Which Digital Camera?

[BryanB]

My current digital camera and camcorder both broke in the same week!!!  They almost cost as much to repair as to replace.  I need one that is good for the family pictures, but also can pack in the woods and zoom in on the animals.  I also loved my Macro setting for really close shots.  Any ideas?  I would also like to spend less than $500.  Oh yea, if I could still use my curent SD memory cards that would be great.
Bryan

[Falk]

I am really happy with my Olympus C-740 Ultra Zoom - since 3 or 4 years now! I payed 350.-Euros ($420.-) then. Should be really cheap as second hand now.

Only 3.2 Megapixle BUT:
10 times OPTICAL zoom and a very good marco. Shortest distance about one inch! All features CAN be set manually if one prefers to do so. Important if you want to take a pic through some brush - when the AF will go crazy.  You'll know that. It's easy to handle and was able to survive two trips to South Africa. Videos can be taken until memory is filled up.

Negatives:
-----------
XD-cards, which are expensive
model C-740 is without micro = no sound on videos (C-730 has one)
NO thread for any filter lenses

[jeff w]

check a couple digital photography websites--fred miranda.com  or digital photography review.com---plenty on info/comparisons given.

[Trevor]

Bryan, I just upgraded to the canon powershot S3. Love it. 12x optical zoom,multiplied by 4x digital for 48X. 6 megapixels,has a dedicated button for shooting movies.with a 2gig sd card I can take 15+ minutes of 30 frames per second avi movies with the sound recorded in stereo. I just came back from a trip to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, shot lots of scenery pics,and pics and movies of a bull moose and a pair of spruce grouse. I am totally pleased with the performance of this camera and would buy another in a minute if I had to replace it. maybe others can shed light on the other brands. good luck, and if you want any video or still frame examples just email me @ [email protected]

Trevor

[Weasel]

The Canon Powershots have a good reputation.  For still photography I would ignore the digital zoom part.  Another good 12X zoom camera is the Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ-30

 http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcfz30.asp

Or DMC FZ5

  http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcfz5.asp

[Santiam]

Bryan,

 I have the Panasonic DMC FZ7 and am very happy with it...

[Snakeeater]

Jerry, and others,

The Canon Powershot S3 IS looks pretty nice, especially at around $500. What do you guys think? Is the IS (image stabilization) feature worth choosing this camera over a similar one without the IS feature?

Thanks,

Larry

[Weasel]

Yes!!

[Snakeeater]

Does that Yes!!! mean that the S3 IS is a good camera AND that the image stabilization is worth going for.

[Snakeeater]

Also, does the IS feature mean that I don't need to shoot with a tripod to get clear/sharp pictures?

[Phil Magistro]

Larry, IS is a good thing to have.  It won't eliminate the need for a tripod in all cases but it will give you an additional couple of stops that you can hand-hold when the light starts to fall off.

[Snakeeater]

Thanks Phil.

[Todd Weldon]

I just purchased the Cannon S2 IS. It is last years model and not many changes for the S3 SI. Still has 12x optical and is 5 MP nice camera and I found mine on sale for $319. Got a 1 GB SD card on sale for $39 also. I love it and in the process of getting it all figured out.

Todd

[hunt it]

The Pentax W10 is waterproof!! Good option for hunters and around $400.00. It will be my pocket digital soon. Just bought Canon 20D while back, great digital but not under $500.00

[Baxter Byrd]

Get yourself a an auto film slr. I have seen the Canon Elan 7e for under 300 for the body, geta good lens and you can keep around 500-600. This wil beatl any digital camera for quality. No, you cant shoot thousands of pictures 'free', but then again, you havent invested tons of cash either only to be obsolete in 2 years. You have to look at how you use a camera, but for the most part, i do not shoot i digital anymore other than quickies. Anything else, all film. Some say I'm behind the curve, but my 25 year old super program (which you can get for under 30$ on ebay) will never become obsolete.
Anyone who tells you that film is dissapearing (never!, they still even make 8mm film!!, 35mm will never go away) and anyway, we opnce heard how comound bows are the way of the future and replace everything before it, but...
Also, if you do get a digital, always shoot in the highest capture mode because you never know when you will take the best pic of your life only to find you have a pic that only looks good on a PC screen...

[Phil Magistro]

Film will never go away in our lifetime but it does offer several significant drawbacks.  It's expensive.  It's a hassle to get developed.  It must be scanned in order to view or share with others on a PC or email.  There's no instant feedback to determine if you've got a good image or if you have a roll of mistakes.  Plus, in order to make the best use of film it's helpful to understand metering, exposure, etc., which many folks have no interest in.

There are a couple of points in your post that I have to take issue with.  There are quite a few digital cameras that will beat film for quality.  Yes, they do cost more than $500.  A good digital camera won't be obsolete in 2 years.  Even though there will be newer models available with improved features, a camera that takes good images today will continue to do so until it stops working.

I do agree with your last sentence about shooting at the highest capture mode because you just never know.....

[hunt it]

Byrd,

I'm with Phil on this one! As for 35m I have a Cannon EOS 3 with a number of L series lenses. Great camera, but my Cannon 20D with the same L series lenses takes just as good a picture as the 35m does. No, you won't buy either one for under $500.00. However, the 12.3mpx SLR's can take pictures that will compete with any of the top class 35m SLR's! I too, waited a long time to get with the digital evolution. Now that I have done it there is no going back! My 35m will however, always be in my camera bag on any serious picture taking expeditions. As with any electronic high tech gear there is a greater possibility of trouble.

[beachbowhunter]

I've been looking at DSLRs for a while and really wanted a Canon 30D but didnt feel like spending that kind of money right now. Yesterday I was looking around again and wound up buying a 1st Pentax DSLR with a nice package for under $400 after a $100 rebate. I couldnt pass that up. All of the reviews were positive and you can find used Pentax lenses around for less than Canon lenses. It uses an SD card and AA batteries which I think is great.

[OKCtradguy]

Something to keep in mind with the Canon S3 is that it won't shoot RAW.  RAW is really nice when you don't have the white balance or exposure quite correct.  I have been looking at digital cameras also and I am waiting for the successor to the Pana FZ30 to see if they have improved the noise from the sensor.

IS is definitely worth it if you do any kind of telephoto work.  It isn't magic but it really helps on most shots.

[joe vt]

I have a Olypus E-300 and love it. It's a great inexpensive SLR digital camera.

I just bought a Panasonic DMC-FZ7 point and shoot camera. I wanted a high zoom quick shooting camera and this one seems to be it. I haven't had it for more than an hour so the verdict is still out.