I'm gettin a new camera. Help!!

[getbent (Premo)]

Right now I have a cheap Kodak Easy Share... = crap. I want to upgrade. I want more mp and better zoom. I looked at those digital slr's but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't utilize all the features. I was looking at this camera and others similar. Can anyone give me some advice? TIA

Nikon - Coolpix 10.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black - P80

(It doesn't have to be a Nikon.)

[DEEKAYPEE8569]

Originally Posted by getbent

Right now I have a cheap Kodak Easy Share... = crap. I want to upgrade. I want more mp and better zoom. I looked at those digital slr's but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't utilize all the features. I was looking at this camera and others similar. Can anyone give me some advice? TIA

Nikon - Coolpix 10.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black - P80

(It doesn't have to be a Nikon.)

---------------------------------------

If price is no object, this sounds like a great camera. Are you taking action shots; kids at a soccer game-type pics; or are you taking stills?

Say what you want about Walmart, but they [do] have a fair selection of cameras for the amateur photog. Or, Circuit City is another good place to find cameras and Hi-8's and so on......

[getbent (Premo)]

Most of my pics are of get - togethers, b-day parties, field day @ school, kids etc. I do like having the option of being able to take action shots though. The camera I mentioned is in my price range. The SLR we looked at was $599 (including an extra lens). Hubby sometimes sells his softball bats online and likes being able to take a close up pic of an imperfection that way the potential buyer know exactly what it looks like, etc. So zoom is important. Is one type of zoom, digital or optical, more important than the other?

[desertrat (Premo)]

Originally Posted by getbent

Most of my pics are of get - togethers, b-day parties, field day @ school, kids etc. I do like having the option of being able to take action shots though. The camera I mentioned is in my price range. The SLR we looked at was $599 (including an extra lens). Hubby sometimes sells his softball bats online and likes being able to take a close up pic of an imperfection that way the potential buyer know exactly what it looks like, etc. So zoom is important. Is one type of zoom, digital or optical, more important than the other?

Optical zoom. You can do digital zoom when you edit your pictures by cropping. Is that right pros?
You can get perfectly acceptable close ups and action shots with that Nikon.

[hvp05 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by getbent

(It doesn't have to be a Nikon.)

Well, you did say you don't want another piece of crap...

Originally Posted by desertrat

You can do digital zoom when you edit your pictures by cropping. Is that right pros?

Yes, in a way. Cropping in your editor just reduces the image dimensions. But if you go to get prints, and you order 5x7s the cropped image will be stretched to fit the dimensions of the print (relative to the full-resolution images), resulting in lower resolution and lower quality. The difference depends on how much was cropped. After a certain point, the lower quality will be unacceptable, even if the print is only a 5x7.

The good thing about a higher-Mp camera is that you can afford to crop nearly half the original image and still get a decent sized print.

[getbent (Premo)]

Thanks for all the info. Keep it coming. I had picked out a camera by Sony but of course, it was being discontinued (that's not the exact word she used at Best Buy) so the only one they had was the display. I'd have to go to Bowie they're supposed to have 7.

[daisycreek]

I was researching that same camera last nite... the nikon, its rated very high! plus it has re-chargeable batteries, thats a biggie when you start feeding the other cameras 4 AA"s that are not re-chargable.. the price at best buy is @ 399.00

i was undecided between the olympus and the nikon..

nikon makes a good camera.. they have are known for that

IMO its always best to go with the higher end product because it will not be obsolete within a year.


the olympus I have now is only a 4 mega pixel and because it was top of the line when I bought it .. it still takes a very nice picture.. still works after @ 6 yrs I just want to upgrade.


so you can spend 400 for a really nice camera that will last/function for 5 years or more or buy a cheaper one that may have to be replaced every year..

[kom526]

Nikon Coolpix P80 10.1MP 18x Optical Zoom Digital Camera | BuyDig.com, The Internet's Digital Superstore

Cheaper here and fast shipping, I highly recommend them. They also sell accessory bundles for your camera at a discounted rate. I got my Canon S5 and an accessory bundle for less than the cost of buying it at Best Buy or anywhere else.

[Sonsie]

Originally Posted by getbent

Right now I have a cheap Kodak Easy Share... = crap. I want to upgrade. I want more mp and better zoom. I looked at those digital slr's but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't utilize all the features. I was looking at this camera and others similar. Can anyone give me some advice? TIA

Nikon - Coolpix 10.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black - P80

(It doesn't have to be a Nikon.)

I don't know about the Coolpix but I was in your same boat. I had a little Canon 5.0 PowerShot and was getting some really good pics with it. The hubby bought me a $1200+ SLR for my Bday a while back and I still don't really know how to use it. Half the time I leave it and take the old one because it's so compact it fits in a pocket and frankly, I get about the same quality pictures from it anyway!! Unless you're going to take some classes get the easy one!!! My big beautiful SLR sits on the shelf most the time.

[getbent (Premo)]

I know Best Buy offers classes on how to use your new camera for about $30. Of course the closest one is in Annapolis. I'm pretty sure I'd never utilize the features on an SLR. I thought about one of those more compact ones but it doesn't seem to have the zoom I think I may need. Or am I wrong? I've only ever had that Kodak one (digital) and I can't remember any of the specs although I'm sure they're not that great.