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Digital Camera advice?

Kookamoor

Kookamoor

New Member
I'm looking to buy a good digital camera. I want to get an digital SLR in a year or so when I can afford a good one, but for now I'd just like a smaller point-and-shoot variety. It'd be nice to have a bunch of picture modes and maybe even the ability to change aperture/speed. The camera doesn't need to be as small as a credit card, or anything ridiculous, but not definately not SLR size.

Here are some of the specs I'm looking for:

- 5MP at least
- SD card preferred, I think
- Decent movies
- Reasonable speed on the picture taking
- Built in flash
- Burst mode
- Focal length of ~28 - >150mm
- Excellent photos!!!!
- Cost: Prefer <$500 CA

I'm presently looking at the Canon Powershot SD400 and the Panasonic DMC-LZ2.

Canon
- Has stitching assistance, which Panasonic doesn't
- Smaller, but a bit too small, IMHO
- Lithium battery + charger
- More movie options with better resolution
- Over $100 more expensive
- Can get underwater/allweather housing
- Slower max shutter speed (15s vs 8s)


Panasonic
- More modes (snow, fireworks, 2 night modes, etc)
- Much better zoom (32 - 222mm!)
- Better size
- 1m extra flash
- AA batteries
- Cheaper
- No viewfinder??

Anyone got any advice on either these or other digital cameras of similar specs?
 
I wish I had kept up with the technology, but I haven't. I used to share an office with a woman that is very much into photography. Her biggest beef about digital cameras is the amount of time one has to wait between pictures.
 
I know nothing about the two cameras you are looking at. I do have something to say about Canon though. My Canon is quite old and I'm looking to replace it. At 1.3MP it just doesn't take the same quality images that newer cameras do. However, the camera has held up great under high stress situations. I've gotten it wet on many a fire scene and dropped it quite a few times (including once in the sand). I've used it in very cold snowy situations and very hot, humid fire situations. I think it has probably taken about 10,000 pictures since I bought it. When I get a new camera I am absolutely going to buy another Canon. I don't know if this is any help.
 
Robert said:
I wish I had kept up with the technology, but I haven't. I used to share an office with a woman that is very much into photography. Her biggest beef about digital cameras is the amount of time one has to wait between pictures.
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That is pretty much a standard issue that everyone has.
 
I currently have a 35mm Canon which I adore. It has an insane zoom on it, but unfortunately I dropped it recently and it's been unreliable since, I think largely because the lens is so long and it gets stuck now and then. I've heard great things about the Canons.

Yeah, the time between shots is also an issue. I understand that if your camera takes the images in RAW format then it's quicker, and it will also be sped up by a faster SD card... Neither of these cameras do, however. Not sure if you can get the RAW format within my price range, unfortunately.
 
Kookamoor said:
What type of Canon do you have?
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It's an older model, Kook, I've had it for years. I'm sure anything you get now would be far superior to it. If you want the model, then it will have to wait until I get home. The best thing about it is the cards it uses to store the photos on are very inexpensive.
 
Kook, how much do you know about photography and what do you want the camera for, these are the questions you need to be asking first.

Firstly, if you don't know that much about photography then I wouldn't advise you to buy a digital DLR and would go for a prosumer.

Regarding mega pixel. Much is made of that but anything over 4 is going to be fine for just about everything and after that it's just going to affect how big you can print out. There are MANY things that make a great camera and mega pixel is one of the minor points to be looking at. It's only made such a fuss out of because it's easy to sell to people "WOW 8 MEGA PIXEL!!!" There are 3 mega pixel cameras that are wonderful and 6 mega pixel cameras that are horrible.

Here are a couple of good review sites to help you decide.

http://www.dcresource.com/
http://www.dpreview.com/

Digital Camera Magazine has information and a forum. They will be able to advise you :)
 
Thanks Wabbit!

I know a fair bit about photography, and already own both a film SLR (Pentax MZ50) and a Canon 35mm point-and-shoot. But this is my first foray into digital and I want to spend my money wisely. Because I'm aiming to get a digital SLR in a year or so (Canon Rebel - droooool!) this camera is just to replace my current point-and-shoot which has become unreliable. So, the main thing it requires is the ability to take excellent photos! Particularly in low light levels, which is where my present camera has fallen down always, and where I think digital cameras have a huge advantage over 35mm.

I want the ability to blow my pics up to 8 x 11 without too much loss in quality, which means that at least 5MP is required, I understand.

Thanks for the links! I've looked extensively at Dpreview, but not the others. I'll check 'em out! :) Ta!
 
Welcome for the links!

