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Archive through December 31, 2004

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Mar. ~ 2005 May: All Things Technical: The Help Desk (ARCHIVES): Digital Camera purchasing help!: ARCHIVES: Archive through December 31, 2004 users admin

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Luvmyjrt
Member

09-18-2003

Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 7:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I've seen various questions re: digital cameras in various threads. Thought it might be handy to have a one-stop Q & A in time for holiday shopping.

My question is:

What is the difference between digital and optical zoom. Which one do I want, which want don't I want?

Will a big difference be seen in a 3.0 vs a 4.0 megapixel camera?

Any help would be appreciated!

Draheid
Moderator

09-09-2001

Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 9:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Optical zoom uses the lens to magnify the picture you are trying to capture. This gives you better image quality because you get the entire capability of the camera (number of megapixels resolution) for the final image. With a digital zoom, the image is electronically magnified which reduces the actual quality by using less of the resolution to give you a magnified image.

In my opinion, the more optical zoom you can get the better your experience will be. Even if it means getting a slightly lower megapixel camera, I think you would be much happier with the results in the long run. For example, I would much prefer a 6x optical zoom on a 3-megapixel camera versus a 3x zoom on a 4-megapixel, etc.

Hope this helps.

FYI: Howstuffworks.com has an excellent series on digital cameras located here. The answer to this question appears in that article on Page 26.

Luvmyjrt
Member

09-18-2003

Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 11:20 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks, Dra.....here's what I'm looking at. Would appreciate your thoughts:

Would like to get a camera for around $150, best bang for the buck.

Surrounding stores are Wal Mart, KMart, Office Max, Circuit City and Best Buy.

Any recommendations?

Luvmyjrt
Member

09-18-2003

Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 11:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Here are two in particular that interest me:

Kodak Easy Share 3.1 mp (CX7330) $149.99

Fuji Finepix 3.2 mp (A330) $149.99

Both on Best Buys website

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 12:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
luvmyjrt, i have the kodak wsy share cs7330 with the printer plus dock. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! perfect that the whole family can use it. i bought the camera separately from the dock. didn't get the dock until i was absolutely sure i wanted it. i'm glad i have it now.

Luvmyjrt
Member

09-18-2003

Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 12:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Landi, one of the reasons I am looking at Kodak is because my son has begun swimming and I would like to take photos at his meets. Do you think this model would work well for action shots?

Funny, I was researching the same exact model!

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 12:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
my daughter has been a swimmer for 6 years. i use my kodak at her meets all the time. there is an "action" feature that takes great swim shots. i use it often! i think it's a good choice.

Luvmyjrt
Member

09-18-2003

Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 12:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Great, thanks!

Gidget
Member

07-28-2002

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 6:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
landi how complicated is it to use? i wanted to get a printer doc too.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 6:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i have the kodak printer plus dock. you put the camera on the top connection, plug the dock into the electrical, then click on the print button. that's all to it.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 6:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i would recommend getting the digital camera/printer dock combo pack. i've seen them at costco. the camera and printer even separately won't cost you $400.

Gidget
Member

07-28-2002

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 6:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
my dad has always been a photo buff so i really want to spring for a superior machine but not break my bank. trouble is all the features are a mystery to me.

when you d/l to the printer dock is that the same as d/l your pics to the computer or do you have to do that separately?


Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 7:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
the printer dock is for just having pictures handy. if you want to manipulate the pics, i download to the computer. the pictures will stay on the camera until you either delete them or download them.

Gidget
Member

07-28-2002

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 7:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i guess my concern is i dont know where he would d/l them. i am seriously challenged. i'm sorry. i know how to do it on my laptop because i have seen where dh puts the card in but my dad has a little older desk top computer with a tower. i cant even imagine where the port it

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 7:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
he would use the USB port. computers have had them for quite a few years.

Gidget
Member

07-28-2002

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 7:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
no doubt landi. i have heard of a usb port. wouldnt know one if it smacked me in the head

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 7:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Gidget, I think the dock is sort of a useless piece of equipment for your desktop. I have the Sony P-93 camera, and it has a little port, and comes with a USB wire to hook it to your computer to upload pictures.

