Camera advice N/A

AdamZ

AdamZ

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Feb 24, 2005
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Montgomery County PA
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Display name:
Adam Zucker
So my wife and I have a Kodak Easy Share DX4330 digital camera with docking station. ( 3.1 mega pixels) nothing to fancy. All of or photos are stored on the computer on the Easy Share program and once a year I copy the years photos onto CD or DVD.

Its not a very fast camera and takes a few second to recapture so to speak.

My MIL got my daughter now 12 1/2 a Polaroid i533 digtial camera that is nice and compact but frankly a POS and not very user friendly. It constantly shuts off and is a real Pain.

I've be thinking about getting here a new camera but dont' know what to get. She does not need anything to fancy. I considered giving her the Kodak Easy Share and geting a new on for my wife and I but I'd have to figure out how to get all the photos in one place.

I don't want to break the bank on this but if its for me I'd like something decent .

Any thoughts either way on this what should I get my daughter or if I give her mine what should I look at for her?
 
Adam, I bought all of my engineers Kodak Easy Shares about 18 months ago and they are all still working fine. These engineers live on the road and the camera takes a beating and keeps on clicking (I kinda like that :)).

However, like you stated, the camera is nothing fancy but does what it designed to do rather well and the price point is easy on the budget.
 
Adam, I chose the Easy Share 753s for the office. I have a couple of them. Agree with Preds Fan, and to boot the battery is huge compared to the drain. Nobody is EVER running out of power. The battery is a commonly avaialable Gorrilla Cellphone battery.

They're still ticking and it's been 4 years. My wife loves hers.
 
I picked up the Easy Share Z1285, 12.2 mega pixels and does HD video if I need.
 
Listen to Elizabeth. She takes nice pictures. :)
 
Adam, I have a camera and photography problem, so my advice may be a little insane.

I bought my wife a SD 950 IS and it does expose a nice picture, extremely easy to use. Very good software on board and clean color rendering. $310 from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSh...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1222096026&sr=1-1

Super easy to use and really a well built camera.

Cheers,

-Andrew
who has his eyes on the new 5d mk II
 
Adam, I have purchased 4 (yes 4) Fujifilm S5000's off E-bay now the most expensive was $160 and the most recent, and cheapest was $91. Two stayed with my family and two I gave as gifts for other family/friends.
Here, for example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fuji-Finepix-S5...ryZ31388QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fuji-Finepix-S5...ryZ31388QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I think Jesse actually sold one to a fellow POA'er a couple of years ago. It's a rugged camera, simple to operate, takes great pictures and with a 5q2 MB card shoots pretty good outdoor short videos in the .avi format. To me, one of the best features is that I can plug it into a usb port on my laptop or desktop and it shows up as a removable drive. I just drag and drop the files onto my hard drive. My dad has Kodak's easy share and except for Norton/Symantic products, it's the most invasive and annoying software I've ever encountered. It's constanty trying to update itself, and if it can't reach Kodak, it will ty up your connection till it does. Kodak even had to offer an application just to get rid of Easyshare.
 
Keith Lane said:
My dad has Kodak's easy share and except for Norton/Symantic products, it's the most invasive and annoying software I've ever encountered. It's constanty trying to update itself, and if it can't reach Kodak, it will ty up your connection till it does. Kodak even had to offer an application just to get rid of Easyshare.
Click to expand...

Very true about the soft wear Keith.
 
Keith Lane said:
Adam, I have purchased 4 (yes 4) Fujifilm S5000's off E-bay now the most expensive was $160 and the most recent, and cheapest was $91. Two stayed with my family and two I gave as gifts for other family/friends.
Here, for example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fuji-Finepix-S5...ryZ31388QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fuji-Finepix-S5...ryZ31388QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I think Jesse actually sold one to a fellow POA'er a couple of years ago. It's a rugged camera, simple to operate, takes great pictures and with a 5q2 MB card shoots pretty good outdoor short videos in the .avi format. To me, one of the best features is that I can plug it into a usb port on my laptop or desktop and it shows up as a removable drive. I just drag and drop the files onto my hard drive. My dad has Kodak's easy share and except for Norton/Symantic products, it's the most invasive and annoying software I've ever encountered. It's constanty trying to update itself, and if it can't reach Kodak, it will ty up your connection till it does. Kodak even had to offer an application just to get rid of Easyshare.
Click to expand...

I just picked up an EZ Share camera, but did not load the software. USB cable to laptop=removeable drive just like your Finepix. The S5000 is a nice camera though....
 
Henning said:
I just picked up an EZ Share camera, but did not load the software. USB cable to laptop=removeable drive just like your Finepix. The S5000 is a nice camera though....
Click to expand...

