Digital Camera Help
 

I am going to purchase a camera for West Fest (yay!) and I have NO idea about technology in fact I hate it lol, I want something relatively inexpensive, reliable, durable and something I can figure out and not be constantly confused about? I was looking at Costco this weekend but I just have no idea what to look for?

Read your heart out :)
(http://www.xoutpost.com/lounge/15733-digital-camera.html)

grr I just need to be told what to purchase lol

:slap: :rofl:
Popular opinion was the Canon SD 550 - happy now, lazy ass :confused:

I suppose :P

All my friends seem to like the Sony Cybershot's. Slim, easy to use, and take good pictures.

Go HERE to buy the Canon SD630 for $279.99 + $7.99 shipping ( 3day shipping), or go to Costco and get the same camera for $299.99. It has a HUGE 3 inch LCD screen which you will love.

Do it now Boi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Buy a Sony 32 inch LCD TV

For a camera by Cannon

[QUOTE=SuperGreg]Go HERE to buy the Canon SD630 for $279.99 + $7.99 shipping ( 3day shipping), or go to Costco and get the same camera for $299.99. It has a HUGE 3 inch LCD screen which you will love.

Great price great camera!

You will also need to buy a sd card.

I would suggest 2 GB

I have two of them, Mine and My Wifes. She has hers and I have Mine, it's just easier that way. Go for the Canon.

I have one as well I also have Kodak that is much thinner and has a extra wide lens. The Kodak is "only" 5 Meg and take good pictures as well; I would go with the Canon unless you want a camera with a extra wide lens.

Not to add confusion, but I would seriously consider a Lumix (Panasonic) FX3. It is tiny, sleek, and has two features almost none of the other inexpensive p&s's have: Image stabilization and "high sensitivity" mode. Those features will let you take photos from moving vehicles and in other situations where you'll just get blurry shots from most other cameras. You can get an FX3 for $229 at J&R Photo right now:
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4126385

Note: I just posted some photos from the FX3's "big brother" - the 10megapixel LX2 - in another thread, but it is twice as expensive -- if you're looking for inexpensive and ultra small/sleek, the FX3 is a great choice! I've owned several Coolpixes and several Canon Elphs (e.g., SD550), and IMHO, these Lumix p&s cameras have both of those lines beat.

The Lumix looks really nice and since it has a wide angle lens it might be a better way to go? It does look a little bigger than the Canon and Kodak and that might be a factor?

The measurements are:
3.7 x 2 x .95 Lumix FX3
3.56 x 2.24 x .8 Canon SD630

IOW, the Lumix is a slightly "longer" and thicker, but the Canon is 1/4" taller.

Note that the Lumix weighs (WITH battery) 5.8oz, whereas the Canon weighs 6.2oz, so the Lumix is actually lighter.

The bottom line is that they're both equally "pocketable."

Frankly, you won't go wrong with either of those cameras. My experience is just that one of the major drawbacks of p&s cameras is the difficulty avoiding blurry photos, and Lumix has a significant advantage in that regard.

BTW, if you have time, you might want to check out these (and any other cameras you are considering) at www.dpreview.com -- it is the most respected independent source of reviews for camera equipment around, and is used by most of the professional photographers (and semi-pros) I know.

:iagree: I've read some very excellent reviews about the Lumix FX line over the past few months. Two other features worth mentioning - it comes with a Leica lens which even in today's world is still a quality high performance lens. Also the battery life on the Lumix FX line is rated to be excellent. Costco carries the FX50 which is an slightly upgraded version of the FX7 with a rubberized black surface and larger 3" LCD. Price if I remember correctly is around $350. If I could get my wife to give up her awful Sony T1 (it was good 2 years ago), this is what I'd advise her to get.

The FX50 and FX3 came out at the same time (a few months ago) -- the FX50 is 7mp vs. 6mp for the FX3, and the FX50 has a wider angle lens. Checking dpreview.com, it looks like the widest the FX3 goes is 35mm (film equivalent), where the FX50 does go wider - to 28mm. Both should be excellent cameras. I should note that if ultra-compact isn't your primary concern, and just "compact" will do, consider the 10mp LX2. It is a fantastic camera with many DSLR-like functions...and it's only $100 more than the FX50. I just posted some info about it in another thread today -- do a search on "LX2" and you'll find it.

