Digital cameras

[KingKole02]

I looking to buy a good digital thats small for under 400 preferably under 300-350.

So far I have found and like the read on these two. Its a toss up.

Casio EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z3, this one has a cradle for upload and a big 2" LCD screen.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/ex-z3.html

Olympus Stylus 300 Digital, this one is weatherproof.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_...stylus300.html

If someone knows more, and they can tell me what the tech. info means, please do.
Thanks

[:I]

[bigdogdad]

The docking cradle does make things go alittle smoother. As you can see there are alot to choose from with a majority of them being very good cameras. Don't you just love making decisions?[8D]

Another site for you
http://www.imaging-resource.com/

[KingKole02]

Bigdog,
I love making EASY decisions. Ones that involve, "Will that look good on the cruiser?""Sure why not.""Ok."

But this, this is not an EASY decision. Im really looking to buy quality and yet expandable equipment at a good price. If you buy it once it should last you until it completey doesn't work and many more advanced models have come out after it.

Thats how I usually buy electronics.

[bigdogdad]

I own nine cameras now. From brand new to over thirty years old with one dating back to the 50's. That one has a bellows and takes 120 film. All cameras are still working and not one of them ever needed a repair.

Digital cameras in the price range your looking at and the ones I have aren't as expandable as 35mm. You cannot change lens, what you get is what you get. Some you can buy an adapter to make the lens do close ups and also double the focal length. They will get you by. Other then that I don't think the ones you are looking at will let you add a flash attachment, that comes (and just started to come) with just a few lower end cameras. Nothing wrong with any of that unless your really into the picture scene then you might want to step up to something that lets you take more control of the settings. Cameras like the Minolta A1 and the new Sony F858 (I think that is the #) let you do this and I believe cameras such as these are now concidered semi-professional. With my Minolta I still can't change lens but if I feel the need for a different lens I pull out one of the 35mm. Its a little of give and take. It took me quite some time to take the plunge into the digital world but once I did I love it. Christmas present to me this year will be a Canon i9100 printer maybe. By the time Christmas rolls around there will probably something better. It always happens, you buy something and the following week or so something comes along better. Buy, enjoy and be happy[?]

Let me state again, there are probably others around here with better advice then me but just as with mods on your car, the decision is yours.

[Jimbo]

King I know what you are going through. I was looking for a camera a while back.The problem I had was I didn't know didly about camera's
and still don't. I went with a kodak easy share with a dock . Good luck with your choice.

[turbomangt]

Bigdog, you collect old cameras? I have a few you might be interested in. One is a Bell and Howell stereo 35M with more controls on it then an air force fight plane. Another camera is just a black box, I was told it is 55 years old. Gary

[Beacon]

Like BigDog said for $300/400 you aren't going to find digicams that are expandable. Aside the the macro and wide-angle lens and adapters, you're going to be limited to swapping on some filters. You can however get a really nice point and shoot for that much. I wouldn't recommend the Casio or Minolta digitals. They have issues with longevity so unless you're okay with buying another cam in about a year I'd pass on them. I'd also caution against the Nikon digitals as their picture quality isn't entirely consistant.

For what you're looking to spend though you can take your pick from a wide assortment of Sony or Canon PowerShot cams. 4MP Canon (will accept their alternate lenses) [http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/a80.html]. There are also some Olympus digitals in that price range that have gotten some good reviews but I don't have any first hand experience with 'em.

Hey BigDog, I just got one of the Sony F828's and it's killer! Glad I held back on the 717 and waited for this one.

[bigdogdad]

Beacon

I got the itch and couldn't wait for the Sony to be released so I bought the Minolta A1. I really like it. I have had good luck with the Minolta's, this being my third one but first digital. I never thought I would like digital cameras because I like to hold the picture in my hand, pass it around for others to see but, I'll be getting a good photo printer come Christmas to do just that. Can't wait. Ever since I got into digital cameras I have been in touch with my daughter tons more then ever before. Always e-mailing her pictures from the past weekends, mini vacations and just everyday normal life. Digital cameras are really cool.

This past Christmas I got the 8 X 10 digital picture frame, now thats cool. Down load pics into it, you can program fade in and out, put either music or verbal into each picture. Too cool. People come over and just love it.

[stirfry]

I liked both your choices. I have a Nikon only has a 2.1 pix and still it's great with photo's. I heard once you get to 3 Pix and up your geting professional supper clearity. So I don't think you can go wrong for the price. Preferance I don't like docking stations no need with usb ports. Also Oly has great rep. Which viewing screen do you like, it's seems like it like cell phones how's do you like the buttons the opp's and the screen. My 2&1/2 cents.
PS thanks for the help on the stero choice.[8D]

[Gary04GT]

There are many good quality digital cameras on the market today--Minolta, Nikon, Pentax, Kodak, Samsung, Olympus, Canon, Sony--just to name some. In the past couple of years prices have dropped significantly to fit most anyone's budget. I would recommend a good quality 2.0 or higher megapixel camera to use posting pictures on the Internet, attachments to e-mail, and for general all-around use. If you plan on enlarging your photos to 11 X 14 inch prints then you probably would want get a 4 or 5 megapixel digital camera for greater picture clarity/the best resolution.

I have used a Canon PowerShot S300 (2.1 megapixel) for a couple years now and like it very much--GREAT little camera! It is compact, light-weight, and fits in my shirt pocket. Since this camera has been on the market for sometime now you might be able to find one at a bargain price if you shop around. All the photos of my PT Cruiser displayed in my PTCC Photo Gallery were taken with this camera. To view photos just click on My GT Turbo PICS by my signature.

The 2003 Consumer Reports Buying Guide (Pages 221-224) provides ratings for the various digital cameras tested. Canon, Sony, Olympus, Kodak and Nikon all received "top ratings". Good luck.