Digital Camera...

ShinRa

ShinRa

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Really couldnt think of a better place to put this. And technically a camera is hardware lol.

Ok boys, I'm sick of everyone of my friends having all these great pictures of good times and memories, and me, having none because I always thought a digital camera was stupid.

Now that the story is over...I'm saving up either $400 or $500, depending on what you guys tell me. I'm a Digital Camera noob and haven't the slightest clue which is best. So if you guys would kindly point me towards the best digital camera for 400-500 bucks, I'd greatly appriciate it. :)
 
You can do awesome pictures with something as simple as a Canon A510. Even print them out as large as 8x10.

If you really want to spend some extra money then check out the Canon A85, A95, SD200, SD300 or a Sony W1 / P100.
www.Steves-digicams.com is your friend.

Think about batteries too. Do you want a lithium Ion battery which will last for many many pictures? Easy to use, just charge for a few hours and go. Though they are unique to that camera so you have to buy them at a store that carries that model or get them online.

Or do you want a camera with AA's? Available everywhere and you are not tied down. Buy AA's off the shelf or on your trip. Just normal AA"s don't last that long. Altough you can get rechargable AA's (NiMH, not Alkaline) batteries which last almost as long as the Lithium Ion batteries.

For printing photo's I'd recommend:
3MP for 5x7's
4MP for 8x10's
5MP for a lot of cropping.

Lens and the sensor matter more than MP though. Only way to really find out about that is to read up online and see how well they take pictures.
Example, A Canon 3.2MP A series camera will take a better picture than a Kodak 4MP CX series camera and even come out better on 8x10's.
 
So apparently Canon is the best way to go with digital cameras?
 
Cannon is the shit. professional quality.

But why Dive right in so hardcore. $500?

take it easy

unless you are taking nude photos u dont need that many megapixels and stuff.


EDIT: I'm just saying that you can take pictures with a $20 department store digital camera

Just get a good camera with a good amount of memory

There is always a chance your camera will get lost, stolen, or broken.

:cheers:
 
Get yourself a nice DSP-73 like your uncle SixThree did...
 
I would recommend cannon. My dad got one awhile ago and it's been great.

I think you should look in the 4 megapixel range, which is what his is. You can print regular glossy photo's that look just like they were taken with a film camera (you have to have a good printer though).
 
btw i read in another thread 5mp is dying out? :confused:
 
That's a really good camera. Not too big either.
Just be careful with that slide. It's the on/off so if that brakes then you can't turn your camera on/off any more.
 
that silver slidey thing? or is it like i start pushing the cover and the lens goes down and i can close it?
 
ShinRa said:
that silver slidey thing? or is it like i start pushing the cover and the lens goes down and i can close it?
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's it.
 
Ok I decided to go with the Canon Powershot S60. I just want a camera where someone will be like "wow...these are really high quality pictures" and it appears the S60 covers that. It seems to have the best image quality and resolution for a pocket camera. What do you think?
 
Imaging Resource is a good place to compare cameras. Huge, comprehensive reviews with in-depth tests of image-quality and shutter response across a variety of conditions. Here's a solid round up of consumer/prosumer general purpose compacts:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/WB/WB.HTM?view=dp_all

Check out the new Casio EXILIM designs as well, very quick with a shitload of resolution
 
but do i understand this correctly? does it mean the more pixels i have, the smaller the picture is on print the worst itll look? I'm looking to print regular sized photographs, and all i keep hearing is how the camera is capable of printing 8x10's and 2048x1024's. what if i just want to have regular sized pictures? will quality not be as good as a camera with less megapixels?
 
ShinRa said:
but do i understand this correctly? does it mean the more pixels i have, the smaller the picture is on print the worst itll look? I'm looking to print regular sized photographs, and all i keep hearing is how the camera is capable of printing 8x10's and 2048x1024's. what if i just want to have regular sized pictures? will quality not be as good as a camera with less megapixels?
Click to expand...
less megapixels, lower the resolution. So your backwards there.. Higher the megapixels, higher the resolution, better it'll look
 
i just read all the reader comments on that daves page. apparently something about the corners being blurry, and the noise level being higher. wtf is that lol. maybe someone can help me if im more specific.

I want a digital camera that takes very high quality images at decent resolutions. Whichever camera is best at doing that, can you recommend it to me. Thanks.
 
Yeah, I've done test prints among some of the cameras we sell at work. The Casio 5MP looks worse than the Canon 3.2MP or even the Nikon 4MP coolpix cameras side by side (4x6 printed from Epson Picturemate taken of the same place/time). You wouldn't know any different if you didn't have the other to hold up to it though.

When in doubt, Canon. Unless you research and find another camera you perfer. I have not see one canon product give poor image quality. Everything in there line is great. Take a look at the test pictures if a review posts theirs from the camera in review.

LinkHere are some of Anandtech's camera reviews which they just started doing not too long ago.
 
ok ive decided this much so far.

4 ranged MP
Canon
Able to take decent movie footage
Excellent image quality

Find it for me Asus!!
 
Well if you want 4MP from canon then either the SD300 (small compact camera) or the A85 (standard size compact camera) would be the ones to look at. The A series would have better IQ while the SD series is very small.

If the A85's fate is anything like the A75, it will be discontinued with a newer model to replace it. They recently came out with a A510 to replace the A75. Maybe they will do something similar with the A85.

As far as what to pick, thats up to you.
 
The A85 looks like it's right up my alley. Only problem with it is, you can only capture 30 seconds of film, and apparently theres something wrong with the LCD screen. Also, it doesn't capture blue well or something? Dont know how to explain it, they used photographer terms lol. Any other recommendations?
 
I see the powershot SD300 seems to be a great cam LCD, movie, image quality, and whatever else is important-wise. I hate being a noob at this shit lol. I plan on using this camera ALOT though and don't plan on buying a new one every year like i do with comps lol. I just want a really good camera, but it seems with every single camera, every reviewer seems to find at least 2 things wrong with it.
 
What they talk about with the blue is probably fringing around edges. That is a minor issue. You might be reading too much into what they are saying. FYI the A520 is released. Link

Although the SD300 does unlimited movie mode.

Also, Megapixel just increases the sharpness of a picture on paper. If you use higher MP on a 4x6 it will not hurt the picture, just take a long time to print. lol
 
Oh, that was what i was wondering about. So a 5mp canon will look better than a 4mp canon on a regular 5x7 print from my local film store? I'd preferably get a 5mp then and try to find one with unlimited video @ 30fps.

I just want the camera to take high quality 5x7's (whatever MP that is), have unlimited movie, and thats it really.
 
You won't notice a difference between a 4 and a 5 on that small of a print.
Only at 8x10 does a 3MP vs 4MP stand out. You'd have to go higher to see the difference between a 4MP and 5MP.
 
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