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Community Newsletter: Q&A: I'm ready to purchase my first digital camera. Need advice!
- 11/19/07 6:16 AM
Movie modes don't yield sharp prints.
by RustySly - 11/9/07 11:10 PM In reply to: When the kids are being...... by cesareDHUnfortunately, in the movie mode, the dedicated digital cameras use a slow shutter speed, as do many camcorders. This results in blurred or soft prints. That's why camcorders have a still mode, in order to use flash and a faster shutter speed.
Agree in principle, but...
by Luto Lopez - 11/10/07 10:36 PM In reply to: Grandkids move quickly. Fast response is best. by RustySlyAgree that shutter lag was the great deficiency of digital cameras for about the first 10 years they were widely available. But for the last couple of years, you don't have to spend big bucks on a digital SLR to avoid shutter lag. Many of the current small digital cameras, even in the $100-200 range have the shutter lag down to a few thousandth of a second.
Agree - look for a fast response time
by Tigralady - 11/11/07 6:46 AM In reply to: Grandkids move quickly. Fast response is best. by RustySlyTotally agree a fast shutter response time is vitally important.
2nd - Be prepared and start thinking about how you plan to organize and store your digital photos. Most people I know agree, we are totally out of control. In fact I want to come back and look for advice on Cnet. And once you get behind its very hard to catch up. Plus I ended up with some memory cards that work great in my camera but neither my nor my husband's laptops will recognize the cards - which means I now have another challenge.
3rd - keep that 35mm. Inside pictures in large spaces are a problem with my digital. I must fall back on my 35 for a RELIABLE, guaranteed picture. There are so many "if's" in those places, you may or may not get that precious shot. e.g. Gyms, auditoriums, concert halls, anyplace you need more light but can't get it with a normal flash, or your subject is far away such as up on the stage. I often end up carrying my 35, my digital and my camcorder at the same time.
fast shutter
by ahorn1966 - 11/9/07 6:56 PM In reply to: I'm ready to purchase my first digital camera. Need advice! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My big beef with digital cameras is, with the autofocus setting and flash regeneration times, the slow reaction time between the instant I depress the shutter to when it actually takes the photo. When you're taking pictures of puppies and kids, they aren't going to do an instant replay so you can get the pic you wanted.
First off, I'd go to the local camera store instead of Walmart or Sam's Club. The prices aren't that much different than you'll pay at a mass merchandise store, and the information you'll get is PRICELESS!! So I had the guy at the camera store lay out all of the cameras that were in my price range, and one by one, I took pictures of a clock on the wall that had a second hand. I bought the camera with the quickest in-focus photo. We ended up with a Fuji Finepix and have been very happy with it.
Go Canon!
by rkzander - 11/9/07 8:08 PM In reply to: I'm ready to purchase my first digital camera. Need advice! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Walter, like you, I recently was in pursuit of my first good digital camera. I had a Samsung DuoCam SD6040 for 3 years and the on board charging unit stopped working. After contacting Samsung, I decided to go with another brand. They offered to fix it, knowing this has been a problem for other customers, for $150! I decided that I could put that money to better use by purchasing a better camera with more megapixels and features. I won't go into a lot of detail about camera specs, as a lot of others have already done a great job of that.
After a lot of research and advice, I purchased a Canon Powershot S5 IS for $229. I researched every web site that I could find and read every review that people wrote about it. I even looked at the pictures that people uploaded, so I could see what their pictures looked like. I love it! I have been "practicing" with it on my dog and rooms of the new house that we just built. I can't believe the beautiful pictures! It is easy to use and is very well built. It has many of the features that a SLR has, but for a lot less. I did a lot of online price searches and came up with the best deal. Be careful of the pricing that you find, as some do not include the same items with the camera as others do. Read the review from customers before making your purchase. Or go with a regular brick and mortar store. Their prices may be higher, but the customer service may be easier to deal with.
I also purchased the new Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable AA batteries and the Sanyo Eneloop charger for them. They come to you already charged and ready to use. They have great specs and I read so many positive reviews on them. Go to http://www.eneloop.info/218.html to read about them. You can read some reviews at: http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=96500&forum_id=51. I got a couple of Sandisk Extreme III 2.0 GB memory cards and the Sandisk Extreme USB 2.0 Card Reader. I got the batteries, charger and card reader from www.amazon.com at a great price. I also got a great Samsonite 708BK Microfiber Compact Video Bag for my new camera at www.amazon.com. It is a great quality bag.
Take you time researching and make sure that you find what is best for you. I agree with others that you should stick with a name brand. I was given recommendations of Canon and Nikon. I chose Canon due to the price I could afford. I have a Nikon 35mm film camera that I used for years and never had any trouble with it. It also took great pictures. My brother-in-law has a Nikon D40 SLR and it takes fantastic pictures!
