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Looking for recommendation on a good digital camera (good pics but not too expensive)
- Thread starter KentB3
- Start date
Personally I wouldn't recommend any digital camera under about $800 LOL
But - I do realize that not everyone wants such a fancy camera. For a basic digital camera I've heard that the Canons are a nice bunch (Powershots). Look for something with a good optical zoom (disregard digital zoom), and a decent number of megapixels. Megapixels aren't as important as people make them out to be - they simple determine the size of the prints you'll be able to get. Most people only need 4x6 and rarely get anything larger than 5x7 - so if that is you then a 2-3 megapixel should be fine (and inexpensive).
Here's a site that should help you narrow it down: http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/cameraList.php
But - I do realize that not everyone wants such a fancy camera. For a basic digital camera I've heard that the Canons are a nice bunch (Powershots). Look for something with a good optical zoom (disregard digital zoom), and a decent number of megapixels. Megapixels aren't as important as people make them out to be - they simple determine the size of the prints you'll be able to get. Most people only need 4x6 and rarely get anything larger than 5x7 - so if that is you then a 2-3 megapixel should be fine (and inexpensive).
Here's a site that should help you narrow it down: http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/cameraList.php
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
... As my esteemed protege' said, the Canons are good. So are the Kodaks.
Once again, a good photographer can use any camera.... Invest in a basic $30 book if youre willing to drop $400 or more on a camera.
Once again, a good photographer can use any camera.... Invest in a basic $30 book if youre willing to drop $400 or more on a camera.
dolbyman
Well-Known Member
my next one will be under that .. (Rebel XT/EOS 350 .. ok only the body will cost less .. hehe) but I think you can get nice cameras for under 800$
also nice reviews here: www.dpreview.com :wave:
FrumiousBoojum
New Member
Laura22 said:
Maybe so, but in the end, it's just a box with a hole in it.
Don't get frustrated -- use the limitations to your advantage. I use a lot of really old cameras -- those don't even have an ISO setting above 100! Just learn to love all of your cameras, no matter how cheap and dysfunctional. Be patient and let the creativity flow from them...But in addition to the Canon (as many Canons do have a manual mode for added creativity), Fuji makes some good ones in their Finepix line that is really excellent for night photography.
The biggest difference is also in the colour: most cameras emulate Kodak film, but Fuji emulates Fuji film. If you're familiar with the colour differences in those films, you may want to use that as a deciding factor, too.
KeithVH
Well-Known Member
Just spent a month researching this same issue. In the past, I've gone at least once with two bodies and several lenses. Found that was a waste; you have to drag that stuff everywhere. Recent trips I just took a film-based Olympus Epic with a fixed wide angle lens. Takes AMAZING pics with the better print films (like NPH). Will take that on our trip next month for backup but found we wanted the more immediate feedback of a digital (and developing 30+ rolls of film per trip gets expensive).
Size can be very important. We like to travel light so that was a major factor for us. Cost was somewhat important but . . . what you spend is directionallly proportional to quality. Staying at 5MP and below, trying to get the biggest sensor available, uses AA's instead of Lithium, does narrow the field. While a DSLR would be nice, carrying one with at least one lens in the parks would probably be a pain (3-4 times the weight).
If you can get past the average desire to have a megazoom (if you need that buy the Canon S2 IS), and want to spend less than $300US, look at the Canon A610 and Fuji F10. Fuji is the lowlight/high ISO quality champ in this price range. But it's not for everyone. To me, the 610 was a better choice for a snapshot camera. Got it last week and don't regret it. Makes fine 8x10s. If you can though, go into a Best Buy, Circuit City, WalMart, etc. and try to handle several in your hands - that can make a big difference at decision time. Dell currently has the 610 on special for $234 with free shipping.
Size can be very important. We like to travel light so that was a major factor for us. Cost was somewhat important but . . . what you spend is directionallly proportional to quality. Staying at 5MP and below, trying to get the biggest sensor available, uses AA's instead of Lithium, does narrow the field. While a DSLR would be nice, carrying one with at least one lens in the parks would probably be a pain (3-4 times the weight).
If you can get past the average desire to have a megazoom (if you need that buy the Canon S2 IS), and want to spend less than $300US, look at the Canon A610 and Fuji F10. Fuji is the lowlight/high ISO quality champ in this price range. But it's not for everyone. To me, the 610 was a better choice for a snapshot camera. Got it last week and don't regret it. Makes fine 8x10s. If you can though, go into a Best Buy, Circuit City, WalMart, etc. and try to handle several in your hands - that can make a big difference at decision time. Dell currently has the 610 on special for $234 with free shipping.
