Digital Camera advise, please? :)

Ecthy · June 22, 2003, 09:13

Once again, my budget is limited. €200 at max, €300 at very max

.

€400 is top

I'm not an arts man. When I take pics, I want to be able to do it at every time of day, without any special effects though, thus manual ISO is not needed.

Detailed pics are nice, but do I need 4 Mpix?

Also about details, the zoom question. How much does a digital zoom suck compared to optical one? Is it really as bad as people say, it only pixels up the zoomed in area? Isn't that in resolution?

What else features are relevant / worth looking into? I know about the cam's ability to an extra memory card being quite useful (another 128 megs to original 16 or so).

anyone?

alva · June 22, 2003, 09:25

a €400 cam will get you good quality pictures.
-
Minimum 2MB is needed unless you only want them online.
-
Zoom are still not as good (or much more expensive cam category), but will probably do for your purpose.

If you can, bye one that can handle microdrives too, still expensive, but cheapest MB/€.
Try to look for a of forums, I did before I bought mine.

Cruddy · June 22, 2003, 09:29

Quote:

Originally posted by Ecthelion
Once again, my budget is limited. €200 at max, €300 at very max

.

€400 is top

I'm a notorious haggler and budget buyer, because my funds are even more limited. The only good part of paying full price for any product is you get a warranty. So if you will be using the camera in the wilds, putting it in danger of being damaged, maybe paying full price at a shop is a good plan.

I wouldn't recommend any particular make or model as I have not owned a digi camera in years. But I would recommend you shop around, ask for demonstrations, and TAKE YOUR TIME before you buy (often a new model will be released, making the "old" model that much cheaper).

Quote:

Originally posted by Ecthelion
I'm not an arts man. When I take pics, I want to be able to do it at every time of day, without any special effects though, thus manual ISO is not needed.

Detailed pics are nice, but do I need 4 Mpix?

The higher resolution you capture, the more you can enhance it in with an image processing package on a computer. All digi camera res is poor compared to film... but they are gradually getting better, and if you want pictures for PC use, rather than framed on your wall, the differences become meaningless.

So get the best res you can afford and start practising with an IP program.

Quote:

Originally posted by Ecthelion

Also about details, the zoom question. How much does a digital zoom suck compared to optical one? Is it really as bad as people say, it only pixels up the zoomed in area? Isn't that in resolution?

The way digital zooming works is to interpolate (guess what an in-between pixel would be like, it would be in-between the surrouding pixels in colour).

Now, the interpolation programs built into a digi cam can only be so big (people want fast results, and the onboard processor in the camera is only so fast).

So getting best original and then digi zooming with an IP will produce better results - but digi zoom on less than full (partial zoom) can still be quite good. Trick is holding the camera steady with a tripod.

Quote:

Originally posted by Ecthelion
What else features are relevant / worth looking into? I know about the cam's ability to an extra memory card being quite useful (another 128 megs to original 16 or so).

anyone?

Definitely worth boosting the memory. It lets you take more, high detailed pixs for later enhancement.

Ecthy · June 22, 2003, 09:34

what is an image processing programm? what do I do with these? I thought the pictures I get to make with a digicam are OK for storage on PC / web?

Wraith · June 22, 2003, 09:40

I just bought an Olympus D-520z and have been pleased with what little I've done with it so far. I'm not doing anything fancy with it, though, so YMMV.

Optical zoom is generally much better than digital zoom. Cruddy covered that.

For the price range you're looking at, I'd bet you can find something in the Olympus Stylus range, which is their higher-end line. Cruddy's definitely right about looking around and comparing. Getting the model-before-current can save you some money, and it's what I did (current is a 560). There's lots of review sites online that can help you pick.

Definitely get more memory. If you want to take good quality pictures, the 16 or so Mb they usually come with won't last long. If you take a lot, look for one that supports one of the new flash formats like XD, the cartridges are a lot smaller than the old SmartMedia and the like.

Also get rechargable batteries. If the camera uses AA, make sure to get a few sets, otherwise it's probably worth springing for an extra battery pack (if it's removable).

