DIGITAL CAMERA ADVISE

CatGirl says on Apr 22, 2008, 07:44:

I would greatly appreciate constructive input....Kitty is curious - Gracias

Puurrrr

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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jonas says on Apr 22, 2008, 08:43:

I am no expert on this but I have read that pixels is not everything. Important to me is for example the speed, i.e. from hitting the button until the picture is actually taken. I reckon you search the net, there are lots of buyers guides for digital cameras that pretty much explain it all.
I have a Nikon Coolpix and I am very happy with it. Very slim, which is nice. Great colors.
My girlfried has a Sony Cybershot. Better lenses (but bigger) by Zeiss so she gets some scenery shots nicer. But my programs are better and for not so far distances my camera gets the better pictures. Pixels are not everything. (We both have same number of pixels)

Simon Presidente!

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vicshere says on Apr 22, 2008, 09:20:

cat they are very comparable for me i would get the G9 they are both nice

listo

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CatGirl says on Apr 22, 2008, 09:36:

Thanks Vic and Jonas. Funny about the pixels...I hear conflicting advise and i do understand your comment Jonas. But both have the same pixels so.....it looks like Vic might have more experience or was sweet enough to take the time and look it up
Vic, curious....why do you think the G9 is better
Thanks

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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vicshere says on Apr 22, 2008, 09:43:

cause its black....hehehehe....it looked more rugged....and different than other ...they both go to 2.8 which is pretty good for digital...this will take some very nice pics....my only concern is the position of the flash.....which will produce some red eye more often than not...but any software now will remove it easy so no problem....nice camera which I had money to buy that range.....don’t you live in canada

listo

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CatGirl says on Apr 22, 2008, 09:47:

Vic - thanks....yeah I thought about the "black" thingy too and more durability. I live in the US, but it is a gift - to replace the previous one given to me and recently went on the blink.
I even sent it back to the manufac. and they fixed it free. Came back....used it 2 times and problems started up again. So time for a replacement ;)...
I will have to think about the flash...hmm...good point

Thanks Vic

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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morphus says on Apr 22, 2008, 10:47:

They are both good cameras. Pixels are'nt everything. The lens and the cameras ability to take good pictures in low light are important too. Sometimes those high pixel cameras are bad if you are taking pictures of people. They will bring out every little defect in a person. If the person has wrinkles or age spots they will show up in great detail.

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vicshere says on Apr 22, 2008, 11:14:

cat living in the US you should get much better prices than 499...sounds expensive

listo

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morphus says on Apr 22, 2008, 11:19:

You can get one on the internet for around $250

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vicshere says on Apr 22, 2008, 11:22:

thats better retail say 499

listo

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LilaM says on Apr 22, 2008, 13:07:

Hello CG try to compare them thru www.cnet.com a very good place to check the differences and the user reviews, take a look it will help for sure

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

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CatGirl says on Apr 22, 2008, 13:10:

Morph: Thanks for the info....I don;t know much about this type of stuff. Is there a way to tell if it takes good pics in low light?? I look at the specs on both and the only thing I can see is the G9 has special photo effects (lighter & darker skin tone)..
Sorry, but I hate going to the store and most the times these days you get a bubble head behind the counter. Sometimes too much info can be confusing unless you really know your stuff. Age spots and wrinkles, LOL - you are a crack up! jaja.
Anyways...
About cost....again, it's a gift (replacement).
Thanks for the good info

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Apr 22, 2008, 13:11:

Oh - hey Amiga! Thanks Lila- I will check that out too

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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vicshere says on Apr 22, 2008, 13:14:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4504-6501_7-0.html?id=32591168&id=32471273

listo

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vicshere says on Apr 22, 2008, 13:16:

yea the g9 has better rating and is heavier therefore more rugged

listo

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CatGirl says on Apr 22, 2008, 13:25:

Thanks Sooooooo much for all of your advice!! Lila that cnet is great! I might actually just go for less pixels, I'll see (A720IS has some good ratings). Also have to check out what it says about the G9 Thanks again ;))) Purrrr

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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travelingirl says on Apr 22, 2008, 15:11:

Normally, yes, the higher the megapixel the better. However, this is calculated with both the optical and digital zoom. Digital zoom doesn't really mean much... optical zoom is what you need to look for. Get at least a 3 optical. Also, you might want to consider if you want a camera that uses the lithium ion battery or regular AA batteries. Pro's and con's for each: The lithium ion is lightweight and small, and therefore your camera can be more pocketsized. However, the battery costs around $50 (at WalMart) and you'll have to charge it on occassion. AA batteries will more than likely make your camera slightly more bulky (and maybe a tad heavier), however you never have to worry about charging them if you are in the middle of nowhere. I decided to get one that used a lithium ion battery. I was worried about the charge holding so I bought an extra one as a backup. However, I took over 1100 pictures during my last big trip and I was able to get by with just charging up the battery at night and sometimes even then, it still had a pretty good charge left. I guess it is just a matter of personal preference.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

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CatGirl says on Apr 22, 2008, 19:42:

TG - Wow! you know your stuff gal...I'm going to have to go shopping with you one day, girl!

