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New Digital Camera

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SSGMUN10000

Connoisseur Of Tedium
Looking for a new digital camera. Im leaning towards the Canon Powershot A85. I can get it for $205 brand new. I was wondering if you guys thinks this is a good choice or can you recommend something better for under $250.

a85_586x225.jpg
 
Under $250, that's probably the best, but seriously think about saving up the extra $40 somewhere so you can spend $290 on a PowerShot S410. The S410 doesn't have the same manual features, but the CCD is bigger and will give you "better overall" shots.

http://www.pfucata.com/digicam.php
- written by a GAFer, so it's automatically better (tm)
 
This Canon line is good, especially for all the manual controls and settings, but if you have other priorities, there are definitely better cameras to fit your needs (portability? large LCD screen? More zoom? specific memory cards? Just name it).
 
Saturnman said:
This Canon line is good, especially for all the manual controls and settings, but if you have other priorities, there are definitely better cameras to fit your needs (portability? large LCD screen? More zoom? specific memory cards? Just name it).
Click to expand...


Well one thing I am looking for is more zoom than what the A85 has, I remember a topic someone posted about a digi camera with insane zoom where it took a pic of people on a roller coaster i think from the parking lot.
 
It's all about budget. The best "zoom" lens on the market right now is probably the Panasonic Lumix FZ20. Has a 12x zoom (432mm equivalent at the long end), but the really important thing is that it does this 432mm at f/2.8 and is image stabilized. It's $500 though, and the 4MP version is $420 (though the 5MP is a better bang-for-the-buck).

One reason to go w/the S410 though is that even if you upgrade to a super-zoom later or a digital SLR, the S410 will still have its role as the portable digicam.
 
The camera with the insane zoom and the rollercoaster picture is the Canon Powershot S1 IS. The trade-off between the S1 and Panasonic one is that you lose a bit of portability with the Panasonic one (it's rather bulkier than the Canon).

So, it's Canon - 10x stabalized lens - f2.8-f3.1 - smaller
vs. the Lumix - 12x stabalized lens - f2.8-f2.8 - larger

Some other differences - the canon has a swivel lcd and is less expensive. there is also an optional remote control which might be of interest. Finally, the S1 is only 3.2 MP, while the Lumix offers a higher MP count.

Up to you and what you want out of a camera.

~Cris
 
Zoom is great, but I really want a more professional digital camera with the ability to change focus.
 
The A85 is already a bulky camera. You can either get most of the same features in a compact camera or get one of the few 4X/5X zoom cameras at the same size as the A85. This could be a compromize in your case.

A high-zoom camera comes with portability greatly compromized so you have to take that into consideration. The Canon S1 IS is also bulkier than many other high zoom cameras of its category.
 
I picked up the A95 a few weeks ago for about 280. I should've got a 256 card with it but I was a bit late on that deal and the rep wouldn't give it to me. It's a nice camera but I haven't really had time to mess around with it.

At your price range, I'm not sure you can find anything with more zoom. You might be able to find cameras where they factor in digital zoom and add it up with the optical to give you a bigger number, but from what I've read, using digital zoom will leave your pictures more pixilated.

I was thinking of going with something more compact than the A95 but I jumped at the deal I got. One of the main reasons I went with the A95 was that it uses standard AA batteries. I like having the option and flexibility of being able to walk into any store and picking up a fresh set of batteries.
 
What advantages does the A95 have over the A85 besides the mp?

Oh and Saturnman the Canon S1 IS is out of my range but looks like an awesome camera.
 
Say I just wanted a digicam that had better IQ than my old HP 1.0 megapixel cam.

No real preference on anything to do with zoom, LCD, memory card, or anything...but small/thin size would be great, although not necessary.

Anything cheap and decent that fits that descrip?
 
Grifter said:
Should I get a Kodak DX7590?
Click to expand...

I like Kodak and I own the predecessor the DX6490, but I don't believe the DX7590 is a good enough value. Competition is fierce in the high-zoom sector and many rival cameras, including the Powershot S1 IS ,dropped considerably in price lately, making the DX7590 a disappointment in terms of bang for the buck.
 
Just asking cuz I was working and browsing during a late night....at Kodak. :)

I realize we're constantly behind. What are you thoughts on the CX and LS lines?
 
$99? Save your money. If you buy a $99 digital camera, you'll end up with a paper weight and a thinner wallet.

Your best hope would be to find a used Coolpix 950 on ebay... they sometimes go for less than $100 (but not regularly)
 
Matlock said:
Say I just wanted a digicam that had better IQ than my old HP 1.0 megapixel cam.

No real preference on anything to do with zoom, LCD, memory card, or anything...but small/thin size would be great, although not necessary.

Anything cheap and decent that fits that descrip?
Click to expand...

Canon A60 should be had around $100 to $150.



And before you say "but it's only 2mp!" ...

Canons 2mp > most other manufacturers' 2mp > HPs 2mp


So it's not like you are just doubling your megapixels, you are actually getting noticably better image quality.
 
