Digital Camera Advice Needed

[adamark]

I'm thinking about getting rid of my good ol' Nikon N65 SLR Student camera for a digicam. The problem is that I don't know which brand and model would best suit me.

I've done some research but I don't consider myself an expert.

- 2.0 to 3.5 megapixels is the range I'm looking at.
- $100 - $175 is the price range I am shooting for.
- If possible I'd like to get more than 16MB of memory in the camera. I don't want auxiliary memory.
- A quick shutter speed would be preferable, like above 1/1500 second
- Video/Mic is NOT necessary
- Battery life has to be good. About 30 minutes of life even when reviewing pictures with LCD screen.

I've read about one hundred or more reviews on epinions.com and pretty much they all differ. For instance I was reading reviews on the Kodak CX7300. One reviewer said the battery life was sufficient. Another said that the 7300 ate batteries. These kind of discrepancies scare the hell out of me, especially when I'm getting ready to lay down the wallet. So I need some solid advice about digital cameras. And, if anyone has an old camera that they want to pawn off on me, I wouldn't be totally opposed to buying used as long as you give me an honest rating of it. :bmage:

[ChaosMage]

First off, if you actually want to use those 2-3.5 megapixels you plan on buying, you'll definetely need more than 16 megs of memory. Lay down the cash for a 128 meg card. The prices are down, and its worth the money.

For cameras, I'd recommend what my family owns. Its a Sony with 3.3 megapixels. The battery life is great (about 2 hours with the LCD on), maximum resolution is 2048x1536 and it can even take 3:2 pictures at 2048x1366. It can take video (but you'll never use the feature). Its about 3 years old, but its still darn good. $300 when we bought it, but I expect the price has gone down by now. DSC-S75 is the model. There is no internal memory, and it uses Sony memory sticks. It comes with an 8 meg card, but you'll be forced to use 640x480 to get any decent number of pictures out of it. Which sounds ok in theory, but once you start taking high res pics or try to print anything, you understand why the high res is worth it.

[adamark]

Does it take lithium batteries? Is it rechargeable? Is the memory the same as an external memory stick or does that upgraded card stay in the camera?

I'll look up these questions in the meantime to see what I can learn. Thanks so far.

[The Mirror Emperor]

I'm not too sure about battery life but for everything else a Olympus Camedia D390 D-390 2.0 megapixel camera looks good.

Originally Posted by adamark

- 2.0 to 3.5 megapixels is the range I'm looking at.

2.0 megapixel camera.

- $100 - $175 is the price range I am shooting for.

On Ebay right now for $83.95 plus s/h if you sign up and respond within 24 hours.

- If possible I'd like to get more than 16MB of memory in the camera. I don't want auxiliary memory.

It has that and can store 32 pictures.

- A quick shutter speed would be preferable, like above 1/1500 second.

Has that.

- Video/Mic is NOT necessary

That's alright. But there's something about a mini-movie thing that you can see on Quicktime.

- Battery life has to be good. About 30 minutes of life even when reviewing pictures with LCD screen.

As I said before I'm not too sure about battery life. Let me post what it says:

Originally Posted by someonefromebay

CCD Imager: 2.0 Megapixel Effective; 2.1 Megapixel Total; 1/3.2 Type CCD

Lens: Olympus glass lens 5mm (38mm equivalent in 35mm photography)

Seamless Digital Zoom: 2.5x digital zoom

Aperture Range: F2.8-5.6

Shutter Speeds: 1/1000 sec. – 1/2 sec. Automatic

ISO: Auto 100-200

Recording Mode(s): Still Image: EXIF 2.2 JPEG, DCF (design rule for Camera File System), QuickTime Motion JPEG (Movie Mode).PIM II

Adjustable Resolutions: 1600 x 1200 SHQ, JPEG; ; 1600 x 1200 HQ, JPEG; 1024 x 768 SQ2, JPEG; 640 x 480 SQ2, JPEG; 320 x 240 @ 15fps QuickTime Motion JPEG; 160 x 120 @ 15fps QuickTime Motion JPEG

