Digital Camera Advice

[uncleel]

After seeing a relatives (expensive) Nixon CoolPix during Xmas, my kid is bitten by the bug. But... she has to decide whether to get a new stereo/cd system installed in her car, or a digital camera. If she decides on the camera, I've got a budget of $200 for a 2 megapixel camera. I consider this a hobby, but she is quite computer savvy.

Saw this one in www.compusa.com (http://www.compusa.com) ads

SiPix SC3300 3.3 Mega Pixel Digital Camera with Digital Video $149.99 after rebate(s)*
specs here (http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=297981&cm_vn=cusa_12_29_02&cm_cat=DigitalCameras&cm_pla=hpf5&cm_ite=297981#checkstore)


But www.officemax.com (http://www.officemax.com) has that old reliable Sony Mavica FD75 Digital Camera (that uses floppys) for $249.99

specs here (http://www.officemax.com/max/solutions/product/prodBlock.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&expansionOID=-536879944&prodBlockOID=536967703.000000)

The SiPix line looks toyish. The drawback looks like a "fixed" memory, but your getting 3.3mp

I've always liked the Sony Mavica's that use floppys, but there are drawbacks. Very convient, but is the resolution enough?

I have seen brand name (canon etc) 2mp camera's for a lil' less than $200.

Comments?

[YODA74]

Here is a review on that first camera
http://www.dcviews.com/press/Sipix_SC_3300.htm

doesn't sound that bad for the price ... but i like people who have a proven track record..

and another on that http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006LPNH//104-3414458-7446351?v=glance&s=photo&vi=reviews

[chadharris]

check out this FUJI camera. I just ordered it and did all the searching and found it the cheapest at NPB Express. Heres the specs.

FinePix 3800 Digital Camera features 3.2 million effective pixels, produces image with 2048 x 1536 recorded pixels. Simple user-friendly control and easy USB computer connection. Built into a compact body it features a precision retractable Fujinon 6X optical lens, with 3.2X digital zoom, mini Though-The Lens (TTL) electric viewfinder, pictures voice annotation, video recording, and PC-Cam Internet Mode. Set to automatic, or select manual for greater control over each picture. It has optional wide and tele lenses. Included with a 16MB XD-Picture Card, 4 AA batteries, FinePix Software and USB Cable. Compatible with Win 98, ME, 2000, XP, Mac 8.6-X

Heres the link to buy it:
FUJI FinePix 3800 (http://www.npbexpress.com/fujfin38digc.html)

Hope this helped,
Chad.

[drdan]

I know you want to limit it to about $200. I would not even consider the one that uses floppies or the built in memory. The best thing about a digital is being able to take lots and lots of pictures at very little expense once you'set up. If you're used to film 16MB seems reasonable, but once you get into digital it just isn't. I can easily fill up my 64MB card on a long weekend trip. I took pictures at a friend wedding and had to dump the card into a computer twice and kept shooting. You can easily and immediately view the pics, keep the 5-10% that turned out well and delete the rest. If you have a computer with plenty of room you can just transfer them to a folder for later viewing and editing and keep shooting. I would look at a name brand like Olympus, Nikon, Sony etc with 1.2-3.0 megapixel with a removable memory card in a point and shoot model in your price range. My Olympus D-460 is only 1.2 meagpixels but has beautiful color and makes great 8 1/2x11 prints on my regular color printer. They actually make much nicer prints than the computer monitor can show.

Here's a couple

http://drdansinfo.com/PA070073.jpg

http://drdansinfo.com/two_bees.JPG

http://drdansinfo.com/P726storm2.JPG

[drdan]

Here's a link. These are 1-2 megapixel. For the use you want I think quaility and features are more important than the highest meagpixel.

http://pricegrabber.consumerreview.com/categories/9/8/

[drdan]

Here's the 2-3 megapixel link

http://pricegrabber.consumerreview.com/categories/9/9/index_byname.shtml

[uncleel]

Originally posted by uncleel:
especially interested in the "video" feature.
The Nixon CoolPix 775 (she played w/ @ Xmas) does 40 seconds of QVGA movies @15 frames per second.

Yea, but it's a $400+ :mad: camera.

So 1-to-2-MP that does a pretty good video-clip, for under $200 is what I'm L :rolleyes: :rolleyes:King

This is a hobby thing, & I don't think she'll get into any serious photography. Just likes to do stuff on the pc.

[drdan]

By hobby I assume you mean she won't really stick to it. You can get factory refurbished cameras like my Olympus for under $200. Here is a link to a Fuji for $189 that has the features you want.

http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PRODUCT&PROD_ID=66140&cid=25912&fp=F

If you are interested in reseaching this a little I would go to some of the cameras in the links I gave you above just so you get a feel for what's availble in your price range. I'm on another message board where we've discussed this topic several times in the last 6 months. Here is that link. Just set it to show the last six months and read some of the discussions.

http://www.huntamerica.com/wwwthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=UBB20

[Rick]

I haven’t used the units listed above.
So I can’t say if one is better than the other ..

I can however tell you one you do NOT want to get

The Toshiba PDR-M25
with 2.2mega pixels and the 3x zoom.

First and for most this unit EATS Batteries .( 4 AA’s at a time)
Faster than you can use the camera to fill the memory card. ( I use the 128meg card)

[drdan]

Absolutely get a couple of sets of NiMH batteries and a charger. I have a $9.99 Roy-O-Vac charger from Walmart which works great. 1600mah or better batteries is preferable.

[buck52]

Howdy

Maybe a little more than you want to spend but my father has this camera and it is very easy to use and take great pictures...

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/F2600/F26A.HTM

buck