I just wish I had gotten to my Dad's camera/PC prior to his loading the S/W. Too late now. My Father in Law had an Easyshare for a week or two before returning it for some reason I can't remember. After that his PC was reeeellllyyy ssslllooowwww. I'm seem to be his support guru, so one Sunday afternoon I spent several hours trying to get rid of Easyshare.

I don't have a problem with the Easyshare Cameras per se, just that virus - like software. It takes over ALL of the jpeg files on his computer. Dad's camera takes great point 'n shoot pics.
 
What I really like about my Canon SD800IS is that it has an extra wide-angle to it. More so than other Canons, at any rate. The 870IS is the next-gen of the one I have (the link I mentioned above). At 231 bucks I might pick it up just to have a spare.
 
woodstock said:
What I really like about my Canon SD800IS is that it has an extra wide-angle to it. More so than other Canons, at any rate. The 870IS is the next-gen of the one I have (the link I mentioned above). At 231 bucks I might pick it up just to have a spare.
Click to expand...
Yeah, my SD900 broke after 18 months, saying that it has a lens failure, just as we were packing up to leave 6Y9 this year. I got it with AmEx membership rewards points, so hopefully they'll honor the extended AmEx warranty and repair/replace it. I like the pictures it takes, though I didn't realize it lacked the image stabilization that yours has when I got it. Though we were looking at getting a DSLR when we were planning on Alaska. If AmEx doesn't come through, maybe we'll do that.
 
My SD700IS is a good camera to toss in my flight bag and carry with me. Most of my ConUS claim pictures were done with it. It was the first one of the series with image stabilization in it; that's why I bought it to replace an S410.

Unlike Elizabeth, I won't tout the SD870IS; while wide angle is nice, the lack of an optical viewfinder is a deal-breaker for me.
 
I've been really wanting to get a DSLR, but I can't really tell you (or I) why? I guess perhaps the ability to change lenses is nice and the quickness of clicketyClicketyClick

I just heard Casio has a camera that is capable of 600 shots per second for 3 consecutive seconds. WOW
 
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OtisAir said:
I've been really wanting to get a DSLR, but I can't really tell you (or I) why? I guess perhaps the ability to change lenses is nice and the quickness of clicketyClicketyClick

I just heard Casio has a camera that is capable of 600 shots per second for 3 consecutive seconds. WOW
Click to expand...

Wow is correct, something is either incorrect about that, or very expensive.
 
jmaynard said:
My SD700IS is a good camera to toss in my flight bag and carry with me. Most of my ConUS claim pictures were done with it. It was the first one of the series with image stabilization in it; that's why I bought it to replace an S410.

Unlike Elizabeth, I won't tout the SD870IS; while wide angle is nice, the lack of an optical viewfinder is a deal-breaker for me.
Click to expand...

But the optical viewfinder isn't accurate, if that is what you are using to compose (it's not an SLR), and, personally, I've never used it on my P&S photos. I only use the LCD.
 
Heard it in a "TWIP" (This Week In Photography) podcast whilst cutting the grass yesterday. Perhaps I heard it wrong, but Casio is releasing it's 60FPS camera for less than $1000 already. I image the faster one will be considerably more. I'll really look to find the article to post here because I could definitely be wrong about it.
 
woodstock said:
But the optical viewfinder isn't accurate, if that is what you are using to compose (it's not an SLR), and, personally, I've never used it on my P&S photos. I only use the LCD.
Click to expand...
It's accurate enough to get the camera pointed in the right direction, and that's all I ask. I gave up on cameras without optical viewfinders when I discovered the hard way that I couldn't compose on the LCD if the light was dim enough to require flash: if the scene is that dim, it's not bright enough to generate enough image on the LCD to see what you're doing.
 
OtisAir said:
I've been really wanting to get a DSLR, but I can't really tell you (or I) why? I guess perhaps the ability to change lenses is nice and the quickness of clicketyClicketyClick

I just heard Casio has a camera that is capable of 600 shots per second for 3 consecutive seconds. WOW
Click to expand...

Henning said:
Wow is correct, something is either incorrect about that, or very expensive.
Click to expand...

$1000

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/t...p=1&adxnnlx=1222387508-/0mRTIe+/k0VmDsScKFvvg
 
OtisAir said:
I've been really wanting to get a DSLR, but I can't really tell you (or I) why? I guess perhaps the ability to change lenses is nice and the quickness of clicketyClicketyClick

I just heard Casio has a camera that is capable of 600 shots per second for 3 consecutive seconds. WOW
Click to expand...

Henning said:
Wow is correct, something is either incorrect about that, or very expensive.
Click to expand...

mikea said:
$1000

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/t...p=1&adxnnlx=1222387508-/0mRTIe+/k0VmDsScKFvvg
Click to expand...

Right...Now, please notice that the article says 60 fps, not 600....
 
