Digital camera

[red98vett]

I'll be following this thread too - I just sold my beautiful (but expensive) camera (to an awesome friend) to help with the cost of moving to an apartment - and will be looking for something LOW price but nice-

Thanks for this thread LOL - I have no idea what's what with cameras these days but I really LOVED My Canon Pro Shot 1...

Canon is a great brand in my experience - I've had 2

[MrYorkiecrazy]

Video - How To Buy A Digital Camera

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by MrYorkiecrazy

Video - How To Buy A Digital Camera

Thank you - watching it now and SAW my camera in the report

[gutu28]

Originally Posted by Monday

I have an Olympus also. Which one do you have? I have the FE-230 I think.
I got it free from the bank when I opened an IRA. I wonder if my camera does that also and I just do not know.

I have the new Stylus SW 790. It's shockproof (can be dropped from up to 5 ft) and waterproof (10 ft). Im really excited about it!

[MrYorkiecrazy]

Originally Posted by cobird2

... I have also read that it's important to format the memory card inside the camera after transferring the pictures to the computer. It seems it's a bit like defragmenting the computer's hard drive.

After hearing this from my neighbor, I searched the internet for a knowledgeable source recommending reformatting the memory card after each use. The source may exist, but I couldn't find it.

I found this guy who swears by reformatting after each use, but he's no electronics expert....
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/958

I did find it is important to format the card in the camera you'll be using it in....
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/958

I then found this guy who recommends AGAINST the reformatting practice because of the supposedly limited number of writes/rewrites...
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/958

So, let's think about it....
Flash memory, or memory cards, are not anything like a computer's hard drive. They are simple integrated circuits that store bits and bytes of electronic information. It's similar to the memory within your computer but doesn't get erased after turning the unit off. Unlike the hard drive, there are no moving parts.

When data is written to a hard disk drive (HDD), the drive finds an acceptable unused space on the drive large enough to hold the data. If there are no spaces large enough, then the data is 'fragmented'. This means that the data is written to different, or non-contiguous, sectors on the disk. Over time as data is getting written and erased, the contiguous spaces on the disk get smaller and smaller. Thus, new data gets ever more fragmented on the disk.

Seemingly, this is not a problem in and of itself. However, because the data is spread out on the disk, this makes the data more susceptible to corruption. It also will take longer to retrieve/write data from/to the disk. In addition, it also causes extra wear and tear on your hard drive which could lead to premature hard disk drive failure. Periodic HDD defragmentation is highly recommended.

Because memory cards have no moving parts, the same concerns are greatly reduced. In addition, you are far less likely to repeatedly read and write to your card without fully erasing it at some point. Even if you did, the process of writing and retrieving data is all electronic and not mechanical. Electrons don't care if they skip around to another section of the electronic circuit and they are VERY fast.

Formatting the memory card is a quick way of insuring all data is erased. This may be of security or propriety concerns. The only other reason I can see is the knowledge that you'll be starting with a clean slate.

Bottom line as suggested at one of the sites I came across - do what you feel comfortable with.

Any link to a knowledgeable source contradicting the above, would be greatly appreciated.

[cj125]

Wish I would have seen this thread sooner. I've been looking at cameras for months. I have an Olympus D370, got a Canon PowerShot (?#) for Christmas and took it back yesterday! I ended up with a Kodak EasyShare Z1253. I wanted high mega pixels and high optical zoom but couldn't seem to find any that had both. My daughter is looking at that Canon Exlir (?). Gez, looks like she picked it out better than Mom LOL!

Oh, I was having a hard time with my Olympus taking so long to take the picture and he found a place to adjust the shutter speed. Duh, cj, read the manual!

[RowdysMom]

I've been reading this thread too, because hubby and I are going to upgrade our digital camera. We have an old Nikon Cool Pix which takes very good pix but we are wanting to get a super zoom camera. We travel a lot and are always trying to take a pic of a moose (or something like that) way off in the field and our zoom is not strong enough. I also have a Sony Cybershot (a tiny one) to carry in my purse. It takes great pix too, but not enough zoom.

