In the Market for a New Camera

mAlice

mAlice

professional daydreamer
I have no great desire to learn apertures and that happy horse####, but I'd like to be able to take above average snapshots, and have decent zoom capability so I don't scare away what I'm trying to take a pic of (birds, wildlife, friends).

A friend has a Sony Cybershot with 15x optical zoom takes good pics, but not indoors. Fujifilm has a couple of these Amazon.com: Fujifilm FinePix S1800 12 MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom and 3-Inch LCD: Camera & Photo for under $300, a reasonable price range for what I want.

Has anyone used this camera? Feedback? Suggestions?
 
aps45819

aps45819

24/7 Single Dad
The Sony cameras use proprietary memory and batteries. :boo:
Get one that uses AA batteries and SD card memory
I've got a Fuji, it's OK and takes good pics but it's a little slow (time lag between pushing the button and actually taking a picture)
 
Macluvr

Macluvr

New Member
Here are a few that jbr13 suggested in my photography forum:

Nikon P90 is a great Point and Shoot with manual modes like a DSLR. 12 Mpixel, 24X zoom, 3" Vari-Angle LCD, and Image stabilization.

Nikon | Coolpix P90 Digital Camera (Matte Black) | 26171 | B&H

B&H is a great dealer. You have to watch ordering online, there are a bunch of scam places out there. I stick to B&H, JR, and Adorama.

Here are some others that are comparable.

Olympus | SP-600UZ Digital Camera | 227670 | B&H Photo Video


Sony | Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Digital Camera | DSC-HX1 | B&H Photo


Canon | PowerShot SX1 IS Digital Camera | 2664B001 | B&H Photo


There are some differences in minimum shutter speeds and zoom between all four cameras, but most everything else seems close.
__________________
 
GWguy

GWguy

*
STRONGLY suggest one with a viewfinder as well as the LCD. LCDs are almost impossible to see in daylight, and 'specially in sunny snow blinding conditions.
 
mAlice

mAlice

professional daydreamer
GWguy said:
STRONGLY suggest one with a viewfinder as well as the LCD. LCDs are almost impossible to see in daylight, and 'specially in sunny snow blinding conditions.
Click to expand...

Good suggestion. I was takin' pics blind the other day. I got lucky with a few of them.
 
ylexot

ylexot

Super Genius
I find viewfinders to be pretty useless (unless it is an SLR) because they don't zoom and I've never experienced enough sun that prevent me from seeing the LCD enough to compose a shot. If it ever happens, proper placement of a hand between the sun and LCD will rectify the situation.

AA batteries are inferior batteries for battery life. Sure, you can replace them, but if you just use the proprietary battery that comes with whatever camera you get, you won't need to.
 
itsbob

itsbob

I bowl overhand
mAlice said:
I have no great desire to learn apertures and that happy horse####, but I'd like to be able to take above average snapshots, and have decent zoom capability so I don't scare away what I'm trying to take a pic of (birds, wildlife, friends).

A friend has a Sony Cybershot with 15x optical zoom takes good pics, but not indoors. Fujifilm has a couple of these Amazon.com: Fujifilm FinePix S1800 12 MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom and 3-Inch LCD: Camera & Photo for under $300, a reasonable price range for what I want.

Has anyone used this camera? Feedback? Suggestions?
Click to expand...


Can't remember where I read it, Popular Mechanics perhaps?

The list of 10 things NOT to buy.. and one was a compact digital camera, or a point and shoot camera. With the selection and price of VERY good DSLR cameras there was no point in buying anything else.

Sony, Canon, Nikon.. ALL good choices, and the stripped down models can be had on the CHEAP! And for the Novice they all have AUTO mode, which basically turns them into a point and shoot.
 
hvp05

hvp05

Methodically disorganized
ylexot said:
I find viewfinders to be pretty useless (unless it is an SLR)
Click to expand...
And they typically do not show 100% of the frame... even in SLRs. I know why so many people look for them though: because they save power, which is valid.

Sure, you can replace them, but if you just use the proprietary battery that comes with whatever camera you get, you won't need to.
Click to expand...
There is nothing stopping someone from buying a backup - or two - if they're worried about burning through batteries so often.
 
ylexot

ylexot

Super Genius
itsbob said:
Can't remember where I read it, Popular Mechanics perhaps?

The list of 10 things NOT to buy.. and one was a compact digital camera, or a point and shoot camera. With the selection and price of VERY good DSLR cameras there was no point in buying anything else.

Sony, Canon, Nikon.. ALL good choices, and the stripped down models can be had on the CHEAP! And for the Novice they all have AUTO mode, which basically turns them into a point and shoot.
Click to expand...

True, but DSLRs aren't very pocket-able. Of course, cell phones have gotten to the point where they can replace your compact digital camera...
 
mAlice

mAlice

professional daydreamer
I'm not interested in a pocket camera. I sort of listed what I was interested in, and asked for a little direction. I want to be able to zoom a little, to get pics of people at a bit of a distance without them being aware, birds, cats when they're playing (so they don't shut their eyes from the flash)....

I liked the pics that my friends Sony took, but she said it doesn't take good indoor pics. I listed the Fuji, which seems like a similar camera...am I wrong? Is anyone familiar w/the Fuji, or can you recommend something similar in the same price range that I might look into?
 
C

czygvtwkr

Guest
Fuji's have archaic menu systems, I would stick to a Canon, Panasonic or Sony.

For a good long zoom check out the Panasonic FZ-35, If you want small and pocketable the Canon SD1200 is a pretty decent choice.

A great review site for cameras is Imaging Resources
 
morningbell

morningbell

hmmmmmm
We got a Nikon coolpix P90 and we love it. 12.1 megapixels, wide 24x zoom, 3 inch vari-angle monitor (if you're taking shots above or below you can see your shot without looking through the viewfinder), iso 6400 (whatever the hell that means). If you want to try it out pm me, I can bring it to you or you can come over.
 
mAlice

mAlice

professional daydreamer
morningbell said:
We got a Nikon coolpix P90 and we love it. 12.1 megapixels, wide 24x zoom, 3 inch vari-angle monitor (if you're taking shots above or below you can see your shot without looking through the viewfinder), iso 6400 (whatever the hell that means). If you want to try it out pm me, I can bring it to you or you can come over.
Click to expand...


I'll look into this one as well. Thanks.
 
struggler44

struggler44

A Salute to all on Watch
itsbob said:
Can't remember where I read it, Popular Mechanics perhaps?

The list of 10 things NOT to buy.. and one was a compact digital camera, or a point and shoot camera. With the selection and price of VERY good DSLR cameras there was no point in buying anything else.

Sony, Canon, Nikon.. ALL good choices, and the stripped down models can be had on the CHEAP! And for the Novice they all have AUTO mode, which basically turns them into a point and shoot.
Click to expand...

Consumer Reports, was browsing through it the other day...
 
ylexot

ylexot

Super Genius
mAlice said:
I'm not interested in a pocket camera. I sort of listed what I was interested in, and asked for a little direction. I want to be able to zoom a little, to get pics of people at a bit of a distance without them being aware, birds, cats when they're playing (so they don't shut their eyes from the flash)....

I liked the pics that my friends Sony took, but she said it doesn't take good indoor pics. I listed the Fuji, which seems like a similar camera...am I wrong? Is anyone familiar w/the Fuji, or can you recommend something similar in the same price range that I might look into?
Click to expand...
In that case, DSLR (Canon or Nikon...I prefer Canon). Like Bob said, they all have a full-auto mode if you don't want to think about it. The big advantage is the sensor size which will get you better picture in lower light situations (like indoors).
 
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