In short, the choice is yours. Do your research and buy what you can afford. Happy hunting! I hope you are happy with the purchase you make! Good Luck! And....please let us know about your purchase!
Things to consider
by bmmw7 - 11/9/07 9:44 PM In reply to: I'm ready to purchase my first digital camera. Need advice! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
At this time I have 2 old cameras: Canon S2 IS (bulky) and Panasonic DMC-TZ1 (compact).
Things I considered when buying those cameras:
~~~Smaller MPs with big OPTICAL zoom is better than bigger MPs with small OPTICAL zoom.~~~
MEGAPIXELS
Both have 5 Megapixels. For regular use, 3-5 Megapixels is enough. I won't print poster size anyway nor people won't like to receive big file on their email, why bother paying much more for bigger MPs?
OPTICAL ZOOM
Both have 10 and 12 optical zoom.
PLEASE NOTE: having big OPTICAL ZOOM is more important than big digital zoom. The bigger, the better. When you take a video, you can see the big difference between 3x and 10x optical zoom cameras. The bad thing: both of my cameras have manual (removable) lens caps because of the huge optical zoom (big lenses). 
They have some strengths and weaknesses. I like and enjoy Canon better because of the features, except it's bulky. Some of the useful features:
CANON S2 IS
- the flash is not automatic, I have to lift it manually.
At first I disliked it, but then I think it's useful when I go to places where flash is prohibited. I don't have to press any button to disable it.
- it has separate button for video recording, I can just press it anytime with any setting and no need to change to video setting. I can take picture while recording video as well.
- image stabilization
- screen can be rotated like handycam, you can take your own picture 
- some cool scene modes like: panorama (stitch assist), switching one color in your photo into another color (color swap), make black & white photo but keep one main color (red, blue, yellow, green) there (color accent). It's really fun.
- use regular AA batteries.
I disliked it in the beginning, but now I think it's very convenient. Having several sets of rechargeable batteries will be useful. In emergency, I can buy regular AA batteries everywhere.
Panasonic DMC-TZ1 is more regular compact camera for easy carrying.
The new version of them:
Canon S5 IS (face detection, you can add telephoto lens)
Panasonic DMC-TZ3 (no more removable lens cap)
Hope this helps you to decide.
Just don't pay too much for things you won't use or you don't need.
Geriatric approach to digital cameras
by Alanchater - 11/10/07 1:40 AM In reply to: Things to consider by bmmw7As a member of that swelling band of digital camera wielding 'wrinklies'I can heartily recommend the Fuji range via Amazon.I started with a small 6meg camera which was fine but, and this is a serious drawback, it was almost impossible to use the back screen when in bright sunlight. I purchased a 'SLR' Fujipix S5600 (5.6meg) about 6 months back and have been delighted with it in every way. So much so that, upon my recommendation, my son has purchased an S5900 for his wife. Comfortable to handle,relatively easy to use. One can ignore many features as an amateur and,like me, still get superb results with comparative ease. I cannot emphasise enough the need to search the internet. Pricewise mine cost me £120 and my son's was about £30 dearer. The range of prices are very variable and seem to change quite often. Amazon seem to offer the opportunity to view several suppliers at once thus reducing the darg of hours on line. Hope this will help.
Summary
by waytron - 11/10/07 4:28 AM In reply to: I'm ready to purchase my first digital camera. Need advice! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I got in late on this weeks question and there has been a lot of good advice here so I don’t want to just repeat everything, so I will just cut to the chase. What you want is:
1. Minimum 4 mega pixel over 8 is just a waste
2. Minimum 3x OPTICAL Zoom, pay no attention to digital zoom.
3. I recommend a Camera that uses Standard AA batteries instead of a proprietary rechargeable battery.
4. Purchase an extra set of rechargeable batteries and try a set of lithium AA.
5.Get the largest LCD viewing screen that you can find.
6. Make sure it has an optical view finder.
7.Purchase an additional 1 gig memory card.
8. Purchase a good, padded carry case.
9. Purchase a USB card reader for your specific camera card.
10. Don’t bother with purchasing a photo printer at first, just take you memory card down to your local Walgreens or Wal-Mart and have the pictures printed there. If you find later that you really want to print at home, then you can go out and get a printer.
I would highly recommend purchasing a Canon brand camera and the A series cameras are some of the best, all around, point and shoot cameras made. They are a little larger than some models, but much easier to hold. A perfect choice for a good all around camera that you will be happy with every shot is the Canon A560 for about $149 or the A630 for about $229. Don’t let the price fool you, these are great cameras. If you really want to research and dig into the all the specs and differences between all the models check out www.dpreview.com.