Anyway, a friend of mine has a FujiFilm Fine Pix 700. It has a 10X zoom and takes GREAT pix. She and I went to Hawaii over Thanksgiving and both took pix of the same things. I only took my little Sony and while my pix are good, hers are GREAT! We were taking pix of people surfing and mine look like little stick figures, while hers are up close and personal.

I think that one should think about how they are going to use the camera and go from there. I love the little one I can carry in my purse - but we also need one that can zoom in on distant things for great shots when we travel.

Here's a web site that reviews the best cameras in several categories


http://www.steves-digicams.com/best_cameras.html

[RowdysMom]

One more thing - I don't like to have to use the rechargeable batteries in my camera. Our Nikon uses the rechargeable so I have to keep a spare and I have to remember to keep it charged and when on vacation, you have to carry the charger with you. One time our battery wouldn't charge and we were on vacation in a remote area and couldn't find another battery. Thus, one of my criteria for a new camera is that it have the ability to use over the counter batteries. My Sony uses AA batteries and you can use the rechargeable ones and they last almost as long as the lithium batteries.

Anyway, these are some the things that I have learned about digital cameras.

[cobird2]

Thank you for posting Steve's site. It's LOADED with more information than I thought I wanted to know...learned a few new things about my Nikon S10.
It should help anyone make a decision.
I also looked at photography websites like
http://www.pcphotomag.com/
and
http://www.popphoto.com/
to get more information.
With the enormous range of cameras, it's hard making a decision because there are so many that meet the requirements.

[red98vett]

ok - now I'm soooooooooooooooooo confused !!!

I think I'll keep reading

[cobird2]

As Rowdy's Mom posted, decide on how you plan to use the camera. My major areas of concern were zoom, wanted at least 10x, and size, something small but not so small it would not feel right in my hand.

[MrYorkiecrazy]

Something to consider about pocket cameras, especially those with long zooms -

By their very nature, cameras that try to please everyone in every situation, cannot excel in any given area. They must compromise something in some area while attempting to please you in another.... and vice versa.

A common problem with these cameras - some are better at scenery then portraits. These cameras have lens that attempt to cram more scenery into the frame. Because of that, these cameras tend to take 'fish eye' type portraits.
fish eye portrait example
Notice all that is curved in the example. This effect is not as pronounced in universal usage cameras, but it's there. Most people won't notice this happening in their photos until it's pointed out to them. Then they see it every time.
The peep hole in your front door is even less subtle then the example.
If you've got a subject that is sensitive about their nose, they will never be happy with their pictures from this type of camera.

Of course, the reverse is true for cameras that take better portrait type pictures. They must sacrifice good scenery taking abilities. The pictures from these cameras will appear to be cramped, cropped, or too small.

Steve's site is excellent and will help you to avoid these cameras.
Sorry to rain on anyone's parade.

This is truly an area where you'll be better off the more you know.

[wemple2]

Gosh, I'm with V...more confused then ever. I really need a simple, easy to use for a first timer, camera. There's too many choices, I need help deciding.

[gutu28]

Originally Posted by MrYorkiecrazy

Something to consider about pocket cameras, especially those with long zooms -

By their very nature, cameras that try to please everyone in every situation, cannot excel in any given area. They must compromise something in some area while attempting to please you in another.... and vice versa.

A common problem with these cameras - some are better at scenery then portraits. These cameras have lens that attempt to cram more scenery into the frame. Because of that, these cameras tend to take 'fish eye' type portraits.
fish eye portrait example
Notice all that is curved in the example. This effect is not as pronounced in universal usage cameras, but it's there. Most people won't notice this happening in their photos until it's pointed out to them. Then they see it every time.
The peep hole in your front door is even less subtle then the example.
If you've got a subject that is sensitive about their nose, they will never be happy with their pictures from this type of camera.

Of course, the reverse is true for cameras that take better portrait type pictures. They must sacrifice good scenery taking abilities. The pictures from these cameras will appear to be cramped, cropped, or too small.

Steve's site is excellent and will help you to avoid these cameras.
Sorry to rain on anyone's parade.

This is truly an area where you'll be better off the more you know.

What is the link to Steve's site, again? I can't seem to find it...

[MrYorkiecrazy]

Originally Posted by RowdysMom

... http://www.steves-digicams.com/best_cameras.html

.....