Digital camera

[ikthius]

hey everyone,

I know there are a few on here that are into photography, nudge - nudge, wink - wink, say no more, say no more.......

well I would like your opinion on this camera (http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1084988590.113191476 6@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccckaddgelidldjcflgceggdhhmdfho.0&page=Product&sku=276036), not too bothered about the printer, but it may be useful.

please be as honest as you can, and if you think there are any better alternatives, please link to the sites.

I may be buying in the next few days as ther is an addition to the family, that my mum would like to have a digital camera to take snaps of her grand child.

ik

sorry, I am only the uncle

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

i wouldnt buy a camera that only has digital zoom and no form of optical zoom

[Angua]

I have the Kodac C340 which is very similar. I would definitely get extra memory and a battery charger. The dial on the top (for selecting the mode) is a bit fiddly but all in all fairly straightforward and you can do some nice mini video's once you get the hang of starting and stopping.

Kodac use their own program for getting stuff on to the computer (I don't know if you are stuck with that or not).

[Tuftus]

i wouldnt buy a camera that only has digital zoom and no form of optical zoom

Definatley!

Optical Zoom is the important one of the two, the more the better.

Also, try and get one that will take rechargeable batteries that you can buy of the shelf as aposed to bespoke battery packs.

[bmxbandit]

if you're going to connect to a computer (which 99% of digital camera users will) the digital zoom is pretty much useless - the computer wll do a much better job of interpolation.

for that kinda price, i'd recommend something like the Sony DSC-S40 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0007NLH7K/ref=br_lf_ce_1/026-7950556-5255634) or Sony DSC-S90 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0007WTHL4/ref=br_lf_ce_7/026-7950556-5255634). i've had good experiences with kodak digital cameras, the z700 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0007Q3554/ref=br_ac_top5_1_2/qid=1131917309/sr=1-2/026-7950556-5255634) looks like a contender.

EDIT: remember to add the cost of a memory card - a 128MB card (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000A42WJ/qid=1131917419/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3_3/026-7950556-5255634) should be plenty to begin with. check what kind of card each camera need though, some are more expensve than others!

[ikthius]

my mum just thought that the currys advert had a good price for a digital camera, but because I don't know much about them, I need advice, thats why I turned to you lot.

any recommendations of cameras then?

ik

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

my mum just thought that the currys advert had a good price for a digital camera, but because I don't know much about them, I need advice, thats why I turned to you lot.

any recommendations of cameras then?

ik

your first question has to be "what do you want to spend"

[ikthius]

your first question has to be "what do you want to spend"

about £140ish

ik

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

this is a better camera for similar money, but then you dont get the printer

http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/content/products/details/index~modelcode~NIK-C5600~dt~Cameras~st~Digital+Camera~make~Nikon.htm

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

if you want the printer, try this

http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/content/products/details/index~modelcode~CNN-PSA400-PRINT-PKT~dt~Cameras~st~Digital+Camera~make~Canon.htm

less pixels than the Kodak, but it does have optical zoom, small i admit but it has some

[ikthius]

what about this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000D8Q9C/ref-reviewcentrec-21/203-3891179-4526305
canon powershot a80

ik

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

what about this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000D8Q9C/ref-reviewcentrec-21/203-3891179-4526305
canon powershot a80

ik

yep thats a pretty good camera. I have 2 Canon digital cameras and cant fault either of them

[ikthius]

what about this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000D8Q9C/ref-reviewcentrec-21/203-3891179-4526305
canon powershot a80

ik
yep thats a pretty good camera. I have 2 Canon digital cameras and cant fault either of them

it is this or the a85, I have used an a85, cause my brother has got one, but because my mum is now a granny for the first time she wants her own.

thanks

ik

[Ramrod]

i wouldnt buy a camera that only has digital zoom and no form of optical zoomThats what I was thinking about that camera.....

edit--get one of these (http://www.internetdirect.co.uk/photo/ixusizoomb.htm)....but not from there

[homealone]

i wouldnt buy a camera that only has digital zoom and no form of optical zoomThats what I was thinking about that camera.....

edit--get one of these (http://www.internetdirect.co.uk/photo/ixusizoomb.htm)....but not from there

we have a Canon Ixus 400, if your recommendation is anywhere near as good as we have found that, then you can't go wrong - the only possible caveat being the scale of it - if it is for Ik's mum, could she find it too small & 'fiddly' - in which case an A85 would be better ???

