Digital Camera Recommendation
 

Howdy,

I like my current camera - but it lacks a bit and I'd like to replace it. Why post this here under travel technology? Well one of my big uses (in terms of numbers of pictures snapped) is out of airplane windows (I fly too much). And my camera does a very poor job of that. Currently I've got a Kodak DX4330. I like a lot of it.

Here's what I hate about it and would like a new camera to do better.

1. Pictures taken out of plane windows are really poor.
2. The zoom doesn't zoom enough (true optical zoom part that is).
3. When taking pictures from the air to the ground (city skylines, etc...) the quality is poor.
4. The lag between when I press the shutter button and when the shutter actually fires is far too slow.

Here's what I like about it and would like the new camera to have as well.

1. Take nice movies with audio.
2. Resolution is nice.
3. Camera is tough (I've dropped it more than a few times).
4. Easy to use (has settings for far away pictures, close ups, bright sun, fast movement, and easy to use menu to adjust shutter speed for longer exposures, etc...).

Anyway - if any of ya'll have any ideas for me - I'd love to hear them.

Thanks in advance.

Keep the faith,

Pakse

I don't know your budget, but I recently upgraded my camera to the Sony DSC-P10 (5 megapixel) and I think it's great. It has many of those modes you described you wanted. Also, it has some interesting light metering system that can correct exposures so that you don't get very harsh shadows and over/under exposure in your shots. I think it goes for about $349 online these days.

Neat topic. I would suggest checking out the full line of Canon digital cameras. I've had much success with both the 2 and 4 MegaPixel versions of the Elph (sp?) (the very little silver square looking one).

I have enjoyed these cameras for several reasons:
-Focusing is automatic, but manual modes can replace all focus settings
-Excellent support from Canon (had to send one back because the lens got grimey and wouldn't come out). They fixed it and sent it back no charge.
-Good software for PC to edit the pictures
-Fairly good zoom. I believe this is one of the features that they have been working on for the newer releases.

I'm definitely not saying to go buy one - but you definitely would want to check them out. They are so small they easily fit in a pocket so they go anywhere.

http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/home.html

Safe Travels,
Chris

I bought a Sony DSCF717 last year prior to a vacation to Europe. Due to all of the modes, it does take a little while to learn. Modes include scenic (for landscapes) and nightvision. I haven't put its ruggedness to the test. Given its SLR lens, I have tried to be fairly gentle with it. It also takes movies, but they are not Sony camcorder quality, although they are better than the satelitte phones CNN has been using from Iraq. The camera uses memory sticks, so figure those in your cost as well. Pics from plane were good where the scene outside was bright and objects distinct (for example icebergs floating in the Artic Ocean) but were not as good with less distinct objects (such as mist-shrouded Canadian Rockies).

If interested, PM me and I'll send you a slide show which includes movies that I did with the camera.

So, you are the one behind the Paris Hilton video :eek:

Good Job ^

I love my Canon S50 camera, although, it does take a second or so after pressing the shutter and taking the picture.

Other than that, it is a wonderful camera.

I wish I were. I probably would have a good bit more cash in my pocket, among other things.

Happy with mine
 

I am very hapy with my Canon Powershot S400. The newer version is the S410, or if you want a 5 MP version, the S500. I think the 4 MP version is more than sufficient.

A friend of mine bought the Pentax OptioS4i. It is smaller than the Elph, but the reviews say the Elph takes better pictures. They both use proprietary digital batteries.

The things I would change about my camera-- I wish there was a remote for timer pictures (minor annoyance) and the camera gives very little warning that the battery is low (useful to have a spare).

All the above cameras have 3X optical zooms. If you want a very compact camera, it's hard to go much above that.

Check out www.dpreview.com or www.steves-digicams.com for more info, too. I have found them useful.

Additional resources online:

http://www.dcresource.com/
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/index.asp

I purchased a Sony DSC-P1 in 2001 and still love it. Unlike the newer Sony models, it has a metal (not plastic) body, and it uses a lithium battery. A well-cared-for used P1 might be a good buy.

This one i think you can get an underwater case for - colleague of mine took it on a diving trip back then. some very nice underwater photos...

