Digital Cameras
 

I'm currently shopping for digital cameras-

what should I look for? ones to avoid?

can anyone recommend a certain kind (specific brand & model)?

I have a WONDERFUL digital camera... A Sony DSC-S70...3.3 megapixels...

I highly recommend Sony (but I'm biased, since I love mine!)

The things to remember when buying a camera...

1. What will you use the camera for? If you want to create pix for the web, any cheap camera will do, since you don't need high resolution... the higher the megapixels the camera has, the higher quality photos you can produce. My 3.3 megapixel was top of the line last year when I bout it... At its highest resoluton, I can take pictures that can be blown up to 20" x 30" (poster size) with no loss of clarity.

2. Zoom features.... Unless you are taking portraits or closeups, this should matter. Cameras will have a certain optical zoom and then a digital zoom. IGNORE the digital zoom... once you get past the optical zoom, the picture quality will deteriorate... so concentrate on keeping all of your shots within the optical zoom range

3. Memory and battery life.... some cameras let you take shots on floppies (but they will be low resolution - a 3.3 megapixel photo at highest resolution is over 1 meg in size, so only ONE could fit on a floppy). Sony sells memory sticks up to 64MB... I have three of them, so I don't have to worry about suddenly running out of space... Batteries should be rechargeable - preferably outside of the camera so that you don't have to tie up your camera to recharge the battery.

4. You should be able to use a USB cable to transfer your pics to your pc... Serial cable are VERY slow...

Any other questions, just ask...

Last Christmas, I got the Fuji FinePix 1300. Its a 1.3 megapixel camera. I love it! It came with an 8mb memory card and USB cable. On the highest resolution, it takes awesome pictures. Anything lower than that, the pics are good for the web, but not printing.

If you're looking to print photos at a 5X7 range and above, go with something along the lines of a 2.1 megapixel camera. If you just want it for websites, a 1.3 will do fine, and will do good 4X6 sized shots.

Also, look for cameras with removable storage (compact flash, etc) as opposed to internal memory. You can get an assload of memory for cheap, and keep a couple of cards in your camera bag to let you take literally hundreds of photos at a time. Beware though, the higher the camera resolution, the larger the image size, and the more memory you'll need. For example, on the highest setting on my camera, with 8MB of memory, I can only take 12 pics.

Try looking at www.epinions.com for some consumer opinions on things

Good luck!

it really depends on how much you want to spend, and what you plan to do with the pictures. i got a hp 1.3 mega pixel last year for Christmas so i could have something to play with. its great for pictures on my computer, and for printing out 4x6 pictures. if your looking for the best, go with the highest number of mega pixels, but if you are looking for something to have fun with a 1.3 will do. a must is your memory card. mine takes a compact flash memory card, and the higher the number the more pictures you can take. at parties it sucks when you are taking pictures with friends and then your cf is full.
hope this helped.

anyone with digital cameras:
what do you do with your pictures after you take them? do you just store them on your computer, or do you print them out and delete them? i have stored all of them on my computer, and now i am noticing that it takes up a lot of hard drive space. i was looking into getting either a zip drive or a cd burner so i could put them on something else and free up space on my computer. i have a laptop, so i would have to get an external one and those usually are more. anyway, does anyone have any advice??

Picture Storage
 

I have a burner and store my pics on CDs... Each event in its own directory.

I also use FlipAlbum (www.flipalbum.com for a free trial copy) to put the pictures into gorgeous albums and give them to friends on CDs.

I bought one! I chose a Fuji FinePix A201. It's 2.0 mega pixels. There was this Sony that I wanted, but no one had it. The Fuji was actually better than that Sony I wanted. My primarily purpose for a digital cam is for auctions. :)

My daughter asked for one this Christmas. I have NO idea what you guys are talking about. Her use would be for her computer,
sending pictures and things like that. I thought a scanner would do that. So, could someone just come out and say-JAM, go buy her a_____ AT____and she will be happy? PLEEEEZE?

Justamom, a digital camera just stores the data for any piture you take, so it doesn't use film. You just transfer the pics directly to the computer. A scanner is for scanning pictures that you already have developed from a conventional camera that uses film. I don't know which one to buy, but if you all figure it out, I will be telling my parents to get that one 'cause I want one soooo bad!!!!!! Some of my sisters have them, but I know that they are the top of the line ones and I don't want to spend 800+ bucks on one!

I rarely print my photos, even though I have a photo-quality printer (HP Deskjet 952)

I just have a separate directory for each photo, and an elaborate file name scheme for each file.

I'd get a CD burner over a Zip drive. Zips are nice, I have a parallel one, but they're slow. Very slow. Unless you now other people with zip drives or you can use them on the campus computers, I'd use CD for backup. Just use GOOD CDs. When burning music for the car, there's no difference between an Imation and a plain silverback that you got 100 for $30. When making an archive, go with Imation.

JAM, there is a cheapo polaroid (about 50 bucks) digital cam. I don't think she needs something too fancy considering her usage (and age!) :) I think it would work nicely for her.

I went shopping around yesterday and prices ranged from $50-$900 - I only had Target, Walmart and Kmart to work with.

I'm about to make a selection. I thought I'd mention I found a site tht discounts them. It's photoalley.com.

ThanKs everyone for the info!

JAM, let us know what your final selection is! :)

DAMN, damn, double damn! I just can't make a decision! I guess I'm going to have to go to an actual retail place and LOOK at it!

You all are sooo right, there's such a divergance in price that it makes me afraid I'll buy a piece of crap!lol

The reviews are what tear me up. Some say OK pictures, but eats up batteries. Others say good but no flash! All she wants is a simple point & shoot. I know she would be disappointed if there wasn't a flash. Then,what a bummer if you have to be worried about the battery life all the time. IS IT A RECHARGEABLE BATTERY?

My camera eats up batteries a lot more if I use the LCD screen to take pictures. If I just use it as a regular camera, it lasts a lot longer.

AA batteries are cheap - its easy to just carry around an extra set :)

JAM - PM me with the ones you're thinking about and I'll tell you if I know anything

Go to Best Buy....

Look at the cameras... talk to the salespeople...

Buy a Sony.... she'll be happy.