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Thats what I was thinking about that camera.....

edit--get one of these (http://www.internetdirect.co.uk/photo/ixusizoomb.htm)....but not from there

i was thinking that camera too, but the price in nowhere near in budget

[SMHarman]

The A80/85 (which one has the twistable screen) is fab, easy to use and excellent results, if you want to get more technical with it, there are two custom modes where you can save you custom setup - I use one of these to save the white balance and exposure information used to shoot web images with a tent and daylight bulbs (you can set the bulb temperature).

[Halcyon]

I've always found the Nikon Coolpix range to be good.
There is the 4600 and a 5 million pixel one that goes for about £130 I think.

[altis]

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=37638

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=7743

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet

[orangebird]

What's the difference between digital zoom and optical zoom? :dunce:

Ik - if it's for taking pictures of kids, the camera in your original link is just fine - I have the CX7330 with printer (which I managed to set up all by myself :D ), and it's great for family snaps, and really easy to use etc. All I'd suggest is that you get a bigger memory card if you want to do some video recording. :tu:

edit(which I managed to set up all by myself :D ), - this means it's a pice of cake. ;)

[SMHarman]

What's the difference between digital zoom and optical zoom? :dunce:
Digital Zoom takes a proportion of the image captured on the image sensor and then interpolates the image to expand it to the size of image capture required and saves that. The reason it is so bad is because say you have a 2Mp camera and each of the *'s below represents 500k of that image
**
**
If you zoom in to get twice as close, you are now only using 500k of that sensor
*
to capture the image

Optical zoom uses the lens to change the image projected onto the whole of the image sensor, so when the sensor captures the image, all pixels are being used.

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

What's the difference between digital zoom and optical zoom? :dunce:

Ik - if it's for taking pictures of kids, the camera in your original link is just fine - I have the CX7330 with printer (which I managed to set up all by myself :D ), and it's great for family snaps, and really easy to use etc. All I'd suggest is that you get a bigger memory card if you want to do some video recording. :tu:

edit(which I managed to set up all by myself :D ), - this means it's a pice of cake. ;)

Or think of it as

Optical Zoom = Getting closer the object your taking the picture of, before you take the picture.

Digital Zoom = Zooming in on the picture youve already taken

[ikthius]

ok, I cannot find a good price for the powershot a80/a85

the best a80 I can get is: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000D8Q9C/ref=pd_rhf_p_2/203-3891179-4526305
but not sure to trust the sources

other than that I was thinking: http://www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=CANPA520&BRAND=&CONTINUE=false&FEATS=&FIRSTPRICE=&KEYWORD=&LEVEL=&MODELNUMBER=&NEWQUERY=True&NODE=236&ORD=ASC&ORDERBY=&QUANTITY=40&RECENT=0&REFINE=&SEARCH_FOR=&SEARCHNODE=0&SEARCHURL=dointellisearch.cfm&SECONDPRICE=&SHOWCASEID=71&STARTROW=41&SUBS=&WORD_SEARCH=N&

ik

[Xaccers]

I've got an A80 myself though (with underwater housing so I can go diving with it) and it's very impressive (but then it is a cannon)
The Amazon one for £199.99 from copper_canyon_trading has amazon's safe buyer guarentee (so do the other 2 new ones for sale via amazon), and is apparently an ex display model.

[ikthius]

I went for this in the end:
http://www.mydv.co.uk/xcart/product.php?productid=418&cat=125&page=2#

thanks you guys, I will pip everyone now, except the ones that got pipped earlier, incase I have to spread the love.

thanks again.

ik

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Dont forget you might want to buy a larger memory card, 16M wont get you that far

[ikthius]

Dont forget you might want to buy a larger memory card, 16M wont get you that far

yeah I know, but I think the most important thing just now is the camera, the memeroy can be upgraded anytime.

