Camera advice

[Duck on Wheels]

I also went digital after discovering on a summer holiday that the money I spent in 3 weeks developing pics was enough to buy a digital. Although I do still love film (Is this genetic, or were we just socialized the same, Trek420?), there are many advantages to digital:
- small and lightweight encourages habits that keep the camera available whenever you wish it were there ("oh, it IS here, right in my pocket!")
- snap away and ditch the glitches
- easy to download and share electronically
- you can still print, even at home with a good color printer, or online or at a phot shop.
- camera quality is getting good, what with pixels getting cheaper by the million.
But there are also disadvantages:
- shutter delay
- small and light can also mean unstable, easily jolted when you press the button, or breathe, or blink.
- small and light can also mean plastic, i.e. flimsy.
- small and light can also mean so teensy that your own fingers get in the way, or you can't read the icons, or ...
- 3x optical zoom doesn't even get you to 50mm, and digital zoom costs you in pixel density

So I compromised. I went for a medium-sized one that has a good hand-fitting grip and a leeetle bit of heft for a steady hold. It does not fit in a pocket, but is still lightweight and fits easily alongside other gear in my backpack or camelbak. It has 10x optical zoom. I wanted the 4mp version, but it was unavailable at the time, so I settled for 3.2mp. With 10x zoom I'm still getting sharp close-up pictures, even at some distance. (Trek420 keeps saying "lens envy, lens envy" when I show her snaps I've taken, say of ground squirrels we've hiked by, or a closeup of a wildflower, or a shorebird 100 yards off -- not to mention video of the Taiko drummers on Hiroshima day!) I've been pretty happy with it for 3 years now, but ...
I now take so many pics that I need urgently to get my image files in order and set up on my web page!
Also, bits are breaking off the flimsy case, so far both tips of the zoom trigger are gone.
Meanwhile, prices are going down and pixels are going up, so maybe in another year or so I'll replace this one (a Minolta Z1) with even more zoom and pixels, and maybe even an image stabilizer function.

[Dogmama]

I went to a regular camera store and they recommended CANON hands down. Said it is most reliable, sturdy, takes AA batts, etc. I got the Powershot A640 (10 megapixels) and it isn't as small as most, but I won't lose it either! I took this picture just now in almost total darkness.

[Aseradyn]

I have a Canon PowerShot S70. I had the PowerShot S45 for years - loved it! When I upgraded to the S70, I gave the S45 to my brother. It's now his primary camera, and still taking fantastic pictures, despite the dented case

When I went looking for a camera, I was seriously torn between something that I could put in a pocket and an SLR. I settled on the S45 because it took gorgeous pictures - still does! - has a good set of controls, and is relatively small. I got the S70 because I loved the S45 so much.

Size-wise, it's in the middle. Fits comfortably in a jacket pocket, and can go in a pants pocket if it doesn't have to share. It's a little on the heavy side, so I usually carry it in whatever bag I have with me - purse, pannier, backpack, whatever. For outdoor photo quality, it's fabulous. Indoors, it's adequate. And special bonus: there is an underwater housing available that gives you access to 100% of the controls.

It uses a proprietary battery, but it holds a charge admirably. I'll go months without charging it, then pull it out and take dozens of flash pictures. If we're touring somewhere with lots of photo moments - like a trip to Korea I did last year - I need to recharge the battery every evening, or I'll be wishing I had by lunch the next day.

Most of my best photos are incidental - if I didn't just carry a camera everywhere, I'd never have them. But at the same time, I wanted to be able to blow up the photos to a size that's worth framing. (What can I say? I'm proud of my photos ) So, I really don't think 7 megapixels is overkill for a pocket camera - it depends on the quality of the camera (optics and so on), the photographer's skill, and intended use of the photos.

Every camera has trade-offs. Everyone has their own ideal point on the spectrum. I'm just thrilled there's such a complete spectrum, these days

[Dianyla]

Another happy Canon Powershot user here. I've had an S410 and now use an S500. I'd love to upgrade someday to the slimmer sexier SD 600/700 generation of the Elph lineage.

[Cassandra_Cain]

I have a Nikon D70s full SLR and am a self-confessed photography geek. Although a very small part of me misses processing film and doing infrared in particular - there is something really spiritual almost about process and doing your own prints in a darkroom. Still, digital is great and for the most, though not all, applications, the way to go. From scene to e-mail or photo album in no time at all with endless options for editing and tinkering....(hello photoshop!)

For most people though, a point-and-shoot is plenty and is going to get them the snapshots they want. If I were going to get a point-and-shoot, I'd probably get something like a Canon A610.

[SadieKate]

I realized Sunday that my digital camera has become a dinsaur. Fancy little thing back in 2002, but now. . . . Jobob had her Canon SD600 with her and I have fallen in lust. More zoom, big screen, same pocket size.

Anyone have experience with the SD700 or SD800 with the added stability? I've always been a fan of cameras that run on AAs also but these are looking so tempting.

Also, any experience with the new high speed SD cards?

90% of my photos are fishing or bicycling-related, so the faster the better. And definitely need the zoom but can't sacrifice the size.