Best Digital Picture Camera?

[Lord_Zath]

Optical zoom is fun, yes. But you gotta be prepared to deal with the problems of uber zoom such as very slow shutter speed as well as focusing times. Minolta's Z line tried to fix this but at the same time the camera's incredibly cheap and fragile.

Pixels DO matter especially if you're blowing s*** up or at least cropping in. My advice - go with a 4mp camera w/a 3x optical zoom. When making 8x10's you can always then have freedom to crop in a bit. And if you're doing 4x6, you can crop in a LOT.

I used to work at a photo lab and played w/my pics all the time just to see how they turned out cropped. I could crop about 80% inward on a 4mp picture and still have a non-pixelated 4x6. So do you need the 10x zoom when you can crop in later?

LZ
Z

 

[Rogue]

http://www.dcresource.com/


that's the site i used for reviews
i went with the Canon PowerShot SD200 Digital ELPH
3.2MP 3x optical/4x digital

PROS:

• <LI class=bodytxt>Very good photo quality (though see issues below) <LI class=bodytxt>Ultra-thin, stylish metal body <LI class=bodytxt>Robust performance <LI class=bodytxt>Excellent continuous shooting mode (with the right memory card) <LI class=bodytxt>First-rate movie mode (finally!) <LI class=bodytxt>Big LCD for a small camera <LI class=bodytxt>AF-assist lamp <LI class=bodytxt>Optional underwater case
• Nice software bundle

CONS:

• <LI class=bodytxt>Softness around edges and corners of photos; above average purple fringing, as well <LI class=bodytxt>Redeye <LI class=bodytxt>Some vignetting, especially in flash shots <LI class=bodytxt>Ultra-cheap plastic door over memory card / battery compartment <LI class=bodytxt>LCD doesn't "gain up" very much in low light <LI class=bodytxt>Can't swap memory cards while camera is on a tripod
• More manual controls would be nice

 

[jersey_emt]

Optical zoom is fun, yes. But you gotta be prepared to deal with the problems of uber zoom such as very slow shutter speed as well as focusing times. Minolta's Z line tried to fix this but at the same time the camera's incredibly cheap and fragile.

Pixels DO matter especially if you're blowing s*** up or at least cropping in. My advice - go with a 4mp camera w/a 3x optical zoom. When making 8x10's you can always then have freedom to crop in a bit. And if you're doing 4x6, you can crop in a LOT.

I used to work at a photo lab and played w/my pics all the time just to see how they turned out cropped. I could crop about 80% inward on a 4mp picture and still have a non-pixelated 4x6. So do you need the 10x zoom when you can crop in later?

LZ
Z

I agree completely. A 4mp camera with a 3x OPTICAL zoom is your best choice. It is easier and cheaper to design a quality lens with less zoom range than with more zoom range. So two cameras that cost $300 each, both 4mp, one has a 3x zoom (33mm-100mm equiv.), and one has an 8x zoom (30mm-240mm equiv). More than likely the 3x zoom camera will have a better quality lens, and take nicer photos.

 

[DeanSweet]

I love my Canon A70... if my opinion counts?
Example attached.