Wraith
Cats know your every thought. They don't care, but they know

Cruddy · June 22, 2003, 09:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Ecthelion
what is an image processing programm? what do I do with these? I thought the pictures I get to make with a digicam are OK for storage on PC / web?

The pictures you take with a digicam are fine for use on PCs and the web.

Image processors process the raw numbers that map up a bitmap image. They let you mess about with pictures - enhance, zoom, sharpen, blur etc. These days most paint programs have some sort of processing built in - but a dedicated program is much more capable.

They are very processor intensive so it takes a while to learn how to use one. If you have the maths theory then a manual is helpful, otherwise just mess about with one until you understand how it works.

Been a long time since I did this, but it can be fun (or very frustrating at the beginning).

Ecthy · June 23, 2003, 10:38

bump

how do I know when a new camera comes out so I can get the older model cheaper?

Cruddy · June 23, 2003, 10:44

First, make a list of manufacturer websites.

Second, keep an eye on them.

Third, get acquainted with the staff at the stores and ask them.

Ecthy · June 23, 2003, 13:18

http://www.promarkt.de/online/catalo...7291AF0BE28%7D

it's the Jenoptik 3.3, it looks pretty good, features quite some stuff and has a low cost

go for it?

Cruddy · June 23, 2003, 13:34

Can it take extra memory? I can't tell.

Looks quite good for the price though.

Ecthy · June 23, 2003, 14:01

yes, it does, and it takes SD memory, that is Secure Digital

it seems quite cheap for its excellence. but I'm not sure anymore if I want cheap. I'm graduating from school these days, and... my fmaily is gonna hit me hard with the wish to give give give me whatever they can afford (grannies espeically). so, why not take some money off them and buy more more more

Cruddy · June 23, 2003, 17:04

Could well be a wise move.

From what I understand of digital cameras, often electronics are same or similar, but optics vary a lot in quality.

So Jenoptik (being cheaper brand) almost certainly does have have best optics (lenses etc).

Good luck with the bargain hunt.

Ecthy · June 25, 2003, 08:51

Asher? anyone?

Panag · June 25, 2003, 09:38

get a p 800 , .... from sony-ericsson , this way you have phone , browser and cam all in one , .....

Cruddy · June 25, 2003, 11:31

Quote:

Originally posted by panag
get a p 800 , .... from sony-ericsson , this way you have phone , browser and cam all in one , .....

Maybe not the best choice for his first camera Panag.

Costs cash to send pictures by phone rather than plugging in USB.

Maybe let him learn to walk before he runs, eh?

Panag · June 25, 2003, 11:34

Quote:

Originally posted by Cruddy

Maybe not the best choice for his first camera Panag.

Costs cash to send pictures by phone rather than plugging in USB.

Maybe let him learn to walk before he runs, eh?

hi ,

where is it written he has to send them by phone , ......

you could just print them out and send them by regular surface mail , .....

btw , there are now them small 50 usd / euro cams that are about the size of a pack of smokes and they hold about 60 pics , .... there is zoom on them also , .....

its good as a start , light and easy to take with you , various companies make them , .....

have a nice day

Ecthy · June 25, 2003, 15:04

nah, I want decent pics, should get that Jenoptik, asking for it in the same store tomorrow.

Mercator · June 25, 2003, 15:36

Unless you would really need extremely sharp images for image manipulation or printing, €200 is more than enough (for a camera).

That Jenoptik looks good to me, but then I'm not really an expert either.

Rechargable batteries and at least 64MB of extra memory are a must.

Ecthy · June 25, 2003, 15:37

that one has it

KrazyHorse · June 25, 2003, 22:12

Quote:

Originally posted by Ecthelion
Also about details, the zoom question. How much does a digital zoom suck compared to optical one? Is it really as bad as people say, it only pixels up the zoomed in area?

That's exactly what it does. You can "digital zoom" at home with MSPaint...

KrazyHorse · June 25, 2003, 22:14

Quote:

Originally posted by Wraith
If you take a lot, look for one that supports one of the new flash formats like XD, the cartridges are a lot smaller than the old SmartMedia and the like

SmartMedia is the cheapest memory around, though (like 10$ lower on a 128 mb card...)