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Resortgirl
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 2:10 pm
I remember seeing a thread about this once, but can't seem to find it. We are looking to replace our Olympus D-360L camera with something better. We definitely want a zoom lens, and at least 3. something megapixels. Any advice out there??
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Cathie
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 3:34 pm
I have the Sony MVC CD400 and love it. It records photos on a mini-CD, you can use either CD-R or CD-RW media. The CDs are great because you have a hard copy of the photo files, and they are easily read in any CD-R drive. The only problem I've ever had is when I used Memorex mini CDs instead of the Sony ones. The camera beeped a warning text box telling me that for best results I should use Sony CDs, which I ignored. I had trouble trying to open about 1/3 of the files on these disks, but when I went back to the Sony brand it has not happened again. They are basically the same price, it's just not always as easy to find the Sonys, so I stock up on them now. Their current version of this camera is the Sony MVC CD500, which takes 5 megapixel photos, for $599, which is $100 less than I paid for the CD400 a year ago. It has both optical and digital zoom, can be totally automatic, or parital to full manual as to focus and exposure settings, white balance, etc. It can also capture short MPEG video clips and sound attached to still photos. They also have the MVC CD350, which takes 3.2 megapixel photos for $399. If you plan on doing your own printing or enlarging I would go for the 5 megapixel (hoping that by the time I want to upgrade next year it will be 6 megapixel and $499, lol!)
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Sillycalimomma
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 3:50 pm
I have a Sony Cyber shot and LOVED it...however one day it just stopped working. It turns on and I can access my old pictures, but when I push the button to record a picture or short clip nothing happens. I looked into what SONY fixing it and all they could offer was that for $171 I could ship it in and they would fix "whatever" was wrong with it. OR I could try one of their authorized shops near my town. I called each on their list and either the store no longer exsisted or they claimed they could never work on SONY DC to begin with. So, *sigh* the poor camera that used to get so much use is not just sitting around and has been for over a year. Any suggestions?
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Maris
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 4:04 pm
I have a Leica Digilux Zoom camera which I absolutely love and I have had it for about four years. It has smart media storage. I think it has been discontinued and Leica has since replaced it with the Digilux 2.
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Teachmichigan
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 4:45 pm
We have an Olympus C4000 and it is AWESOME! It's easy to use, easy to transfer pix...has 4+megapixels, switches to panoramic, has zoom, etc. DH is a computer tech and he was able to get a good deal on it. Our HS uses the exact same camera for their yearbook...so you know it's gotta' be pretty good (digital photos have to "pass muster" to be included nowadays).
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Not1worry
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 4:48 pm
I have a cheap Fuji FinePix 2.0 MP. Got it on clearance for $139 at Target. I think it's great. (Probably because I don't have anything to compare it to). My only complaint would be that it takes several seconds after one picture before you can take another. But the photos I print look like the ones I took with my 35 mm. It's very easy to use.
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Lucy
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 5:11 pm
Hi RG, We bought a Kodak Easy Share DX4530, 5.0 megapixels at Circuit City.com. It was only $269 (normally $399)and we got it just before Christmas. We really like it..large LCD screen with just enough bells and whistles for us. I find that the "Auto" mode is fine for most pictures we take. It didn't break the bank and it's a nice camera.
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Weinermr
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 5:23 pm
RG, thanks for starting this thread. The answers posted so far illustrate the problem I've had in making a choice. There are too many damn cameras out there to be able to narrow things down.
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Resortgirl
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 5:23 pm
Lucy, that's about the price range we are looking for. My two things I HAVE to have are zoom (my old one just has digital zoom) and higher megapixels than I have now (1.3) I would like a smallish lighter weight one too, since I always am the one who has to carry it!! LOL!!
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Tabbyking
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 5:58 pm
i'll bet between now and march (when most inventory is finished) you can find a good deal on whatever you choose. good luck! we had a ricoh years ago and an olympus now. they change so much, ours are almost obsolete after 18 months!
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Lucy
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 6:05 pm
RG-The Circuit City website has lots of useful information about digital cameras, including feature comparisons and customer ratings. We wanted a camera that didn't have a proprietary battery pack, the Kodak uses AA. We didn't buy the docking station. DH just loads the pics onto the computer and/or does a slide show on the tv. We're not the most sophisticated users. We need Reiki to weigh in on this discussion, she takes beautiful pictures. Here's the sales hype on the camera: The Kodak EasyShare digital camera uses astounding 5.0-megapixel resolution to create stunning prints as large as 20" x 30". Details explode in clarity with the Retinar aspheric all-glass lens, including a 3x optical/3x advanced digital zoom. Use multiple scene modes and a 1.8” indoor/outdoor LCD screen to take super pictures in any situation--even direct sunlight. Print photos easily when you pair the camera with an EasyShare docking system (sold separately).
