Camera

[dingster1]

Hey guys

What camera's do y'all travel with? I'd like to take some shots when I hit interesting places like you guys do and maybe post a pic of me on here too!

[Veronica]

We have a Panasonic LX 2 and a Fujifilm FinePix F20.

V.

[KnottedYet]

i have a Nikon Coolpix L4.

It's not too fancy, but it was cheap and does what I need. The instruction manual isn't the best written thing in the world, but after a while I figured it out.

[Thorn]

There were some good threads on camera choices a while back. You might want to try a search. Try this thread:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=11114&highlight=camera

In the end, it all comes down to your price range, the type of pictures you're planning on taking and where you'll carry your camera. I use a mid-size camera, the Canon IS3 because I want the features (zoom, stabilizer, view finder, macro, etc.).

However, it is too big for in my pocket and I find the rear rack bag too inconvenient. So when I travelling and want pictures I have use the smallest Topeak handle bar bag. Enough padding, enough room, but not too big and heavy to be terribly detrimental for my riding. Others would feel differently and never use a handlebar bag.

Have fun shopping for one...cameras are almost as much fun to shop for as bikes! (well, I think so :))

[roguedog]

I'm struggling between the Canon 800IS and the Sony W90.. and maybe the Olympus 770sw

Anyone have any insight on comparing these cameras?

Canon 800 seems to be the darling for everyone but that was before the W90 and the 770sw ...

I like the look of the W90 and the fact that it's 100 cheaper. The 770 is nice cuz it's supposedly shock and waterproof but are you sacrificing image quality for those features?

[Brandi]

There were some good threads on camera choices a while back. You might want to try a search. Try this thread:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=11114&highlight=camera

In the end, it all comes down to your price range, the type of pictures you're planning on taking and where you'll carry your camera. I use a mid-size camera, the Canon IS3 because I want the features (zoom, stabilizer, view finder, macro, etc.).

However, it is too big for in my pocket and I find the rear rack bag too inconvenient. So when I travelling and want pictures I have use the smallest Topeak handle bar bag. Enough padding, enough room, but not too big and heavy to be terribly detrimental for my riding. Others would feel differently and never use a handlebar bag.

Have fun shopping for one...cameras are almost as much fun to shop for as bikes! (well, I think so :))
I agree fully! Price can play a big part. I got to test drive my camera before I bought it. I would check all your friends a family's camera's and ask ? Ease of shooting, set up ,computer set up, extra's etc... I have a cannon 400 it is very small but mighty. I have had it now for i think going on 4 years. I have taken it every place around this world with no problems. My battery is starting to not keep a charge as well but i think that is normal. I do wish it took better action shots. Next camera! Good luck.

[solobiker]

My DH and I have a Nikon Coolpix L4. We both like it as we do a lot of climbing and wanted a light weight/ small camera that was easy to use one handed. The buttons on it are "positive" which we think is a good thing. When you go shopping, definately try the buttons on them, some are flush with the camera back and often arent that reliable. Well that is my 2cents.

[pepe6599]

my partner and I have a Sony cybershot. I don't recommend it, I had to repair it with the frist year. Not to mention is doesn't really charge real well.

[teigyr]

I have an older digital elph (canon), I can't remember the exact model number. For its time, it was very high end.

I love it because it's small. The zoom feature isn't all that and it isn't the most user friendly thing in the world!

I totally agree with "test driving". While I don't mind my camera and won't be upgrading any time soon, it was my first digital camera and I learned a lot about what I liked and what I didn't like.

Shopping is fun though!

[SadieKate]

There were some good threads on camera choices a while back. You might want to try a search. Try this thread:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=11114&highlight=camera

In the end, it all comes down to your price range, the type of pictures you're planning on taking and where you'll carry your camera. I use a mid-size camera, the Canon IS3 because I want the features (zoom, stabilizer, view finder, macro, etc.). I bought the Canon SD700 as mentioned in the thread above. I haven't had a chance to use it much but I've been very pleased with the results I've gotten so far. Much easier to learn than I expected with all the bells and whistles. A friend who is a professional photog borrowed it for a few weeks and was impressed. I wanted the small size, long optical zoom, large screen, image stabilization, wide angle possibility (photo stitch) and fast speed.

