Need a camera!! update: Is there a reason for digital?

[JaiKnight]

Ok, I'm thinking of getting a new camera very soon, because my POS $40 Black's camera just isn't cutting it, looks like I've rubbed sandpaper over my pictures sometimes
Anyways, I know nothing about cameras or what to get so I'm hoping that somebody here...does!

Things I'm looking for:
35mm camera (not digital, too expensive for me right now, and don't have much use, I figure I can always just scan in pictures I really want to put up)
Small & Compact
Auto-timer for those group pictures I have to make a mad dash for to be in
Built-in Flash, preferably not-auto, but I'm not sure about this
Manual Zoom
Red Eye Reduction (not terribly important, but would be nice)
Normal standard things in cameras these days (like auto-advance)
There are probably other things I've forgotten too....feel free to make suggestions!

The closest thing I've found for in the price range (under $200CDN ~ $150US) I'm looking for is the Canon SureShot 85 Platinum Camera (actually the only reason I know about it is because I saw it at http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&affid=&dept=14&WLBS=009P1C1A&mscsid=FMVQECXD299U9M7PTDPQCB801LQDD7V5&sku_id=06650000000470105&catid=11290)
I don't even know what other cameras to compare it to though...
So...I hope somebody can help me out! Thanks

UPDATE
Ok, I've been asking around a bit and varying people are saying "why not just get a digital camera?"
Is there a reason to get a digital camera? Because they're a helluva lot more expensive....
I guess I can understand previewing pictures, but by the time you've gone through your pictures, haven't you already chewed through a good portion of your battery? Why not just get it developed and scanned?

 

[CivicSiRider]

Go with anything from nikon, or canon. As long as it has what you want, its only a point and shoot. You won't find a point and shoot w/ a manual focus though.

 

[snakesnfrogs]

These are all good cameras in the price range:

Canon SureShot 105 zoom

Konica Z-up 120

Olympus Accura View Zoom 120

Pentax IQZoom 928M---it's a few dollars more but worth it for the wide angle lens


B&H Photo/Video---the best mail order, IMO

 

[NutBucket]

Might also consider an APS camera. Canon Elphs are really nice as well, and small.

 

[hausdave]

I do a great deal of work for a few photographers and B&H is the consensus place to go to buy this stuff.

 

[CivicSiRider]

Yes B&H is a great supplier but now with online buying sometimes their prices are not the best.

Side Note* APS is the most useless idea. All the APS camera does is crop the image on the negative rather than cropping the print later on. Any 35mm camera can take a panoramic picture like an APS, you just have to take a really wide shot and crop a strip from the middle. And then you have both a wide shot and a panoramic shot.

 

[JaiKnight]

Cool, thanks for all the feedback!
I was bending towards the Canon Sure Shot, but then I found this site http://www.photographyreview.com and everybody seemed to be reviewing it as having a very slow shutter time.
The Pentax had much better reviews, but only 2 of them, but it does seem to have quite a lot going for it.
BTW, what does APS supposedly offer anyways? Is it just the wide picture? or does it actually improve image quality somehow?

 

[LordMaul]

<< Need a camera!! >>



You know what I would do if I were in your situation?

I would buy a damn camera.

 

[snakesnfrogs]

good info on APS---in no way does it improve picture quality---it actually hurts it.

 

[JaiKnight]

<< I would buy a damn camera. >>


LOL, I'm working on it!! Just trying to find the best damned camera I can

 

[zimu]

<<

<< Need a camera!! >>



You know what I would do if I were in your situation?

I would buy a damn camera.

>>




lol!

 

[charrison]

I picked up a cannon rebel G for about $300. It is a point and shoot camera as well as being a manual camera. You get any lense/flash you want. It is very hard to take a bad picture with when the camera is in idiot mode


Nikon has a similar model and I understand used lenses are easier to find for it.