DPOF (Digital Print Order Format): Print Reserve, All print reservation, Display Date information

Optical Image Enlargement: N/A

Image Adjustment Modes: N/A

Image Effects: Resize, Rotate, Sepia, and Black and White

Panorama: Up to 10 frames stitchable with CAMEDIA Master software when using Olympus brand SmartMedia

Sequence: N/A

Viewfinder: Optical real-image viewfinder with autofocus/backlight mark

LCD: 1.8" (3.8cm) color TFT LCD (61,000 pixels) used for viewing, reviewing or editing images

Focusing System: TTL Contrast Detecting : Spot AF focus in Spot Metering Mode

Focusing Ranges: Normal 20" – Infinity (0.5m – Infinity)

: Macro Mode 8" – 20" (0.2m-0.5m)

Exposure Control: Program Auto F2.8-8.0

Metering System: Center Weighted Meter; Spot Metering, AE Lock with 1R position

White Balance System: Automatic, plus Pre-set manual settings: Daylight, Overcast, Tungsten & Fluorescent

Flash: Built-in Flash

Flash Modes: Auto Flash , Red-eye Reduction Flash, Fill-in Flash, Slow Shutter Synchronized Flash (first curtain), Slow Shutter Synchronized Flash (first curtain) w/red-eye reduction, Flash Off (built-in or external flash)

Flash Working Range: 10" to 8.2' (0.25 m to 2.5 m) @ ISO 100

Flash Charging Time: Approximately 6 seconds

Removable Media Card: XD-Picture Card,(16,32,128 & 256 MB) 16MB included

Selftimer/Remote: 12-sec. delay with built in self-timer

Setting Memorization: On/Off (Hold changes/Reset to default settings)

Outer Connectors: USB Connector (Auto-Connect), NTSC Video Out, DC input

Auto-connect USB: Compatible with Window 98 rev2/ME/2000 Pro/XP and Mac OS 8.6 - OS X and higher; Window 98 rev2 driver provided on CD; Mac OS 8.6 requires USB mass storage drivers 1.3.5 available at apple.com; Downloading to laptop computer without USB port possible with optional PCMCIA x-Picture Card reader

Image Playback: Index display, up to 3X enlargement, Slide-show

Operating Environment: Operation: 32°F - 104°F (0°C- 40°C) 30-90% Humidity

: Storage: -4°F - 104°F (-20°C - 60°C) 10-90% Humidity

Power Supply: Main Power Source - (2) AA-Alkaline (Included); (2) AA-NiMH Rechargeable; (2) Ni-Cad Rechargeable; (1) CR-3v (LB-01) Lithium Battery

Date/Time Calendar: Simultaneous recording into image data

Calendar: Automatic up to the year 2099

Size: 4.2" W x 2.3" H x 1.6" D (108 x 57 x 40 mm) exluding protrusions

[Zweihander]

I know nothing of cameras, except how to use one to marginal effect. However, I suggest checking out CNET's cameras section, those guys usually know what's going on.

http://reviews.cnet.com/Digital_came...g=cnetfd.glnav

[Mashirosen]

This is not really a Discussion subject, moving to General.

[ChaosMage]

Originally Posted by Adamark

Does it take lithium batteries? Is it rechargeable? Is the memory the same as an external memory stick or does that upgraded card stay in the camera?

Yes, it comes with a lithium battery. The battery I'm referring to with the 2 hour battery life with LCD on (we tend to take pictures with the LCD on. Its faster) is the stock battery, it comes with the camera. Rechargable, definetely. The 128 meg memory I'm referring to is an external memory stick. You can get them at just about any electronics store, but Wal-Mart tends to have them cheapest (I avoid shopping there due to them being monopolistic turds though). The upgraded card is removable, which you would think be a hassle at first but is actually surprisingly convenient. If you ever go to Sam's or whatever to get pictures printed, you can just take the stick out of the camera, pop it in your pocket and you're set. No need to take the whole camera with you and look like an idiot.