[roguedog]

I got the Canon 800is today even though I was lusting after the Sony W90. Canon's reputation for build quality, reliability and overall features won out.

For all of you that have cameras, I picked up hella memory from Circuit City today. They have the 2gb sd card on sale for 35 and a 1gb for 20. I picked up both for my grand canyon trip. This trip is getting more and more expensive.

I'm going to research back up battery prices and water protection cases.. and maybe one for everyday use.... THis is looking more and more like bike shopping except not quite as fun. Sorta fun but not as fun.

[Tuckervill]

We have two Casio Exilim's. They work great. I bought the first one because my dad had used one for years and it always took the greatest pictures and fit in his shirt pocket. When I decided to get one, Consumer Reports rated this one well. Mine has higher megapixels (6) than the one my dad has (he's had two different generations of this camera).

My son dropped mine on the concrete and damaged the case, right before our vacation, so I sent it to be repaired. Meanwhile, I needed a camera for the trip so I bought another one, and gave the repaired one to son for xmas, and that's why I have two. They're about $300 at Target.

I think it's important to get a rechargeable one, instead of one that uses AAs. Cheaper in the long run, and the charge lasts longer than AAs.

Karen

[ClockworkOrange]

Hi dingster1

Check this site out, personally I think it is great.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/

Click on Buying Guide on the left hand side, then scoll down to Side by Side

You can have at least five different cameras showing up with so much information.

You will not be disappointed (I hope).

Good luck with what you decide on.

Sally

[uforgot]

I got the Canon 800is today even though I was lusting after the Sony W90. Canon's reputation for build quality, reliability and overall features won out.

For all of you that have cameras, I picked up hella memory from Circuit City today. They have the 2gb sd card on sale for 35 and a 1gb for 20. I picked up both for my grand canyon trip. This trip is getting more and more expensive.

I'm going to research back up battery prices and water protection cases.. and maybe one for everyday use.... THis is looking more and more like bike shopping except not quite as fun. Sorta fun but not as fun.

Wow! Memory is certainly becoming affordable. Much more than gas!lol. I'm going to have to check it out. Thanks for the heads up! Enjoy your Canon.

[roguedog]

I just realized that my camera can take faster memory.. but I can get it @ newegg.com for 40 bucks:

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820180616

[michelem]

Thorn,

Do you have the Canon Powershot S3 IS? If so, I have some questions for I am considering purchasing this model for my Italy trip (wish I could lug my Rebel film camera and lenses with me, but I've got a 17.5 lb. weight limit for my bag and need to reserve most of that weight for my bike gear!).

- Any problems with redeye? If so, have you found a workaround?

- Any problems with using the electronic viewfinder or LCD display in bright light?

- Any problems with the lens cap?

- Do you use the movie mode on the camera? If so, what kind of memory card and batteries do you use?

I apologize for hijacking this thread; hopefully someone else will find the info helpful as well! :o

[Thorn]

Thorn,

Do you have the Canon Powershot S3 IS?

Yep. That's the one...wth the flip out viewfinder



- Any problems with redeye? If so, have you found a workaround?

Uh.....must I admit that I never take pictures of people? :eek: I have trouble looking people in the eye, let alone staring at them with a camera :o Sorry, no help there.



- Any problems with using the electronic viewfinder or LCD display in bright light?

My first trip with it was to Death Valley ( http://www.cassandrathorn.com/images/2007DeathValley.htm ). I didn't have any problems even though I was learning about the camera as I went.

With digital cameras I am a "look through the view finder" sort of person and rarely use the external display. That said, I fell in love with the flip out display. If you look at the dune shots, the low shots were all done with the external display, flipped out at 90 degrees to the camera body. Flip out the display to 90 degrees facing up, hold the camera at the level of your ankles and/or knees and then play with framing while standing up--not rolling around on the ground (hey, I'm old :)). In that position there was some glare on the screen (hard to not have some), but not so much that I couldn't judge what I was taking a picture of.



