Digital Camera, what do you have? [Archive] - Ceramic Tile Advice Forums

fishinfarmgirl

08-10-2003, 12:13 AM

I've heard the best things about Olympus! My oldest son bought a $$$ Cannon and is really pleased with it. Nice camera....not sure the model...aroun $500. I, who have a lower budget than he own a Cannon A20 which really does a FINE job for my current needs. Very affordable! Very easy to use!

Downside...memry card that came with it was small. Had to purchase another.

I'd advise investing in extra memory cards anyway if you travel or want to take high resolution pics. It eats them up!

L

jjwq8

08-10-2003, 01:56 AM

Fuji Finepix A310. 3.1 Megapixels whatever the hell they are. See pics posted under weather and name that pup. Purchased last week for UAD 1550 = to $424 US, for project office. Mightily chuffed with ease of use and image quality. 6 Mega pixel model unavailable or would have had that instead. ($200 more). Not for posing value but because we need to blow images up to A3 size for monthly reports to Client, and at that size image depth counts.
Guys in the IT department just bought the equivilent Sony for 20% less than the Fuji price but rate the fuji over the sony and reckon the extra is worth it.

Confused?

Good.

Mission accomplished.

John Bridge

08-10-2003, 06:33 AM

I have the Olympus 2 meg, but I'm thinking of upgrading to 3 or 4 meg. For general use, though, 2 megapixel is all anyone would want. Gets your files up to 1600 pixels across. That's something like 22 inches. :)

Davy

08-10-2003, 08:19 AM

Alot of Olympus cameras out there. It would mainly be used for tile job pichers and of course my grandbaby or maybe a family get together. Thanks for the help, I'll do some homework.:)

tile dale

08-10-2003, 08:21 AM

I have an Olympus c-5050 and love it. It's very easy to use if you want it to be. You can still take control and shoot manual if you'd like.

Gil Smith

08-10-2003, 10:14 AM

IMO, one of the best values out there is the Canon A60/A70 line, just introduced this spring. The A60 isa 2.0 mp that sells locally for $247 and the A70 is a 3.0 mp version that sells for $299. Online prices are cheaper.....I bought mine on eBay. ;) You can read a review here: http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_a70-review/index.shtml

I bought the A70 a couple of months ago, and I well pleased, but admittedly can't yet use all the features it offers.:rolleyes: In hindsight tho, the A60 would've suited my needs fine, but the A70 has a better movie mode.

There are several reasons I chose this particular camera:

1) It offers more flexibility in manual settings than any other camera in it's class, while still having the benefit of being a fully automatic, point and shoot camera. Being from the old school of fully manual 35mm slr cameras, I appreciate the full manual mode the A60/A70 offers.

2) It uses Compact Flash media, which has been around a long time and promises to stay (unlike some of the other media), is cheap and available in up to 1 GB capacity. (I bought a 256 mb card for $50). My brother has a $$$ Oly and the biggest card availble for it is 128mb.

3) It uses common AA batteries that last a long time, and if I happen to need some in a hurry I can get them at any grocery store. Many others use proprietary batteries ($$) that force you to have two sets and keep them charged so they'll be ready when you need them. I bought rechargeable AA's but I carry a 4-pack of AA alkalines in the car just in case. Never had to use them yet and I've taken over 700 pictures on about three battery charges.

4) It's very compact and easy to tote.

5) It looks like a camera, and not one of thse "girly" things with the pink wrist strap! :D

You can find a lot of great deals on digital cameras these days and all have their pros and cons but I like this one. It's worth checking out :)

fishinfarmgirl

08-10-2003, 10:20 AM

Try this link...click electronics...then click digital cameras...then click your preferences.

Had good luck tracking down good prices on here!

http://www.pricewatch.com/

OH...BTW...son's camera is an Olympus...forgive me.

L

Davy

08-10-2003, 06:45 PM

I liked the review of the Canon A-70. It has features I'd probably never use. I'd bet the A-60 would do fine. I'll continue to look around and start trying to get some of my money back from momma.:)

08-10-2003, 07:26 PM

I use a Sony S-70, Davy, 3.3 Megathingies, does everything but remove its own lens cover. Waaay more camera than I needed, but I got it less than a year old for $400, American. I've had it a couple years now and I can't think of a single negative thing I could say about it.

