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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> I am getting a new camera
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10/19/2004 02:37:08 AM · #1
Any suggestions of what to get or what not to get when buying a new camera.
My kodak barely bumped a table and the LCD cracked, so Walmart gave me a refund so I would not have to hassle with the warranty.
My price range for a new camera is $350.

Message edited by author 2004-10-19 02:39:09.
10/19/2004 02:55:25 AM · #2
Originally posted by tolovemoon:

Any suggestions of what to get or what not to get when buying a new camera.
My kodak barely bumped a table and the LCD cracked, so Walmart gave me a refund so I would not have to hassle with the warranty.
My price range for a new camera is $350.


Whoops! Sorry to hear about your accident, glad it was covered!

You might want to start by looking at Digital Cameras on PriceGrabber to start to narrow down the cameras in your price range. When you find a few cameras that interest you, check out their reviews on DPReview -- their comparison tool is especially handy.

My personal opinion is that Fuji has some of the strongest offerings in your price range. The Fuje Finepix S-5100 may be worth a close look.

-Terry

Message edited by author 2004-10-19 02:55:51.
10/19/2004 03:10:02 AM · #3
I agree totally the FUJI range with its Fujinon lens system is great VFM I have a lot of respect for Fujifilm and am looking for an old S1 pro as a back up... go with fuji. you may want to look for a secondhand camera too that way you get more camera for your money.

Minolta Dimage is also good for that price range
10/19/2004 03:14:29 AM · #4
for $350 wow, i work at Wolf/Ritz Camera and so there are soooo many way you could go but it depends on what you want to do...
lots of manual control
a good cam. but less or no manual con.
fully auto good cam.

to replace what you had or along those line i would go with something in the fuji line there 4th generation CCD or super CCD is better image colour wise than any other point and shoot cam. w/some manual con.
in perticular one of my favs. is the fuji finepix S3000 it has dropped in price since they came out with it but is 6x optical and something like 14x full zoom 3effective MP thanx to the super CCD.
i really think it might be a good upgraid for you.I have not had ONE complant so far it sales if that is the type of thing you might be intrusted in.

_Brando_

Message edited by author 2004-10-19 03:16:21.
10/19/2004 03:16:00 AM · #5
Originally posted by alionic:

I agree totally the FUJI range with its Fujinon lens system is great VFM I have a lot of respect for Fujifilm and am looking for an old S1 pro as a back up... go with fuji. you may want to look for a secondhand camera too that way you get more camera for your money.

Minolta Dimage is also good for that price range


For reasons I recently stated in another thread, I think Minolta cameras are a poor choice. The DiMage 7 I owned was very noisy, especially in the blue channel... from what I have seen this is a common problem across their product line.

-Terry
10/19/2004 03:18:32 AM · #6
"very noisy"

that is very true of my s414 also but i had to get it for the low $ it was the only thing w/the manual options i wanted

Message edited by author 2004-10-19 03:21:11.
10/19/2004 03:25:49 AM · #7
Hey thanks for the replies, keep them coming!

When I was looking at cameras last year Fugi was high on my list of choices,
10/19/2004 03:43:48 AM · #8
Hi Tolovemoon,

Double check the fuji S5100 image quality. I have a S5000 whose specs were nice but... it doesn't take pics, it just makes noise! It's so noisy I'm VERY disappointed with it. It also has severe vigneting on both top corners. The test shots I've seen from the S5100 at steve's an the like seem much better, but...

I can tell you to have a look at the Canon Powershot S1 IS, it's in the same price range and for me it has some advantages over the Fuji: it uses standard (read way cheaper) CF cards, features IS, manual focusing image enlargement...

Too bad it came out a second after I purchased the fuji :(
10/19/2004 03:49:33 AM · #9
I'm not sure I could ever get used to an LCD viewfinder as so many have.

Saw the Kodak DX6490 at $300 the other day, and seems to work well for a few outstanding
photographers here: Highest Rated Photographs :: Kodak DX6490

Message edited by author 2004-10-19 03:49:49.
10/19/2004 03:52:48 AM · #10
Now the S5000 fuji has been superceded thered will be a few bargains around you should be able to pick one up at a good price. Here they are retailing around $nz 500.
10/19/2004 04:49:02 AM · #11
Originally posted by kiwinick:

Now the S5000 fuji has been superceded thered will be a few bargains around you should be able to pick one up at a good price. Here they are retailing around $nz 500.

you don't want to, really!
10/19/2004 05:14:27 AM · #12
Originally posted by ClubJuggle:

Originally posted by alionic:

I agree totally the FUJI range with its Fujinon lens system is great VFM I have a lot of respect for Fujifilm and am looking for an old S1 pro as a back up... go with fuji. you may want to look for a secondhand camera too that way you get more camera for your money.

Minolta Dimage is also good for that price range


For reasons I recently stated in another thread, I think Minolta cameras are a poor choice. The DiMage 7 I owned was very noisy, especially in the blue channel... from what I have seen this is a common problem across their product line.

