Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 30491 2003-02-21 01:51:00 Survey: Digital cameras Susan B (19) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
122782 2003-02-21 05:30:00 P.S. A good place to learn about the resolution & files sizes for satisfactory prints is:

http://www.frogprints.co.nz
Bazza (407)
122783 2003-02-21 06:15:00 I bought a Digitrex from the PB Technologies web site (they have shops in AKL and Hamilton, maybe elsewhere - see PCW magazine). For only $230 exc GST it works like a charm. 1.3 Mpxl but a 2 Mpxl is only another $70.

I have used my son's Samsung 2.1 Mpxl and also a tiny 640 x 480 camera that I picked up in Singapore. From my experience, I will diverge from others who say you need at least 2 Mpxl. Why? Well, I could take my little Singapore digital images to Kodak and get them printed: there is one here on our table that is one of my wife's favourites. OK, if you look close you can see it pixelated but otherwise it looks normal.

Now with my 1.3 Mpxl I shoot almost all photos on the lowest setting, which gives a Jpeg of around 180 Kb, and normal size prints are perfect.

You only need 1 Mpxl or higher if you go for big prints, say 5x7, but then I ask: " how many times, using your old 35mm cameras, did you actually get enlargements of 5x7?" Once or twice, or probably never? How about 8x10? Nil I bet.

So big megapixel cameras, you will hear, are great for cropping / enlarging bits of a photo - without pixelating. True, BUT then the quality of the glass lens limits the resolution! Maybe a megabuck camera, say $1000 or more, will give quality optical resolution, but even then there will be a limit.

My advice is this: If you have lots of money and the person you are buying the camera likes fine things, then splurge and get a Cannon or Nikon or whatever. Otherwise, you can find a very nice digcam for around $300 - but shop around and be sure it is not old old stock (like those Kodak boxes seen not so long ago at the Warehouse Stationary.

Cheers, Steve_L
Steve_L (763)
122784 2003-02-21 06:47:00 If your hubby is a keen photographer, I would go for a good 35mm SLR. The picture quality will always be better, and you can always use a scanner to share the photos over the internet.

If you are buying a digi cam to surprise your hubby on his birthday, I hope he dosen't read PressF1
dot_com (558)
122785 2003-02-21 08:02:00 Thank you everyone, lots of good info to chew over here . And a fantastic list of things to look for, godfather . :-)

Hmmm, I value everyone's opinions but will have to tread carefully to avoid a flame war starting . :p

I don't really have a set budget (since it is HIS birthday it is unlimited anyway ;-) :D) but neither do I want to go overboard . My mission is to find something that suits what he wants to do with it, namely take photos to view on the computer, post on the web and put onto CDs for viewing on TV with the DVD player .

Also, since his photos are often sent to magazines, it is essential that he can have prints up to size 5x7 done at the photo shop (my printer is not up to it) that are as good quality as normal camera prints . What I really want to know is whether a 2 MegaPixel camera will be sufficient for this or will I need to go higher?

Featurewise he will want at least 3x optical zoom to capture wildlife shots and the usual self-timer, fill-in flash, etc which they all seem to have . Apart from that I cannot really think of anything else special that he would need . He likes his photos but is not into futzing around with settings .


> If you are buying a digi cam to surprise your hubby on his birthday, I hope he dosen't read PressF1

That will be the day!! :^O
Susan B (19)
122786 2003-02-21 08:31:00 Fine Susan, you have qualified your requirements.. A 2mp camera will do what you require, and excellent prints of 5x7 or a bit larger.

As before mentioned, the one I like is the FujiFinePix 2800zoom.. It's 2mp with 6X optical zoom.. Uses Smartmedia cards, & 4xAA batteries.

I paid $1499, now at some places it is $999.. Good value.

It would be a marvellous pres for hubby!
Bazza (407)
122787 2003-02-21 08:34:00 Have a look at the specs here:

www.steves-digicams.com
Bazza (407)
122788 2003-02-21 09:37:00 > Hmmm, I value everyone's opinions but will have to
> tread carefully to avoid a flame war starting. :p

That seems to be a comment made more and more in this forum. Surely we can have a discussion, and why the hell this thread would turn into a flame war is beyond me
dot_com (558)
122789 2003-02-21 09:46:00 Well dot_com, just have a look at some of your posts. Bazza (407)
122790 2003-02-21 09:51:00 I am of the opinion that dot.com has a sense of humour. Thomas (1820)
122791 2003-02-21 11:41:00 Sus, how much you want to spend ? You can get a very nice Nikon or Canon if you really want to surprise him, $17,000+.

I use a simple Sony digi cam for taking family shots and the like, on the plus side it only takes a standard floppy disk and is easy to transfer to the hard drive of any computer and it prints out very well but down side is it is low on pixels compared to many other digi cams with there flash media etc.

Set yourself a budget and then get the best you can get for that money is what I say to people considering digital camera's.
Gordon. (2217)
1 2 3 4 5