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Thread ID: 46072	2004-06-12 21:22:00	Is this a good Digital Camera?	Megaman (344)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
243887	2004-06-12 21:22:00	I'm looking for a digital camers (film one died) and was looking at sony ones. Does this (www.sony.co.nz) look like a good one for general use? I'm not particurlarly worried about zoom, it has 3x which should be enough right? (we may take some pics from across a paddock). I've noticed it dosen't take night shot, but it has flash. And it's 4 megapixel. So should I get it? Thanks	Megaman (344)
243888	2004-06-12 22:10:00	From what I've researched, it seems OK, but I don't actually have one...	Growly (6)
243889	2004-06-12 23:07:00	No, it does not represent good value for money at all . Don't be fooled by the 4 MP, you can get good quality out of 2 MP, but the biggest drawback is the digital zoom . That will reduce image quality which counters the purpose of having a zoom feature at all . It is a good quality camera with a medium-matket MP count but there are a number of much superior cameras around for less than that . I spotted a Fuji (I think) on special at DSE for less than $400 (trade) incl gst with good optical zoom and a host of other features . I'll post a link if I can find it again . The Sony illustrated is what I would call a "Snap it Harry" camera, great for tourists to step up to from their old Kodak Instamatic, with good "brag factor" in the 4MP pixel count but not much else to recommend it . BTW, don't forget that the effective flash range will be only a few metres . You gotta laugh at people taking flash photos fron the stands in stadia, the only part of their picture that will be properly exposed is the head of the person in the row in front of them . For low light longer range shooting with a digital camera, switch the flash off and exposure-correct in the software . It will produce better results . Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
243890	2004-06-12 23:17:00	If This Link ( . dse . co . nz/cgi-bin/dse . storefront/40cb7f3303f8a7fa273fc0a87f990748/Product/View/XG1397" target="_blank">www . dse . co . nz) doesn't work, go to DSE's site snd search for product XG1397 . It is $479 full retail, $425 trade, 3 . 1 MP, 6X Optical + 3 . 1 x digital zoom and a host of other features . A very good camera at an excellent price . Sorry but the sub-400 price was ex-gst ($378!) My memory occasionally fails me . :( Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
243891	2004-06-13 00:14:00	Billy T is right. The P43 represents the very bottom end of the market (other than sub 1Mp web cams.) It offers very few useful features and without considering the digital zoom (ugh!) its 33mm equivalent lense is comparatively wide angle which will make everything you shoot seem far away. The Fujifilm S3000 offers far more features, better optics (6x optical zoom), an LCD display and is available on special currently (I think) at Camera House	Blue Druid (4480)
243892	2004-06-13 00:27:00	Perhaps a closer equivalent to the Sony but with optical zoom (3x) is the Fujifilm A330 currently selling at Camera House for $399 or perhaps the Samsang Digimax V4 at $499. Their sales staff are generally more au fait with digital photography, too, than staff in less specialised stores.	Blue Druid (4480)
243893	2004-06-13 00:32:00	The fuji s3000 will outperform the sony you linked to in every department except perhaps for use in nightime in very low light conditions I have the slightly more upmarket model (Fuji s304 video with sound) and it is almost identical in capability. The six optical zoom is a MAJOR bonus. Check out the review at Steves Digicams.	the highlander (245)
243894	2004-06-13 00:38:00	When you pick one go look on epinions.com and look up your camera and look at the bottom of the page and go to some of the NZ sites listed, see what the price compares there to the ones in the shop. If it is cheaper go back to the shop and tell them. Then if you can pay cash ask for a cash deal. We got about $300 off doing this :D Thought you might like to know!	Tribomb (5547)
243895	2004-06-13 02:21:00	I went through this camera buying exercise recently. My decision, after reading many reviews, was the Canon Powershot A70 at $500 from DSE. I was very happy with that but now see the upgraded A75 at Bond and Bond for $479. Such is life. The Fuji is a good camera too but I wanted a slightly more compact good quality device. Inevitably $500 became $623 with a larger memory card and battery charger. That is just an expense of owning a digital camera. Good luck.	Winston001 (3612)
243896	2004-06-13 02:46:00	I would have to agree that the Sony appears to be not particularly good value, but having had a couple of Sony's and now a Fuji, there is a little more to the matter than paper data. Digital zoom is pretty much a waste of time, it's better to to crop later. The Sony comes with a Ni MH battery already, the Fuji doesn't, and can't charge "in camera" when you get some. (Ni-cad are not a lot of use.) This is pretty important, the Fuji wastes a bit more power in heat. That's a bit more money to factor in If "feel" is important, the Fuji "feels" like a piece of cheap plastic. The Fuji software is not really worth the hard drive space it consumes IMHO. When it comes to image quality, the Fuji is an also-ran, just try to use the panorama stitching feature in Photoshop Elements with pictures from the Fuji. Won't work, too much variation in what should be common elements in both pictures. No problem with Sony cameras. The Sony (in my case, with the second camera) is a fine instrument, and was normally left at home for safety. The Fuji is just a thing, and goes everywhere with me. All round the Fuji gets used a LOT because it is where I am when I need it. And, yeah, I did get the best camera bag I could find to cart it and it's attendant charger, spare batteries etc. around. Money saved on the bag doesn't go far to getting the camera fixed/replaced. Must go and get a new asbestos coat now. R2	R2x1 (4628)
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