New Digital Camera

[w00dland]

So my parents let my grandpa take my Kodak Easyshare digital camera to Germany with him without telling me. He dropped it and the power source can't take power from batteries anymore. (damnit) So I'm looking to get a new one.

Heres what I need:
$100-200
3-4 megapixels or more
Optical zoom is a must
Good software included
Smaller than my old Easyshare
Easy hookups to the computer

The moral of the story is: Don't let your Grandpa take your digital camera to Germany,

[FRD714]

Im looking for a camera too. One that is around $100 and is pretty good. Also takes video clips.

[[jonrev]]

HP 435 Photosmart, its the camera I use, and they're only like $120 here:
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/dynadirect/ ... 3731a.html

[FRD714]

Hmmmmm.......not bad. Your pics do come up pretty good to Jon. Did you use it to get your videos too becuase those videos are good?

[[jonrev]]

Yea, all of my photos and videos were shot with this camera.

[FRD714]

Yea, all of my photos and videos were shot with this camera.

Sweet! Thanks for posting that Jon.

[twixmix0303]

HP 435 Photosmart, its the camera I use, and they're only like $120 here:
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/dynadirect/ ... 3731a.html

I thought you hated HP.

[msoeagle]

Tell me your granparents are paying to replace it. I have a DXG video camera that also takes stills. It was $250 from Boston Store(Same thing as Carson Scott, younkers, herbergers, neiman marcus) but she got it on sale for 120.

[[jonrev]]

HP 435 Photosmart, its the camera I use, and they're only like $120 here:
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/dynadirect/ ... 3731a.html

I thought you hated HP.

I do hate them. Im stuck with this until I get a SONY.

[Aero737]

http://www.dpreview.com

and

http://www.stevesdigicams.com

I JUST got through the camera fiasco. Got the Fuji FinePix 5100.

[TwistedSTEEL666]

I have a Sony Cybershot DSC-40, it takes damn good pictures, and some video...in fact the pictures in my album are all from that camera...
I have a ton more pictures to add to that album as well.....but i'll do that later....

[w00dland]

Right now it looks like it's either going to be the Kodak Easyshare V550:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0505/05051 ... 50v530.asp

or

The Canon PowerShot SD400:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/C ... _sd400.asp

They are pretty similar, sort of depending on how much I'm willing to spend right now.

[Aero737]

Kodak 550

The good
ISO settings ranging from 80-800, ISO is the sensitivity of the Light Sensors inside the camera (In film camera, the sensitivity of the film), High ISO is good for dark conditions as it allows the shutter speed to remain fast, but also take normal photos (exposure wise), the downside to a high ISO is that the pictures get grainy.

3x Optical Zoom, That is pretty much the standard for pocket digi cams, it will do you well.

4x Digital, Digital Zoom is 100% Useless, but I guess nice to have.

32mb Internal memory - Allows you to take more photos quicker (as the memory can be used as a buffer)

640x480 video at 30FPS, It won't be camcorder quality, but it's pretty nice.

5 shot reel at 3fps, which means that you can hold down the shutter and it will take 5 shots in 1.67 seconds.

The Bad

Lithium Ion battery pack...AKK, I'm SOO glad I got a digital camera with AA batteries. Not only do my 4 batteries charge in 1 hour, but if I run out of batteries, I can go anywhere and get some more. Batterypacks are expensive and they make you buy a seperate external charger.


Cannon SD400

The good

ISO 50-400

Exposure conrol from 1/5000 - 15 seconds.

Macro Focus of 3cm

3x optical and 4x digital

THe Bad

Stupid Battery Pack

Smaller Screen (2'' is still big)


---

Both cameras use SD memory (which seems to be the most popular - and cheep), both have 3x zoom, both 5.1 megapixels. In this case, as a casual photographer, I would go with the Kodak. High resolution screen, and high ISO. Kodak also has the Internal memory.

Just my opinion, I've not had as much experience, but I've really gotten into photography and I just went through and researched my own.

[w00dland]

^And how about that sexy charging dock that's included!

JK

Anyways, I'm actually a fan of the battery pack because it's rechargable and I won't be spending money on AA's all the time. They both come with battery park chargers so I'm not too worried about it. Thanks for the imput, though.

[Aero737]

Nickle Metal Hydride (NIMH) are quite possibly the best batteries out there. I got mine which don't have a memory (so partial charges wont ruin them) and they last forever. I've yet to get a low batter, after shooting about 150 general photos and 400 + for 2 hours straight at a basketball game.

[w00dland]

I baught the Kodak last night on Samsclub.com, should be here by the end of the week then I'll start takin some pictures for my gallery.

[FRD714]

^How much did you pay?

[w00dland]

A little under $300. Twas my birthday present from my parents since I didn't really break my old camera in the first place. I actually went to Sam's Club last night and tried out the Kodak V530 which is a crappier version of the camera I baught and I loved it. Unfortunatly they didn't carry the V550 at the store.

[FRD714]

^Oh, I cant spend that much, so Ill probably end up getting an HP or something cheap.

[Aero737]

Good Choice, I would have gone with the Kodak as well!

[FRD714]

I just got a digital camera. Dont know what kind it is though. I have to pick it up tomorrow and then Ill take some pics.

[ihauntu2]

I just got a Kodak DX6490 from their Refurbish store on Ebay. Great camera for the price. 4mega pix 10x optical zoom with 5x digital on top of that. It takes video and has all sorts of little bells and whistles.

It came with 16 mb internal memory and a camera dock for a little under $170 after tax and shipping.

[FRD714]

I just got a Kodak Easyshare C340.......dont know how good it is though becuase its charging.