| X-UP-NORTH |
Hi guys, need help on purchasing a good digital camera so I can start posting pics of some of the work that has been done on the X lately, also my third son is due in about 3 weeks,so I figured I better get a camera soon.
So far the Canon power shot A70 with 3.2 MP($400 cdn) is at the top of my list. Does anyone have this model? Any other recommendations would be greatly appreciated. |
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| Warzau |
| Nikon any of the coolpix would suit you. IMHO Nikons have the best optics. |
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| evoge |
| After reading the cnet.com reviews and some others, I decided on getting the A70, too, because of the photo control features, speed, and reported picture quality. Unfortunately, no stores have them in stock and my super online price of US$268 from PCMall has been backordered into oblivion. Circuit City and CompUSA say they have them for $299 online (but not in stock at the stores) and I'm about ready to cancel my original order and try the big retailers online. For a 3mp intermediate/advanced amateur camera, the A70 seemed to have the least number of tradeoffs and it was released fairly recently. |
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| nwaring |
I find myself using Amazon.com a lot for reviews. Do a search on whatever product and go into the Customer review link. All the posts are from people who have bought the product. Right now there are 59 posting by people for the A70.
Good luck
BTW, I bought a Nikon Coolpix 4300 right before Christmas last year and have been very happy with it. It’s been out over a year and the price is coming down. I just saw one site that has it for $315, which is about $100 less than I paid.
Niles:) |
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| delphinus |
I have an Olympus C-700 that I have been very happy with. I would gladly buy the newer model if I were in the market... the C-730 I believe. The optical zoom is great (on mine it is 10x, but it might only be 8x on the C-730) and that is MUCH better than any digital zoom. Of course, it is unlikely that you will use the zoom much if you are only taking pictures of the MDX. :) But I take mine hiking, and I have some decent pictures of animals that I would not have been able to take without the zoom.
I would search Google for Steve's Digicam review website. It's very useful. |
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| MonsterDX |
here is another web site
www.dcresource.com
in this one there will be another one called "Steve's digicams". This one along with imaging-resource will provide good info |
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| laborlitigator |
| Coolpix 3100. . . |
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| Blackura |
I have the Olympus C-740, one of several successors to the excellent C-700 line (C-720, C-730, C-740, C-750). The 740 I have is the 3.2 megapixel version with a 10x optical zoom and an ED lens. I paid $499, but the price will no doubt be discounted a bit with time, and then there will be new models. The C-750 is a 4 megapixel, I think, and is a bit more expensive ($599?). So far, I'd have to say that I'm a happy camper and I'd buy one again. Good luck!
quote:
Originally posted by delphinus
I have an Olympus C-700 that I have been very happy with. I would gladly buy the newer model if I were in the market... the C-730 I believe. The optical zoom is great (on mine it is 10x, but it might only be 8x on the C-730) and that is MUCH better than any digital zoom. Of course, it is unlikely that you will use the zoom much if you are only taking pictures of the MDX. :) But I take mine hiking, and I have some decent pictures of animals that I would not have been able to take without the zoom.
I would search Google for Steve's Digicam review website. It's very useful.
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| azfansinnc |
I've got a Canon G3. 4MP and 4X optical zoom. Prices are getting alot more reasonable of late. I highly recommend it.
This thing is loaded with features and takes awesome pics. The battery is from a digital camcorder and lasts several hundered pics before charging. I also use a 1GB Microdrive. 500 pics at full resolution.:eek: |
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| Blackura |
| Before I bought my Olympus C-740, I did lots of reading up on these and the Canon G3 got nothing but spectacular reviews. It was on my short list, and should probably be on yours too. |
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| X-UP-NORTH |
| Thanks for the help everyone. I will probably get the Canon, will post some pics soon. :2: |
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| JL889 |
| I have 4 Nikon Coolpix 2000 For sale. They are great beginer cameras. They have many features and take compact flas cards. I am willing to sell it for $210 Shipped. The camera is 2.1 megapixek so it takes quality photos. Lemmie know if you are intrested. |
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| Skewbeedeaux |
I'm happy with my Nikon Coolpix 990. Wife has Kodak LS443 which IMO is not as good as the Nikon, but docking station and ease of picture transfer/charging is a plus.
Here a review site that was helpful:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/hardware_reviews.html |
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| cardingtr |
quote:
Originally posted by evoge
After reading the cnet.com reviews and some others, I decided on getting the A70, too, because of the photo control features, speed, and reported picture quality. Unfortunately, no stores have them in stock and my super online price of US$268 from PCMall has been backordered into oblivion. Circuit City and CompUSA say they have them for $299 online (but not in stock at the stores) and I'm about ready to cancel my original order and try the big retailers online. For a 3mp intermediate/advanced amateur camera, the A70 seemed to have the least number of tradeoffs and it was released fairly recently.
