Digital Cameras - Bang for the Buck

[DeleteYourself]

Ok, I'm looking to buy a digital camera. I'm looking in the $200-$300 price range, so nothing too crazy, but I want something that's quality. I'm not a professional photographer by any means, I just want something to mess around with. But, since I'm a designer, I would like to make sure that it can take quality pictures so that I can use it when i need to. And I want something that is easy to use. I know next to nothing about digis, so educate me!

What should I look for and what are all your favorite brands when it comes to the best bang for the buck?

/emoticons/blowingup.gif /emoticons/blowingup.gif /emoticons/blowingup.gif /emoticons/blowingup.gif /emoticons/blowingup.gif /emoticons/blowingup.gif /emoticons/blowingup.gif /emoticons/blowingup.gif

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[uncle carbunkle]

i'm waiting to hear what people say, too. my first digital camera was around £200. a fujifilm dsx or something ridiculous. 2mpx. LOL! but fine for what i could afford at the time.

:: Durable and doable in a swimsuit, yet not designed for surfing, cliff diving, extreme groping and other high-impact activities. ::

[D-Frag]

Hey Delete, I know your looking for something that you can use in your designs, but for 200-300 im afraid your really not going to find anything worthy. I have a sondy dsc-f717, its a 5.0 megapixel, and final size I can get is 8X6 @ 320dpi, which is really good, but not really print ready, you can barely get 300 dpi on a 8.5x11' page, I know this because I just shot a wreath for an ad I had to place in a magazine.

Anyways I would highly recommend something over the 5.0 pixel range if your looking to use it commercially. Canon, and Sony basically have the market right now on digi's. I bought my camera on E-Bay for $700.00, and it came with: Wide angle (titanium) lense, Telescopic (titanium) lense, aluminum 4.5' collapsable tripod, 64meg memory stick (holds 45 pics), a 32meg memory stick, cleaning kit, leather bag, 3 titanium filters, a USB 2.0 converter to upload to computer.

As u can see, if you spend a tad bit more you really can get a decent camera, its worth it to save up the extra couple hundred and get a pro-consumer camera. Let me know if I can help you out anymore, if you've never seen the pics my camera takes, got check out my digitalcamwhore gallery.

/emoticons/cheers.gif

http://www.pillargraphicdesign.com/dfrag/sig.jpg


digitalcamwhore (http://digitalcamwhore.deviantart.com/gallery/)

Canon or Nikon best color exposure and Canon has some cheap camaras that are 3-4 megapixel. A 3 mega pixel will give you about a 5x7 at 300dpi a 4 will be almost a 6x8.

http://www.cbcamerica.com/images/webshots/benjobanner.jpg
Graphic Design Heroes! Call me Captain Type Caster. I’ve fought off “The Evil Cosmic Sans” for year but it seems “Dr. Extreme Untalent” keeps bringing him back. I must find a way to defeat this evil creature.

Capt. Creative bring me those comps…

[DeleteYourself]

True, DF. Yeah, I've seen your site and your pics are absolutely phenomenal. I think if I were to spend the money on a camera like that, though, I wouldn't know what to do with it, really. Whenever I need something really breathtaking, i usually either have a photographer friend of mine shoot it or I purchase something through a stock photo site (or get something or free), so I'm not concerned, necessarily with anything that sophisticated.

I'm more or less looking for something for taking pictures of friends/family, etc. If I can use it to take a picture for design purposes here and there, i'll be satisfied. Would you say that Canon and Sony are still the best choice in the amateur consumer market?

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Support Music and Arts Education | www.dafenix.org (http://www.dafenix.org) | 'You have no chance to win.' | GDF Mac Death Squad, Son

I'm going to defiantly get a prosumer as my next so to sum it up D-frag is right.

http://www.cbcamerica.com/images/webshots/benjobanner.jpg
Graphic Design Heroes! Call me Captain Type Caster. I’ve fought off “The Evil Cosmic Sans” for year but it seems “Dr. Extreme Untalent” keeps bringing him back. I must find a way to defeat this evil creature.

Capt. Creative bring me those comps…

[DeleteYourself]

Thanks, Benjo. Good to keep in mind.

