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06/03/2004 05:38:47 PM · #1 |
| What, in your opinion, is the best 5mp camera currently being produced, and why? |
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06/03/2004 05:42:07 PM · #2 |
f717, because I have it. lol
but really, its a really good cam, good image quality, nightshot/nightframing, carl zeiss lens. f 2.0-2.4 aperature, good battery life, 5 mp
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06/03/2004 05:55:49 PM · #3 |
There is no good way to answer your question. A lot depends on what kind of photographic you wish to do. For my wife a Casio QV-R51 was the choice. The features of importance for her where, small size, a fast turn on time and reasonably good photos. But this camera is very limited, no manual mode, for her this does not matter because she would not use manual control even if it had them.
You have to ask what features matter to you, size? Zoom range?, manual control?, others?
Below are some links to some review sites, it takes a lot of time both reading reviews and looking at sample photos to really know what you want.
//www.dpreview.com/
//www.imaging-resource.com/
//www.steves-digicams.com/
Take you time and think about what you really want in a camera. |
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06/03/2004 05:58:36 PM · #4 |
I also have the F717 and it is a really good camera but it also has problems like any other camera. The two that I think are the most serious are barrel distortion and chromatic aberration. Noise is very low with this camera and I will post some night shots I took with it when I find them. The best feature about this camera has got to be the pivoting barrel. Plus the F717 is now lower in price around $600. I paid $799 for mine after the first price drop when it was $999. Most of my portfolio photos were taken with the F717 and I think dsidwell and Imagineer shoot exclusively with either the F707 or the F717. There are lots of us who use that camera.
Others you should consider: Canon S410 (4MP) or the S500 (5MP). I just bought a couple of S410s for my parents because I wanted a simple to use camera for them. Also, the pictures taken straight out of the camera are very nice.
Another factor to consider is memory prices. I've used two Sony cameras and kept fooling myself into thinking that the price difference for Memory Sticks was justified but now I think that's silly. I just paid about $99 for a Lexar 512MB CF 40x card. A Lexar 512MB Memory Stick Pro is $229.95. I paid about $203 for a 4GB Microdrive off eBay. 4GB vs 512MB. Hmmm. Just based on memory prices alone, I think a camera that uses different types of storage like CF or SD is a better deal.
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06/03/2004 06:13:20 PM · #5 |
As Scott noted, it depends on your particular criteria for "best." The Sony F717 is generally regarded as the top 5MP camera in reviews, but the very capable Canon PowerShot G5 and Fuj FinePix S7000 are both cheaper and the Minolta DiMage A1 is in the same price range. Although they're less than 5MP, the Panasonic DMC-FZ10 and new Canon PowerShot S1 IS are both excellent cameras available for less.
Message edited by author 2004-06-03 20:09:31. |
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06/03/2004 06:14:46 PM · #6 |
| Two places you should visit - www.epinions.com - you can look up cameras by megapixel and then see reviews from people who actually purchased and are using the camera. Then go to www.imaging-resource.com - where the web admin does really (and I mean extremely) detailed tests of every digital camera ever known to man. You can even compare digital camera features and test results side-by-side. You can't beat that! |
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06/03/2004 06:27:13 PM · #7 |
The Nikon D1X is a 5.89mp
It hasn't been mentioned yet in this thread.
Its been a great camera.
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06/03/2004 06:28:58 PM · #8 |
Just chipping in here but, why is 5mp your biggest factor in choosing a cam? do you have a reason for wanting a 5mp cam?. Mentioned above was the Minolta A1, I loved it and the A2 is way better with 8mp. Its been said before, what do want to photograph? I've seen pictures here taken with sub 3mp cams that I can only aspire to taking. Pixels don't make the shot, its the fotog (but will admit hardware may help)
Looking at your pics you could say the Canon PowerShot A70 is better than the 300D (that I have).
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06/03/2004 06:47:21 PM · #9 |
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06/03/2004 07:16:19 PM · #10 |
Not to be unoriginal but like other folks have mentioned, it all depends on what you want to do with it.
That said, I have to give the Minolta A1 a robust thumbs up. I love mine because it has a good zoom range, takes fantastic photos, it has a button for everything (which means less menu trolling), and I have yet to run out of battery power.