Cannon Digital Rebel? This is the camera I want! *also drool* :D I'm afraid my bank balance won't stretch to that tho. :(
 
The Canon Pro 1 is definitely worth a look at the price they're now going for.

DP review has got to be the place to check out anything photographic by the way.
 
If you're a serious picture-taker, I would recommend the Canon PowerShot S2 IS. It's a little closer to the $500 range, but it's one of the best cameras out there for the buck. Check out the specs and see if it's not overkill for what you need.
 
sirmyk said:
If you're a serious picture-taker, I would recommend the Canon PowerShot S2 IS. It's a little closer to the $500 range, but it's one of the best cameras out there for the buck. Check out the specs and see if it's not overkill for what you need.
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It's $699 + tax here in Canada, and I'm thinking it's too pricey for what I want. If I'm getting an SLR in a year (which is when I'll have real employment), do I really want to spend that amount on a camera that may not fit in my bag wherever I go (which is what I want). I've looked at it, and *damn* it's fine! It's got the image stabiliser and a zoom to die for, plus nearly full manual control which I would *love*. But I'm trying to keep in mind my priorities and my budget. If it were $599 Canadian I would seriously consider it... What about the Panasonic DMC-FZ5, it seems similar but a bit smaller, but I can't get a price on it at Future Shop.

Is it cheaper to buy online? There's not a huge range of camera stores in my town, and I'm probably going to have to go with Future Shop, unless I can get in on the web.
 
My camera is the Panasonic DMC-FZ20 and it's pretty much the same as the one you mention. The 25 is just an update.

I love my camera and can recommend it. The ultra zoom and stabalization is great. Takes fantastic pictures too. The only ONE fault is it's a bit more noisy than I like at high ISO but it's no problem :)
 
Wabbit said:
My camera is the Panasonic DMC-FZ20 and it's pretty much the same as the one you mention. The 25 is just an update.

I love my camera and can recommend it. The ultra zoom and stabalization is great. Takes fantastic pictures too. The only ONE fault is it's a bit more noisy than I like at high ISO but it's no problem :)
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What about size-wise when it's in it's padded bag? Having had my SLR I know how difficult it is to carry around wherever I go because of the lens size and the need for padding. But in this camera the lens compacts down, it seems from the photos. I haven't seen this camera in the stores, unfortunately, but I am going to have a look for it now!
 
Kookamoor said:
It's $699 + tax here in Canada, and I'm thinking it's too pricey for what I want. If I'm getting an SLR in a year (which is when I'll have real employment), do I really want to spend that amount on a camera that may not fit in my bag wherever I go (which is what I want). I've looked at it, and *damn* it's fine! It's got the image stabiliser and a zoom to die for, plus nearly full manual control which I would *love*. But I'm trying to keep in mind my priorities and my budget. If it were $599 Canadian I would seriously consider it... What about the Panasonic DMC-FZ5, it seems similar but a bit smaller, but I can't get a price on it at Future Shop.
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Both cameras are the same price here in the states (not sure about Canada), but the Panasonic is six-seven ounces lighter and a quarter of an inch smaller. I've never used Panasonic before; I've had great luck with Canon. Do you know anyone here in the states you could have order it for you, and then smuggle (gasp!) it across the border (by mail)?

Is it cheaper to buy online? There's not a huge range of camera stores in my town, and I'm probably going to have to go with Future Shop, unless I can get in on the web.
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Definitely cheaper to buy online. Camera stores seem to rip their customers off.
 
sirmyk said:
Both cameras are the same price here in the states (not sure about Canada), but the Panasonic is six-seven ounces lighter and a quarter of an inch smaller. I've never used Panasonic before; I've had great luck with Canon. Do you know anyone here in the states you could have order it for you, and then smuggle (gasp!) it across the border (by mail)?
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Hmmmm.... :cool: Oh, and I love Canon also, but I might think about giving Panasonic a whirl if it fits my specs better. The Wabbit Recommendation also goes a long way!

sirmyk said:
Definitely cheaper to buy online. Camera stores seem to rip their customers off.
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I know - comparing online prices to future shop prices is causing me to have mild heart attacks! But it'd need to be in Canada unless I can either find someone across the border or pay customs (having just done that on another purchase it's not cool!).
 
Kookamoor said:
What about size-wise when it's in it's padded bag? Having had my SLR I know how difficult it is to carry around wherever I go because of the lens size and the need for padding. But in this camera the lens compacts down, it seems from the photos. I haven't seen this camera in the stores, unfortunately, but I am going to have a look for it now!
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it's huge :)
 
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