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Support Music and Arts Education | www.dafenix.org (http://www.dafenix.org) | 'You have no chance to win.' | GDF Mac Death Squad, Son

[Kool]

I'm about the same skill and need level as you Delete. I picked up one of these (last years model) and really like it a lot. If you watch for a sale you can pick one up for around $300.00 /emoticons/cool.gif
HP Camera (http://www.shopping.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpdirect/shopping/scripts/product_detail/product_detail_view.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@104941251 8.1095693291@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdeadcmijkigjgcfngcfkmdflldfgg.0&landing=photo_scanner&category=digital_cameras&subcat1=photo_enthusiast&product_code=Q2232A%23ABA&catLevel=3)

I love children but I don't think I could eat a whole one.

[D-Zine]

this is a good thread for me bc I really need to know what to ask for, for Christmas ;o) LOL! JK...really tho..I need one as well, for the same purposes as Delete. So this is a good resource for me too. Of course how do I get the new computer and the new camera at the same time ;o)

Boobie Island or Bust!

G5 Imac right?

http://www.cbcamerica.com/images/webshots/benjobanner.jpg
Graphic Design Heroes! Call me Captain Type Caster. I’ve fought off “The Evil Cosmic Sans” for year but it seems “Dr. Extreme Untalent” keeps bringing him back. I must find a way to defeat this evil creature.

Capt. Creative bring me those comps…

[D-Zine]

Umm..that would be a negative Benjo!!

Dell Inspirion 9100 Notebook...IF I get it...ho humm..can't decide! What to do..what to do!!

Boobie Island or Bust!

[thfc]

I recomend Fuji F700 www.fujifilm.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/digitalF700Overview.jsp?item=I543055&dbid=543055&urltype=overview (http://www.fujifilm.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/digitalF700Overview.jsp?item=I543055&dbid=543055&urltype=overview). Great quality pictures, easy to use (but still has manual settings if you want) and it fits perfectly in your pocket. The only problem I have with it is the small zoom.

You want to know what you need, you need to read this reviews.cnet.com/Digital_cameras/4520-7603_7-5023995-7.html?tag=dir.dpg (http://reviews.cnet.com/Digital_cameras/4520-7603_7-5023995-7.html?tag=dir.dpg)

http://www.cbcamerica.com/images/webshots/benjobanner.jpg
Graphic Design Heroes! Call me Captain Type Caster. I’ve fought off “The Evil Cosmic Sans” for year but it seems “Dr. Extreme Untalent” keeps bringing him back. I must find a way to defeat this evil creature.

Capt. Creative bring me those comps…

[TeamRopinGal]

I bought an Olympus (can't remember the model) and got the smartdisk pack for about $240. It takes good pictures and IMO, worth the money. I have used the camera for online stuff and the photos were pretty nice. It also has zoom, red eye reduction,timed photo, and I think panoramic.. and I am certain other features I haven't tried or figured out LOL.


The smartdisk is cool - just take out the memory card, put it in a special disk, and insert into computer. No crap to install, no chords to plug in........


The only can I chase is a cold COORS light!

[Ryan8720]

This might be helpful. It is PC World's Top Ten point and shoot cameras. Their actual top ten are way above your price range.

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,116582,00.asp

http://edgewebdesign.org/ryan2.gif (http://www.edgewebdesign.org)

'Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.'
- Albert Einstein

[DeleteYourself]

nice link, thanks everyone!

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Support Music and Arts Education | www.dafenix.org (http://www.dafenix.org) | 'You have no chance to win.' | GDF Mac Death Squad, Son

[Stickwood1]

Delete, why don't you put a few things that you want the camera to do down and then we can work out what you need.

Everyone just naming different cameras is not going to help you.

Over three megapixels is sufficient as long as you not doing massive format stuff.

I have done Flyers and small posters and invites and DVD cover and never used over 3.2 megapixels on my old FujiFinepix F602 and it's fine.

Besides, Biiiiig pics mean Biiiiig mem cards!!!

Also no point in buying a camera that does it all if you can't use a camera.

Get yourself a book that explains aperture and shutter speed, lens length etc.