Think carefully about your needs and I am sure that you will be thrilled with whatever you choose out of the many wonderful models available. |
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06/03/2004 08:39:02 PM · #11 |
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06/03/2004 08:40:55 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by ccraft:
Two places you should visit - //www.epinions.com - you can look up cameras by megapixel and then see reviews from people who actually purchased and are using the camera. Then go to //www.imaging-resource.com - where the web admin does really (and I mean extremely) detailed tests of every digital camera ever known to man. You can even compare digital camera features and test results side-by-side. You can't beat that! |
For those who like to click rather than cut and paste.
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06/03/2004 08:41:04 PM · #13 |
Okay, here's why I asked the question that started this thread. I enjoy my A70 and I"m ready for more. What's important to me is image quality, zoom, and creative control. What I miss on my A70 is a swivel LCD, a hot shoe, and a more powerful zoom, and of course a better lens would be great. Also, the LCD is a bit smaller than I like.
I've researched the dSLR's quite a bit, and the 8mps as well. If I were to choose either right now, I'd have a Nikon D70 or an Oly C-8080 from those two classes of cameras. By the way, it's not so much about the number of pixels as it is about using the number of pixels to define a "class" of camera.
Before the 8's came out, I was happy to drool over a future 5 mp camera, which would allow me to have larger prints, more cropping if needed, and I think they have, as a rule, better lenses and more powerful zooms.
Now I am thinking, those neat 5mp's are still good cameras, and can be had for substantially less than an 8 or a dSLR. I know I want 'more' camera than my A70, but I'll be darned if I can figure out which one is the best bet for me.
I like everything from macro to studio to portrait to landscape to street photography. I know one machine can't do everything better than any other machine. I just find myself going back and forth and back and forth on which instrument would be the best for me as my NEXT camera.
I hesitate to get into dSLR's because of the real expense of other lenses, etc. but I think they are the best cameras out there. So if I'm not going to go that route yet, then I wonder should I take advantage of the technology that's included in the current crop of 8's or take advantage of the value that's in the remaining crop of 5mp's.
So, that's what prompted my question in the first place -- thanks to all for responding, and keep going! I love to read others' opinions! |
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06/03/2004 09:02:27 PM · #14 |
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06/03/2004 09:36:38 PM · #15 |
Just another opinion or factor: I always have to ask myself how long I plan on keeping a piece of technology/electronics that I buy. Sometimes you want to upgrade later, but it has to be balanced out with the investment you currently have made. I am in the same boat as you, one rung lower (I couldn't even make use of a DSLR yet, but wonder when and with what to upgrade with). Good luck!
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06/03/2004 10:06:31 PM · #16 |
you can pick up a fuji s602 on ebay for cheap money right now, and that is an EXCELLENT cam. the fuji s7000 is even better, but is a few bux more. the images from the 602 are an interpolated 6.3mp, they give you the quality of around a 5mp image. I think that for the price, it's one of the best cams out there. take a look :)
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06/03/2004 10:08:04 PM · #17 |
Hello, I have 2 5MP cameras as well as my Sony F828.
Minolta Dimage 7UG - this is for the more serious adventurous photograoher as it has a variaty of settings to play with, not really a point and shoot, great for macro and reasonably priced.
CONTAX TVS - this is like a point and shoot camera, it's small and has a manual mode too but is more like a standard compact camera, its strong made from titanium and sports a carl zeiss lens system, but it is rather expensive.
I still use my Contax TVS as it is more handy to carry around everywhere i go and I tend to leave it in the car. I sometimes use the Minolta too if I need to do strange or dangerous shots (I'de hate to break or damage my Sony).
Basically all the cameras ever made have good and bad points to them so it will really be a matter of what you want from a camera, if it just the case of wanting 5MP quality without the hassle of setting things up, go with a CONTAX TVS. something to play with manually then try a Minolta Dimage 7, cheap and great quality.
have fun choosing my friend.
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06/03/2004 10:09:46 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by Ecce Signum:
Looking at your pics you could say the Canon PowerShot A70 is better than the 300D (that I have). |
Aw, shucks! What a nice thing to say. Now I'm blushing! :-) |
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06/04/2004 12:40:00 AM · #19 |
I have the 707 (now the 717) and I love it. I chose it because it has a small aperture (f 8) and I can get within 1 cm for taking macros, which I enjoy. The colors are good, too.
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06/04/2004 09:10:01 PM · #20 |
| I've got a Canon Powershot G5 that I bought as a backup to a Digital Rebel. I loved my old Powershot G2, but I really haven't used the G5 at all. It's got full manual controls, a hot shoe, 4X lens and some more unusual features like a neutral density filter, intervalometer (time-lapse), and a silent 'stealth' mode. The G-series is VERY popular on this site. PM me if you're interested. |
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