4MP Digital Cameras

[Tiamat]

This would be my first camera. I just need it for taking random shots of things like:
1.) My computer
2.) Friends at indoor/outdoor partys
3.) Cool looking buildings

I do not know anything about photography, so a camera easy to use would be great.
I do know that when I take a picture, i want a snapshot of what I see, not something that is more blurry, less detailed, smaller, etc. For this reason, I threw in the Olympus into the frey due to its 10x optical zoom.

One example of what 3x opt zoom isnt enough for me: I went to a baseball game, used a friend's digi cam with 3x opt zoom, at 3x opt, no digi zoom, the camera failed to pick up details which I saw with my unaided eye.


Things Important to me in order of importance:
1.) Color quality, no wierd pincushioning or artifacts.
2.) 300$ or less
3.) Optical zoom quality
4.) Portability (fits in pocket etc.)
5.) No hassle, ease of use


P.S. Let me reinforce the fact that I am a total noob at digi cams. If I have said anything that is simply impossible, please let me know in a nice way

Links:
Canon A520: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de...ncoding=UTF8&m=A3LJ5WMKNRFKQS&v=glance

Olympus C765:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de...642-8243229?v=glance&s=photo&n=3006391


Please, no suggestions over 350$, as I do not have the money for those types of cameras.

If the 10x zoom quality of olympus "sucks" please state such, and I will then just look at the Canon A520 or maybe the Canon SD300. I dont care about price of XD card vs SD etc.

 

[Kristi2k]

http://www.amphotoworld.com/product.asp...dimz3b&l=DigitalSaver&ds_ref_key=AOAOA

 

[ironcrotch]

You need pole.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Kristi2k
http://www.amphotoworld.com/product.asp...dimz3b&l=DigitalSaver&ds_ref_key=AOAOA

Thanks, but that definately is too large for me.

Thanks for your input though!

The Olympus is as large as I am willing to go for digi camera.

 

[Anubis]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp

have fun with that

i wouldent call either the Canon or Olympus pocketable, unless you have LARGE pockets

pocketable woudl be these

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp

 

[Kristi2k]

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: Kristi2k
http://www.amphotoworld.com/product.asp...dimz3b&l=DigitalSaver&ds_ref_key=AOAOA

Thanks, but that definately is too large for me.

Thanks for your input though!

The Olympus is as large as I am willing to go for digi camera.

It's pretty small. It fits entirley in your hand. Though you must want it to fit in your pocket? If not, this is an excellent camera.

 

[Anubis]

hell you can get a Pentax Optio S5I for 250$, they fit in an altoids can
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxs5i/

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Anubis
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp

have fun with that

i wouldent call either the Canon or Olympus pocketable, unless you have LARGE pockets

pocketable woudl be these

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp

Both of those links are the same, I believe I lack the cookies that are on your box that shows the cameras you were trying to show me.

I know they are not pocketable, but the ones that are lack greater than 3x opt zoom

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: Anubis
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp

have fun with that

i wouldent call either the Canon or Olympus pocketable, unless you have LARGE pockets

pocketable woudl be these

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp

Both of those links are the same, I believe I lack the cookies that are on your box that shows the cameras you were trying to show me.

I know they are not pocketable, but the ones that are lack greater than 3x opt zoom

ahh stupid cookies

first one was this
Format: Compact
Price (street): US$ 400 or less
Release Status: Not discontinued (current or upcoming)
Sensor photo detectors: 4 million or more
Zoom wide (W): 38 mm or less
Zoom tele (T): 135 mm or more

2nd one was this
Format: Ultra Compact
Price (street): US$ 400 or less
Release Status: Not discontinued (current or upcoming)
Sensor photo detectors: 4 million or more

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: Anubis
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp

have fun with that

i wouldent call either the Canon or Olympus pocketable, unless you have LARGE pockets

pocketable woudl be these

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp

Both of those links are the same, I believe I lack the cookies that are on your box that shows the cameras you were trying to show me.

I know they are not pocketable, but the ones that are lack greater than 3x opt zoom

ahh stupid cookies

first one was this
Format: Compact
Price (street): US$ 400 or less
Release Status: Not discontinued (current or upcoming)
Sensor photo detectors: 4 million or more
Zoom wide (W): 38 mm or less
Zoom tele (T): 135 mm or more

2nd one was this
Format: Ultra Compact
Price (street): US$ 400 or less
Release Status: Not discontinued (current or upcoming)
Sensor photo detectors: 4 million or more

Hate to be bothersome, but do you happen to have the model numbers of those "compact" cameras? DPpreview seems to point towards the Canon for beginners as I would be, however they did not review the olympus as far as I could find.

 

[Anubis]

Minolta DiMAGE G400
Fujifilm FinePix F440 Zoom
Casio Exilim EX-Z40
Pentax Optio S4i
Kyocera Finecam SL400R
Canon PowerShot S410
Kyocera Finecam L4V
Canon PowerShot SD300
Panasonic DMC-FX5
Pentax Optio S4

thats what it spat out

if you cant find it reviewed at DPR go here

http://www.imaging-resource.com/

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Anubis
Minolta DiMAGE G400
Fujifilm FinePix F440 Zoom
Casio Exilim EX-Z40
Pentax Optio S4i
Kyocera Finecam SL400R
Canon PowerShot S410
Kyocera Finecam L4V
Canon PowerShot SD300
Panasonic DMC-FX5
Pentax Optio S4

thats what it spat out

Thanks very much. Initially, I was into getting the Exilim (big screen, fast startup), then the SD300 (smaller), but after realizing that 3x zoom wasnt enough for my needs, I figure that I might have to step up the size category one small notch - thus my looking into the A520 and the high zoom Olympus.

For the uses I listed above, do you think 3x zoom is enough for my price range?

 

[Tiamat]

Upon reading those reviews, it seems that the Olympus is great in most respects except chronic aberation (fringing around objects). The Canon seems to be fine in this respect.

Seems my decision between these 2 cameras is not very clear cut since they both have strengths and weaknesses that fall within my "needs" category. (zoom vs quality).

 

[Baked]

Go to a store, test them out in person. You need to feel the buttons, the mechanics, and especially the menus to know which one suits you best. Canon has the best button layout and menu IMO.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Baked
Go to a store, test them out in person. You need to feel the buttons, the mechanics, and especially the menus to know which one suits you best. Canon has the best button layout and menu IMO.

Thanks, I felt that I could make use of any of the button layouts. I have tried the cameras and both seem great. I really like the nice zoom on the Olympus, but reviews say that it has problems with aberations. I havent had time to compare pictures next to each other, but I believe the reviews have pictures, so I might do a side by side comparison.

I saw some pictures of the rooftops of buildings taken at 10x and they seemed very vibrant.
I also looked at some close up flower pictures, and those were pretty nice as well. I am starting to lean heavily on the olympus due to its 10x zoom. Am I making the wrong decision here?