| Author | Message | ||
     Cataract2 |
Well, in the market for one. I was wondering what info you all could give me. I'm looking for a camera that uses expandable memory, ie: SD memory. Also, I was one that does not have an internal battery. I like to be able to replace them. Price range I'm aiming for is $150-$250. Any help is appreciated. | ||
| Hexangler |
www.dpreview.com | ||
| Bartimus |
I use a sony cybershot DSC-P72. it is 5 Megapixel, has a seperate chargeable battery, expandable memory, and cost me less than $150 on eBay. I've had this camera a number of years now, carried it everywhere on the bike, with no issues whatsoever. it's been a great camera and takes great pictures. You can go here to look at reviews of most of the digital cameras: http://www.dpreview.com/ Good luck, and Happy Shopping! | ||
| Thumper74 |
I have had a Fuji finepix S700 for a few weeks now. Walmart has them for around $220. 7.1 mega pixel, SD/XD memory slot, regular AA batteries and you can adjust shutter speeds (and more manually),10x optical zoom. Pretty neat and I'm happy with it. Video:  This has not been compressed or edited Pictures:   The pictures were all full size and have been edited. (Message edited by Thumper74 on November 29, 2007) | ||
| Reepicheep |
You might consider an older Fuji F10, or the newer F-30. Pros and cons of the camera, but I have used and like both. The big pros for me were: 1) Fast acquisition time for image, both for warm starts, or even from a cold boot. 2) Outstanding low light performance. Head and shoulders above point and shoots, and better then many digital SLR's. Usable 1600 ASA on the F-10, usable 3200 ASA on the F-30. In my opinion, shots with a flash are nearly always ruined... so this was the critical factor for me. 3) Light, compact, and good battery life (600 shots on a charge). 4) Functional "spot meter" mode, where the center 1-3 degrees of the image can be put on a particular thing, you push the button half way down and it locks in the exposure and the autofocus, then you recompose the frame (holding the button down) then push the button the rest of the way to get the picture. Cons? 1) The grain structure is a little funky, but funky grainy and grainy grainy makes precious little difference. 2) It can over-expose pictures at times (though this is easy to tune around). 3) It uses XD memory... which will be a little more expensive, but not a lot. 4) You need a separate little dongle thing to charge it / pull images off the camera (included). Not a big deal, but another thing to loose. Think of like a modern Leica. Not for everyone or for every role, but if you use it on it's terms it is a fantastic little camera. I did a google search and was seeing the F-10's for $100 or something, thats a smoking good deal... I should get one just to keep with me all the time. | ||
| Hexangler |
There is a formula that we worked out that suggests that the limiting factor of resolution on a point and shoot digital camera is the lens not the sensor. We calculated that a point and shoot lens can only project 3.2 Mpx of information onto the small surface area. Therefore 4 Mpx is all you need, and 10 Mpx point and shoot cameras are excessive and do not produce clearer pictures. Sensor size limits max resolution due to lens limitations: Point and shoot format is 3.2 Mpx max APSC format is 12.8 Mpx (Nikon D2x is 12.8) Full Frame format 24mm x 36mm is around 33 Mpx. (Canon 1Dmark3 is only 22 Mpx) A 35mm slide from a fixed focal length non-retro focus lens can be scanned to over 33 Mpx of true resolution. Digital can't beat film in this measure of quality. Hex Part-time Camera Jerk www.camera-arts.com | ||
| T9r |
I just recently got my new digi camera. I wanted something that was neat compact size, took great photos, had stability controls and would do well at night. I'm still learning but after using all the digi camera review places like DPreview.com I ended up with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 at $220. It came w/ one battery so I bought 2 more via Amazon.com and bought a couple memory cards 1-2GB and a camera case. Good luck with your search 7MP 10X zoom large LCD screen and simple settings. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Thanks Hex! I knew that to be true, but did not know where the cut-off values for the optics were. The rule of thumb I always gave people is that if it is anything over a 4 megapixel sensor, and you paid less then $500 for the lens on it, you are probably just making good clear digital representations of your optical distortion. And consuming memory. It also explains why my 1.2MP Nikon Coolpix 950 did *SO* much better then the entire generation of 2 and 3 MP cameras that followed it. | ||
| Reepicheep |
BTW, here is a link that popped up when I was googling another topic... http://www.thecameraprofessionals.com/prodetails.a sp?prodid=125561&gclid=CKPDyaHXgpACFReQGgodLD7Osg I don't know anything about the site or seller, but $99 for an F10 in stock is one HECK of a camera for the money. | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>Digital can't beat film in this measure of quality. << But nobody reproduces anything commercial at high enough res to make any difference. | ||
| Court |
>>>>It also explains why my 1.2MP Nikon Coolpix 950 That should be 2.1MP and I just entered a national competition with a shot off a Nikon 950. The 950 continues to produce outstanding results. | ||
| Hexangler |
Danger_dave, I respectfully disagree. I guess that means we all practice photography to become commercial photographers? Or that photography is limited to commercial output? I practice photography to raise my awareness of reality. The camera teaches me how to recognize details unseen to my senses. I could go on and on with this one but film beats digital hands down in the "real resolution" department. Do you see the progression I outlined? Digital does not even come close to 25 year old film technology, and that is considering only the 35mm format. I shoot medium and large format a lot. Digital cameras help me sketch images, but typically not an end product for my concept of photography. Hex | ||
| Nocompromise |
Dpreview is the best photography site that I have found for both the reviews and the forums. Consequently, I go there for any motorcycle buying advice and I come here for camera advice.  | ||
| Slowride |
