Here we go again. (do over)
I'm pretty broke - what is MY best choice?
I'm pretty broke - what is MY best choice?
Digital camera review - under $200?
- Thread starter Pablo
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What do you need? I use a cheap Didital for work, I bought a Fuji A203 (2 Mega Pixel) for $100 Can 18 months ago, the thing is 'Bullitproof' uses regular batteries, is easy on them, takes a film card, has 3X optical zoom all the usual stuff. I love it
Canon seems OK - I have some issues with their low light ability and focus. BUT their cameras are excellent values.
Nikon Coolpix seem pretty darn good - the 3700 looks like heck of a bargain - I don't get the "auto focus only" statement - does this mean NO manual focus at all?
We need a universal/multi-use camera - 3.2-4 megapixel would be plenty, we need close up ability. From simple ebay shots, to family shots, to my wife's candy wrapper business - fast shots too - no digital lag. Doesn't have to be ultra tiny.
Nikon Coolpix seem pretty darn good - the 3700 looks like heck of a bargain - I don't get the "auto focus only" statement - does this mean NO manual focus at all?
We need a universal/multi-use camera - 3.2-4 megapixel would be plenty, we need close up ability. From simple ebay shots, to family shots, to my wife's candy wrapper business - fast shots too - no digital lag. Doesn't have to be ultra tiny.
Got my Mom a $150 Kodak with several-X optical zoom last day-after-thanksgiving. Several megapixels. It takes AAs and accepts NiMHs fine. Great image quality and it notices if you're shooting vertically and makes the image rotated too.
Whatever you do, skip the digital-zoom only models. HPs have left a bad taste in my mouth too... hungry for batteries, bad pictures, etc.
My Nikon (wife got me) shows the focus zone it's using before you take the picture. It has focus hold if you want to force the focus but it's pretty accurate for me-- and I'm a control freak.
Whatever you do, skip the digital-zoom only models. HPs have left a bad taste in my mouth too... hungry for batteries, bad pictures, etc.
My Nikon (wife got me) shows the focus zone it's using before you take the picture. It has focus hold if you want to force the focus but it's pretty accurate for me-- and I'm a control freak.
I Don't have this one..but it looks pretty good. You may be able to find it a bit cheaper.
Canon PowerShot SD200 3.2 Megapixel Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom & 2.0" LCD - 9697A001AA
http://www.buy.com/prod/Canon_PowerShot_SD200_3_2_MegaPixel_Digital_Camera/q/loc/13175/90140182.html
Canon PowerShot SD200 3.2 Megapixel Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom & 2.0" LCD - 9697A001AA
http://www.buy.com/prod/Canon_PowerShot_SD200_3_2_MegaPixel_Digital_Camera/q/loc/13175/90140182.html
I have a coolpix 3100. it has no manual features at all and takes terrible pics in low light situations even with the flash. it's contrast isn't very good either, pics seems a bit washed out.
Tom Slick - My neighbor has the Coolpix 3700 it seems like a whole different beast. His pictures are quite sharp. I'll see if he'll let me mess with it.
Our Fuji is very easy to use and takes great pictures. The newer models are a little more difficult to use, but are still good. Look for one with a simple wheel for selecting the mode. My father bought a Casio and it is a pain in the butt to figure out, I'd steer clear of them.
-T
-T
The most important spec in any camera is the quality of the lense, and the optical zoom. Everything else is secondary.
Your absolutely right. Most people are hung up on megapixels. You can only fit somthing like 2.6 mln of them on a 4X6 photo anyway. It's the quality of the lense and optical zoon that matters most and I believe Canon and Nikon are tops. Their are other great ones as well.
The CCD and associated software follow very closely though. The best software gets colors and contrast spot on. Poorly designed color correction sees a bright yellow wall and cranks up the blue to compensate-- making flesh tones quite awful.
Leaps and bounds have been made in the last couple of years on this front.
You're right. The differences in colour, contrast and white balance really stand out when you place two pics taken from different cameras side by side.
I know it's out of your price range, but we just got a Kodak DX6490 at Walmart for $300. Awesome camera, 4 megapixels, 10X optical zoom Schneider lens, big LCD on the back, viewfinder also uses LCD (sort of an SLR), excelent battery life (it uses a propritary lithium ion battery, $30 for a spare), I like the user interface Kodak has developed, realy pleased with it. If you can spring the extra $100, it's worth the look.
I bought my wife a 3.2 MegPix Olympus D395 for about $130 a few months ago. I takes real good pictures for the price. 3x optical zoom. Looks like it's down to about $115 now.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/d395_pg2.html
It's a good starter camera, and would be a good backup camera if you bought a better one later.
We us it more than my better camera because it fits in a pocket and with the cover that protects the lens doen't need a case.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/d395_pg2.html
It's a good starter camera, and would be a good backup camera if you bought a better one later.
We us it more than my better camera because it fits in a pocket and with the cover that protects the lens doen't need a case.
I know this is OT, but I bought a FujiFilm FinePix S5100 for about $300.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/cu...-4158962-7574360?_encoding=UTF8&s=electronics
You can read my review there (Metroplex) for more info that I did not find anywhere else (typical reviews, etc...)
10x optical zoom, 4MP, xD storage, NiMH AA batteries, VGA video mode, and electronic viewfinder (WYSIWYG in the viewfinder).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/cu...-4158962-7574360?_encoding=UTF8&s=electronics
You can read my review there (Metroplex) for more info that I did not find anywhere else (typical reviews, etc...)
10x optical zoom, 4MP, xD storage, NiMH AA batteries, VGA video mode, and electronic viewfinder (WYSIWYG in the viewfinder).
Dor some people maybe. If you can't take a picture in the thing because the battery is dead, you don't know how to use, or it's too slow then all of that is pointless.
One of the great things about our Fuji is that it takes AA batteries, it's great for vacations because every store has them and rechargables are much cheaper then battery packs. Would a professional photographer care? Probably not very much. But to the average user it is a big deal.
-T
Are AA batts convenient ? Yes. Readily available ? Absolutely. Cheaper in the long run than rechargeables ? Definitely not.
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