Dana
Wayland Computer
Hope I'm not too late!!
by MsDoright - 11/10/07 5:33 AM In reply to: I'm ready to purchase my first digital camera. Need advice! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Walter,
All of the answers I've been able to read are good, however, I've been in this movie and didn't see one addressing the trap I fell into trying to take pictures of my grandchildren. (Could be there... didn't read each one.)
Some time in the late '90's I bought a Kodak Digital Camera for the express purpose of taking pictures of my grandchildren. I agree that they are the best out there for simple 'point, shoot, upload, edit, and print'. They're idiot proof. (I can say that because I am one!)
However, let me tell you... shutter speed is CRITICAL. (That's determined by frames per second, abbreviated FPS) Those rugrats are fast and their activity level only gets faster. I can't tell you how many blurred pictures I have from that time. So, unless you want to miss those perfect "Kodak moments", spend the money to buy a low-end digital SLR with a solid 18-200 mm lens or two lenses that cover at least that range. (You need that 200mm+ telephoto for soccer, band, etc.; you need the 18mm for vacation landscape pictures.) Then, set the camera in a "continual shoot" mode and GO!
Yes, they're more expensive and complicated, but, they perform admirably in 'point & shoot' auto mode. The camera will last you a lifetime unless it turns into a hobby, as mine did. Let me caution you. When you buy a digital SLR, you're married to the manufacturer if you ever want different lenses.
My recommendation? I'm partial to Nikon because they were the first to produce a reasonably priced digital SLR and I bought a D70 immediately at its announcement about 4-5 years ago. Consequently, I'm married to Nikon because I've expanded my lens collection.
If you don't want to crop and enlarge pictures, then, the Nikon D40 will do (6MP). If you do, I'd spend the extra money for a D40X and get the 10MP. One of my granddaughters has become interested in photography and I bought her a the D40 for her 13th birthday... they're that simple.
Personally, I have a D300 on order. I'm not ditching my D70. It's still a fabulous camera and would last me until the 'dirt nap' comes my way.
Canon also makes reasonably priced digital SLR's. Just check the shutter speed; the faster, the better. I'm sure there are other equally good manufacturers, but, I don't know enough about them to make any kind of informed recommendation.
And... it's hogwash that you can do video and capture the fast movement with some of the smaller cameras. It's true that you can do video on some of them and then pull a frame as a picture, but, the quality is horrendous and you've missed your "Kodak moment".
Vibration reduction is handy, but, I'm not old enough to get the shakes and the fast shutter speed minimizes the blurring. I think most of the digital SLR's have internal sensor cleaners nowadays, but, check for it just in case. That's important on a digital SLR because you're changing lenses and dust on the sensor will appear in your photos.
Also, be careful of the websites selling the digital SLR's at what appears to be a great price. I've heard horror stories. Personally, I buy everything from B & H Photo in NY. (I live in FL.) They give you a good price and easy returns.
If you're really not sure, buy the cheapest digital camera you can find and play with it. That will tell you how you take pictures and what you'll want when you're ready to buy a 'good' digital camera, be it digital SLR or not. Your children will be impressed that you can get them on the computer... period.
That's the sum of my knowledge on this subject. It's just my opinion that it's better to spend $700 now instead of $300 this year, then $300 two years from now, then on and on and on.
However, I could be wrong; this is simply my experience. Cameras are very individual and what I like and need may not fit your requirements.
First digital camera
by lmathews - 11/10/07 8:00 AM In reply to: I'm ready to purchase my first digital camera. Need advice! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi,
1.Buy only established brands(Nikon,Sony,Canon, Olympus, Fuji, Panasonic etc)
2. Get a 5 or 6 megapixel camera for decent clarity.
3. Since you want to keep it simple, don't go for SLR cameras, go for one that is a compact point and shoot camera.
4. Buy a camera that has both a good size LCD screen (check it out yourself & see what is comfortable for you) and a viewfinder (for use in bright daylight because the LCD screen might not be adequate)
5.Get a camera that has rechargeable batteries.
6. It should take a 2GB expansion card, preferably a SD(secure digital)card- SanDisk and Lexar are good brands.
7. The camera will probably come with a photo-editing software on a CD; you will have to download it to your computer and follow the onscreen instructions.
Well then, good luck and hope you have lot of fun taking beautiful pictures.
Great web site for reviews
by al.sh - 11/10/07 10:32 AM In reply to: I'm ready to purchase my first digital camera. Need advice! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My son wanted a digital camera and we used The Digital Camera Resource Page web site http://www.dcresource.com to compare cameras.
The reveiews and very informative and deatailed. I highly recomend it.
