What to look for in digital camera?

I wouldnt buy anything with less than 3 megapixels capability otherwise the quality of your prints wont be that good. The kodak camera is reasonably affordable and is quite capable of taking some happy snaps, but if you want to do some serious digital photography at an inexpensive price I have found and use the fuji finepix 5500 camera,,,,,is similair to the slr and I have found it quite good. Has the ability to take a storage card (of various sizes)
Regards
Steve.

Dear Austravel,

Well is it price related or just a camera?

A good start is at least 5 Meg pixels plus at least 10 Optical Zoom. The avge brand would be Kodak, Cannon, Fuji or Panasonic. The avge price in this group would be 350-900. This group looks like a 35mm. Or the purse size would be a little cheaper but not the same zoom. Horses for courses.

JD

The latest issue of 'Choice' looks at digital cameras under $800. Might be a good place to start.
If you aren't a pro then a 'point and shoot digital' of about 5 Megapixels and 3 times optical zoom is the way to go. Go for the best lens in this category. The well known brands like Nikon Canon Olympus Sony all have units around $500.
I've been using a Nikon E880 for several years and it takes great shots and hasn't missed a beat. I've just acquired a Nikon Coolpix 5000 which uses the same wide angle and telephoto lenses.
A friend has just got a new Sony and it has a very impressive display.
I bought a cheap Sanyo in Japan for my father and it works a treat for him.
I doubt there are any real dogs out there.

Hi Austravel,
I have a digital camera (Sony Cybershot 5 megapixels). Things to look for (not necessarily in order of importance) in my opinion are:

1: Type of batteries it uses. Often Camera's using AA or AAA disposables are handy as spares can be carried and replaced when flat. Also you can by rechargable AA or AAA's as well. I don't have that option and regret it as cameras do tend to be battery hungry when using the LCD display.

2: Zoom capability. Mine does 4 x Optical which is ok but greater zoom would be handy.

3: Type of lens can make a difference. EG Carl Ziess lens instead of the generic lenses that come with cameras will improve the quality of your shots.

4: The number of megapixels (resolution) determines the sharpness of the photos. The more the megapixels the better the quality but only if you intend enlarging your shots when printing them. Remember also that the higher the resolution you use the more memory card capacity you use with each shot. eg 1 photo @3.2 megapixels = about I megabite of data you need to store

5: Do you want an SLR (through the lens viewing) camera because they will cost you more but you have a better control over your photography.

6: Size of memory card you get with the camera. I got a 32 Megabite card which meant 32 shots before I had to delete some shots or download to a PC.

There's a lot more I could go on with but that should give you some Ideas. I am very happy with mine. My daughter recently bought one on ebay for half the price I paid and it puts mine to shame. Hers was a Canon Powershot G6 for which she paid about $650

good luck
Toolman

I chose a new Sony and got it from eBay - one with the 2.5" digital display so i can see it easily. It is an excellent camera - the modern standard of 5.1 pm and 3 times optical zoom. Family members with different brands say mine takes the best photos. I'm lazy and like to "point & shoot" when i'm travelling, although it has lots of features i can select if i want to. A colleague got a similar one from Retravision a week or so ago - only it is 4.1 mp - more than adequate for her to take snaps of family and friends, as well as the progress of her house being built. At $299 what a bargain. I also got a 512 mb additional memory card (also from eBay), as the 32 mb card it came with only take around 10 or 12 photos on maximum resolution. Make sure you buy one with a quality lens; recognised brand names should use a good lens. The optical zoom is good, as i want a light weight camera in my backback when touring, not an expensive heavier slr type which you can add different lens to (although that feature would be nice). Unless you want to make huge enlargements, or crop a small section out of the photo, megapixels isn't everything. My first digital was a 1.3 mp BenQ - smaller than a packet of cigarettes. It took some amazing photos, including close ups. I put them on my 19" computer monitor and they are still clear and sharp. Drawbacks were non removable memory card, so had to download to computer when full, and no digital display.