Thanks to all for your advice...I will be checking this out soon ;))

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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vicshere says on Apr 22, 2008, 19:53:

my camera uses 4 AA rechargeable batteries....the four batteries will take about 160 pictures all with flash no problem....I always carry 4 extra charged batteries and carry the little charge unit...lot cheaper than buying batteries especially in Colombia...and in an emergency buy four AA batteries

listo

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travelingirl says on Apr 22, 2008, 20:30:

Oh yes, I love to shop! So I'm sure we'd have fun. hehe

I briefly looked up the 2 cameras you mentioned and it seems as if they are both good in the "optical zoom" department although the G9 is a bit better... but probably not as compact. I didn't really look at anything else though.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

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christobeldawg says on Apr 22, 2008, 20:43:

I bought a Nikon P50 a few months ago but it was lost while I was in Colombia[lost, with a little help--and if anyone here helped me in losing it, enjoy it, but please please give me back the memory card--no harm, no foul], anyway, I digress. I bought another one because of the reason that I bought it in the first place, after much research[about 15 minutes on the internet]. Wide angle lens, which is unusual in this price range, and some manual possibilities. It's a more than decent camera.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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CatGirl says on Apr 22, 2008, 20:46:

Really Dawg? What is special about a wide angle lens? (sorry...I know very little about cameras, so I might ask silly elementary questions)

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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travelingirl says on Apr 22, 2008, 20:46:

Only 15 minutes of research?! It took me weeks to decide on mine. lol Think of how long it will take me to make major life decisions. haha

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

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christobeldawg says on Apr 22, 2008, 20:58:

wide angle lens doesn't really help on people photos, but is better for landscapes, architecture, things like that.
tg, I actually understand analysis paralysis on these type purchases. I had a friend who had much knowledge of photography, and he, after I asked him a few questions, told me which camera to buy. On life decisions, I understand only paralysis.jaja

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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CatGirl says on Apr 22, 2008, 21:02:

OK - got you...well. I think I'd prefer something that is good for all purpose. So again, I will take all advise given and make the best decision I can ;)
Paralysis? OMG Dawg.....are you one of those stagnant types? Nahhh.....you get out and about, right? ;))

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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christobeldawg says on Apr 22, 2008, 21:08:

I appear to people as though I am not going to actually do anything, and then, lo and behold, every now and then, I knock everybodys' socks off, by taking seemingly radical action.
Right tg?

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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travelingirl says on Apr 22, 2008, 21:09:

Yeah, Cat, I think I'm the one that takes too long in making a decision. lol Good luck on the camera!

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

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christobeldawg says on Apr 22, 2008, 21:10:

oh, and the Nikon P50 is small but not really a pocket camera, if that is what you want

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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miamimike says on Apr 23, 2008, 00:23:

I've had several digital Cameras over the last 12 years and my most recent is a Black Kodak EZ Share 712. It has a true optical 12 Power Zoom and several different shooting modes including Video and Manual. Its really quite the Camera for what I payed, $180 on sale at office depot. It will do much more then I probably need but its nice to know the unusual features are there if needed. If you plan on Enlarging your photos up to poster size, definetely 6-8 M Pixels are needed as you will get a nice non-grainy enlargement. If you need a camera for photos up to 5x7, 2-3 Mega Pixels will suffice no problem. As far as transmitting photos over the Internet, anything over a couple Mega Pixels are lost as the experts say internet capability hasn't advanced to the point where 5-8 mega pixels will make any difference for better photo quality over internet cable/lines. I like the 12 Power Zoom on my Kodak though I have a small portable Tripod(6 inches high-plastic) for shots at 12 power or Timed exposures, say a Sun setting, Night fireworks or moon shots(non human type, LOL) . Great Camera for the Money and it has a well thought out hand grip area you can real grab onto for a steady shot. http://www.mastergadgets.com/kodak-easyshare-p712-camera-review/

The Fuji Finepix S700 is a great Camera also, almost like my Kodak EZ Share 712 only the Fuji is 10 power instead the 12 my Kodak has-otherwise they are almost identical, same 7.1 MegaPixels ect.Great Price on this also-Radio shack had 'em for around $170 a few weeks ago,

http://www.retrevo.com/s/FujiFilm-S700-Digital-Cameras-review-manual/i...