Friend I got this one from sold it to me so's he could buy even more camera (he likes to do that sort of thing). Now (probably two cameras later) he has a similar camera but substantially smaller. Smaller doesn't mean that much to a lot of people who use their camrea for jobsite pictures (my main use), but frequently my jobsite is several thousand feet higher in elevation and half a dozen miles from the truck, and all tools, including the camera, must be transported inna backpack. Therefore, I am lusting after his new camera. Since he may have had it almost a year, he may be ready for another upgrade. If so, I could have mine available at a really good price if you're interested.

Better deal than DaveM's. :D

davem

08-10-2003, 08:03 PM

Oh great, competition! :D

Davy

08-10-2003, 10:31 PM

I like competition when I'm on this end of it.:D

Davy

09-26-2003, 09:37 PM

I had to go down stairs to get this thread.:D

Decided on the Canon A-70, It's still in the box. I'll have to crack it open in a day or two. Thanks for the help.;)

09-26-2003, 10:14 PM

Funny you should bring this back up, Davy. Turns out I was right. And wrong.

My friend, from whom I bought my Sony S70, is indeed trading up again and left his Sony S85 on my doorstep for my testing and possible upgrade. Unfortunately, that's not the one I saw him with that was a good deal smaller than the one I have, the small one belongs to his spouse. :( The S85 is about the same physical size but it's got even more bells and whistles and megapixel thingees that I really don't need. Decisions, decisions.

So, no matter what, there is either an S70 or S85 available soon at a website near you. :)

Somebody sent me an email a while back expressing interest in the S70 if it became available. I'll see can I locate it.

I'd really like to hear about that one you got, Davy. The idea of operating on AA batteries is of interest to me. We have long since stopped buying any equipment that uses anything but AA batteries for our wilderness work. Makes it a whole lot easier to have the correct supplies in all the remote camps and backpacks. Right now the only thing I carry that is different is my camera. Maybe I'll have two cameras for sale. :)

davem

09-27-2003, 07:20 AM

I've been really happy with the A-70. Pic's are great as you'd expect, and the interface is quick and easy to use. The "Auto" mode is plain old point and shoot, but it can be taken to a manual mode where complete control can be obtained. I hafta admit that I spend most of the time in Auto.

The movies that it shoots are quite nifty. I've used it quite a lot to shoot the kids in action. With a 256 MB card installed, it will shoot for quite a long time. It's handy having a camera and mini-camcorder in one unit.

The Oly went on ebay, so the upgrade was fairly painless. :)

jjwq8

09-27-2003, 09:32 AM

Fuji fine pix 3 megapixel finally relinquished to consultant Engineer for whose office it was bought.
So to compensate have ordered the next best wotsit.
Fuji finepix S602. 6 megapixel etc etc.
Almost certainly o t t for our needs but if you got the best then there can be no excuse for lousy pictures. Cost 3650.00 Dirhams ($1200). Will experiment when we get it and post a piccy or two for comparison purposes.

Sonnie Layne

09-27-2003, 10:58 AM

That's way too cool, Jeremy. Good thing when you come up with a good excuse to buy new toys, huh?

Dave, what length flick will that thing shoot at low to moderate resolution? I'm working on an instructional video, and tho' I know folks in the biz who I've done sets for in the past, their schedule isn't always open and adjacent to mine.

davem

09-27-2003, 11:36 AM

Got this info from Steves Digicams: http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/a70_pg3.html

With a 256MB card, here are the total capacities. Each "scene" can be only 30 seconds long in the High mode, 3 minutes in the other modes. Also, one cannot change the zoom while recording. Recording must be stopped, then the zoom can be changed and recording can be restarted. Every start and stop will be saved as a separate avi file and can be stitched edited on your pc if you have the proper software. I imagine it comes with something to do that, but I don't use windows so I never even opened the cd.

Movie / High 640 x 480, 249 sec.
Movie / Medium 320 x 240, 735 sec.
Movie / Low 160 x 120, 1,954 sec.

The A70 can record movie clips with audio at 15 frames per second in 640x480 resolution for up to 30 seconds, 320x240 or 160x120 resolution can go up to three minutes thanks to Canon's new DIGIC processor. Movie clips are recorded in Motion JPEG format and saved as AVI files.

Both the video and audio portion of movies can be replayed on the camera thanks to the builtin speaker. Full audio-video playback is also possible when connected to a TV monitor or a compatible PC after downloading.