catarac2, I recently purchased a GE Digital Camera, 7.1mp,3x optical, 32x ditigal, SD Card, 2x AA Batteries for my son who is 13. It shoots great and it has a complete manual mode that rivals most $800 non DSLR cameras on the market. I personally shoot with a Nikon D50 with 3 lenses that each cost more than the camera body itself and I can tell you this little GE camera can take some outstanding pictures. Oh by the way, did I mention it was $89 and for $14 I picked up the no questions asked replacement policy from Sears for a full two years. just my 2 cents. | ||
| Court |
I "To everything there is a season" | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>I practice photography to raise my awareness of reality. << Good. Call me when you catch up.  I live in reproduction world. Anything I could do with 35mm I can do with a digital and photoshop. Up to A2 format. I also understand the fine arts aspect. Since I won the local competition I've been asked to judge 2 shows - seriously - But that really isn't the original question is it? (Message edited by danger_dave on November 29, 2007) | ||
| Ebear |
Not so anymore....demos done with film and digital side by side....if you print on GOOD paper digital and film look identical now.We all new it was just a matter of time(and megapixels!) My favorite amateur level camera is the (S) series from Canon S5 IS is the most recent....8 mp 12X lens...take a look at one and judge for yourself.around $250.00 to $290 on the net....Most digitals have ok quality....it's the controls,flexibility,durability(I ride with this one,even dirt bike)and quality of build that I go on! All these other cameras people have mentioned are ALL good , it's a tough thing to choose with a million cameras out there! So go to a big store with a ton of cameras you can play with,find a brand that feels right and research it on the web.DPR is a great site but allways google the model and get lotsa opinions! | ||
| Reepicheep |
That S5 is getting close, but still has two key flaws (for what I want, it would be perfect for others)... 1) 1600 speed shooting appears to result in really bad prints (based on the one review I read). 2) The wide angle is not wide enough... I'd love to have something closer to 25 mm effective rather then 37mm effective. 3) While in theory, the AA battery form factor is nice, it ends up being a PITA in day to day use. I haul around batteries and chargers, try and remember which are the ones that still work and which are worn out, and have them kicking around a pocket or a bag waiting to short out and set something on fire. A built in LiIon battery pack is more expensive and less flexible, but darn handy in normal use. My Fuji F30 solves two of those three problems, though it's optics are no doubt worse then what that cannon has. If that cannon would add low light performance and wider angles, it would be perfect. If the Fuji could reach out to 25mm effective wide angle, it would be good enough... worse optics but much more compact. I still await the perfect camera!  | ||
| Davegess |
Ebear what you say is true for them tiny little cameras you all use. We are just a bit away from the day when a digital print can deliver a 20x24 inch print that can compare to one form the 20x24 inch Polaroid that was used to shoot the Sistine Chapel. 'Course it takes two people to operate and cost $1500 a day to rent alon with film costs of $65 per shot but what the heck it's only money!!! If you ever get the chance to look at one by all means do so, they are special. I think they have a rental studio in New York and one in San Francisco. BTW I just bought a Rebel XTi and am liking it. My last Olympus film camera died and since non of my Olympus lens are auto focus I didn't have anything that would work slickly on one of the new Olympus so I went with Canon. I like it so far, still leaning how it all works and i really need to get some flash units to work with it, the on camera one is pretty limited. I still don't think even the full frame 35mm digital cameras have the resolution or color depth of Kodachrome,I will have to order up some 16x20 prints and compare them to my cibachromes. Even then the cibachrome prints pale compared to the slides projected well. I think a 35mm Kodachrome or Tech Pan negative likely have 80 MB worth of data on them. | ||
| Damnut |
Just picked up the Panasonic Lumix DMC-F50. Great camera for the price. I wanted a full body camera with SLR features but didn't want to have to change lenses. This is a great introduction camera for the amateur photographer. 10 megapixels with 12X optical zoom. | ||
| Vegasbueller |
Dave: I bought the METZ flash for my XTi and love it. It is similar to their 580 Speedlite. | ||
| Davegess |
Check out this site photoheads. Pretty cool demonstration of aperture, shutter speed, depth of field etc http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/ | ||
| Danger_dave |
Cool - But Tourist Trophy on PS2 in camera mode is more fun and equally demonstrative  | ||
| Reepicheep |
I was using TT to teach my 6 year old how to wheelie a ZX10... Even before I taught him, he figured out that he could ride his little electric razor dirtbike up a board and onto one of those small circular trampolines and get some good air... Yeah. He's one of *those*... | ||
| Danger_dave |
Excellent! Medical insurance - now. My (23yo) boy can dunk a basketball 2 handed, behind his head, off a running start. B*******. | ||
| Bcordb3 |
Before your string gets to hi-jacked try the Casio Exilim cameras I have had real good luck with mine. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Thread over a week old - statute of hijacking applies. | ||
| Tripper |
Hey Dangerous One - I just booked tickets to Auckland and Christchurch. I have a free day in CC. Where would you go to exercise a Nikon D40? | ||
| Danger_dave |
Akaroa peninsula. I've tried to get out there twice and the weather has forced me back. The 'Port Hills' are good too. Otherwise it's surrounded by the Canterbury plains with the Alps away in the distance. The Parks Gardens and the catherdrals in Christchurch are also Canon fodder. | ||
| Danger_dave |
err Nikon fodder. | ||
| Tripper |
Akaroa peninsula Looks awesome on Google Earth. Thanx. | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>I practice photography to raise my awareness of reality. << I made a flippant pun in response to that 6 weeks ago. For the pun's sake rather than with due consideration. It's still with me. Just was going through some pics and it rang in my ears. What I was doin'. Respec. |
