First off, I didn't know whether to post here or in General Hardware, since it's not computer stuff (only related because you can transfer the files to a pc) I thought I'd try here, and if it's the wrong forum, will make a new one there if need be.
Ok. Here's what I'm considering so far (Just one):
Sony DSC-S50
Pros - USB transfers to pc
Excellent image quality for a 2.2MP camera (I've got samples a friend took for me).
Flip-up LCD screen makes it easy to shoot pic of camera operator
battery life (The Sony's are rated as having the longest battery life...err something like that was said in the Anandtech review of the DSC-S70-----one step up from this one)
Cons - Proprietary memory stick technology...can't (or can it?) plug directly into some of the printers that allow this? Would like to upgrade my printer later, and this could affect both purchases.
May not be the best bang for the buck, I know I've seen several 3.3MP cameras go for around the same price ($484-600 from what I've seen).
Does anybody else have any opinions on their cameras, or of other cameras that I should consider before plunking down half a G on one?
What I'm mainly looking for (in no particular order):
1. Image quality. I _do_ know I want nothing lower than a 2.2MP because I would eventually like to be able to print my pictures on a new printer as portraits for my wife & I to decorate the house with. However, I don't need _bleeding_ edge technology either, so a low-end 3.3MP would probably be my budget limit. I'm not sure what resolutions I'd want it to support...but I'd like to be able to print good quality 8x10 pictures with it, as well as just take some decent looking lower-res pics so that I may post a picture or two on a website.
2. Storage. It'd be nice to at least be able to upgrade whatever memory stick it uses, so that I can take 50-100 pics per session w/o transferring the images.
3. Battery life. It'd be nice to do the 50-100 pics per session in #2 above w/o having to stop & recharge any batteries. Side note. Would be nice to have option to purchase additional batteries and if it includes an AC adapter, so that I might hook the thing up to my tripod in a stationary position.
4. Price. I would really like to be able to get the camera & an extra storage item (ie 32MB, 64MB compact flash, sony memory stick, etc.) at the same time as camera purchase, for ~$500. If not, I would like to get camera for that price, and additional storage later at reasonable costs (no idea how much these things normally run).
5. Ease of use. I'm not a genius. I don't need a few dozen functions to try to figure out and I don't know if I'd use them all or not. A few things, sure, but I'm not sure what would be cool to have as I'm not sure of all options on the things.
6. MPEG capture. While this would be neat, it's not really a requirement, as I plan on doing most video filming with my video camcorder, as that's why we purchased it.
If you have a camera you can highly recommend, that meets most (or all?) of these things...feel free to drop me a line via pm or email, with a name/model of it so that I might look into it further & see if it'll suit my needs. It would be extremely appreciated if you could provide a direct link to the manufacturer's spec sheets on the camera, and even more appreciated if you could coordinate the sending me of a sample pic of something you've taken with it.
Phew, thanks reading. Hope you can help me out. Hope I'm in the right place. Would hate to have to remember what all I typed here to post it again.
wild-
Ok. Here's what I'm considering so far (Just one):
Sony DSC-S50
Pros - USB transfers to pc
Excellent image quality for a 2.2MP camera (I've got samples a friend took for me).
Flip-up LCD screen makes it easy to shoot pic of camera operator
battery life (The Sony's are rated as having the longest battery life...err something like that was said in the Anandtech review of the DSC-S70-----one step up from this one)
Cons - Proprietary memory stick technology...can't (or can it?) plug directly into some of the printers that allow this? Would like to upgrade my printer later, and this could affect both purchases.
May not be the best bang for the buck, I know I've seen several 3.3MP cameras go for around the same price ($484-600 from what I've seen).
Does anybody else have any opinions on their cameras, or of other cameras that I should consider before plunking down half a G on one?
What I'm mainly looking for (in no particular order):
1. Image quality. I _do_ know I want nothing lower than a 2.2MP because I would eventually like to be able to print my pictures on a new printer as portraits for my wife & I to decorate the house with. However, I don't need _bleeding_ edge technology either, so a low-end 3.3MP would probably be my budget limit. I'm not sure what resolutions I'd want it to support...but I'd like to be able to print good quality 8x10 pictures with it, as well as just take some decent looking lower-res pics so that I may post a picture or two on a website.
2. Storage. It'd be nice to at least be able to upgrade whatever memory stick it uses, so that I can take 50-100 pics per session w/o transferring the images.
3. Battery life. It'd be nice to do the 50-100 pics per session in #2 above w/o having to stop & recharge any batteries. Side note. Would be nice to have option to purchase additional batteries and if it includes an AC adapter, so that I might hook the thing up to my tripod in a stationary position.
4. Price. I would really like to be able to get the camera & an extra storage item (ie 32MB, 64MB compact flash, sony memory stick, etc.) at the same time as camera purchase, for ~$500. If not, I would like to get camera for that price, and additional storage later at reasonable costs (no idea how much these things normally run).
5. Ease of use. I'm not a genius. I don't need a few dozen functions to try to figure out and I don't know if I'd use them all or not. A few things, sure, but I'm not sure what would be cool to have as I'm not sure of all options on the things.
6. MPEG capture. While this would be neat, it's not really a requirement, as I plan on doing most video filming with my video camcorder, as that's why we purchased it.
If you have a camera you can highly recommend, that meets most (or all?) of these things...feel free to drop me a line via pm or email, with a name/model of it so that I might look into it further & see if it'll suit my needs. It would be extremely appreciated if you could provide a direct link to the manufacturer's spec sheets on the camera, and even more appreciated if you could coordinate the sending me of a sample pic of something you've taken with it.
Phew, thanks reading. Hope you can help me out. Hope I'm in the right place. Would hate to have to remember what all I typed here to post it again.
wild-