We are on the same boat. Did read all the reviews and decided on A70 but as soon as I got out and checked ALL the stores, I can't get one.
So I decided on Canon S230. I got it for almost 3 weeks now and love it. One thing about the A70 when I tried the demos and printed it (bring your own CF) is the pics are too soft. S230 are just perfect for me I realized it now. It is a brick. The body is maid of metal, is made in Japan, and the only drawback against A70 is its optical zoom and shutter options. But hey it a perfect point and shoot camera.
I tried Nikon Coolpics on the same price range but the Movie mode has no sound. |
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| adam2222 |
I like Canon's
I owned a Canon A40 for 2 years until it was stolen 2 months ago, and was happy with the picture quality and features. I originally chose it because I had 2 CF cards, and that was the best brand of camera which used CF. Now all cards are more affordable and less of an issue.
I felt the UI of the control buttons and the delay between photos left a little to be desired. Perhaps the worst thing about the camera was this: if you install an add-on lens (I had the wide angle) and use the flash - the lens would obscure part of the flash from illuminating the subject. The end result would be a dark lower, right corner of the photo. Totally goofy design.
I bought the Optura 200MC video camera in Feb '03 and think it's good. The mechanical tape motor noise is pretty annoying tho. Still picture quality is not even close to the digital cameras, however. The detail and colors are much less sharp.
3 months ago I got my dad an A70. He wanted the manual override controls and a solid 'first digital camera'. Canon greatly simplified the buttons and menus, and it's much easier to navigate throught the features compared with the A40. They seem to have improved the delay between pictures too. The photos are great quality. He is happy.
In early July for my birthday Dad responded in kind and got me an S400 to replace my stolen A40. I wanted the highest megapixel count in the smallest package. It's been great. For me, the size and weight of the A40 (and A70) made it difficult to tote the camera around and take candid shots - I wanted the ability to drop it in my pocket and go. Size was moe important to me than manual controls.
I think I used manual controls once - for this cool photo:
http://www.greenberg.info/ALB000SFP...ages/image8.stm
Here's my takeaway with all of these digital cameras:
Get a large card (256mb) - it allows you to take pictures with reckless abandon and you rarely worry about filling it up (as long as you transfer to your PC 1-2x a month)
Understand and prepare for a delay from the time you press the button to the time the shutter snaps. Digital cameras are not as fast as traditional ones. The best thing I've discovered is to line up your shot, press the button half-way down so the camera can process the shot, wait for the 'perfect' moment, and then snap. I do this when trying to take smiling pictures of my infant.
Batteries. The A40 and A70 used AA's. They lasted 7 or 8 'sessions' of 5-6 photos each before they needed recharging. I would always turn the camera off if I wasn't taking pictures tho. The s400 uses a proprietary battery and seems to last longer. The A40 would require more time to 'recover' between shots when the batteries were low. I would keep extra batteries at arm's reach to prevent missing important shots and getting frustrated when you are 'in the field'.
The two controls I use frequently are 'close range' and 'flash'. Close range allows you to take pictures of items 1-3 feet away - important for things like sending Tim a close-up photo of your broken antenna and asking how to fix it. Ability to turn off the flash is also important when working with my child and also when the flash washes out subjects.
I rarely delete photos on the camera. It takes up battery to use the controls. I just wait until they're on the PC and then pick and choose the quality ones.
Development. The easiest is to burn the photos you want to print on a CD, bring it to Walmart or Costco, and either use the kiosk or drop it off. They come pre-cut, are less than $0.50 per, and are good quality.
If I want something in a hurry, need to Photoshop and tweak, or feel the 'cost' of going to the store is too much, I will print them at home. I have an HP 7130 color printer/fax/scanner/copier and purchased bulk photo paper from JetPrintPhoto.com (premium). It was $0.35 per page (prints 3-4 photos) plus the cost of ink... plus the time using a ruler and xacto knife. HP included an application which allows you to choose a template and add photos. The app optimally arranges the images on the page for printing. The quality of this is not as strong as Costco/Walmart, but it's here.
I hope that helps, and happy snapping
For the average Joe, digital imaging is the only way to go. |
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| VA Tech Hokie |
I have the Canon S400 and it is great! It does not have
all the manual controls such as the Canon A70, but I find the smaller
size is worth the trade off. I started out with the A70 and
it is a great camera, but I found I took most all my pictures in
the automatic mode, plus when I was doing tourist type activities,
I carried the A70 in my hand, versus I can carry the S400 in my
shirt or pants pocket, even in its case. The S400 is so small, I tend to have it
with me all the time.