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Resortgirl
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 6:12 pm
We won't usually print them ourselves, we have found it to be quite expensive. I think we will do them at walmart or the drugstore. They have do it yourself printers now. We are not real techies either, so simple basic is good, but I do want high quality so I can print and frame some pictures
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Twiggyish
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 6:12 pm
Here's the website for Consumer Reports/Digital Cameras... The Link I hope that link comes out..it's a long one. Part of that site requires a log-in, but there are plenty of informational links which are able to be viewed by the general public. Mod (22)
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Reader234
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 6:28 pm
I have Cannon Powershoot S200. I know nothing about it because dh is my computer specialist. I like the quality of pics I take (I've posted some in the Who we are thread) I like that its small and fits in my pocket!! It is complicated in that it takes short videos, and sometimes we dont know we are taking a vid shot, we get the best laughs when we upload these to the computer!! I know how to upload them to the computer, and thanks to TVCH member, I can resize on the WWW!! 2 other teachers also have this model and love it! I would caution you to know that dh has set it for some sort of speed that you have to hold down the button longer than a "point and shoot" type camera, but I've been told I could modify that, but it makes dh happy, so I'm learning to live with that featur, it does have a multiple feature where I can push and click and take a few pics at a time!! So take this endorsement from someone who knows nothing, but know that I love this choice!! *G
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Twiggyish
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 6:38 pm
Thanks Mod 22!!
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Jagger
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 7:05 pm
I bought a Nikon CoolPix 4300, it is a 4.0 MP with multiple zooms. Before I bought this I did research it through the Consumer Report catalog, they reccommended it as one of the best for overall price for the features it offered. It takes great pictures, both close ups and from a bit of a distance. The price was 399, but I know they have gone down in price since I got mine and I know they'll keep going down in price as new designs come out. This is the only digital camera I have owned so I really can't compare it with any others but I do like all the different things it does and the ease it is to operate.
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Juju2bigdog
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 8:14 pm
The digital camera we lost or had stolen in Cyprus was a 3 megapixel Fuji Finepix 601 zoom. We paid $300 for it in September, and now we can't buy the same camera for under $360. What is THAT all about?
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Resortgirl
| Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 6:06 am
Thanks Everyone, Now I have a good starting point for some research. There are SO many cameras out there!
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Jagger
| Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 6:49 am
Resortgirl if your not in too much of a hurry to buy a camera I would suggest you wait until somethime in March or April that is when the new cameras come out and they will start to clearance some of the older models.
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Staceyinpa
| Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 8:09 am
There's another really good Digital camera review site (sorry, don't know how to post links, so if you google it you'll find it) I researched 3 cameras (one for my mom for her web design business - One for my little sister's graduation present - one for me ) After reading steve's reviews (he also has very detailed pictures of all of the features etc) I went with the three because of his site.. it's Steve's Digicams Google it, and you will get TONS of info.. price and feature comparasons...
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Resortgirl
| Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 10:30 am
Thanks Jagger! No we're not in a big hurry. We'd like to have something new by summer, so I'll just start with some research and buy it later this spring. Thanks for the tip!
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Landi
| Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 10:39 am
juju i went to cnet.com (see link below for your camera)you can get one for $279 refurb - i've bought all my cameras that way and i've had no prob. all that means is someone returned it usually without using it - hope that helps fujifinepix 601
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Juju2bigdog
| Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 4:20 pm
Yeah, Landi, I have seen that price consistently for refurbished. I was talking new prices. We paid $300 new in the fall. Would a refurbished still have a warranty same as original? Are you SURE that is what refurbished usually means?
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Landi
| Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 5:51 pm
that's what the refurbished one was that i bought (i got an olympus and i got it and ubid.com). did you get your camera on a special sale for that price?
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Juju2bigdog
| Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 7:15 pm
Landi, nope, $300 was what they were selling for new in September. We just went to one of those price comparison websites and selected one with a good reputation, Beach Camera. I have not the foggiest notion why they are a minimum of $50 higher now. Some folks are selling them as high as $600. I have been reading newspaper articles saying the price of digital cameras is coming down. I sure never expected the price to go UP!
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