that 8.5x11 so why pay extra for a camera when I will not utilize it to its fullest.

[doc_Zox]

look into ebaying a 2 year old, nikon 1000 dollar camera for 150 bucks