The same rules apply if it's a half decent camera, digital doesn't mean point and click

/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif


Yikes Scoob, it's behind you!

[DeleteYourself]

I took a class on photography, so I know how to use aperture, shutter speed, etc., but chances are I'll just put it on Automatic and shoot away. Anyway, good idea Stickwood, here goes:

Camera needs:
<ul> At least 3 megapixels, but preferably 4 or 5
The largest possible viewing area (within my price range)
Price range: $200-$400 (Yes, I upped it a little)
A high quality lens (The thing I know the least about)
Easy to use[/list]

After doing some research, these are the ones I've found:
<ul> Canon PowerShot S400 Digital Camera
Canon PowerShot S50 Digital Camera
Olympus Camedia C-750 Ultra Zoom Digital Camera
Olympus Camedia C-50 Zoom Digital Camera
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W1
HP Photosmart R707[/list]

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Support Music and Arts Education | www.dafenix.org (http://www.dafenix.org) | 'You have no chance to win.' | GDF Mac Death Squad, Son

Post Edited (DeleteYourself) : 9/22/2004 1:20:43 PM GMT

[Stickwood1]

Quick Response on both turn on and take times.

8 Megapixel, fast, loads of features, Carl Zeiss lens......this will do anything you throw at it

Colour replication is awesome.

My Father has one and I'll be getting one as soon as pocket allows and I have bought a new television, snowboard, boots, bindings, paid for holiday etc

The Sony F828

What a beast


Yikes Scoob, it's behind you!

[DeleteYourself]

Just to update you guys, yesterday i bought one of these:

consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=9826 (http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=9826)

I'll post some pics when I get home today. Thanks for all your help!

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[D-Zine]

Cool! Let us know how it works out for you. I will get something once I get some of this laptop paid off...tee hee hee!

;o)

Boobie Island or Bust!

[subdriverswife]

TRG's is the one I was going to mention...the olympus. I've seen images she's taken with it and they're very nice. Also...if you can afford to increase your budget...the canon digital rebel is a stellar product that can be manual or automatic and has vast capabilities.

Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens....Jimi Hendrix

[MikeyB]

I guess i'm a bit late on this one but here we go anyway:

I used to have a Sony DSC P10. It was a nice point and shoot but expensive for what you get. I now have a Canon 10D which is fantastic but is a DSLR and way oout of the price range. The best camera (in my opinion) i have seen (and used) for the price is the Fuji S7000. It can be totally manual or automatic and a many between the 2. The picture quality is superp with a 6.3 mega pixel sensor.

Its classed as a pro-sumer camera but i think unless you are super serious about photography you will not notice much of a difference between it and a dslr. Only thing is that the zoom is only 6x optical. You can buy a lens extrension for about £40 that will give you 10x which is usually plenty.

I have shown a number of people this camera and they have bought it and been very happy. Don't know about the US but ukdigitalcamera.com was doing a good offer with a set of re-chargeable batts and a 256MB memory card for £320 (and they arrive in 2 days). I believe for the features, this is by far the best value for money mid range pro-sumer camera.

A couple of useful photography links:
www.dpchallenge.com - Check out the user section to see who has what camera and view their results\ask their opinions.
www.dpreview.com - In depth reviews for all digi cams.

Hope this helps someone.

[Vikia]

DY - I can say I have owned 2 Olympus Camedias and I love them. - Easy, I use for professional Web use mostly. I have also taken graduation shots that were pretty nice for printing.

www.chin-family.org/photoalbum/billroark/albumjessi2003/1.htm (http://www.chin-family.org/photoalbum/billroark/albumjessi2003/1.htm)

http://www.vikianderson.com/forumimages/valogo.gif (http://www.vikianderson.com)
www.vikianderson.com (http://www.vikianderson.com)
Graphics & Design on Demand

[Ryan8720]

I'm about to go get a cheap $20 digital camera just for pics to post online and email to friends. The actual cameras are too damn expensive.

http://edgewebdesign.org/ryan2.gif (http://www.edgewebdesign.org)

'Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.'
- Albert Einstein

[C.E.]

I want an SLR........