WHen I bought my personal digital camera, it was a tossup between the Olympus 3MP model I bought or its Kodak equivalent. At the time, I wasn't sure if I made the right decision, but after some further experience with Kodak cameras, I really don't know if I'd have one unless a lower price was my key criteria.

One of my co-workers got the Kodak I was looking at and wasn't thrilled about its performance.

I don't know what's next for me in digital. My P&S camera is working fine, but after using a DSLR for the better part of a year at work, I'm always going to be torn on whether I want to buy a higher-level P&S model when a bit more money will get me far better quality (but at the same time, I wouldn't mind a much more portable camera, either). I'm guessing I'll stick with what I've got for a fair while more and watch how much more prices are planning to move. Oh, decisions, decisions.

EDIT: The Pentax *ist DS is also sneaking up my wish list, as I've got a nice range of K-mount lenses I just recently discovered I'd be able to use with it.
 
SickBoy said:
WHen I bought my personal digital camera, it was a tossup between the Olympus 3MP model I bought or its Kodak equivalent. At the time, I wasn't sure if I made the right decision, but after some further experience with Kodak cameras, I really don't know if I'd have one unless a lower price was my key criteria.

One of my co-workers got the Kodak I was looking at and wasn't thrilled about its performance.
Click to expand...


Kodak and digital cameras dont mix. Olympust P&S are not that great either, but they are far beyond Kodaks offerings.
 
VPhys said:
Kodak and digital cameras dont mix. Olympust P&S are not that great either, but they are far beyond Kodaks offerings.
Click to expand...

I'm far from a digital camera enthusiast. What exactly is Kodak behind in?
 
Grifter said:
I'm far from a digital camera enthusiast. What exactly is Kodak behind in?
Click to expand...

Image Quality.
Build Quality.
Controls.

One thing they do have down is ease of use. But that can also be a bad thing for a technical person, as they will think the camera is "dumbed down" and they have little control over some of the options.
 
I took the plunge this Boxing Day and picked this up for $200 Canadian:

Samsung Digimax A400 (4 Mpixels)
20089.jpg


Considered entry level, but then again, I'm entry level. So far no problems with it - it takes pictures a hell of a lot better than my old one (which decided everything needed to be a darker shade of red).
 
Vphys, the Canon A60 is notorious for its poor reliability, a bit of an oddity in the Powershot series. It's one of the reasons why it's heavily discounted. The guy is better off looking for the A70. :)

crisdecuba said:
? Not really. No other camera "of its category" is less bulky than the S1.

~Cris
Click to expand...

*cough cough*

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/com...kodak_dx7590,nikon_cp4800,oly_c765uz&show=all

S1 IS: 111 x 78 x 66 mm at 469 g
DX7590: 97 x 81 x 80 mm at 400 g
Finepix S3500: 100 x 77 x 69 mm at 385 g
C-765 Z: 105 x 60 x 69 mm at 310 g
Coolpix 4800: 106 x 66 x 54 mm at 295 g
Click to expand...

All current, consumer, high zoom cameras under $400. All smaller and lighter than the S1 IS. Now would you kindly exit this thread?
 
VPhys said:
Image Quality.
Build Quality.
Controls.

One thing they do have down is ease of use. But that can also be a bad thing for a technical person, as they will think the camera is "dumbed down" and they have little control over some of the options.
Click to expand...

The only thing I'd concede is image quality because Kodak image compression is too agressive in most cases. But it has nothing to do with the lens or sensor.

I have not heard of any general built quality problems with Kodak digicams, certainly not in comparison to the competition. Perhaps you have a particular model in mind?

Controls are mostly a subjective matter. Manufacturers choose to include those functions all depending on which consumer they cater. Greater manual controls also come with a higher learning curve, something often understated. And if someone really craves to have total control, what is he doing buying a cheapo $200 camera in the first place? He is most likely an enthusiast and should be looking beyond consumer cameras.
 
It's not that Kodak JPEG is higher compression but that it uses a completely different JPEG-compliant approach. This was a problem with the old DC265-era digital cameras too. Their modern lenses are good Schneider lenses, but the rest of the camera doesn't hold up.

If you need a D-SLR, save up and go for the D-SLR. Better to wait it out and then spend your money than to spend your money and realize that you're down several hundred dollars and have a camera you're not that excited about.
 
Matlock said:
Jesus, what about...uh...anything around $99? :lol
Click to expand...

Go to Circuit City. They have a 2.1 MP HP that is an excellent camera. I picked it up as a gift for someone and was surprised at how good it was. It actually has an optical zoom (3X), internal memory, and is PictBridge capable. Damn good buy (on clearance).
 
Error Macro said:
Olympus shreds the shreds the sea of digital cameras like a Da Hui surfer hopped up on a speedball.
Click to expand...

Olympus has great cameras and many of them support lense attachments to make them even more kick ass :)
 
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