Canon Powershot A70

Movie mode recording options:

Exposure Compensation - Override the metering +/- 2.0EV in 1/3 steps
White Balance - Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom one-push WB set
Drive Mode - Selftimer 2 or 10 sec.
Effect - Off, Vivid, Neutral, Low Sharpening, Sepia, B&W
Movie Size: 640x480, 320x240 or 160x120

Sonnie Layne

09-27-2003, 01:12 PM

Thanks, Dave.

Seems that for the price it ain't half bad. I'll consult with the film guys on the specs and see what they don't laugh at. I mean, if they don't laugh, it's prob'ly pretty damned good. For the price, it might work, I'll just have to get techy advice from that dude that sits in the editing room, or the cameraman I'm pushin' on the dolly, haha. Did I ever mention I'm a good grip on a film shoot? :D

Derek & Jacqui

09-27-2003, 06:32 PM

Jacqui, uses the Nikon Coolpix 775 and that is to much for her,just puts it on auto and leaves it there. I use a Nikkormat 35mm with a 50mm 1.4 lens 800 speed film no flash, had it for thirty years or so still takes great snapshots, can't say photo's as I'm not that good

Sonnie Layne

09-27-2003, 07:09 PM

I've owned a Nikkormat 35.

re-entered the field with a basic OM1 with a dozen lenses.

I'm still interested in shooting a few vid's with the new stuff, even though I'm probably outdated with the tech's. Funny thing about it is, toss a new kid an old SLR and watch their reaction.

09-27-2003, 07:55 PM

Some of youins with them Cannon A70 thingees give me a realistic useful life of plain ol' alkaline batteries, will ya?

Also, does a fella download directly to the ol' PC with just a wire adapter? I'm used to simple. I like simple. There's a reason for that. :D

davem

09-27-2003, 09:48 PM

Don't know about alkalines, I use NIMH rechargeables. I've shot hundreds of pics and I'm pretty sure I only had to swap them out once, maybe twice. I do know I shot over 100 at the beach one day without changing them.

I don't know how a person would get pictures into a windows box. There is a usb cable that connects the camera to the computer though.

BTW. I've got a plane ticket to S.A. on Oct 5. :)

jjwq8

09-27-2003, 09:52 PM

ticket but no cruise huh?
shower nearly finished then?:shades:

davem

09-27-2003, 10:42 PM

Thanks for reminding me Jeremy, I have to think up a new sig. The shower has been in full use for a couple of weeks now. :)

Gil Smith

09-28-2003, 12:46 AM

cx,

I have an A70 and I use Ni-MH's but I always carry a set of alkalines as backup. Trouble is the alkalines are going to go bad before I get to use them because I can't get the danged Ni-MH's to run down! Seriously, I shoot hundreds of pictures with and without flash on a single charge. The A70 is very good on batteries but I don't know about alkalines because I've never put them in the camera.

Downside of the A70 is the lcd which can't be seen in sunlight, and the opical viewfinder is all but worthless, IMO. I still wouldn't trade for anything else in it's class.

Canon's now introduced the A80 which is a 4 megapixel camera in the same series as the A60/A70 but upped the ante $$ quite a bit. I've seen the A60 here in Austin for $227, but the A70 still going for around $299 (less online).

John Bridge

09-28-2003, 07:33 AM

Dave M.,

How long you gonna be in San Antone, and which Motel 6 you stayin' at? They have more than one over there.

;)

Davy

09-28-2003, 08:07 AM

I too liked the idea of AA batteries. Yesterday I went into Best Buy and picked up the 256 MB card and battery charger. The salesman said batteries won't last very long and rechargeables was the way to go. I'm glad to hear Dave and Gil took a hundred or more without recharging.

davem

09-28-2003, 08:55 AM

NIMH are the way to go for sure. You can even get a charger that'll plug into a cigarette lighter here:http://www.thomas-distributing.com/mhc401fs.htm
These Maha batteries and chargers are really great.

I'll be in Tejas from Sunday to Friday.

tomtuttle

09-29-2003, 11:07 AM

I've got a Canon S330. It has about the same feature set as the A60/70, but in a more compact box ("Elph" line). I take more pichers when I actually HAVE the camera, and I carry the camera more when it weighs less.