- Any problems with the lens cap?

Oh yeah. Hate it. It is very loose (probably because the lens pops out when you turn the camera on and if it were tight you'd burn out the lens motor). After smearing the lens two times, I got into the rhythm of holding my thumb over the camera lens when I stowed the lens in its pouch.



- Do you use the movie mode on the camera? If so, what kind of memory card and batteries do you use?

Never used the movie feature. I carried 2 1GB cards and rechargable batteries. The use of AA's was a major selling point on that camera.


A couple of other things...I often stepped down the exposure on the camera. Of course we were in the desert, so take that with a large grain of sand. I've had 2 digital cameras previously and have always had to step down. I was impressed, though, with the image quality--even those I took (when I shouldn't have) at full sun.

Because of the image stabilizer I always left the ISO setting at 80. Yes, I'll get longer exposures, but I also will get less noise on the image.

I should have practiced more with the macro before I left. All of my macro shots were awful. Operator error, not camera. I do find it hard to get a focus lock in normal macro mode. I've done some playing in super macro and am looking forward to the next trip to try it out. Very cool feature.

I find the camera a compromise over the camera I'd love to have and the convenience of a little quick shot camera. It'll probably take two more trips before I fully comfortable with it, but I was growing to like it better than my previous camera (and after six years of that camera, I'd grown quite attached). It is lighter and slightly smaller than my previous camera (the old camera had a mechanical image stabilizer). Still not jersy pocket small, but I have a little Topeak handle bar bag that holds it nicely.

Does the 17.5 lb limit include your "purse"? if not, you could always put the camera in the purse and not affect the weight of the carryon.....yeah, that's bending the rules, but....

[surgtech1956]

I have a Sony DSC-H5, 7.2 mega pixels, 12x optical zoom. It's got a 3" LCD screen - great for my 'older' eyes. It uses rechargeable AA's. The only problem I have is that it uses 2 - AA's, - think the batteries would last longer if it used 4. Super nice pictures.

[7rider]

Thorn,
Do you have the Canon Powershot S3 IS? If so, I have some questions for I am considering purchasing this model for my Italy trip (wish I could lug my Rebel film camera and lenses with me, but I've got a 17.5 lb. weight limit for my bag and need to reserve most of that weight for my bike gear!).
- Any problems with redeye? If so, have you found a workaround?
- Any problems with using the electronic viewfinder or LCD display in bright light?
- Any problems with the lens cap?
- Do you use the movie mode on the camera? If so, what kind of memory card and batteries do you use?
I apologize for hijacking this thread; hopefully someone else will find the info helpful as well! :o

Continuing the hijack....
DH and I just bought the Canon Powershot S3 IS for our trip to Colorado in March. It was small enough to be portable but big enough to have the features we were looking for.
So, I thought I'd respond to these questions, too.
Can't say I've had any problems with redeye. I believe you can correct them right on the camera. There is a redeye reduction setting for the flash - it may be default, or I've set it that way.
I found the LCD useless in high alpine light - which is why I was happy we selected a camera with viewfinder as a back-up. The Nikon (Coolpix S-10?) that we were looking at also did not have a viewfinder.
I had no problems with the lenscap. It's tethered to the camera body, and yeah, it pops off when you turn the camera on (sometimes I forget, and I want to see pix on the screen, and turn the knob the wrong way, and it's kind of disconcerting, but not a major thing).
Movie mode can be a memory hog at high resolution settings. I've since reduced the resolution, and they still look fine on the p.c. and t.v., but look crappy on YouTube. The movies are .avi format, and I need to look if there's a more efficient format I can convert to and how, since the files are soooo huge. Low on the priority list right now, tho'. Definitely go with at least a 1 GB card. The 16 mb card that came with the camera was corrupted from the start, and I threw it away.
Batteries are AA - I picked up some really expensive Energizers (the silver ones, I forget the name), but they've been great ane really long lasting so far. Found them a whole lot cheaper at Sam's Club.

[michelem]

Wow! Thanks for all the great feedback! :D