What ever you get make sure it has OPTICALimage stabilization. The advantages are huge and the cost delta isn't.
 
Right now Target is selling a few DSLR's for less than $500.00... would I be wasting my money on if I got one of them. I think one is the Rebel for $499.00, another is the Nikon D40 ($499) and they have one over there for $384.00 that just came down from $500.00. Any comments?
 
OtisAir said:
Right now Target is selling a few DSLR's for less than $500.00... would I be wasting my money on if I got one of them. I think one is the Rebel for $499.00, another is the Nikon D40 ($499) and they have one over there for $384.00 that just came down from $500.00. Any comments?
Click to expand...

Does that include a decent lens?
 
lancefisher said:
Does that include a decent lens?
Click to expand...

Trying to read from the pictures at http://www.target.com/Nikon-6-1MP-D...=UTF8&node=389819011&frombrowse=1&rh=&page=1: Nikkor AF-S DX ED 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6GII

It's available for $70 more (including the shipping cost) from Costco, where it also comes with a 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR Lens and a 2GB SD card through Sunday, but they're saying to expect 2-3 weeks before shipping due to high demand. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1
 
gprellwitz said:
Trying to read from the pictures at http://www.target.com/Nikon-6-1MP-D...=UTF8&node=389819011&frombrowse=1&rh=&page=1: Nikkor AF-S DX ED 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6GII

It's available for $70 more (including the shipping cost) from Costco, where it also comes with a 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR Lens and a 2GB SD card through Sunday, but they're saying to expect 2-3 weeks before shipping due to high demand. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1
Click to expand...

Well, neither of those lenses are "good" lenses, but they aren't junk either, the good thing is, you should be able to use any of the Nikkor F mount AI cut lenses so you can upgrade lenses and bodies seperately as you decide.

A good starter would be the D-40 and a Sigma 24-70 2.8 and a Sigma 70-200 2.8

This will get you two very good bright crisp lenses and will adequately handle most any situation you'll run into with very high optical quality and resolution(Sigma is the only aftermarket lens manufacturer I'll buy a lens from, the rest are pure junk) and will be useable on any F-mount camera you may own in the future, even an old Nikon F 35mm film camera (though the autofocus won't work on non AF model bodies, and the auto exposure wont work on non AI bodies, they are revertable to full manual). Then, if you find you want more digital resolution, you can upgrade the body, and still have lenses that do a 16.7 mega pixel body justice. Always buy top end glass, a poor lens is always frustrating. If you have to budget, budget on the body.
 
I think the step-up from a "point 'n' shoot" to a real DSLR is just huge. The kit lens you get with a low-cost DSLR isn't going to win any awards, but the lens on a low-price "point 'n' shoot" won't either, in most cases.

But the DSLR just gets you a far more functional device. Better auto-focus response, reduced shutter lag, more control, a larger sensor, better depth of field control, better low-light performance.

The downside is generally cost and a larger and heavier device. A point 'n' shoot that you take with you takes better pictures than a DSLR that you leave home.
-harry
 
mantakos said:
I think the step-up from a "point 'n' shoot" to a real DSLR is just huge. The kit lens you get with a low-cost DSLR isn't going to win any awards, but the lens on a low-price "point 'n' shoot" won't either, in most cases.

But the DSLR just gets you a far more functional device. Better auto-focus response, reduced shutter lag, more control, a larger sensor, better depth of field control, better low-light performance.

The downside is generally cost and a larger and heavier device. A point 'n' shoot that you take with you takes better pictures than a DSLR that you leave home.
-harry
Click to expand...
A pretty good summary. There's certainly room in my flight bag for a nice little P&S. Room for a DSLR, especially with a couple of lenses? Not so much so. Where they can overlap a bit is on the cost side of things. $400-$500 can get you a nice p&s or an entry level, albeit decent(?) DSLR. Or you can get a $15 keychain P&S at Walgreens or a $3500 DSLR at Costco.

(Yes, I know that Costco isn't a camera store and that you can go way up from there with a set of lenses, etc.)
 
This is my set up for taking video pictures out of my planes front window.
 

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gprellwitz said:
It's available for $70 more (including the shipping cost) from Costco, where it also comes with a 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR Lens and a 2GB SD card through Sunday, but they're saying to expect 2-3 weeks before shipping due to high demand. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1
Click to expand...

I went back to Target this morning and they were sold out. The Rebel had gone down to $384.00 and the additional 70-200mm lens was an additional $200.00. The Rebel was sold old and won't be brought back (THIS IS NOT THE REBEL something something for $799.00)...

Anyway, I went online to Costco a little bit ago and ordered the one you provided the link for. Like you mentioned, there will be a short delay in receiving it. I'll let you know how long it takes to arrive.

Thanks again for the link.

Shane
 
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