Digital Camera recommendations please

Venti · Post by **Venti** » January 13, 2004, 3:40 pm

In the market for a Digital camera, and looking for your input.

Manufacturers to avoid?

Manufacturers you would highly recommend?

Models that work well and hold a lot of pictures.

I've looked at a few, one even has a CD burner in it, on which the pictures are stored I guess. I've never had a digital camera, so all your input is helpful.

p.s. Under $1000.00 and camera is not meant for professional use, just home/personal use.

Thanks in advance.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » January 13, 2004, 4:16 pm

I've always had good luck with Sony. I noticed that they had a new 8MP model for like $800 at Best Buy, that is what I would get and I haven't even seen the specs.

Marb

archeiron · Post by **archeiron** » January 13, 2004, 4:40 pm

I tend to use http://reviews.cnet.com/ for basic information about most electronics.

Canon and Sony seem to be the most favoured brand names for the amatuer digital camera market. I am leaning towards a Canon A80 but then I don't want to spend a great deal on a camera that I rarely use.

archeiron · Post by **archeiron** » January 13, 2004, 4:42 pm

The search for items less than $1000 is here

Venti · Post by **Venti** » January 13, 2004, 4:53 pm

thanks very much.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » January 13, 2004, 7:10 pm

I'm pretty happy with my Sony. No problems, does what I want it to. Battery life is pretty good with NiMH, you need an extra set though.

I've also got an Olympus (freebie from work), it really eats batteries. The interface is a bit cluncky too.

If you've got a budget mark to hit, include a charger and 2 sets of NiMH batteries in it.

Kguku · Post by **Kguku** » January 14, 2004, 4:09 am

http://www.dpreview.com

One of the best sites around, with a lot of links to other sites as well.

If you're looking at the Sony Cybershot DSC-F828 (8MP) Camera, then you might also want to take a look at the Canon Digital Rebel 6.3MP Digital SLR. They're listed at the same price, however the Canon I would say has a lot more growth, as it can use the Canon EF Lenses.

I know when I looked for mine I was looking for something that would last quite a while, and had what I was looking for to get back in to some amature photography. I got the digital rebel in the end,a nd I must say I'm quite happy with it!

Also the Canon Powershot G5 and G3 are both ince cameras. The G3 is hard to find as it's been discontinued though.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 14, 2004, 7:48 am

probably can't go wrong either way.

Canon has been making market leading SLR's for 20-30 (or more?) years.

I think the Sony has Zeiss optics so you are in good shape there too. I don't know much about which has a better CCD, or if there is much of a difference there.

Post by **Sylvus** » January 14, 2004, 1:18 pm

I have a Canon PowerShot s230, I believe it's a 3.2MP. I'd like to say that I think 8MP is going to be total overkill if the camera isn't for professional applications. Most of the time I keep the camera on medium resolution, and I've never seen a poor quality shot from that camera. Plus it's about $600 less than that 8MP one.

The only drawback to that camera is the limited optical zoom. I'd definitely look for a camera with more optical zoom before more megapixels.

archeiron · Post by **archeiron** » January 15, 2004, 5:39 pm

Sylvus wrote:The only drawback to that camera is the limited optical zoom. I'd definitely look for a camera with more optical zoom before more megapixels.

Yeah, I just spoke to my brother who used to work at Ritz Cameras. He said to completely ignore digital zoom as it is crap and focus on the optical zoom. As a side effect, the cameras with some zoom seem to have a higher quality lens that improved clarity, but he wasn't sure why, just that he had noted that when reviewing their product lines.