I'm looking for digital cameras: A cheap one and a high end

[Arkitech]

I'm currently trying to find a dirt digital cheap camera for less than 50 bucks. Something I won't mind if it gets banged up a bit, I'll basically be using it for documenting things for insurance purposes, records, etc.


On the other end of the spectrum I'd like to invest in the best digital camera I can afford. Something that comes close to or identical to the look of true film. I've always been a huge photography fan and I'm going to be enrolling in some photography classes in the near future, so I would like to get a kick ass digital camera to practice my art on.


Any suggestions

 

[RossMAN]

I have a brand new sealed Argus DC3200 which I can sell to you for $50 shipped.

What's your budget for your high end digicam?

 

[Arkitech]

Let's see technically I should be saying that limit is about 1k, but if I can manage to sneak this purchase past my wife it could be a little higher.

So you have an Argus DC3200 for sale huh? Whats the specs on it in terms of megapixels, memory, etc..? Its been awhile since I've done research digi cams.

 

[mrCide]

i'd recommend perhaps a fuji for a small take around camera (you want to spend more than 50 IMO).. maybe 100-150..

as for high end, sony's got their 717 which is very nice, and theres a few other nice high end 4/5 megapixel cameras.

if you really want film quality you're looking at Digital SLR.. theres a couple cameras that were announcd that are 11 and 13 megapixel i believe, but those are going to be.. what.. 3-6000?

 

[Ornery]

For a cheap one, just poke around "ForSale/Trade". People are constantly moving up to better DCs. You could get a much better quality used one for that $50.00.

I second the Sony F717. It sets the image sharpness standard others are measured against.

 

[MrBond]

For a higher end camera, check out the Fuji Finepix s602 Zoom. I paid $580 shipped from buydig.com ($554 + $25 shipping, the camera is $569 now though) for mine about two weeks ago, got it a week ago tomorrow so I haven't had too much time to play.

The macro mode on it is amazing, I am very impressed. It can be full automatic or fully manual, it just depends on how you want to shoot. 6X optical zoom, takes both CF and SM cards (at the same time, the included SM card is much faster then my mr flash CF card), has a hotshoe for an external flash, records movies with sound at 30FPS (who uses this on a digicam?) and takes standard AA batteries (4).

The CCD supports up to 3.1MP, but it can interpolate to 6MP. I took a 3MP shot in macro mode of a flower in my mother's garden, took it to walmart and had them print an 8x10 from it, you can't tell its from a digital camera (maybe a photoshop tech could, but I couldn't and my dad [amature photographer who did his own darkroom stuff for YEARS] coudln't either). I would have tried a 6mp shot, but the included SM memory card is only 12 mb, so a 6MP shot wouldn't fit and I had other things on my CF card I didn't want walmart viewing.

I don't have the URL with me now, but I uploaded that shot to my web page, if you'd like to see it, send me a pm and I'll reply back with it when I go to lunch in about half an hour.

Imaging-resource has a good review of the s602Zoom up if you want to check it out. I've never been a fan of the memory stick format personally, which keeps me from a lot of sony cameras, not to mention they're quite expensive.

Impress the wife, spend ~$600 on the Fuji

 

[Ornery]

You're in luck, Arkitech. Looks like you'll be able to pricematch the F717 at Sears! Some folks snagged the F707 for $600.00 there a few months ago.

Edit: Correction! Sears no longer price matches internet retailers. However, they will pricematch BestBuy, CircuitCity etc.