Digtial Camera - Suggestions?

I'm getting a digital camera sometime this month, but I do not know which one to get. I want a good camera with optical and digital zoom and one that can capture videos. Any suggestions? I've looked at some of the Sony cameras, but the battery life seems poor. Thanks in advance.

 

Sorry about the title! ;)

*** This post was edited by FanTurn on 1/12/2002. ***

I recommend checking out http://dpreview.com.

-Jeff

http://americacoasters.com

I just got the Canon PowerShot S30! It's Amazing. I has a 16mb memory card, Optical/Digital zoom, Takes 30sec videos, And can take pictures up to 3 mega Pixels!  I have to say its's the best camera I have ever used. Look at this pictur of my Dog!

I have 2 digital camera's, Kodak and an HP. Im very satisfied with both of them. Olympus also makes excellent digital cameras.
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John
Planet Xtreme - http://home.nycap.rr.com/greese1/
Planet Xtreme Forums - http://pub39.ezboard.com/bplanetxtreme20680

We bought an Olympus C-3000 this summer and are very satisfied.  3.3 megapixels and also has video capability.  Not real big, fairly light, and easy to use.  We bought rechargable batteries and a recharger based on opinions from other people.  The batteries that came with the camera didn't last very long but the rechargables are really good.

I'd recomment at least 2 megapixels with 3 preferable.  Go for a 3X optical zoom.  Remember that digital zooms greatly reduce picture quality.  They are really the same as cropping the middle out of the picture. 
Plan to buy a large memory card.  At a good resolution a picture takes nearly a megabyte.  The ones that come with the cameras are usually smaller than you will want.  If you look around, you can get a 128 meg card for about $60.  Also get a card reader for your computer.  Buy the NiMH rechargeable batteries.  They are worlds better than NICads.
You will probably be best off with a digital camera that can be used manually.  Automatic exposure works poorly for coasters since the background is usually a bright sky.  This results in a very dark coaster if autoexposure is used.
Autofocus can also be a problem since a coaster is typically moving at a speed varying from 30 to 100 feet per second.  The autofocus delays the actual exposure half a second or so while it focuses.  A coaster may be out of the picture unless you prefocus.
Before you buy a digital camera for videos look carefully at what they can do.  Most are limited to shooting 30 seconds or less of video.  If you want to shoot any full fledged video you will probably be better off with a camcorder.
I just bought my wife an Olympus C-3000 for Xmas.  It seemed to fit our needs the best though there are many excellent cameras available.

*** This post was edited by Jim Fisher on 1/12/2002. ***

Im not sure how much ur willing to spend but sony digital camcorders have really good life batery , I think up to 8hrs, And you could buy the sony 8 hr batterys in the a store i have a JVC digital camcorder and the most battery life they sale in stores I have seen is up to  4 1/2 hrs but if you call the company you can get them for 8hrs.

Nitro230ft, I just bought that same camera and yes it is amazing. It is quite expensive but WOW! I have iPhoto and it goes great with that(if you have an apple computer). The battery life is great also.

If you are looking for a digital camera to use for things such as pictures to be viewed on your computer or webpage, don't go for 3 megapixels. Even 2 might be getting too high. Thats way more than you need. If you are planning on printing them, then go ahead with a 3 megapixel.

I'd also recommend reading http://www.cnet.com/electronics/0-1429209-8-7936019-1.html?tag=st.cn.sr1.ssr.ce_digcam before buying a digital camera.

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I have no signature.

Heh, don't get digital.  Just get a standard 35mm and a scanner.  ;-)

If you are on a budget, Fuji makes excellent "low end" models. They offer the best quality of cameras in their price range, and are very user friendly. If you want to go for something more "pro", I recommend the Nikons and the upper level Sonys.

Get a Canon S110 or S300 great small size; slightly larger than a pack of smokes.  2.11 MP and a cool metal housing. http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/s110/index.html
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Whats life if you never get to the Po!nt?