I was thinking of 256mb maybe at christmas

ik

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

you can buy a 512Mb for about £20 on amazon

[SMHarman]

yeah I know, but I think the most important thing just now is the camera, the memeroy can be upgraded anytime.

I was thinking of 256mb maybe at christmas

ik
On full res (which you should leave the camera set on, otherwise why not buy a lower res camera) you need approx 2Mb per image, so the card will be full after 8 presses of the shutter. I imagine you need a new card before Christmas.

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

On full res (which you should leave the camera set on, otherwise why not buy a lower res camera) you need approx 2Mb per image, so the card will be full after 8 presses of the shutter. I imagine you need a new card before Christmas.

unless of course you take pictures of sky only! and save in JPG format in which case you will get some compression. It makes me laugh that Canon always (i ssume others do the same) supply the camera with such a small memory card. Id sooner buy it with no card at all

[ikthius]

yeah I know, but I think the most important thing just now is the camera, the memeroy can be upgraded anytime.

I was thinking of 256mb maybe at christmas

ik On full res (which you should leave the camera set on, otherwise why not buy a lower res camera) you need approx 2Mb per image, so the card will be full after 8 presses of the shutter. I imagine you need a new card before Christmas.

I could also save the pictures & or get the printed.

I am not that interested in huge very detailed pics just as long as I can get ok photos.

I am not a good photographer anyway, and neither are my parents, in fact thtey are technophobes.

ik

[SMHarman]

You need 2Mp minimum to print at 6x4 and get a photo at the same image quality as a film camera.
You need 3Mp minimum to print at 7x5 and get a photo at the same image quality as a film camera.
You need 4Mp minimum to print at 8x6 and get a photo at the same image quality as a film camera.
As you can see you are not creating the datafile that size for huge detailed images, just normal ones. Yes you can get them saved and printed but running off to the computer every 8 photos (or 16 if you put it to 2Mp) will be a bit of a pain.

I would also recommend you get a USB card reader to transfer the files to your PC, far quicker and saves batteries in the camera.

One great thing about digital is that you can take lots of pictures and review them on the PC to critique them, no need to pay for developing, so when you get the memory card take lots of photos and practice and learn.

[Dave Stones]

I have a Canon powershot A85. Can't fault it. Takes some brilliant photos in all conditions and you can get various add-on lenses and filters if you like. There is a lot of fiddling to do if you want top notch shots, but for the most part the automatic modes should be fine.

I have 2x256mb compactflash cards, got them in a special offer BOGOF at 7dayshop :D. check out there or www.picstop.co.uk or www.valuemedia.co.uk , memory prices aren't much nowadays. Unless you go to a DSG shop of course ;)

[ikthius]

so what is the difference between compact flash and secure digital memory cards?

ik

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

so what is the difference between compact flash and secure digital memory cards?

ik

Physical size, Compact Flash is larger

[SMHarman]

so what is the difference between compact flash and secure digital memory cards?

ikAll cards essentially do the same, it is a size and pin layout issue. CF, despite the compact is one of the largest formats, it has a couple of benefits, one being that CFII cards are also big enough to be the format that a IBM microdrive card uses (the only memory card that uses a HDD, not flash ram), and also the pin design means you can get an adaptor that allows it to be pushed straight into a PCIMICA slot on a laptop (or any other hardware that has one).

SD, Sony Memory Stick and all 13 other formats all do the same thing just you cannot put one in another, bit like comparing 110 film, 35mm film, APS etc, they all store pictures, you just need to get the right one for your camera.

[altis]

SD also has digital rights management (DRM) embedded in the card.

Most other formats are propritary: xD-Picure and SmartMedia belong to Fujifilm (and Olympus); MemoryStick belongs to Sony; MMC belongs to Toshiba. Their aim is to lock you into using their system - like all the different lens mounts.