Buying a digital camera for Father's Day

[MIDIman]

Been surfing around Steve's Digicams website (AWEsome site by the way!), and I've set my eye on three cameras...

The Kodak Easyshare dx6490 looks nice because:

1) My Dad is a deer/nature freak. They have lots of wild animals in their yard (read: deer, bunnies, very odd birds, and foxes), and shaky dv-cam tapes are in abundance. I thought the 10x zoom would be really nice versus the 3x on most cameras (optical only - digital is useless imho) to get a closer view of the seven acres they have as a front lawn.

2) The Kodak Printer 6000 Dock - so easy to use, and ~$120 I believe. 40 prints per cat @ ~$18 = good priced prints, yes? I doubt my parents ever print larger than 4x6's, but out of curiosity, would they be able to print larger sized images without quality loss with this camera? i.e. what's the relativity between printed picture size and megapixels?


Also intested in the Casio QVR-51.

1) I've seen it break the barrier in most of the shootouts as the best feature and quality per dollar for a 5 megapixel camera. Quite cheap at Dell right now, but unfortunately, not in stock in most stores.

2) Turning my head away because of the 3x only zoom...


Any opinions on Minolta's DiMAGE Z2? Just stuck out due to the 10x zoom.


I'm looking at a total price of about $550 for the Kodak camera, Printer, and travel kit (includes second battery). Ends today at Dell, so I could use the feedback...

Lead me away if you have a better idea...I haven't had much time to think this through, and Steve's site doesn't tend to lean towards one camera or another as the best camera for your money.

 

[yadda]

Dude Look at the Canon cameras. The Olympus and Nikons are also good.

You will get a lot of opinions...

Y

 

[OdiN]

FujiFilm FinePix S5000 - EXCELLENT camera. It's not too big, though I find it a tad small for me (I have big hands). It has some nice features and the camera itself is only around $300-350. It's only 3.2MP, but interpolates to 6MP pretty nicely. It has some cool continuous mode features like a "last 5" mode. Basically, hold the shutter release down and it will take continuous shots at 5 frames per second until you lift up the shutter, it will save the last 5 shots taken - great for action shooting. It has a 10X optical zoom, and 2.2X digital zoom.

Check out www.dpreview.com for more digital camera reviews. It's an awesome site.

Canon and Olympus also make good cameras. For what you want I do recommend that S5000 though.

Also, DO NOT buy a Kodak digital camera. I have used them and their docks and the build quality is just not very good. The cameras feel like toys IMHO.


Just so you know, I'm rather picky, I'm a amatuer photographer and my kit consists of an Olympus E-20 with several lenses and filters so....I'm just one of those that demands high quality.

 

[myocardia]

Almost anything is better than a Kodak camera, digital or not. The Minolta Dimage Z1 and Z2 are nice, as are the Canon A70, A75, and A80. As long as you MUST buy one with a 10x optical zoom, I'd go for the Minolta Z1 or Z2.

edit: I forgot to answer your question about printed picture size vs. pixel size. 2.0 megapixels would equate to a 4x6 printed picture, and 3.2 megapixel would print a high-quality 5x7. This is according to the "experts", though I've printed 8x10's from my 3.2 megapixel Sony DSC 72, and they looked as good to me as a 5x7 of the same picture.

 

[Mucker]

This Canon looks sweet. http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=30-120-119&depa=0 Big benefit is the image stabilizer which will make a world of difference when extending the zoom all the way out (10x) I'd like to own one.....

m

 

[Chaotic42]

The Z2 is a great camera. I had one, but returned it because I needed to replace my computer. Now that you mention it, I'm going to buy another one. 🙂

 

[MIDIman]

Almost anything is better than a Kodak camera, digital or not.

How come? Steve's review seems fairly solid.

Remember that this is my Dad we're talking about. He would need something simple, but still good enough quality. I came very close to getting the Casio, but was sold on the thermal printer. I think it will be very handy on vacations - he will love being able to print photos immediately at my Grandmother's house.

Unfortunately, I already bought the Kodak camera/printer combo before receiving the replies in this thread. Dell had a deal ending yesterday (and ironically enough, both are about $50 cheaper today...SIGH!) I think it will fit my Dad's needs as a point-and-shoot but still give him some possibilities for amateur photography.

 

[SearchMaster]

In the past, Kodak digital cameras have been pretty crappy. The one you are looking at seems to be very nice (I've seen some prints and read the reviews).

Don't feel bad, I think he'll love it. Probably not as much as I love my new Canon Digital Rebel 🙂