[coconut]

I use a sony FD Mavica for most of my ads and photography for websites. I like it because it uses a Diskette. I am limited on when I use it to get professional results, but I have been published in magazines, newspapers and books with the old thing. When I got it, the prices was $350, probably has gone down since then, would like a more professional one, but my next investment for a camera will probably be in the $1500 range.
Here are some quick example of pictures I have taken with it.

Coconuthttp://www.adleragency.net/ads/pearbug.jpg

[ikyut]

Delete: i use that canon and is a very good camera, is better than mine, because it has a lot of manually options.


i have a 4mp kodak, 2X optical (do not care about the digital, cause it works with interpolation like Photoshop)and this are some examples of my camera:

[ikyut]

ikyut

[coconut]

impressive ikyut. very impressive. what a wide range. Now is that the canon or the kodak the picture where taken with?

Coconuthttp://www.adleragency.net/ads/pearbug.jpg

[MikeyB]

CowgirlExpressions said...
I want an SLR........
There are some good things happening in the digital slr world at the moment. Olympus have released a "relatively" cheap one and i think Pentax are about to do the same. Canon's300D (or D Rebel in US) is selling very wellbecause it is abit more affordable than most and doesn't skimp on quality.

ikyut - dam right about the digital zoom. It's all a bit of a scam really. Especially to anyone who would be using a website like this! I have seen many people buy a camera with a 2 or a 3x opticalzoom and a 10x or more digital zoom thinking that they have an amazing telephoto camera. They don't realize that it interpolates and you could do the same thing with photoshop afterwards (usually its pretty bad quality as well!).Optical is everything, that is why lenses are expensive!

[DeleteYourself]

Nice pics guys! I'm going to NYC this weekend, so I'll have lots of pics to post when I get back!

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Support Music and Arts Education | www.dafenix.org (http://www.dafenix.org) | 'You have no chance to win.' | GDF Mac Death Squad, Son

[coconut]

I would love to photograph NYC. I had a friend who took pictures of homeless people sleeping on benches in the parks and they were very moving. I think there would be such a great mix of culture there, that it would be hard to leave! Can't wait to see the pics.

Coconuthttp://www.adleragency.net/ads/pearbug.jpg

[ikyut]

All were tanken with the Kodak, cause the Canon is not mine, i only test itone day.


hope you like it, i really like experimental photography.

ikyuthttp://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/hop.gif http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/hop.gif

[ikyut]

other photos, hope you like it.http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/jumpin.gif http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/hop.gif http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/jumpin.gif http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/hop.gif

[coconut]

try doing some stairwells looking down from the top.

Coconuthttp://www.adleragency.net/ads/pearbug.jpg

[MikeyB]

Heres a couple of mine too http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[coconut]

MikeyB, I truley, truley enjoyed them. Were these achieved using Olympus? Besides having a good camera, you also must have a good eye. Talented! Poster worthy. I saw a site somewhere that prints posters 1000, for $600. If you have local outdoor markets or fairs, you could sell a few.

Coconuthttp://www.adleragency.net/ads/pearbug.jpg

[ikyut]

coconut said...
try doing some stairwells looking down from the top.


Hey Coconut i can´t catch you...remember my english is in stage 2 only. http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/blink.gif

[ikyut]

MIKEYB, your Macro at the flower burn my head.
Very very nice, photographies. seemsyou are really pro.

ikyut

[coconut]

ok, let me try again.

find a tall building with nice stairways and good light lots of windows

go in side and walk all the way to the top

look down to the bottom of the stairs

here is a sample i found on the net

http://www.arcways.com/




Coconuthttp://www.adleragency.net/ads/pearbug.jpg

[MikeyB]

Thanks guys!! Although i can't really take the credit! I have a Canon 10D DSLR which gives fantastic pictures of nearly anything you point it at http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Coconut, that sounds like a very good price for that many posters, i'll check it out. What kind of magazines have you been published in? That must be a great feeling!!

Every now and then there is an outdoor market across the road from where i live. I have a super A3 size printer which gives fantastic results and i was planning on doing a few for the market. Just show 10 or so and then print and frame as and when someone buys one. Keep meaning to but just to downright lazy!!