The camera has a "card", but with the USB cable, there is never any need to remove it and have a place for the card on your computer or printer. You just upload them via the USB cable, and them print them through your photo or printer software.

Gidget - I spent A LOT of time researching cameras and what I would want or need for my price range. I learned SO MUCH and if you have ANY questions, please feel free to email me, and I would be MORE THAN HAPPY to explain ANYTHING. No question is too silly. My email is colt4fan@hotmail.com


Gidget
Member

07-28-2002

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 7:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
thanks eeyore i will probably take you up on that when i read that site you gave me more thoroughly. my mind glazes over on these kind of things. that is cool about the cable actually. i think dad will actually handle that better than plugging in the card

Donut
Member

07-31-2001

Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 10:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
we are thinking of a digital camera too, although hubby says let's just get camera phones so it's convenient to always have the camera on us. What capacity do the phones have? Can you print the pix? do they suck?
Also how little do digital cameras come? and do most now have the capacity to do a little video/movie? And if you do a video/movie, can it be put into VHS format to send someone a video?
is that enuf questions?

Draheid
Moderator

09-09-2001

Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 11:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Most digital camera phones only record images in 'VGA' quality (640 x 480 pixels) - smaller then the average computer screen resolution and therefore very poor quality for printing in normal print sizes. Even the newer models with 1-megapixel cameras still are limited in quality. Digital cameras do come in all shapes and sizes, from ultra-slim pocket size to the full-size similar to the more professional looking 35mm cameras. Most newer digital cameras do have some video recording capabilities including audio built in. The size of the clip is limited mostly by the amount of storage (memory card) you have in the camera. Some even use recordable mini-dvd discs that would enable you to easily transfer them to a VHS tape from. Although the video mode on these has some serious limitations to consider, such as most only record video in the 'VGA' size mode or worse, and the lighting needs to be very good or the movie will not be very viewable without enhancing software to brighten the images a lot. Some digital cameras have video output so you could connect it to your VCR to transfer but I don't know if they include the audio in that capability.

Spygirl
Moderator

04-23-2001

Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 11:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
If one had a price range of $400-$600 and wanted to get the best camera available for that price range...what should one get?

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, December 30, 2004 - 7:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Good question Spy. That's the range I am looking too, even maybe to 700. Any help out there? (Probably 5mp and plenty of zoom)

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Thursday, December 30, 2004 - 10:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
General Discussions: SHOPPING - for a digital camera

Somehow, this conversation is going on in two different places on the board. I listed some websites I like for purchasing advice (including price range.) I am a huge fan of cnet.com for shopping advice.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Friday, December 31, 2004 - 9:51 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Any help out there for Spy or me? I know there are actually three different threads on this subject, this one, the one Eeyore mentioned and one in Buyers Banter.

What I am looking for is:
Digital
5 MPs (unless 4 is enough)
Enough zoom
excellent quality up to 8X10 (color, details)
not too many options/buttons/confusion
close-up ability (faces, not super tiny like a thumbtack)
anti-shake thing
closer to point&shoot but maybe some auto functions like night shots, closeups, etc...
fairly easy/not too complicated, but not one of those flat square ones w/very few options
somewhere between $400-$800

Grannyg
Member

05-28-2002

Friday, December 31, 2004 - 10:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
For those interested, I got the Sony Mavica CD500 for Christmas and I love it. It's 5 mp's, takes great pictures, has a nighttime setting plus a lot more settings that are not hard to set. It uses a cd that can be inserted into your cdrom on your computer. The only thing I haven't tried yet is printing pics out on one of those stations at places like WalMart but Walmart has an online thingie where you can order them and then pick them up at your local Walmart. I love my camera and it has taken great pictures. I got mine on Ebay and paid about $600 for it. I also got the telephoto lens, wide angle lens with macro, 3 filters, camera bag, 2 batteries, battery charger, usb connector and tripod. I think I got everything I would ever possibly want with the camera. I had to look at a lot of cameras to find one with the right price and right gadgets. I got it from Digital Gear. They had the best prices and the most equipment as a bonus. If you have any questions, please ask and I'll try to answer them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=48543&item=3857467956&tc=photo, Sony Camera