I use a digital camera everyday....work. I have used several....over the years. My latest is a HP. It blows away everything else I have ever used . I used the olympus c4000 but imo the hp is better. Virtually the same price.
I have compared prints also....the hp is better then all all I ve seen so far.........I use a hp printer too.....lcd display (well worth it)

Also add in the cost of a bigger card (128), a recharger and some batteries....One of my biggest concerns becuase I use mine like a third hand is that it lasts.....don t even consider anything that takes only 2 aa batteries.....I don t know if you can find them anymore though....

 

I've got a 4MP Olympus D-40. I shoot just about everything in 2MP mode though. One thing I like about this camera is that it fits in my shirt pocket: Rule 1 of photography, "You can't get the shot if the camera's not with you.".

Think about battery life. Mine takes 2 high capacity rechargeable AAs and lasts for about 100 shots between charges if I don't use the LCD for aiming. I carry 2 sets of batteries with me (1 in the camera and a spare) and have not been let down yet.

Think about memory capacity. My Olympus is limited to 128 Meg card. That is not a limiter for me, but some other cameras will let you store 1 Gig or more.

Don't forget about peripherals. You'll need a good photo printer like the HP models that have a 73 year light fastness (Full disclosure: I work for HP.), and some sort of long-term storage strategy like a CD burner. You will fill up a hard drive quickly with digital photos.

I would recomend a review site like http://www.dpreview.com/ and I would also speak with folks you know who have a digital camera to find out what they like and don't like about what they own. (I know, that's what you're doing here.)

Good luck and let us know how you come out!

100 Proof

 

Don't forget to take a look at the Olympus Stylus series... we sell quite a few of these because they have a lot of nice features for a good price. One of the best features, IMHO, is the fact that it is water resistant. Not water PROOF, you can't take it diving but it won't die if it gets a little spray on it.

DB,

If you would like more info on this, feel free to PM me.

Jim

 

Stan, MINE not only accepts a bigger lens...but also has a hot shoe. :P ;D

 

I have the Sony DSC-F707. Works great. Has more features than I'll ever use... : I also have an HP7550 printer that spits out some fine prints on kodak paper! I'm pleased with the combo...


Tony

 

I got the Canon S200 Digital Elph.

Don't care about big pics, just for posting on the web, maybe the occasional 4x5 printout.

2x optical zoom (could use more) 5x digital (ick).
2 Megapixel.

Small enough to fit in a shirt pocket.

Got it after the 3 and 4 Megapixel versions came out, paid around $250 for it.

Came with an 8meg compactflash card, got a 128meg card for pretty cheap, Verbatim instead of Canon's.
Can fit 8 high resolution pics on the 8meg card, so at least 100 on the 128 card (hardly ever use high resolution anyway)
Picked up a compactflash USB reader for 20 bucks, works on any computer with USB.
Interface on the camera didn't like my computer, easier to shell out the $20 than futz with the interface forever, and can use it with any compactflash card, even as transportable disk for data.

Got it as Best Buy, opted for the extended warranty, it includes a new battery at end of coverage.
Battery costs more than the warranty did, so well worth it IMHO.


phox

Someday I would like to get one with interchangable lenses, but that is way in the future.

 

Just got a Canon G5. More of an impulse buy, but I had been looking at the G2 and G3. The G5 is a 5.1 Megapixel and can also take up to 3 mins of video with sound. Has 4X optical zoom, 16X digital (I'm aware of the limitations of digital zoom). Package came with a 2X tele adapter, wide angle adapter and filters, including a polarizing filter. I have a 128 MB card, USB reader, charger etc.

So far, I love it. It takes incredible pictures and has lots of the EOS modes which gives me flexibility if I want to be creative or a pretty good full auto mode. Has a nice heft to it and fits my hands very nicely, but it's small enough to carry in a camelback while I'm biking or skiing.

Spent more than I originally budgeted for a new digicam, but I figure this one'll still be good for many years to come. The Powershots are nice cameras.

 

I did some more looking today and tried a few out and do believe I better stay with more of a point and shoot model. The higher end cameras are way too hard to use for my tastes.

I think I'm going to buy a Canon Power Shot S400 or S45 both are pretty much the same except the S45 has a few more manual controls that the S400 does not, and the S45 also has a sliding door that covers the lense, not sure if I like that or not. :-

Any body know any bad things about these 2 cameras?

Thanks again
DB

 

what r the prices on those D?

 

Cheapest I've found is on Amazon.com and it's $449.99 for the S400 and $458.94 for the S45. I'm looking at some of the above review sites and so far they say good things about both cameras. 8) The Circut City I went to down this way wanted $499 for the S400. :-

DB

 

I have a Sony Mavica 1.3 mega pixels that I purchased about 5 years ago. No problems and works great. I have no complaint with only 1.3 mega pixels, I do a lot of website developement, art photography,etc.

I bought this model because I could just slip in a floppy, none of those expensive sticks or what not, and shoot it directly into my PC when done. Now they have a newer model that records directly on a mini CD. On Yahoo shopping they are under $500 and now have 5 mega pixels, Zeiss lens and boo coos of storage capacity.

 

This is what I found under the tree last Christmas from Wifey and Daughter.



SLR system 5.0 M pixel, more camera than I'll ever need.
Kinda the "Cummins" of Digital cameras. ;D

 

[quote author=DarrellB link=board=10;threadid=18032;start=15#msg169316 date=1060234683]
I did some more looking today and tried a few out and do believe I better stay with more of a point and shoot model. The higher end cameras are way too hard to use for my tastes.

I think I'm going to buy a Canon Power Shot S400 or S45 both are pretty much the same except the S45 has a few more manual controls that the S400 does not, and the S45 also has a sliding door that covers the lense, not sure if I like that or not. :-

Any body know any bad things about these 2 cameras?

Thanks again
DB
[/quote]

I have two Canon digital cameras, one of them about 7 years old (yeah, I was an early adopter on this one ) and the other just a little over a year old. I haven't had even the least bit of trouble with either one of them. Both use CF cards and standard AA batteries so in a pinch you can put alkalines in there. Canons typically get great reviews for their optics, and like I said, I've had zero problems with either of mine.

 

Thanks for all your help fellas. 8)

I ordered my Canon Power Shot S400 today. Got the camera for $408 (almost $100 cheaper than any stores around here), and also ordered the Pro kit with it for $199. The kit includes and extra battery, 200 some odd Super Flash card, 12 volt battery charger, Flash card reader to plug directly into the computer, lense cleaning kit, and small leather camera case. Not a bad deal considering the battery, and the Flash card are over $200 if you buy them alone.

I can't wait to get it and practice up before Scheids, it's going to be nice to take pics and put them up on my PC or print them out.

Happy Early Birthday to Me. ;D

DB

 

Whatever you do.....do NOT buy a Canon Power Shot S400!! I just read a TERRIBLE review on those. The funny thing is that I saw one place selling them for $408!!! I couldn't believe it!!!! $408 for a camera that you can buy just about anywhere for $129!!! It's amazing what some people must be thinking. : They even had a "special" going.....you could get a $50 "Pro Kit" (yeah right) for a one time offer of $199!! : Amazing...simply amazing. : The REALLY sad thing is that some poor sucker will come along and think it's a great deal and ****** it up. : :-

Aside from that....I'd say buy something you like. Hope this helps. Let us know what you decide to get.