-Terry


Yes I noticed that you had said that after i wrote here, however I had the Dimage 7UG and it seemed to be ok but after reading what you had wrote I did remember there being certain issues with it that annoyed me but for a cheapo with manual and good zoom i thought it was ok really. I then got the Contax TVS now there's a camera I would highly reccomend but for $450 i dont think you could get one. as I stated I believe the best choice would be a FUJI and it may even be possible to get an old S1 pro for that money, I saw one on Yahoo japan for 45,000 yen i think that is around $420 USD but then you will need a nikon fit lens too but what a nice camera..

Anyone selling one of these I would really love to buy it body only...
10/19/2004 01:02:15 PM · #13
I would absolutely recommend the Kodak 6490; it is under $300 now at Staples. It is a fantastic camera as Brad noted, and I think you'd do well with it. It has a huge zoom, large LCD, EVF, great color, tons of manual controls, great ease of use, can accept add-on filters and lenses, etc! Read some reviews of it and see what you think and try playing with one in the store.Hey, if it's good enough for Ms. Laurie, it's gotta be good! ANd of course, the photos are wonderful that it produces.
10/19/2004 01:07:29 PM · #14
I scanned this thread and never saw any mention of the canon line of powershots.

For $350 (CND or USD?) you can get a nice point and shoot. A60, A75, or A80 (if it's $350US). Great Canon quality, tons of features (incl. video) and they take the same memory cards as the Canon SLR's incase you want to upgrade later.

Message edited by author 2004-10-19 13:07:46.
10/19/2004 01:46:54 PM · #15
I agree with Goldberry, except that for $350 you can do even better than those models. I would suggest either the Powershot A95 or Powershot S1 IS- both excellent cameras.
10/19/2004 02:00:48 PM · #16
Originally posted by scalvert:

I agree with Goldberry, except that for $350 you can do even better than those models. I would suggest either the Powershot A95 or Powershot S1 IS- both excellent cameras.


Oh yea! I haven't been keeping up on the new models.

I have a friend with the S1, I used it once messing around and it was fun! Looks great, too(if that matters).
10/19/2004 02:03:08 PM · #17
Personally, I think you should consider the Panasonic DMC-FZ3 if you want something small, and the DMC-FZ15 or DMC-FZ20 if you want something more SLR size. I am currently considering this over the Canon S1 IS, even though the S1 has the advantage for me of using CompactFlash (and I have 1.7GB of that for my dRebel)

See this thread for more discussion:

Thread on low cost cameras
10/19/2004 02:13:23 PM · #18
Originally posted by carlos:

Originally posted by kiwinick:

Now the S5000 fuji has been superceded thered will be a few bargains around you should be able to pick one up at a good price. Here they are retailing around $nz 500.

you don't want to, really!


I have to agree with everything said about Fuji cameras, there are some good deals, they do take good photos...especially the Macro feature. This can be really stunning.

However, as you can see I have the older model 6900Z and it is reaching its limits with me. The zoom is 6x, but on anything but a really bright day, you get camera shake. Use a tripod, but you still have to press the shutter release, result, camera shake again - no remote socket.

The built in flash just about blasts everything! Although, it does have the hot shoe for external flash.

So, would I buy another Fuji? Nope, gonna stick to Canon in future. May keep the 6900Z as a spare, or might sell it and use the money to get some glass.

Whatever you choose, good luck!
10/19/2004 02:24:58 PM · #19
Originally posted by Formerlee:

Originally posted by carlos:

Originally posted by kiwinick:

Now the S5000 fuji has been superceded thered will be a few bargains around you should be able to pick one up at a good price. Here they are retailing around $nz 500.

you don't want to, really!


I have to agree with everything said about Fuji cameras, there are some good deals, they do take good photos...especially the Macro feature. This can be really stunning.

However, as you can see I have the older model 6900Z and it is reaching its limits with me. The zoom is 6x, but on anything but a really bright day, you get camera shake. Use a tripod, but you still have to press the shutter release, result, camera shake again - no remote socket.

The built in flash just about blasts everything! Although, it does have the hot shoe for external flash.

So, would I buy another Fuji? Nope, gonna stick to Canon in future. May keep the 6900Z as a spare, or might sell it and use the money to get some glass.

Whatever you choose, good luck!


The S602 and the S7000 don't have any of the problems you stated with the 6900.. camera shake is extremely small in S7000 (and I'd imaging the S602, they're basically the same camera), and the S7000 has a cable release thread on the shutter release.. (which I use a LOT.. fantastic!). The on-board flash is a bit bright.. I keep mine at -0.6, and it seems to do quite well there.

Downside.. it's still a bit pricey.. although coming down all the time now that the S20 Pro is hanging around out there.
10/20/2004 02:07:53 AM · #20
Many thanks to all of you for the opinions, links, and threads, They are all helpfull and I have the ones I think I may like on my list to go shopping. There are so many cameras out there I dont want to buy the first one I see because it may have all the right features. Like food we eat and have favorites I am searching for that special flavor in a good camera. :) This is great reference for buying in the future as well.
Thankyou yall are the best!
10/20/2004 02:44:33 AM · #21
I recently acquired a Fuji E550 for street shooting, the top of the line in the new E series and the only one with the 4x lense and super CCD and am most pleased with the color,DOF,auto focus and in camera processing in 12 megapixel N mode and the faster than film start up times (<2 sec) and nearly perfect shot to shot performance outdoors and in normal light. time will tell if its worthy of more praise.
A great buy for less than 400 bucks.
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