 

[chiwawa626]

ur not the only one, Mikal from the &quot;hottie neigbor&quot; thread needs one too

 

[Cybermastif]

Hey if you want to use this as your oppertunity to get into learning how to take real pics, get yourself a nice used Nikon, my suggestion is the Nikon 8008s. You can use interchangable lenses, run it in dummy mode (all auto) or take it out of auto and do some manual work. There are numerous book and manuals out there to teach you all the basics on up.

I personally use an F3HP (all manual baby!) with an 8008s as my backup, and I will not change to a digital camera till it can seriously match my cellous!

 

[damocles]

Don't go APS

The best non SLR cameras i have used are the Oymous Mjus. They use high quality glass lenses, are feature packed in come in a wide variety of formats

 

[Jokeram]

there was a very good deal on the hot topics for a digital Olympus less than $200.. I think it was $176 or something.. so check that out.

 

[CivicSiRider]

Did anyone read the list of what he wanted?

 

[Doggiedog]

Like everyone else said, don't buy an APS camera!

I have a Canon Elph sitting in my drawer gathering dust. The camera is nice but the picture quality is UNBELIEVABLY bad. It looks worse than disposable 35MM cameras. On top of that, the development and printing costs of APS is about double what you'd pay for 35MM. Remember, 35MM usually gives you 36 shots vs. 25 for APS.

But on the other hand, if you do want to go APS, I have a nice Elph I'd like to get rid of

 

[NutBucket]

I don't see why you all dog APS so much. For most of my photography I use an EOS. But I do have an Elph LT that I use when I don't want to carry around my EOS. I shot three rolls of pictures with it at this year's LA Auto Show and was duly suprised by how well they came out. Even the avid photographers in the office had to admit that the pictures were good.

 

[JaiKnight]

CyberMastif: Not really looking to learn so much as just getting a better quality picture for general picture-taking at parties and events, that's why I'm looking for a compact camera to carry around, thanks for the tip though!



<< ur not the only one, Mikal from the &quot;hottie neigbor&quot; thread needs one too >>


LOL, just took a look at the thread, somebody sponsor him



<< there was a very good deal on the hot topics for a digital Olympus less than $200.. I think it was $176 or something.. so check that out. >>


Saw that a little while ago, but I don't live in the US, damn all those hot deals!! Thanks for the heads up anyways!



<< But on the other hand, if you do want to go APS, I have a nice Elph I'd like to get rid of >>


Thanks for the offer, but after what I've just learned about APS, I'll pass this time around

snakesnfrogs: Have you used the Pentax IQ Zoom 928M? I'm really considering that, and even hoping I can find a good price for it somewhere, so far it's gonna cost $380CDN to get it from beachheads

 

[Marty]

I'd say go with the Nikon F5... either that or the Canon EOS 1N RS or EOS 1V... either of those should do the trick.

Marty

 

[JaiKnight]

<< I'd say go with the Nikon F5... either that or the Canon EOS 1N RS or EOS 1V... either of those should do the trick. >>



Thanks for the suggestion, I think they're slightly outta my price range though

I just did a search on the Pentax, is there an actual difference between the IQ Zoom or the ESPIO 928M? Or are they the same thing named differently for some unknown reason?

 

[Doggiedog]

<I don't see why you all dog APS so much. For most of my photography I use an EOS. But I do have an Elph LT that I use when I don't want to carry around my EOS. I shot three rolls of pictures with it at this year's LA Auto Show and was duly suprised by how well they came out. Even the avid photographers in the office had to admit that the pictures were good. >

For 35MM, I have a Contax RTS and a Canon T-90. I had the Elph for those days I didn't want to lug around a big SLR but instead I got a Digital Elph which is even smaller and the pictures even better.

 

[crzyc]

i love my canon digital cam, i bet that sureshot is nice

 

[snakesnfrogs]

I have used the 928---my mom had one a couple of years ago that I borrowed for a few days and it really impressed me---and I generally don't like P/S zoom cameras. I found a little better price on it here.---not too much of a savings.

Here's another camera that also has that extra little bit at the wide end. I have no experience with it, but it's about 100.00 less than the Pentax.


edit: the prices on the above cameras are CDN. And the Espio is the same thing, just named differently.