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I need to buy a digital camera. Does anyone reading this blog have any recommendations?
Ariella and I are going to Italy for a week and a half at the end of the month and we'd like to to take some pictures.
In the past, we have been schlepping our 35mm Nikon and getting a CD burned when we get the film developed (like we did last year at my college reunion). But we'd rather go about it the opposite way: take digital pictures, post online, then order selected prints from Shutterfly or Ofoto for our print album.
If you've got a digital camera that you like (or dislike), post a comment so we know what to buy (or what not to buy).
[Update: we ended up buying the Olympus Camedia C-50 Zoom]
I've got one of the original Sony DSC cameras, and even after two years, I love it. Down sides are that it uses a memory stick, which means it's write cycle isn't the fastest, and like all digital cameras, there's a delay while it boots.
On the plus side, it's small with very good battery life, uses standard media, has a standard viewfinder, 4x physical zoom, and a nice feature set. The images have always been top notch. Plus I can get real pictures over at Wolf camera that are indestinguishable from film.
it's been a while since I've checked out the models, so the write speed might be faster. I'd recommend it.
Posted by jr at March 7, 2003 11:42 AMI just recently got a Pantax Optio 330GS. It's really good. 3.2MP. Really small and light. Super fast and responsive. No lense cap. It's a lot cheaper than the other cameras in its class, and so you can spend the difference on getting a wheelbarrow full of extra memory (compact flash). Just be sure to get the plug-in power supply thingy, since it doesn't come with it.
Posted by gchei at March 7, 2003 04:44 PMSorry, I wrote "Pantax". I meant, "Tampax".
Posted by gchei at March 7, 2003 04:45 PMEr, "Pentax".
Posted by gchei at March 7, 2003 04:46 PMFor me, a digital camera is only as valuable as it can be when I use it. So it had to be small, so I actually take it with me. Much of my family has the Canon Digital Elphs as a great combination of quality and size.
We also keep a Canon EOS Rebel 2000 as a good SLR and play the CD game as well. I hope you'll let your readers know which camera you chose and why...
Posted by KnipSter at March 7, 2003 06:22 PMI have a Olympus C-3000Z, it rocks. Zeev also has an olympus he's quite happy with.
Before you buy a camera, make sure to test the capture rates, in a variety of different light settings. For example, when I tested, Sony cameras had terribly slow capture rates. These things are very important, when, for example, you need to capture a 2 year old smiling :)
When looking I found the two suitable camera manufacturers to be Olympus and Nikon. Olympus just seemed to be the better manufacturer: the only disadvantage is the camera size is slightly bigger.
Make sure your camera has:
1) Good Zoom. Digital Zoom is shit. You'll want a quality optical zoom.
2) Good megapixel count. At *least* 3 megapixels.
3) A standard memory card. Sony uses proprietary parts, which makes them more expensive. Make sure to purchase at least 128mb of memory with your camera - you'll need it.
4) Durable construction and good warranty. Cameras are expensive.
Posted by Sterling Hughes at March 8, 2003 11:52 AMNikon D1X. There is no substitute.
http://www.nikonusa.com/usa_product/product.jsp?cat=1&grp=2&productNr=25205PDP
Posted by Derek at March 10, 2003 12:14 PM