When I went looking for a dig camera, these were some of my criteria:

• Use AA batteries rather than proprietary batteries - never be caught with flat batteries
• Min 6x optical zoom. Forget digital zoom, that just reduces the picture resolution and only useful in limited circumstances
• Fast action from pressing button to taking photo (some cameras have a long lag, though much better with current models than a few years back)

I always carry at least one spare set of fully charged AA NiMH 2100mAh batteries in my camera case. Digi camera are heavy on batteries. And if I am ever caught with flat batteries I can go into almost any corner store and buy a set of Alkaline AA's.

Watch out for lenses with large zooms. They generally have poor wide angle performance. Its great to be able to zoom in to get a close-up pic of that aircraft at the other end of the tarmac, but there are times when you will want a wide angle to get the aircraft parked in the adjacent bay. Without going to the expense of a camer with SLR-style interchangable lenses, make sure you understand the compromise between zoom and wide angle performance. Mine only goes out to 34mm and there are times I would really prefer to get out to 28mm. But I do like the 6x optical zoom and use that quite regularly.

There are not many digital still camera that do a very good job of movies with audio. If that is a major criteria, then I suggest you really want to look for a digital video camera that has still shot capability, and I don't have much experience with them to offer.

By the way, Fuji and Olympus make some good cameras with good 6x to 10x optical zoom lenses.

The only fix for that is a D- or film SLR.

I was at a kid's party recently with my Nikon F65 (film), and I was the only one with an SLR, and the only one who got any action shots of 2-4 year olds at full speed. A Nikon 5700, 5400, Canon IXUS 300, a Pentax Optio 430?, a couple of Kodaks - none of which could focus then shoot with flash anywhere near the speed of an SLR.

I went through the whole digital thing, and nearly bought a Canon G3 a year ago. With the new Nikon D70, now might be the time to revisit.

I can also keep my Nikkor lenses, and SB TTL flash...

As someone who is looking very hard at the EOS 10-D and leaving the film world altogether, I am in agreement with your general advice on SLRs. However, some of the difficulty digital camera users have getting action shots is that they don't know how to use the features of the camera they have. On the Canon ELPH series (and many/most autofocus cameras) you can depress the shutter button halfway to obtain focus and apeture lock. Once this is done, you can hold the button halfway until you are ready and then you can depress the shutter fully to take the pic instantly. I use this trick all the time for candids of children, who can't usually be relied on to do the same thing twice otherwise.

I am a huge fan of my Canon Powershot S400. Top quality pictures, excellent design, ample features, and a very compact camera. It would be my recommendation.

I'm in the same boat right now - looking for a better digicam. I have an old Canon S100 (the little Elph thing) that still works nice for snapshots. It's 2MP and fits in a pocket - perfect for parties and stuff like that where you want to take a bunch of simple pics of people and upload/email small pics of average quality. But my little Elph fails miserably when I attempt to photograph pinnipeds. :(

So I think I want to step up to the next level - even if it means taking a class to learn how to take really good photos with a mid-range ("prosumer") camera. I've read countless reviews about cameras - and lots of advice on how to go about properly learning to use to a good camera - but I can't pull the trigger on actually buying one.

Here is my dilemma: Canon, Nikon, Minolta, and Sony all have fairly new "prosumer" models out now, released in late '03 or early '04. All have received fine reviews from the main review sites. All of them sell for $650-800 shipped. The problem is that I haven't found a single vendor that offers these cameras at a fair price and doesn't have pages and pages of very negative customer reviews from people who have been baited-and-switched, had their camera never show up, had a camera show up without the UPC bar code (I guess the code tore off when it fell off the truck ;)), etc., etc., etc. Problem after problem - and the only positive reviews look like poorly-written planted comments. I know the easy way out is to go to my local high-end camera store and pay about $1100 for the $650 camera, but know walking out the door that I have what I paid for.

Or...I can wait until Costco has what I want. (They are always a few months behind, but they frequently have good stuff at 10-20% higher than the best online price, which is a premium I'd be willing to pay to walk out with the gear in hand.)

So my question is: how do you guys buy cameras? I have always had great luck buying computer gear from deep-discount online shops, but camera stuff seems to be different. Ripoffs abound. And is it any coincidence that every single online camera vendor is based in Brooklyn? Is it just one big company?