Canon PowerShot
by reader509 - 11/10/07 12:22 PM In reply to: I'm ready to purchase my first digital camera. Need advice! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I realize I'm a little late here, but I when I make a sound financial decision (like purchasing electronics), I feel I need to put my 2 cents in 
I have a PowerShot A620. I paid a little over $200 for it through B&H Photo online...it is refurbished. I love it. It uses an SD card for memory, the software is simple (though I only use it to get the pics transferred from my camera to my hard drive), and it takes great pics. It's my first digital camera...I own a Canon EOS Rebel S film camera, and I love it, too, so for me it wasn't a question of brand, but what model...it was a toss-up between a PowerShot or an Elf (digital SLRs are beyond my financial reach). The "swinging", rotating LCD display sold me on the PowerShot. Also, the power supply is that of 4 rechargeable AA batteries, which I have two sets of, and each set lasts a good while without recharging. In short, I love my PowerShot A620!!!
p.s. Good luck Walter! I hope you find the perfect camera for YOU!
advice on 1st digital camera
by ironbarkmountains - 11/10/07 4:03 PM In reply to: I'm ready to purchase my first digital camera. Need advice! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
getting your first digital camera is a bit daunting, especially when there are so many differrent models out there to pick from! There are a few points to be considered before rushing out there to buy one.If you want a good, reliable camera that will take lots of photos, (depending upon memory card), be easy to use with reasonably decent quality (for what you'd be wanting for), and at a decent price well then I'd recomend getting a point and shoot compact camera. Some good brands are the Kodak Easyshares. One from that brand is the C713, which for a reasonable price you get
7.0 MP camera for prints up to 20 × 30 in. (50 × 76 cm)
3X optical zoom lens
2.4 in. (6.1 cm) indoor/outdoor color display
Digital image stabilization
High ISO, up to 1250
HD still capture
Video with sound and print options.
Also, the Canon powershots series's are quite good, provided you browse through them to find what you need as they can be overpriced.
Basically, up to a point, the more MP you get the better reolution (or quality) photos you get, but anything past around 6 MP and you won't notice any differrence unless you want to blow photos up really big. The 3x optical zooom is ok.
The good thing with most compact digital cameras is that that for beginners they can be all set on auto modes, so the camera does everything for you - exposure control, shutter control, apature and ISO - and all the user has to do is press the shutter button. Most of these cameras don't have much manual options on them but instead most is auto. Exposure compensation can be adjusted though.
Another thing to consider is the type of card to use. All digital cameras take differrent types of cards, and there are some types easier to use than others. I'd recomend for beginners to stick with the SD cards as they're reliable and fit most compact point and shoot cameras. So if you're going for that type of card, make sure you enquire about the camera that you're purchusing and that it takes SD cards.
Also, the type of batteries digital cameras take are many. If possible, try and stick to AA rechargable batteries as they're easier to work with and if you run out of batteries you can always pop down to the local store and get some whilst you can't with some of the other types of batteries that they have.
About what you mentioned with Mega-pixels is that yes, they are often overrated, so be choosy about what you get. In your case I probably wouldn't go below 4 or 5 as that's plenty good enough for what you'd be wanting it for.
So there's plenty of things to consider when buying your first camera. If in doubt, just visit a camera store and ask the assistant to show you the cameras and explain what each one is, does, etc.....make sure that he knows what he's doing though as they can just rip you off! Goodluck with your buying!
keep it simple
by swimmerman - 11/10/07 6:35 PM In reply to: I'm ready to purchase my first digital camera. Need advice! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Walter, I want to make a recommendation that you purchase a simple yet very good, go anywhere lightweight, small camera.
Look at the Olympus Stylus series.
I own the Stylus 720SW, though newer ones exist.
This camera is small, shockproof to 5 feet, waterproof to 10 feet, so a drop to the ground, into a pool or even a toilet, would be no more than a bother. Clumpsy handling with a bounce is okay too.
It takes XD memory chips and a small battery ~$45 dollars each. I use a reader to download and I own three batteries so I never have a proplem being ready.
Mine has a 7.1 mp image and is really nice as I use it to photograph our swimmers here at Swimmerman. Cnn.com did a feature on us this summer and we used this camera for the images we needed of the kids underwater.
I have several cameras and this one is used all the time.
I would, as I have to others, suggest you try this one, play with it. It will never be a wasted purchase when you decide to either go the DSLR (lens) route or film.
Hope this helps... swimcerely, MsMelina at Swimmerman.
Other things to consider
by rikamae - 11/11/07 11:02 AM In reply to: I'm ready to purchase my first digital camera. Need advice! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I hope it isn't too late to add a note to this post. I've learned a few things since I purchased my first digital camera. First, it is addictive, and I find myself carrying my camera much more often than when I used film. I bought an extra battery (mine doesn't use AA) so I always have one charged. And a memory card that holds many pictures is nice so you don't have to download so often. But, my biggest tip is to make sure you store your pictures using a 2nd storage method. For example, download to CD or DVD, or back up to an external hard drive. If they're only on your computer and something happens, you may lose years worth of memories. Plan for that now, because once it happens, you can't get them back. Have fun - and good luck!
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