It recharges (has a little square battery pack - no traditional AA cells). Came with a wire to download to PC. It came with a second wire to plug right into a TV - which is really great for impromptu "slide shows", particularly in less techie environs (like my parents). Very happy with the camera, picture quality, ease of use and software. I paid about $300 a year or so ago. Prolly new, better, cheaper now.

And yes, I AM still around. :D Been busy moving to a new house that doesn't need quite so much tile work quite so soon. But the writing's on the wall....

Gil Smith

09-29-2003, 08:56 PM

NIMH are the way to go for sure. You can even get a charger that'll plug into a cigarette lighter here:http://www.thomas-distributing.com/mhc401fs.htm
That's the one I have and it's great. I especially like the battery conditioning feature. I have two sets of Ni-MH and I run them alternatively thru the conditioning mode about every month or so just to keep them fresh. They will eventually bleed down after storing them that long anyway.

I paid about $50 for two sets of Maha 2000 M-ah and the charger with cigarette lighter adapter. The batteries I found locally for about the same price were only 1600 M-ah.

drew

10-19-2003, 09:41 PM

ok all you smart techie types,

What does the CCD #'s mean, currently leaning towards a Panasonic 4MP camera, mostly cuz of the image stabilization feature, helps with blurry pics caused by camera movement when you snap the pic.

Any way been researching this on the net & then decided to go into a local shop & actually hold a few in my hands, so the sales clerk, tells me Panasonic are shit & of course I should get the brand he sells, anyway he tells me I should check up on the CCD image # which determines how good a pic a camera will take.
So I come home & do some more research, my findings indicate this CCD # corresponds to the MP rating of the unit. The high the MP, the lower the CCD, the 4.0 MP camera I'm looking at has a 1/2.5 CCD, from what I can tell all 4MP cameras have the same CCD of 1/2.5. Is this clown trying to blow smoke at me or what?

I know there's some smarter folks than me in these things around here, a little clarification please! Thanks :bow:

Here's a link to the camera I'm leaning towards, supposed to be available later this month, newly released model.http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11251&catalogId=11005&itemId=65303&catGroupId=11056&modelNo=DMC-FZ10S&surfModel=DMC-FZ10S

Whatcha think folks?

Gil Smith

10-20-2003, 12:41 AM

Don't get me to lyin' :D .....CCD is short for charge-coupled device and that's about all I know about it, except that it's a type of image (light) sensor that's used in just about every consumer digital camera. I do know that it takes a lot more than a CCD to make a good camera that takes good pitchers.....optics quality for instance, among other things.

I may be wrong but I doubt the's much difference in the CCD's used among major camera manufacturer's.....it's more the electronics that makes everything work that counts. I'll take a camera with superior optics and a good set of operating features over one with just big CCD #'s, but it's all got to work together to make a good product.

I generally think all the talk about MP's and CCD's and the like is 90% sales hype. The manufacturer's have to keep "improving their product" to keep consumers' attention.

Three years ago I bought my granddaughter a 1.3 MP Fuji camera that still takes beautiful snapshots.....as good or better than my 3.2 MP Canon A70.

The thing is, the Fuji suits her needs perfectly, so the $$ spent on more MP's wouldn't benefit her. I spent a few extra $$ to get her a good 3:1 zoom lense, which made more sense to me. (Incidentally, the Fuji cost about the same as my Canon three years later.)

Frankly, I don't know why I bought a 3.2 MP camera except that these cameras are now considered "entry-level", and than it seemed to have a lot of other desireable features not available on lesser cameras. I just don't use the hgher resolutions that much.....In hindsight, 2 MP would be plenty for me, but I wouldn't give up the other features that sold me on the camera.

FWIW, when I was researching my camera purchase, I looked at Panasonic (Fry's here carries some but not the model you're interested in)......all the Panasonic reviews I could find more or less concurred with your camera store clerk's opinion, but they do look tempting. The Leica glass was what grabbed my attention. :drool2:

davem

10-20-2003, 06:43 AM

Like Gil said. I just know that on a 3.2 MP camera, the CCD has a resolution of 3.2 MP.

I would not buy a camera based on an advertised feature, but rather on an impartial review. The interface, comfort, battery life, optics are all important. I would wait until the new camera is reviewed by a few of the major reviewers on the net like Steve's Digicams (http://www.steves-digicams.com/) .