What are my choices for 2-3 megapixel digital cameras?

[aka1nas]

Tdas2 is pretty much right on with Kodaks too(Mainly the newer DX series than the older models). Also crappy quality. I would add HP and Toshiba to the stay away from list, as well.

 

[Damascus]

Originally posted by: tdas2

Originally posted by: Damascus
Fuji Finepix 2600. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better value.

B**lshit - in full "intepolated" 2MP mode, images look more noisy as it DOES NOT use a true 2MP CCD . Therefore avoid buying Fuji's on the basis, thats if you like to blow up images.

Maybe you should read those boxes of yours a bit more closely. The 2600 doesn't interpolate
to create pixels. It uses a true 2 megapixel CCD to produce slightly under 2 megapixel images. (1600x1200)

Next time try not to be so pretentious and self-righteous, especially when you're wrong because
it makes you look like a jackass.

 

[PizzaDude]

Ok well I've done a fair amount of research but I'm still not sure what to get. Now at least I know some features that I want it to have. I want optical zoom(2x or better), 2 MP(not 3), I don't want it to record video or act as a webcam(if it does i guess it's ok, it will just jack the price up and I don't need that), and I think $250 with accessories is our max price. I know my dad will be taking pictures inside and out about equally. Knowing this, what can y'all reccomend. I think I'm leaning towards the canon a40, but this will be too expensive I think. That is the one I want though.

 

[PizzaDude]

Now I'm considering the 1.2 MP Canon A30 and A10. How would these compare interms of image quality next to the A40?

 

[AnAndAustin]

1.2MP d.cams aren't as awful as they're often made out to be and you can still get more than decent results even at A4 size (20x30cm or 9x12") esp if you know how to tweak things a little with sw. 2.0MP is more ideal and you should still find a nice one with opt.zoom for your price point, however you'd seem much better served with a 1.2MP d.cam with opt.zoom than a 2MP without opt.zoom. I'd still req Fuji 2600 myself, but it seems a few people advise against Fuji so Olympus would be my top choice if I were deciding myself. For the RAM card you should find 16MB (usually supplied) to be more than adequate for a 1.2MP but 32MB and even 64MB don't cost a whole lot and are advisable if you go 2MP. Just MHO

 

[RossMAN]

PizzaDude - If you're still looking for a good deal on a digicam I may have found one but it's going to take some work.

Most Staples B&M should have the Olympus D-510 on clearance for $139.50 add some accessories, lots of accessories to get yourself up to $300 then bring with you the Staples printable $50 off $300 coupon lowering your final cost to $250.

The Olympus D-510 is a great all around solid entry level digicam but it isn't better than the winner, the Canon PowerShot A40 for $249 @ OM B&M after $50 off $300 coupon. I hate how Oly's use SM media, I prefer Canon's and CF media.

 

[AnAndAustin]

Just to go back to how many pics you can expect to fit on a memory card. I stated, "64MB (£20 BTW) can hold 140-280 2.0MP pictures." Having checked on Fuji's website Fuji PDF (as I was talking about Fuji at the time) a 64MB card 2.0MP can store 60, 160, 300 on the 3 quality mode settings which are FINE (almost no compression and pretty pointless), NORMAL (good compression without artifacts) and BASIC (artifacts creeping in but handy to double the amount of pics you can store). Since I think FINE mode is largely pointless I was actually very accurate. In any case as a rough guide for a 2MP camera; 64MB=160 pics (without any artifacts from compression and regardless of manu), 32MB=80 16MB=40. For a 1.3MP camera 64MB=200 32MB=100 16MB=50. Most cameras have a 16MB supplied but with current pricing it makes a lot of sense to pick up a larger card.

Anyway, Olympus are a great brand for cameras and the D-510Zoom features 2.0MP (true 2MP CCD), 3x TRUE optical zoom, 9xdig.zoom (LOL), USB connectivity, 1.8" TFT screen, movie capture ability, flash (of course), video output (to TV/VCR), 4xAA batteries (yummy) and weighing in battery-less at 8 oz (225g). Nice camera and $140 seems a very nice price. You'll want to pick up a some AA rechargable batteries and charger but that should only cost $15-20, a decent camera case and a larger SmartMedia card (which I really like BTW). That's a heck of a lot for under $200!

I don't know about the US pricing but in the UK Sony and Canon totaly price themselves out of the market, Fuji's 1.3MP is 50% cheaper than Canon's 1.2MP, in fact Fuji's 2.0MP is cheaper than it! Fuji's 2.0MP with 3xOpt.Zoom is only £10 more than Sony's plain 2.0MP.

Just as a final reminder, when deciding upon a camera do factor in the cost of extra batteries and memory cards, it will hit you pretty hard to get tied down to propriety stuff. I'd suggest sticking with standard AA batteries and SmartMedia or CompactFlash for the memory.

 

[Goi]

Hmmn, how come nobody mentioned the Nikon Coolpix 2500? Its pretty spiffy

 

[Damascus]

The prices of Canon cameras such as the A40 have been chopped recently because
Canon is readying a new line of cameras to replace them. I also hear that Olympus
models such as the D-510 and D-520 have dropped in price. If you haven't purchased
yet...

 

[holdencommodore]

Yep Canon A40 is excellent... if you don't need a optical zoom, the Canon A200 is very good too, very easy to use, but offers a very good range on manual control if the user wants. It's also light and compact.

I have a Canon A100, 1.2MP... it takes excellent shots for a 1.2 MP camera, with especially good macro shots showing quite amazing detail and clarity and excellent colour for only 1.2MP. Canon make the best cameras in this sector of digicams IMO.

http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/a200-a100/features1.html

Cheers

 

[Roddy]

Originally posted by: PizzaDude
Now I'm considering the 1.2 MP Canon A30 and A10. How would these compare interms of image quality next to the A40?

I purchased the Canon Powershot A30 about 4 months ago, and have had nothing but great pictures come from it.
Although it is only a 1.2mp camera, the clarity of the pictures is amazing imho.




Here are some sample pics of the A30 from Steves Digicams site. It'll give you an idea of what a decent 1.2mp camera can really do.

Cheers

-Rod

 

[microAmp]

Hot Deals forum has a thread right now about the Canon A40 from Dell, IIRC it's under $250. I got one before the HD but comes with only a 8 MB card. I got my 256 MB Compact card from NewEgg for $80.00

 

[LordMorpheus]

Canon EOS-1D . . . .

ohhhh, wait, you don't want to blow 6k+ on this camera . . . . heh

my mother is a pro wedding/portrait photographer . . . she just got one. I've had fun playing with it.