I have a Canon Powershot A75 (I believe the A510 is the next generation of that same model) that I used at my last trip to Disneyland. I am generally pleased with the pictures that I took with it. I had just gotten the camera a couple of weeks before going to DL, and I must say that was the biggest mistake.
Try and get your new camera as far in advance of your trip as possible. This way, you can get familiar with the camera before hitting the big vacation time. My evening and inside pictures are where I was most disappointed. If I would have read more tips and played with the "manual" modes of the camera I think I would have had much better results.
Now that it's a year later, I have now made the plunge into an SLR Digital Camera, replacing my old Film cameras almost totally now. I bought a black model of the Canon EOS Digital Rebel (non -XT). I have had much more experience playing with it, and I hope to get some really good pictures this trip to WDW in a couple of weeks
One of the big tips that I have is, especially for the Canon A75 that I have, make sure to have enough batteries. I use 2 sets of rechargeable batteries for my setup (I like the Canon A series, they use AA batteries.) From experience, one set doesn't get me through an entire day of heavy shooting. The other nice thing about using a standard battrery, almost anywhere you can find AA batteries on sale if you should go thourough all of your charged up batteries.
The next tip is that this is digital media. If you have the room, take ALOT more pictures that you might have with a film camera. My single day at Disneyland/California Adventure last December, I eneded up taking 172 pictures! Sure, not all of them were spectacular, but they didn't need to be. I now have a much more memorable trip, since I was able to take so many snapshots.
Another tip that I'll give out, is instead of buying as large of a memory card as you can, consider buying 2 smaller ones instead (ie. Instead of 1 1GIG, buy 2 512k). These ARE electronic media, and things CAN go wrong (unfortunately). So if one card decides to hiccup on you, you have another readily on hand.
Lastly, have some way of Archiving the pictures as soon as possible. I have a laptop and a mini-card reader that I copy all my pictures each night to the laptop with. My new solution is much more portable. I have a 4th Gen iPOD, with a camera connector. I have used this solution once, this past summer at Washington DC. It is a nice little backup tool that I can have with me in my camera case. It worked well with both of my Canon digital cameras, and I was even able to view a small slideshow of the pictures right after they downloaded.
I think I have rambled on quite a bit more than I thought I would I hope anyone that reads this will get some handy tips out of it
Try and get your new camera as far in advance of your trip as possible. This way, you can get familiar with the camera before hitting the big vacation time. My evening and inside pictures are where I was most disappointed. If I would have read more tips and played with the "manual" modes of the camera I think I would have had much better results.
Now that it's a year later, I have now made the plunge into an SLR Digital Camera, replacing my old Film cameras almost totally now. I bought a black model of the Canon EOS Digital Rebel (non -XT). I have had much more experience playing with it, and I hope to get some really good pictures this trip to WDW in a couple of weeks
One of the big tips that I have is, especially for the Canon A75 that I have, make sure to have enough batteries. I use 2 sets of rechargeable batteries for my setup (I like the Canon A series, they use AA batteries.) From experience, one set doesn't get me through an entire day of heavy shooting. The other nice thing about using a standard battrery, almost anywhere you can find AA batteries on sale if you should go thourough all of your charged up batteries.
The next tip is that this is digital media. If you have the room, take ALOT more pictures that you might have with a film camera. My single day at Disneyland/California Adventure last December, I eneded up taking 172 pictures! Sure, not all of them were spectacular, but they didn't need to be. I now have a much more memorable trip, since I was able to take so many snapshots.
Another tip that I'll give out, is instead of buying as large of a memory card as you can, consider buying 2 smaller ones instead (ie. Instead of 1 1GIG, buy 2 512k). These ARE electronic media, and things CAN go wrong (unfortunately). So if one card decides to hiccup on you, you have another readily on hand.
Lastly, have some way of Archiving the pictures as soon as possible. I have a laptop and a mini-card reader that I copy all my pictures each night to the laptop with. My new solution is much more portable. I have a 4th Gen iPOD, with a camera connector. I have used this solution once, this past summer at Washington DC. It is a nice little backup tool that I can have with me in my camera case. It worked well with both of my Canon digital cameras, and I was even able to view a small slideshow of the pictures right after they downloaded.
I think I have rambled on quite a bit more than I thought I would
I hope anyone that reads this will get some handy tips out of it 
WDWScottieBoy
Well-Known Member
NowInc said:
Ditto! I just got one about 2-3 weeks ago. I'm still going through all the features and working on the settings, but I LOVE this camera! And yes, it is pricey (~$1000 with a decent lens kit). Of course you have to get a nice memory card (I recommend the Hitachi 4GB or a Kodak 1GB+), and other accessories, so the price goes right up.
I personally have only used Canon (this is my 4th I believe) and won't use anything else.