Posted on 03/30/2009 1:41:28 AM PDT by Doogle
I'm looking to purchase a small digital camera and need feedback from FReepers. Experiences, likes,dislikes, models, makes......
PowerShot A1000 IS Good value camera. Great pictures.Pocketable, powerful for it's size.
PowerShot SD970 IS A little more upgrade from above, also very portable.
The camera I purchased. PowerShot SX10 IS Massive amount of features in a great package. Rotating screen, 0 macro distance, all the features of an SLR without the price.
If you want samples of what this camera can do, Freepmail me.
That’s correct.
I thought Doogle wanted a compact camera, where these details are not as easily available, unlike lens diameter and megapixels.
I had/have the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS and it’s a great camera...loved it!
I upgraded about 1 1/2 years ago to the Canon EOS 350D (Digital Rebel XT) and absolutely LOVE it. It has SLR and I can take multiple pics in seconds, which is nice because it’s hard to miss the perfect shot. It’s this one:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos350d/
Both Canons are fairly easy to use, but the second one with SLR is going to cost ya about 2x the first. I chose to upgrade because I take a lot of pics of my kids for my business and need prefer the SLR function and higher megapixels.
I’ve heard good things from a lot of e-friends about the entry level Nikon SLR camera, too, but I’ve personally never used it.
The first thing you need to ask is what features you want.
If you want the smallest camera with the best zoom, then the Panasonic’s the best. It is the smallest camera with a 10x zoom. Some of the pictures I have taken with it are amazing.
Canon cameras usally have the best image quality, but if you want a better zoom their cameras are a bit bulky.
Sony also makes a nice camera, but again if you want zoom, too big.
Bottom line for me, Sony or Canon for best picture quality (without a great zoom), Pansonic for best zoom (still great picture quality, but not as nice as Sony or Canon).
Canon SD880i for just under three hundred.
Widest glass lens of the bunch with all controls on the back for one handed use.
Lens quality is superior to others in the series and that generally trumps mega pixel count.
Now, when you get ready for the SLR a Nikon 18-200 zoom on the D-90 is a real killer but we are talking major life purchase range for an outfit starting with that.
I bought a very small Kyocera camera. Although it took excellent photos, the rechargable battery was good for about 12 to 15 pictures. And before you say it was a defective battery, I bought 2 spares and none of them lasted more that the same 12 to 15 shots.
Some folks will be upset, but I do not like Kodak stuff these days, build quality is marginal, and the extra stuff Kodak builds in, "easy share" etc, does nothing for image quality but takes resources away from it. You pay for everything in the camera, best go for function not bling.
Look at cameras, search for reviews on line, see what folks are saying on the photo forums, and go from there. Advertisements don't mean much. If you aren't going to print circus posters 8MP is plenty. Cramming too much MP output on a small point and shoot camera sensor ruins image quality. Even 8MP is pushing hard. I've got an old Olympus 2MP that will flat kick butt against many of the newer, larger cameras. It's 10 years old, no breakdowns, but I'm getting ready to throw a 3 year old Kodak P850 in the trash, it's been garbage from the start.
Canon Power Shot has my vote for a compact camera. Easy to operate, good opticals, VERY small. You can literally carry it in your pocket.
Some of the Canons don’t have threads allowing a tube adapter to be used. For an outdoor camera the ability to use a filter on a tube is critical, it keeps the lens barrel from pumping dirt.
We have 4 of them. Wouldn't buy anything else.
It has the digital display screen, too, of course, but it can be hard to see in bright light.
Depress the shutter button partially and the camera focuses automatically.
I was doing the same research as you are. My brother-in-law recommended this camera to me and I bought one.
You can't believe the quality of pictures this thing can take.
For any cameras that interest you, dig into the company’s website and look for the owner’s manual for the specific model. You can really get a lot of good info by reading the manual (how do you change the battery, how difficult is it to change settings, etc.)
When shopping for a digital camera for my Mom, I wanted one that was simple. A quick look at the size of the user manual was a clue to the complexity of the camera.
dont buy a small one
the lens’ are too small to get a really nice picture
get one of those that looks like a mini 35mm, they would be about $250 or $300 and the [picture quality is hugely better than a small digital
If you have $700, get a full size digital SLR, it is worth it
Consider the end state that you intend your images to be, then back track to the kind of digital camera you need to get there. BTW, agree with other posters ref the Canon series. My pocket camera is the Canon SD1100 IS. Great little camera. Go here for research:
I got a D40 with the 18 - 55 and 55 - 200 lenses for $434 last February. I love the camera and I am able to take great pics with it. The D-90 is way out of my price range.
I am a real estate agent, and do property valuation reports sometimes requiring multiple photos along with residential sales & listings. I also have the world’s cutest grandkids who need to be photographed frequently. < /opinion >
I bought a Fujifilm FinePix, 5.1 megapixels, small and simple, a few of years ago. I have been satisfied with the results.
Some use a battery that must be recharged, others use off the shelf batteries. I'm still using an old Canon Powershot A20... standard AA batteries that you can buy anywhere.
Stay away from Kodak. They don’t allow anyone but themselves to service the cameras. I paid over $400 one of their cameras, took less than 500 pictures, and the camera lens froze. Kodak won’t fix it and the only thing they were willing to do is give me a 20 percent discount on my next Kodak purchase.
I don’t think so.
The D-40 is a great buy and covers most of the features carried by the 60 and 90.
I went for the D-90 for its video on an SLR feature and my purchase was a “last I’ll ever buy” type purchase. I figure that it will last fifteen to thirty years and that matches my trajectory for my brain. LOL.
The lens was about as much as the body and except for low light portraits I never have to change lens. I got the big seperate flash to give me dual slave capability and a 1.4 50mm which shoots like a 75 with the lens factor.
Like I said — once in a lifetime type purchase. Its the only SLR I’ve bought in 17 years — I was still shooting film
I sold a Sony to get a Canon, and regret I lack the funds to go back to Sony. I don’t like Sony’s proprietory storage cards, but Sony has the best menu to work with.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.