Going to buy a Camera

[Bogy]

I have seriously hinted to my wife that a digital camera would make a nice Christmas present, and she seems to be receptive to my suggestion. Any suggestions on cameras or features you have found to be an unexpected benefit, or that did not work the way you expected. I am considering a Sony because my PDA is a Sony, and I could use the same Memory Stick media for both units. I'm looking for the most camera she can get with a price limit of about $500, so don't bother suggesting the latest 22 megapixel wonder. :D I've still been using my trusty Minolta 35mm and either scanning prints into the computer or getting a CD when I had film developed. I will probably continue to use the 35mm for pictures where I want the very best quality. But there are many times when being able to quickly take a picture that could be printed or emailed would be handy.

[Steve Mehs]

I would suggest a Sony too, but a CD Mavica rather then a Cyber Shot. Although since you already use Memory Sicks, it would probably make more sense for a Cyber Shot. A 2.1 MP Mavica costs $600 (sometimes theres a $100 rebate), whereas you could get a (I'm guessing) ~4.0 MP Cyber Shot for that. If you want to stay in the $500 range there are some great Cyber Shots for that price. checkout www.sonystyle.com (it's down right now) I'm a big fan of Sony's digital Imaging products, I just wish I could trade my Digital 8 in for Mini DV and my 2.1 MP Mavica in for a 4.1 :)

[James_F]

I got my wife a Nikon Coolpix 4300.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/CP4300/C43A.HTM/

or

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/nikon/coolpix4300-review/

I was looking at the Sony cameras, but didn't really care for their quality at this price point. Don't worry too much about the memory since 128 megs of Compact Flash memory costs about $25. I bought it for $450 online with the memory card. One note for buying a camera online, make sure it comes with a US warranty. Many cameras sold online have Asian warranties which don't work in the US.

Sony does make good CCDs (the image sensor), but their current crop of cameras are out of date.

[J.W.]

I got a Canon Powershot S30 back in Feb and it has been AWESOME!!! I understand about using the same memory though. Take a look at the 3mp S30 or 4mp S40...

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S30/S30A.HTM

[Martyva]

Sony DSCS85. 4 megapixal uses memory stick.

[Bogy]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. My wife likes Sony, and I may have locked her into that by mentioning I could use the same Memory Sticks. I have looked at the Sony CD Mavica's, but the price for the 4 MP is a little higher than we want to go, and I would like to do better than the 2 MP. If I/she could afford it I would love to have this Cyber Shot, the DSC-F717. http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=6t2GXqpHmnKGW5exy4qMVeVKzdfMaoKum20=?Pro ductID=z30KC0%2eNYMYAAADxP_iG5PNq&Dept=dcc&CatalogCategoryID=w24KC0%2eNE5IAAADxH_GG5PNo
But the DSC-P9 is a little more realistic. http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=6t2GXqpHmnKGW5exy4qMVeVKzdfMaoKum20=?Pro ductID=s4YKC0%2eN_CMAAADxVvOG5PNr&Dept=dcc&CatalogCategoryID=w24KC0%2eNE5IAAADxH_GG5PNo

[Richard King]

Bogy.. Go here: http://www.dpreview.com/ and browse the forums there. There is a forum on every major digital camera supplier in the market. I spent much time there educating myself before I bought my Nikon CP-990 (3 Megapixel) soon after it came out a couple of years ago. I have been very pleased with my purchase so far, but am contemplating an upgrade to a 5 mpixel model sometime early next year. Feel free to browse some pix that I have posted in various categories here: http://www.pbase.com/rking401/root

[James_F]

Just make sure you buy a new camera, no one that has been on the market for over a year. A 4 megapixel camera today is much better than one made 1 year ago. Take my Canon G2, I bought that over a year ago and it cost almost $900. The Nikon that I bought my wife has almost the same stats, but is $500 cheaper and you can't tell the pictures apart. Buying a digital camera is just like a computer, you wouldn't buy a computer that was make over a year ago, so why would you do the same with a digital camera?

[Nick]

"...you wouldn't buy a computer that was make over a year ago, so why would you do the same with a digital camera"

Actually, yes I would if it was a good deal.

If that's the way you buy technology, James, then so be it. But you may be spending much more than the patient person who is more than willing to buy a product that has been out for 6-12 months and may have been discounted several times.

Another trap is conning yourself into thinking you need more capacity than you really do.

In Bogy's camera quest, does he really need the latest, greatest camera for his purposes? Part of the process is first understanding your own needs, as opposed to your wants, and having the wisdom to know the difference.

Bogy will get more value, or 'bang for his buck' by shopping for values rather than the very latest in technology. Choosing a six-to-twelve month old new camera not only will save money, but gives him the added advantage of having benefit of user ratings and opinions which are usually not available on brand new products.

YMMV

[Bogy]

Thanks again guys. Richard, thanks for the link. It helped to reassure me. :D As Nick guessed about me, probably after reading about the pennypinching ways I have in keeping antique computers running, what we are looking for is not the latest and greatest, but decent quality, and the most "bang for the buck." I have a strong suspicion the decision has been made. I saw my wife on her computer last night, and while I really tried not to look, I may have noticed a picture of a camera on the screen, and I may have noticed her typing in credit card info as well. If my suspicions are correct, she was ordering a Sony DSC-P71. This is a fairly new 3.2 MP camera, top of the line in its particular model line-up. The reviewer recommends it. The reasons he give are that for a camera in this price range it has all the features you would expect, plus a few you wouldn't. It's a fairly simple camera, and since my wife will be also be using it occasionally, she will have an easier time. I preferred it to the P7 or P9 because it uses AA batteries, rather than the Sony battery pack. It comes with rechargeable batteries and a charger, but in a pinch you can just slip in some standard batteries and keep shooting. So, since I strongly suspect the camera is on its way to my stocking, I feel reassured by the review. That's the difference between my wife and me. (One of them anyway) I would have been reading reviews for another two or three weeks and then have still agonized over whether this was the right decision. She saw something she liked, I said it would probably be ok, and she ordered it. I really have to be careful when I'm thinking out loud around her. :D

Anyway guys, thanks a lot, and I'll let you know how I like it after Christmas.

[Richard King]

I agree with the comments on sticking with a new camera rather than thinking about an older one (although that will make it harder for me to sell my camera when the time comes). Many advances have been made in just the past 2 years that make newer cameras a much greater value. An obvious change is the ability to get more megas for the buck, but there are several other advances in the technology that have occured over the past couple of years. My camera becomes VERY noisy in any shot over about 4 seconds exposure. Newer cameras can go many times that without getting anywhere near as noisy. This is very important if you enjoy doing some of the crazy things I do with my camera, such as lightning shots or shots of the occassional meteor shower. I have been lucky and gotten a couple of good lightning shots with a 2 second exposure, but it sure would have been easier if I could have used 8-16 seconds (or longer). Final advice, stick with the newest technology you can afford, then enjoy.