digital camera --- image quailty question.

[PraetorChu]

could someone post samples of pictures from a 2MP and 3MP camera?

1)preferably pictures of the same object(at different distances)
2)at difference resolutions

I would like to get my parents a camera for christmas but can not make up my mind on the type of MP.
I would be happy with prices around 400-500. 600 is just about the absolute top for me.

I am looking for features like small, compact, 3x zoom(optical or digital) at least.
memory sticks are fine(just no cdr or floppy please).

so far i have checked out sony dsc p5 and minolta dimage 5. I would like to have more feedback and possibly better deals

thanks.

 

[aka1nas]

2.1 megapixels is fine for most people. You can typically do a 5x7 print with photo quality on one of those cameras. 3.1 or higher will allow 8x10 printing and allow room for some manipulation along with a large print. As far as good brands, take a look at: Olympus, Nikon, Canon, and Sony. The main reason to go with these brands over a cheaper one like Kodak or Fuji is the quality of the lens used in the camera. This is actually as important as the Megapixel rating. You can have the highest resolution sensor money can buy, but if you filter through a cheap plastic lens, it will still suck. I think the best deal right now is the Olympus C3000-z. It retails for like $499US, so you may be able to find it even cheaper online, its a 3.3 Mega with a 3x optical.

IMO, Sony is ok, but all the accessories are overpriced. Expect to pay ~60% more than the equivalent accessories for another brand. For a 2.1 Megapixel camera, it is a joke because the accessories cost almost as much as the camera.

I'd recommend the following models:
Canon: A20 or S30
Nikon: 775 or 885
Olympus: D510 or C3000-z

It all really depends on how much they are going to use it, and how good of photographers they are.

 

[Woody419]

<< could someone post samples of pictures from a 2MP and 3MP camera?

1)preferably pictures of the same object(at different distances)
2)at difference resolutions >>


You are asking a lot, and I am just the guy to give it to you.
Check out the Comparometer.
Most of the camera sites have reviews and static shots they take with all the cameras.
A-Digital-Eye has a list of the main sites on their home page.
Digital Photography Review has excellent and active forums for every camera manufacturer.

 

[Feisters]

I have an Olympus Camedia C-2040Zoom, and have nothing but accolades for it. It's a 2.1 mega-pixel, full featured camera. 5x7 prints from my HP 932C are post card quality. 8x10's can begin to show some artifacts depending on the subject matter of the picture. Bottom line is that 2 mega-pixels is just fine - the sweet spot in fact - for general use. Don't get caught up in the 3 or 4 or 5 mega-pixel marketing hype. Also consider the printer and type of paper used for prints.