Digital Cameras

[rusty bumper]

Thanks!

I was looking at the 3-4 MP range.

If money would allow, I'd like a DSLR some day.

[ejm]

If you are interested in a zoom I would suggest you look at the Panasonic FZ line. I prefer the FZ20 as it resembles a SLR, (not too small), has a super lense 38 to 432 mm in SLR terms, 2.8 exposure for the full length etc. This is 400.00 plus but they have smaller editions with similar features for a lot less.

The lens is made by Leica and they have developed quite a following. Not a great indoor camera but certainly great for outdoor sports, wildlife etc.

Regards
ejm

ps: Try Steves Forums for great info from users of all makes as well as great reviews.(For cameras they don't know squat about cars)

[HotRodGuy]

S500 www.apple.com


Tell them you are a student and it'll cost ya $270 shipped. Awesome point and shoot!!


edit: It appears apple no longer sells it


I know they were discontinuing them in order to promote the new SD series

http://www.pricehead.com/product.asp?i=128234&ADE=2&GORAW=Canon%20S500&GOKEY=Canon%20Powershot%20S500&GOMTC=STANDARD

[Andy M.]

Thank you for all the replies and great information. I'm still thinking about a point and shoot. I'm checking the great sites you have told me about and will update you when I make a choice. I think I'm going to go to a couple of different places(stores) and check some of your suggestions out in person. The point and shoot just seems best for myself since I use it for baseball, dance recitals, CARS, etc.

Thanks again,
Andy
101impala

[RamAirV1]

If you favor the point and shoot, take a good look at the Fuji F10. It has by far the least shutter lag. If you can find an 810, go for it! Otherwise the point and shoot will frustrate you with the shutter lag at baseball games, etc. any time you take a picture of a moving subject.

RamAirV1

[jfelbab]

Besides all the other information posted here you should physically try the models on your short list. See how easy they are to change settings and how the controls feel. Take some shots in the store. Manipulate the controls. Test the image stabilization at full zoom. Compare the time it takes the camera to get ready for the next shot. Spend some time with the camera. How bright is the LCD in sunlight?

Some models not mentioned, but worth a look include a few from Olympus. The C60 Zoom, the C5500 Sport Zoom and the C7000.

Buying toys is a lot of fun.

[corvetmike]

Originally posted by jfelbab

Some models not mentioned, but worth a look include a few from Olympus. The C60 Zoom, the C5500 Sport Zoom and the C7000.

I was reading through all the threads waiting for someone to mention the Olympus cameras. I recently bought the Olympus C60 and I think it is a fine point and shoot camera. I have used it for every auto detail job that I have done. I have posted several photos on this site and I am very happy with the results. It's a great all around 6MP camera at a reasonable price. Try a Google search on the camera of your choice and you will find tons of info.

Good luck

[RamAirV1]

Originally posted by corvetmike
I was reading through all the threads waiting for someone to mention the Olympus cameras. I recently bought the Olympus C60 and I think it is a fine point and shoot camera. I have used it for every auto detail job that I have done. I have posted several photos on this site and I am very happy with the results. It's a great all around 6MP camera at a reasonable price. Try a Google search on the camera of your choice and you will find tons of info.

Good luck

They now have a C-70 too! I like the small size, and metal body of the C50/60/70 cameras. They have very good image quality, especially in color reproduction.

For a less expensive camera, the 700 series are very good also, and some of them have a 10X zoom. The advice to try out the cameras in the store is very good!


RamAirV1

[HotRodGuy]

C60 is great, I had a C50 but dropped it and it broke the 2nd day out


you can get C60's cheap through olympus that are refurbished

[RamAirV1]

Originally posted by HotRodGuy
C60 is great, I had a C50 but dropped it and it broke the 2nd day out


you can get C60's cheap through olympus that are refurbished

I dropped a C5060 (older model) and messed up the lens. It cost $200 to fix. Turnaround time was about 2 weeks, not too bad.

I dropped a Canon G5 and did no significant damage to it. Of all the point and shoot cameras, the Canons are the most rugged.

I did not drop these on purpose BTW.

RamAirV1

[rusty bumper]

Just to add to the thread,

Consumer Reports just released their DC ratings.....

3 MP cameras:

Canon PowerShot A510 $180.00

Canon PowerShot S11S $350.00

(Best Buy) Fujifilm FinePix A330 $140.00


4 and 5 MP cameras

Olympus C-5500 SportZoom $316.00

Olympus C-5060 WideZoom $499.00

(Best Buy) Kodak EasyShare CX7530 $237.00

(Best Buy) Kodak EasyShare CX 7430 $186.00

Nikon Coolpix 5400 $499.00

Kodak EasyShare LS743 $250.00

(Best Buy) Canon PowerShot A95 $291.00

(Best Buy) Olympus D-580 Zoom $189.00

Fujifilm FinePix S3100 $239.00


6 to 8 MP cameras

Nikon Coolpix 8700 $640.00

Canon PowerShot G6 $545.00

Olympus C-7070 WideZoom $619.00

(Best Buy) Fujifilm FinePix E550 $308.00

(Best Buy) Olympus C-60 Zoom $282.00

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-P150 $364.00

There are 74 cameras listed in the ratings, but I only listed their "Quick Picks"...... I'm sure these prices can be beat.

Hope this helps some.

Edit: Looks like some of you guys were right on it!

[TKDDAD]

HP945

For what it's worth, I have an HP 945 5MP camera that does a great job...two years old and never a problem....hundreds of pictures later..

[rusty bumper]

Re: HP945

Originally posted by TKDDAD
For what it's worth, I have an HP 945 5MP camera that does a great job...two years old and never a problem....hundreds of pictures later..

There's an HP 945 ($350.00) listed in the ratings just under the Kodak EasyShare CX7430.

The HP is rated high for picture quality.

[TKDDAD]

The pictures are excellent

Rusty Bumper, that's correct...the pictures I take with the HP945 are outstanding and I'd recommend it highly...

[Andy M.]

And the winner is....

Sony Cybershot dscH1.


Thanks again for all your help everyone.