Ikyut, your pictures are great, i particulary like the last one. Is it some sort of clock??

Heres a couple more i have, my favourite is the flower macro bottom right.

http://www.photo-sense.co.uk/sense/e107_plugins/coppermine_menu/index.php?cat=10085

[coconut]

Here is my latest published.


the boy with the cowboy hat is coming out this month in a book, check out my site for more details or the publisher.
The flowers came out this summer. Oh, this is also how it looks around where I live.

Coconuthttp://www.adleragency.net/ads/pearbug.jpg

[coconut]

This is a local winery

Coconuthttp://www.adleragency.net/ads/pearbug.jpg

[morea]

Some pics I took today using our Casio Exilim 3.2 mega pixe (EX-Z3) camera. It's a few years old, but I love it!l

The more people I meet, the more I love my cats.

[coconut]

oh morea, those are really good, keep shooting. Those could be published for sure.


What do I look like a smoken monkey?

[morea]

Thanks! I'm addicted to the digital camera! /emoticons/tongue.gif

The more people I meet, the more I love my cats.

[coconut]

me too :)


What do I look like a smoken monkey?

[MikeyB]

Great pics Coconut, i'd love to have something published. I'm a big fan of nature photography, animals and birds mainly but unfortunately we don't have anything wild bigger than a rabbit here :(

Nice ones Morea! I'm hooked on digi cams too. They're fantastic!! I bought one in sept 2003 and since then have bought another one and have over 6000 photos!!! I really need to go through them!! I'm sure i've got loads of crap in there!!

[coconut]

The area I live in is a paradise for "country" type photography. Here are: shells from grasshoppers found in my garden x2, pears from my tree fresh from picking and washed off. If I had a better camera I would think that I could come up with some truly great pictures, but for now, this is what I have to work with. These pictures have not been touched they are the raw files, so with some work they turn out just fine.


No matter where you live, for me it is capturing the moments and good lighting. I can imagine living in a city and walking down the street with my camera, I would be taking pictures of things like, gum on the street, a cig butt, a ticket stub in drain, hands cooking food. Ah life.



What do I look like a smoken monkey?

[morea]

beautiful, coconut!

The more people I meet, the more I love my cats.

[coconut]

Thank you morea.
Now ya'll entertain my brain, I want to see some city life and I'll send ya'll some country living.


What do I look like a smoken monkey?

[D-Zine]

Ok now I'm on the lookout for the digital camera. I'm looking into the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P93. It's pricing about $300 everywhere I look. I have been looking at everything tho..that includes Sony, Nikon, Canon, Olympus (being the main ones).

Here is the link for the Sony I am most interested in so far
<a href="http://://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=DSCP93&_
Dept=dcc_DIDigitalCameras&CategoryName=dcc_DIDigitalCameras_Cyber-shotDigitalCameras" target="_blank">://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=DSCP93&_
Dept=dcc_DIDigitalCameras&CategoryName=dcc_DIDigitalCameras_Cyber-shotDigitalCameras</a>

Of course there is alot I don't understand I guess. I need a decent camera. Not a $1000 high end bad mama jama but something that takes good quality and I can use in some freelance work. Not planning on doing any portraits or things like that...LOL! No way. Needed for much of the same uses as Delete's. Does anyone have any experience with this Sony? I have read some really great reviews and some not great reviews so I have no idea what to think. So just thought I would jump in and ask :o)

thanks :oP

Post Edited By Moderator (Kool) : 12/3/2004 5:55:07 PM GMT

[sbaldwin]

You should seriously consider used camera gear, whether it be film or digital. Two sources I consider very reputable and have excellent experiences buying use gear from are:





www.bhphoto.com (http://www.bhphoto.com)


www.keh.com (http://www.keh.com)





Canon Powershots are great options and you can probably find a Powershot G2 or G3 used for a decent price.


By the way, I'm a photographer and aspiring designer so I have a little more credibility with the former. http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/smilewinkgrin.gif


Shannon

[D-Zine]

thanks sbaldwin, I will check out those links ;o)

Boobie Island or Bust!