Good luck on which ever you decided.
oh and buy me one too:thumbup:

In my opinion, Canon has the best technology in the market right now. Their new DIGIC image processors are exceptional. I would check out www.dpreview.com and search for something in your pricerange.

I agree when it comes to D-SLRs (I have 3 different models), but with point & shoot cameras, any of these big-name brands (Canon, Nikon, Panasonic/Lumix, Olympus, Sony, Kodak, etc.) make outstanding equipment. I personally recommend getting one that uses SD cards (they're smaller than CF, but with similar capacities and cost per gig), and as I think is clear, I think Lumix has some obvious advantages, but I don't feel nearly as strongly that Canon is the "only way to go" with p&s's as with DSLRs.

:iagree: I agree

The FUJI F30 seems to be THE P&S to get these days... I have a canon s700IS and a 10D (soon to be a 5D), but if i had to do it all over again, i'ld probably get the Fuji to get shutter and aperture priority.

So what are you going to do Ryan? You asked for help, now tell us which way you are leaning, or what you decided to buy.

Canon SD 550 or your selection, I keep meaning to look at overstock.com

Either one will be an excellent choice :thumbup:

I just got mine - SD 630. Let's see how idiot proof it is :confused:

On a side note I swear I saw a tongue Icon :P

Where did you get it, and how much? Excellent choice :thumbup:

Ya L spit it out

I took the lazy way out and ran up the road to Staples. It was $329. It doesn't take regular batteries as a back up though, does it? Get ready for all the questions.

No it does not. It takes a square rechargeable battery.

You will also need to get an additional SD memory card. The one that came with it is probably only 16MB. I would recommend that you get a high speed 512 MB card. That will be plenty big for you. I'll go look one up for you.

I already did - I think it is a 512. The kid said it's good for 200 or so pictures. I'm charging the battery now. Get ready for the questions. If you haven't figured it out yet, I don't do manuals :rofl:

The kid was probably referring to the # of pics at the highest resolution. You won't take that many pictures at the largest size. A 512MB SD card will get you over 1,000 pictures at 640x480 (typical size), and a good 500 at 1280x960. You are set Laura :D

I figured out how to set the time and date. :thumbup: I'll play around with it tonight. I need to load the disk in my laptop too, correct?

Yep, that will take all of 2 minutes ;)

You could have saved a few bucks at Dell:

Canon PowerShot SD630 6MPixel 3x Optical Digital Camera $349 - 25% off Coupon Code: WVS1WJQ4WZCLFF Exp 11/2 12am CT = $261.75 shipped free.

I know I could have done better. I planned on borrowing my mothers digital, until I looked at it last night :confused: Last minute decision to pick one up for myself. I'm leaving for Westfest in the morning so I didn't have time

Good choice. You have seen my SD630 when we met last time. Shoot the questions. ;)

So far it looks idiot proof :rofl: I just need SG to give me a quick run down on the basics. Show me how to download the pics onto my laptop. I'll be Joe Photographer in no time flat :thumbup:

Watch out - I feel an IPOD coming soon to replace my walkman :confused:

LOL the Canons are SO user friendly and almost idiot proof! Plus they take GREAT pictures!

Just plug in the cable to your camera and to your laptop and the pictures will pop up on your screen. Just highlight them and download them!

(You leave in less than 12 hours, don't you??)

Take lot of pics at WF for me. Good opportunity to get expert on the new camera.

Yes Boys and Girls, I am officially on VACATION....13 HOURS till take off to be exact. On the final pack mission :rofl: How I'm going to close this bag, I just don't know.

I'm jealous. I still have a few days to go. :(

LOL @ closing the bag! How many bags are you taking?

Just two. The bag I won at the DC meet for the clothes and an overnight bag with shoes and toiletries and stuff.

I'm foaming at the mouth because I don't have room for the ...You know, maybe I should take this too...:rofl: I'm so f*cked up when it comes to packing :confused:

Follow these TSA guidelines for packing.

Thanks Sunil - I'm just checking both bags. It's easier than screwing around with what's OK and what's not.