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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travelingirl says on Apr 23, 2008, 00:31:

Wow, that sounds like a fabulous price for a 12X optical zoom! That was one of the things I had a tough time deciding... better optical zoom, or a tiny sized camera I could fit in my pocket without a big bulge. lol Looks like you have a good one, Miami. In the end I opted for a smaller sized camera, but it still has 8.1 mega pixels and the optical is at least 3x, so I'm pretty happy.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

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miamimike says on Apr 23, 2008, 00:40:

TG-If I wanted a Camera just for traveling I would look for one of those small cameras also in the 8mp range with at least a 3x Zoom. What I don't like about those small lightweight cameras is there isn't much to get your hands around to steady the shot. Everything in Cameras it seems is a compromise,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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robi666 says on Apr 23, 2008, 07:48:

From Amazon.com:

Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom $449.98

Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens $449.95
or
Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens $473.99

Now, everyone could tell which is a better camera to buy... forget about the Megapixel myth.
G9 is expensive when with the same money you can buy an SLR.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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vicshere says on Apr 23, 2008, 08:37:

hey rob the SLR have gone the way of the dinosaurs...my Canon A-1 sits in a draw gathering fur balls

listo

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miamimike says on Apr 23, 2008, 09:40:

Mario-I have used both Cameras 3 mp vs 7 mp on Photos for Products I sell on eBay and the truth be told, its hard to tell the difference between those Pics taken with a 3 mp or with a 7Mp. Same for Snapshots I have taken in 4x6 size. Hard for the layman to tell the difference between Pics taken with a 3 mp vs a 7 mp Camera.Maybe an expert could tell the difference but I doubt most average camera users can see any difference on 4x6 photos or internet photos,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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slguy says on Apr 23, 2008, 19:42:

fwiw, photoshop rolled outtheir onlne entity - editing and storage!pretty cool site...

https://www.photoshop.com/express/index.html?wf=signin

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

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CatGirl says on Apr 23, 2008, 20:39:

Hi guys.....I just really want to thank you sooooo very much for the good advice and the time you took to hive it to me. To is and was much appreciated. So many good tips! YOU ARE ALL THE BEST !

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Apr 26, 2008, 16:13:

Ok _ so hold on folks and let me see If I can take a pic and post it. I think you'll like it

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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travelingirl says on Apr 26, 2008, 16:13:

Which one did you buy?

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

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CatGirl says on Apr 26, 2008, 18:18:

Tg - not yet...I have a temporary upgraded version of the old one for now. ;)

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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MaFe says on Apr 26, 2008, 19:37:

Casio? I just know that is what everyone I know recommends...

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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robi666 says on Apr 28, 2008, 08:47:

Vic: "hey rob the SLR have gone the way of the dinosaurs...my Canon A-1 sits in a draw gathering fur balls"

Ehm... I was talking about Digital SLR, Vic... didn't you ever hear about it? :)

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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tomtom33 says on Apr 28, 2008, 09:01:

Digital SLRs take wonderful photos. However, they cannot shoot video. Therefore my next camera will probably be the Sony HDR-SR11 Handycam. In addition to shooting HD video, it takes stills at 10.2 MP. And you can take stills while shooting video.

I currently have about 6 digital cameras of various types from pocket to water-proof to SLR-type. They all have a use.

I am no expert photographer, but I want the most MP I can get. It takes around 14 MP to approximate the old film SLRs.

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vicshere says on Apr 28, 2008, 11:10:

"Ehm... I was talking about Digital SLR, Vic... didn't you ever hear about it? :)"

of course.... but I was referring to SLR 35mm
since you didn't refer to SLR digital ..it looked like you referred to SLR 35mm
OK...now stop making me post on PBH

listo

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CatGirl says on Apr 28, 2008, 11:11:

Por Que Vic? ;)

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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robi666 says on Apr 28, 2008, 14:56:

I am happy with my Canon EOS 20D that I bought three years ago. The bundle lenses 18-55mm are quite average, but I bought a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II for around 70 USD, which is really good for portraits. I am on the market for a 10-22mm.
Actually you can buy the 20D for around 500 USD, body only.

After owning one, I would not buy anything different from a Digital SLR. Before I had a Coolpix 5700: another planet.

Again, G9 is expensive when with the same money you can buy a Digital SLR.

Now, a full frame sensor SLR would be my actual choice... and maybe in some months it will sell for around 1,000.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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tomtom33 says on Apr 28, 2008, 16:34:

The neat thing about digital imaging is that it keeps getting better and better.

Clearly the digital SLR is the way to go for stills. Sooner or later I'll probably buy one.

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