I recommend an HP or a Sony. I just got an HP, and with digital zoom and 2.31 mega pixel, it delivers some great pictures!

i got a fuji 6800, it is great! while a little pricy (700) it has great outdoor pics.  Also you can take some panoramic pics if you use the 6 megapixel mode and crop it vertically.  i took a great picture of holiday valley with it.  It is also very small, it easily fits in my pocket

it can also take 3 1/2 minute videos. 

Ok...I think have found the camera I want. It is the Sony DSC-P50. It says it will capture as much video (w/ no sound) that will fit onto a memory stick. The best memory stick offered is 128 mb. How long would that be?

Stay away from the Sony digital cameras!!!!

All of their items are proprietary, which blows. You will be forced to buy Sony memory, batteries, etc, which aren't cheap at all. And, if you get a new camera down the road that's not a Sony, or if Sony changes their own internal battery/storage technology, you will get to buy those accessories all over again. Ain't that grand? Stick with a camera that takes AA batteries, and Smartmedia or Compactflash memory.

I recommend my newest digital camera, the Olympus C-2100

2 megapixel, movie capability, low chromatic abhorration (sp?), 16mb onboard memory, long shutter speed (I cn take a picture with the shutter open for  full 16 seconds), usb connection, and...

most importantly....

10x OPTICAL zoom (you don't lose any resolution or image quality when you use it). It also has a 27x digital zoom, but you will lose image quality if you choose to use it (the amount of image quality reduction varies). 
The camera costs about $500, but it's worth every penny. You can adjust any setting on this thing, from ISO, to focus, to shutter speed, to zoom and exposure. It also has a threaded lens, so you can add real lenses and filters easily.
I will be putting the optical zoom to good work when I head on over to SFoG later this week to try and take pictures of the Superman construction.

*** This post was edited by DarkHelmet on 1/13/2002. ***

I just got a 4.3 MP digital camera with a 128 MB card. Let me say...It is awesome. Although, you may be stuck paying $800 for it.

Alright, now I have a question...I'm looking in the 200-300 dollar price range, and have successfully narrowed it down to two cameras.  Both have 2+ megapixel resolutions, with optical zooms, yet I'm not sure about their quality. 

I'm debating between the Fuji Finepix 2600, which has a 3x optical zoom, and movie capabilities, but the movies are only limited to 20 seconds, and lack sound, and the Kodak DX3600, which has a 2x optical zoom, and movie capabilities, yet the movies are only limited to the amount of memory, and have sound capabilities. 

Now, if I plan on using my camera to both take snapshots with friends, family, etc., rollercoasters, and hope to use the video w/ family and friends, what would you recommend? 

Any owners please comment on quality and "consumer" ability (ease of use, longevity, ease of everyday uses).  Thanks so much!
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*** This post was edited by V² Fiend on 1/21/2002. ***

I have a Sony Cybershot, the battery life is not an issue providing you take it to a park for a day, turn it on when u r shooting, then turn it back off again...and re-charge it overnight for the next day.  The fact it can only use Sony memory sticks is not really an issue as they don't cost more then standard ones and they are readily available.  It has 3x optical/6x digital zoom and even takes 1 minute movies.  Trust me when i say this camera rules.

I highly suggest Olympus digital camera's. I have an older model (D-460). It is very good quality. I wouldn't recommend going w/ 3 MP if your publishing on the web. I would buy 2 maybe even 1 MP. Olympus is also good because the SmartMedia is very affordable. The newer model (the number escapes me at the moment) also has video capabilities. It is 2.1MP and has a 3X Opt. Zoom and 6X Dig. Zoom. Mine has 3X Opt. and let me tell you that it is a life saver. Whatever you do, don't buy a camera w/ no opt. Zoom, you will regret it. The camera is $300 which is very affordable considering that I paid $350 on sale at Circuit City last year for a 1.3MP. But, CC was having a special deal since it was "Black Friday (Day after Thanksgiving)," I got a 32MB SM card for free!!! That a $50 dollars savings. I also highly recommend buying a warranty. These cameras are rock hard.
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