The S400 is also easy to carry in the case on one's belt.
I did a little research and found the Canon case works great
with the S400.
Also, you will see some mixed reviews about dealing with
Dell.com, but I ordered my S400 from them and using their
discount and electronic coupons, I was able to purchase the
camera about $150 less than I could purchase it locally.
My experience with Dell.com was a very positive experience.
Hokie... |
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| Mushman |
Greetings,
I would highly recommend the Canons. Key feature to look for is DIGIC processing which is in all newer Canon models. This feature is revolutionizing digital cameras.
I currently have a Canon S50, S100, and S230. All take awesome pics. I work for Canon, but am not making this decision based on that. I have purchased the Nikon 2500, 4500, and SOny DSC-s70, and other cameras.
First thing, go with a company that makes cameras, like Nikon, Canon, or Olympus. They have the optics. Nothing bad with Panasonic or Sony, but they get their optics from somewhere else.
I have had the best picture quality with the Canons. If the Nikon was better, I would keep it regardless who I worked for.
I just gave in 153 digital pics to Costco yesterday to get printed from a trip I took last week to Cancun. Wouldn't have taken anything else but my Canon S50.
The A70 is an awesome camera. I recommend you go purchase a good set of AA rechargeable batteries.
Good luck with whatever you decide and PM me if you have any questions. |
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| JimH |
Per this small sample of folks visiting this poll earlier, the most popular digital cameras purchased are Canon, Sony, Nikon, and Olympus. If one chooses the features and price range of interest, I do not think you can go wrong with any of these models.
http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/show...&threadid=12015 |
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| Mushman |
Paul,
Do not expect much from the Optio. These small cameras are great to carry around, but indoor shots do not come out that great. I have had the Sony U20, and a couple of others and just OK.
The problem is the lens is so close to the flash, and you get a lot of white dots in indoor shots and they also come out dark. OK for viewing on screen, but not really worth printing out.
Checkout the Canon SD100. Brand new camera, pretty small, and supposed to be a little better. A friend of mine just got the Optio from Costco and will play with it. If he doesn't like it, he will returnm it there since they give a no problem return policy.
Mush |
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| phins2rt |
| I have the A70 as well and love it. It has a great blend of auto shoot as well as manual controls. I got mine from Dell back in March. You might want to look at bensbargains.net. Sometimes you can get daily or weekly coupons for Dell. Good luck. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by JimH
Per this small sample of folks visiting this poll earlier, the most popular digital cameras purchased are Canon, Sony, Nikon, and Olympus. If one chooses the features and price range of interest, I do not think you can go wrong with any of these models.
http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/show...&threadid=12015
I agree 100%. Canon makes some great and highly reveiwed digital cameras. But so do others. No one manufacturer has a monopoly on the 'best' digital for all users and all applications.
And even reviewers differ in opinions. Do your research by reading multiple reviews, comments here, and go out and look at them and try them. You will find the one most suited for your purpose. |
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| JTM |
quote:
Originally posted by mdxxxx
BTW I'm very happy with my Sony F717. :4:
mdxxxx,
could you give me more information on your F717. I am currently using DSC-S50, but am interesting to upgrade it to F717. :D |
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| Mushman |
JTM,
If you are in the process of upgrading, check out the Canon G5. I am currently working on finding a good deal on this camera.
The current issue of Popular Photography rated 4 top 5 megapixel cameras, and the Canon blew them all away. They tested a Sony, Olympus, Nikon, and the Canon.
From the G2 onwards, these line of Canon cameras have been used to benchmark the industry.
Go to www.dpreview.com to see ratings on ALL digital cameras.
Mush |
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| wmquan |
Interestingly enough, dpreview.com didn't rate the G5 as strongly as past Canons. It's still an excellent camera but doesn't build on the success of past models. Seems like the G1 was really good, the G2 was that much better, and then the G3 really hit the high point. But according to Phil Askey, the G5 doesn't really keep the upward trend going.
Of course, this is just Phil's opinion.
quote:
The G5 suffers from higher noise than the G3, and notably higher than the competition, it also has a chromatic aberration problem which is more than I would expect to see on a modern digital camera.
Another problem is price, Sony have done such an excellent job with the much smaller and lighter (yet just as capable) DSC-V1 that its $100 lower price will certainly hurt the G5. While the G5 is a superbly capable digital camera in its own right you could save yourself some money, lose only a few pixels and avoid the extra chromatic aberrations by picking up a G3.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong5/
The Sony DSC-V1 is an interesting camera. It's the first Sony that is really competitive with the prosumer Nikons and Canons.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscv1/ |
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| azfansinnc |
quote:
Originally posted by wmquan
Interestingly enough, dpreview.com didn't rate the G5 as strongly as past Canons. It's still an excellent camera but doesn't build on the success of past models. Seems like the G1 was really good, the G2 was that much better, and then the G3 really hit the high point. But according to Phil Askey, the G5 doesn't really keep the upward trend going.
