PDA

View Full Version : Buying A New Digital Camera... Suggestions?



project240
01-02-2006, 10:10 PM
Looking at buying a new digital camera in the very near future. No serious photography, just basic point and shoot is what I'll be using it for. I'm looking for something at least 4.0MP+ around the $400 range.

I've been considering a Fuji s5100

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S5100/S51A.HTM

I'm not photographically (is this a word?) gifted and need some advice. Would this be a solid camera? Other recommendations?

Need some advice from you photo gurus out there. Thanks

Fez_turbo
01-03-2006, 12:39 AM
before i bought my digital camera i went almost to every camera store to look at everything and ask lots of questions.
all stores gave me the same answer and told me that canon is the leading digital camera supplier in the world and that it is considered the "cream of the crop".

i ended up buying the powershot A70. ( i think thats the number)
anyways its got 3.2 megapixels. i can easily print excellent resolution 8x10 pictures. and its got 12 shooting modes including sound and video.

so my suggestion is to buy a cannon. I saw at futureshop and best buy that a cannon powershot (cant remember the number that follows) with 4 megapixels is running about 300$. ( my digital camera cost me approximatively that much but i got it a couple of years ago). And they are small and because they take 4 batteries, they will last you longer in the future. And they use compact flash cards that are known to be more reliable than anything else out there.

this is some of the information that i picked up when i was camera hunting. i hope its useful.

good luck.

project240
01-03-2006, 04:16 PM
Other opinions?

Ben
01-03-2006, 04:21 PM
yep, Canon.

SD550.

A95, w/e , as long as it's Canon.

:)

hash
01-03-2006, 05:13 PM
+1 for canon

90Tegra
01-03-2006, 05:26 PM
Originally posted by Ben
yep, Canon.

SD550.

A95, w/e , as long as it's Canon.

:)

u could still get the a95 new?

rony_espana
01-03-2006, 05:31 PM
I got a Canon and I love it. I got a Canon 5.0 MP (not sure of the exact model #) and the quality is unebleivable. Also the camera is metal, not plastic so its very durable.

+1 for Canon:thumbsup:

awd
01-03-2006, 05:40 PM
I am also looking for a new digi camera -- just returned the Canon A520 I got for my gf -- faulty lens cover.

So instead of spending ~$300 I want to get her one for $600 - $800 -- any ideas?

(I prefer Canon, Nikon and Olympus -- no Sony, Kodak or Fujifilms, thanks)

lint
01-03-2006, 05:43 PM
if you're only looking for point and shoot, 4mp and under $400, you can't go wrong with the Canon SD300.
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10051438&catid=10131&logon=&langid=EN

On for $299 at FS and BB, small, light weight, easy to use, takes great pics. Spend the extra $$$ on a nice case to protect the lcd and be done with it.

If you want more manual features, then the camera you listed or something like the a95 would be a better fit. Sacrifice size for features. But if you're not going to use them and you're just going to point and click, get the smallest, best imaging camera you can find for the price.

lint
01-03-2006, 05:44 PM
Originally posted by awd
I am also looking for a new digi camera -- just returned the Canon A520 I got for my gf -- faulty lens cover.

So instead of spending ~$300 I want to get her one for $600 - $800 -- any ideas?

(I prefer Canon, Nikon and Olympus -- no Sony, Kodak or Fujifilms, thanks)

More money doesn't necessarily get you a better lens cover...

awd
01-03-2006, 05:47 PM
Originally posted by lint


More money doesn't necessarily get you a better lens cover...

I wasn't saying, "spend twice the money for a lens cover upgrade.".

I want a better overall camera, thats all.

lint
01-03-2006, 05:56 PM
Originally posted by awd


I wasn't saying, "spend twice the money for a lens cover upgrade.".

I want a better overall camera, thats all.


you need to provide some more details. What about the a520 didn't you like, besides the lens cover? What other features are you looking for? What does she like to shoot? Is size a consideration? Manual features or fully automatic?

awd
01-03-2006, 06:27 PM
Originally posted by lint



you need to provide some more details. What about the a520 didn't you like, besides the lens cover? What other features are you looking for? What does she like to shoot? Is size a consideration? Manual features or fully automatic?

My main concerns:

1) Faster shutter speed
2) More optical zoom

This is the one I am looking at now:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10061574&catid=&test%5Fcookie=1

Thanks.

lint
01-03-2006, 07:48 PM
Originally posted by awd


My main concerns:

1) Faster shutter speed
2) More optical zoom

This is the one I am looking at now:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10061574&catid=&test%5Fcookie=1

Thanks.

Nice choice. Especially for zoom. USM and IS with 12x optical. But by shutter speed, are you talking about the actual shutter speed or shutter lag? Start up time looks pretty good for a point and shoot too.

Check the full review at dpreview (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons2is/)

Fez_turbo
01-04-2006, 01:30 AM
you have to be carefull though AWD cause the more moving parts the more possibilities of failures.

But PROJECT240. you cant go wrong with canon. i love my camera too and clearly it seems that canon is the most popular and favorite of everyone.

Ajay
01-04-2006, 03:08 AM
I was in the same dilemma when I was looking for a digi cam and I ended up getting the Canon Powershot Elph SD300. Really nice camera with nice features for what you pay and it's nice and small too....go canon for sure

frostyda9
01-04-2006, 07:42 PM
Canon A520 (or A620 if you want 7 MP). If you go for the A520, you can get some memory and accessories while staying within your budget.

FiveFreshFish
01-04-2006, 08:42 PM
Originally posted by awd
2) More optical zoom

IMO for a point-and-shoot, it's more important how wide it can go because that's where you'll use it more. I would be happy with a 2x or 3x optical zoom if it can go wide.

The Canon S80 does 28 - 100mm (35mm equivalent). This is beyond your budget... just an example of a camera with a wider lens.

Khyron
01-04-2006, 09:16 PM
The Canon 520 is garbage IMO. I bought two for field cameras and both have been warrantied for the damn lens cover issue. One of them is back in the shop a second time for it. Both were bought in July and have less than 500 shots on them. Not only that, but you need software on Windows 2000 to read the files, as opposed to most other cameras which just show up as a drive.

I would get that new lowlight Fuji that can shoot up to 1600 ISO and not look terrible. One of the buds that works at vistek was showing it off and it's pretty slick.

Khyron

Weapon_R
01-04-2006, 09:28 PM
Definately Canon. I've had the S200, just bought a 300D, and both lived up to expectations. Don't focus too much on MP resolution, as there are other factors that are more important. I hate to sound like a fanboy, but i'd prefer a lower megapixel canon over a higher Sony or Olympus.

R!zz0
01-04-2006, 09:46 PM
Canon PowerShot Elph 4.0MP Digital Camera (SD300)
Can't go wrong for 3 bills. I had a Minolta G400 it was an awesome camera but ex ended up taking it when we went our ways.

kerry
01-09-2006, 12:54 AM
Sony W5 is a freakin wicked camera for the price.