Digital Camera Advice

[Clemster]

I'm hoping someone can hlp clear some confusion..

I'm looking to buy a digital camera ready for my trip to WDW in September (Looking at spending £350 ($420ish?)).

When looking at cameras how important is the amount of megapixels?

Ive been looking at the Sony dsc-p10, it's 5 Megapixels but some of the photos just don't have a clear "edge" about them.
Would I be better paying the same amount and getting a 3 megapixel camera?

I want a camera that is capable of pictures like bobster took on his sony dsc-s75 ( http://www.wdwfan.com/wdwmagic/ ) but alas they have stopped making the camera.

so if anyone has any tips it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Bobster]

Clemster, good luck with your search. I can't help you much with recommending digital cameras (the Sony DSC-S75 is the only one I have ever used). However, I'm sure someone with a lot more knowledge on the subject (like PhotoDave219) will jump in to help out.

One thing I did want to point out however, and I've mentioned it a few times before. Every time I post pictures from a trip, I'm putting up the best 30 or 40 shots ... out of the THOUSANDS I have taken. There are many, many more not-so-good pictures than good ones.

Also note that when resizing the images (like going from 1280x960 to 650x400), I sharpen the images 99.9% of the time. This usually helps with the "clear edge" (at least I think it does) of which you speak.

If you haven't visited dpreview.com yet, I'd say take a look. It helped when I was looking for my camera.

Let us know how your search works out.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Bob, youre right on with teh shapening. I find that i have to a lot.

Technically speaking... the Megapixel amount has to do with how big your image can be. Like at 3 MP you can print out an 8x10 @ roughtly 150-200 DPI. With 5 MP you can go 11x17 at 150-200 DPI.

So long story short, the higher the MP the larger and more detail you will get in your photos.

A word on sharpness... what kind of JPEG compression are you using? I try to shoot with little to no compression so i dont lose much quality. You would definetly not be better off spending the same for less products.

I dont have much experience with Point&Shoot digitals. However... the best brands are Nikon, Canon, Olympus and maybe Sony. I'd avoid the rest. Just make sure if you buy a sony that it accpets teh current industry standard CompactFlash memory card and doesnt use dome biazrre sony propiatary memory doohicky that is obscure and cant be found anywhere... like with some of their stuff.

Feel free to IM me.

 

[The_CEO]

I am not for SONY. I feel they are over priced for the same deal you can get for NIKON which is 20 x better.

I run on a Nikon Coolpix 885 Digi

Great quality pics.


Go with Nikon.. Sonys break all the time.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Well, i try not to get into the "this band is better"... but i cant argue with that. Sony's ... well theyre hit and miss and you overpay for the price.

 

[Clemster]

Thanks for the advice guys!

I'm slowly going off the Sony's the pictures I have seen on the net just don't seem to be up to scratc compared to other cameras.

Currently taking my fancy is the Canon PowerShot S400 although it looks a little too small!and also the Olympus C-50 Zoom