I thought that comparison was rather interesting also. I have a G3 and was wondering if I was too hasty and should have waited on the G4/G5 with 5MP or maybe the Nikon (=$$$$ vs $$$). According to dpreview's opinion, I made the right choice. (Even w/o this bolstering I really love the pic quality of the G3. I was working on getting some pics ready last night and was impressed again!) I payed the MSRP price of $800 for it and have not regretted it once (sound familiar?). One thing they mentioned about the G3 is battery life. It is outstanding. Using a 1GB Microdrive and 15-20% flash, I have taken 200+ pics and never noticed the indicator go below full. |
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| wmquan |
Askey does nice reviews, but I wonder if his issues may have had to do with his G5 sample. Dave on imaging-resource.com didn't mention noise as a problem with the G5 and in fact it did well relative to the G3. Steves-digicams.com also didn't make much issue of either chromatic abberation or noise.
While I like the Sony's, I'm still not sure if I'd buy a DSC-V1 over a G5. The Sony's appeal is its small size, however.
There's always buyer's regrets with these cameras. Not too long after I bought my DSC-S70 (three megapixel), a four-megapixel version came out and it corrected some issues with my camera. Seems to come with the territory. |
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| Mushman |
The battery life is awesome on the Canon G Series since it uses a battery from their camcorder series.
I agree that the G3 set a benchmark for 4 megapixel cameras, but since I was going to get one soon, I would just rather go for the newer model.
I will probably be able to get the G5 from Dell for just under $600 with free shipping and no tax.
I think I will go and read some more comments and reviews and might just opt out for the G3. The 4 or 5 megapixel difference is not a huge factor to me. Both are ad good.
By the way. There was never a G4.
Please keep this thread going by leting us know what you finally decided on and your after purchase experiences.
Thanks all,
Mush |
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| Wazowski |
| I'm another very happy Canon PowerShot G series owner. I bought a G2 several years ago and I still think it's a great camera. I recommend that you also get the external flash for even better pictures. I use the Canon Speedlight EX420, which by the way also works with Canon's SLR cameras. I like being able to bounce the flash off the ceiling for softer lighting and to avoid the "deer in headlights" look. Lighting (i.e. proper exposure) is everything. |
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| VA Tech Hokie |
The soon to be released 4 mega pixel Canon A80 looks good...
Seems to have all the bells and whistles at a good price... |
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| evoge |
quote:
Originally posted by VA Tech Hokie
The soon to be released 4 mega pixel Canon A80 looks good...
Seems to have all the bells and whistles at a good cost...
Oh, that friggin' figgers! :1pat: I just got an A70 two weeks ago. But at least the A70 is good enough (great, actually) for the next couple years. |
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| A2MDXer |
I must repeat that the battery life is great on the G series. I think overall the G5 is probably a bit better than the G3 but the price difference would probably drive me to get the G3 rather than the G5 if I were buying right now. There is not a big difference bewteen 4 and 5 Mpixels. Rather the most attractive part of the G5 to me is that Canon tweaked the colors a bit. I purchased my G3 nearly a year ago and I am still very happy with it (I still think it's right at the top of this category).
By the way, I took and old external flash from a Canon AE-1 (more than 10 years old) and it works great with the G3. You have to be careful using old flashes (they can harm the camera) but mine has most of the functionality of a new one and it was just lying around. I was so happy with that discovery. |
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| Mushman |
The A70 is a great camera and I am sure the A80 will be so as well.
The A80 has a swivel screen like the G series. Only thing is that it uses regular batteries. Iknow you can get rechargeables, but just not like the G series.
I just ordered (3) 420EX flashes today. This is an awesome flash and perfect for the G series cameras. Guess i have to get a G3 or G5 now that I ordered the flash.
Mush |
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| azfansinnc |
quote:
Originally posted by Mushman
By the way. There was never a G4.
Yup. Knew that. After the G3 came out, there was a slew of speculation of what the G4 would be. My G4/G5 comment was based on that there is always something new and cooler around the bend especially when talking techno-baubles (or MDX's for that matter.)
Mushman, you can't go wrong with either. Good luck. |
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| X-UP-NORTH |
Thanks for all the help and advice again everyone,I did end up getting the Canon A70. I also purchased rechargeable batteries(a must) as well as a 128mb card as it only comes with the 16mb. It's a great camera,real simple to use and also comes with great software.
The movie mode is also a great feature. Definately recommend!!! |
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