Hi Austravel

Was told by an ex camera salesman (if you could believe him), that there is a difference between some makes in that some are quick to take the photo, ie the time between pressing the button, and the camera actually taking the photo and some are not. He swore by canon, but not sure which model.I agree though, the more megapixel you can afford the better.Buy it once, buy it right.
Hope this helps.
Glen

Austravel, I have an Olympus Ultrazoom which is about 2 years old 4 magapixel with 10x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom. Picture quality is good, no problems as yet and the ability to use long distance and wide angle lenses has come in handy. I don't know if many other digital cameras in the price range can take additional lenses.
Rob

After having a Sony 3.3 m.pixels etc etc for 5 years - the next digital camera minimum specs will be either AA batteries or car (12V) rechargable especially for "extended holidays" away from a 240V socket!

The next upgrade for me would be "memory" so you can take those 200 pictures you want!

Then on the list would be the mega pixels - optical zoom etc etc.

Don't get stuck with a great camera that you can't use after two days!

Andy

Hi Aust - I was a dedicted SLR user for years (Nikon FE2 with Tokina Telephoto).

Have been using a Canon A75 for about 6 months. (Researched the Net first.)
3 meg pixles; 3x optical; 3x digital zoom; 128 meg card.
The megapixles are not a big issue unless you want to print above A4 size.
I would prefer greater optical zoom - but the A75 can fit a tele lens if you need.
On Auto - the on board computer probably has as much ability as many professional photographers. I use Auto for 70% of my shots.
Like the SLR, you can also select :
1. Aperture priority (F2.8 to F8.0),
2. Shutter speed priority from 15 sec to 1/2000 sec;
or 3. fully manual.
All modes use autofocus, however again, like the SLR, you can select the focal length from infinity down to 2cm (not a bad macro).
On manual, you can adjust white balance, ISO 'film' 50 up to 400; etc etc.
Only use the SLR when I really need the telephoto - else its the digital every time.

We take a laptop on our trips, and download when the camera gets 100 - 140 pics on it. Then clear the card and start again. Also carry a spare set of rechareable batteries, plus a charger that runs off the car 12V.

I would think most digitals from 'quality' brand name manufacturers have similar specs. As you would know, the lens is probably the single most crucial part.
For a good site, by an SLR professional, reviewing digital - http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm#digital

Check out the reviews - then just get one.
regards....................

Hi, Yes it is confussing isn't it! we went with the fuji finepix S5000 and are extremly happy it has a 10x ditital zoom and we can take clear upclose shots of the kids from 300mtrs away cost approx $450 but use cash and ask for discounts. don't forget to buy an extra mem card we paid $50. for a 250 photo card good luck!
Ran

I just picked up a new Nikon Coolpix 5200 on eBay for $149 USD (<$200AUD plus postage). This is 5 MP, 3 times optical zoom, and obviously comes with Nikon lens. Quite a saving on the typical retail $500 for this sort of unit.

Thanks everyone for your comments, gives me some basics to start thinking about.

The more magapixels the better and the optical lens bigger the better od if converters can be attached. Forget digital zoom that's just fluff.

It comes down to your budget and you get what you pay for.

I have had a Sony DS707 for about 4 years. Its 5 megs, 190mm optical lens. I always have it set at its maximun resolution which has allowed me to have pictures printed 750mm x 500mm with no pixilation/distortion whatsoever.

Austravel,
Try DpReview
Has all the reviews you need and some!

Matt

Hi Austravel,

I bought my camera 18 months ago. Before that I spend a lot of time looking for one I finally got Pentax Optio 555 after considering brands like Sony, Cannon and others.

What I found in Pentax that the representation of colours was very good it had 5 Mpx, 5x optical and 2 or 3 x digital zoom (I wouldn't recommend using the digital because of loss in quality).

Moreover it comes with good warranty and with Lithium Batteries with charger (not AA) that last over 250 photos with (33%) using flash. And it uses SD cards which are more durable and smaller in size then other.

I would buy Pentax once again anytime, highly recommended.

Hope it helps,

Lukasz

Still confused?

I had a Fuji FinePix 410f 3mp 3x zoom which I used on our desert trip - check out the photos on my website (link is below via my rigpic). Although the pics are OK I thought the lens quality lets the camera down. I now have an Olympus 5mp 5x zoom and am very happy.

You need to assess your needs/wants. I wanted a good quality camera but still small enough to fit in my belt pouch so it was with me all the time.

Gaz