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Best Digital Zoom Camera #187152 07/26/02 08:56 PM
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eastpoint Offline OP
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I have been toying with the idea of adding a digital zoom camera to my bag. Could someone out there give me some suggestions on one that I don't need a home equity loan to purchase? I keep looking at ads and web sites and can't seem to make a decision.

Hank confused

Re: Best Digital Zoom Camera #187153 07/26/02 11:46 PM
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Bud Schrader Offline
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I'm not qualified to give advice on this or many subjects, but I have been receiving an ad magazine from"PC Connection"- they show specs and pricing on a few digitals. The info is very helpful. The phone number is 800-800-5555. email- pcconnection.com


Bud
Re: Best Digital Zoom Camera #187154 07/27/02 01:12 AM
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Hank... I don't know what your price range is. But you can get a good digital camera with 3-5 megapixels of resolution from about $350 - $500.

I did some research before deciding on the Nikon 995 just before the reunion. It has both an AUTO and MANUAL setting so you can use it like a point and shoot or you can have LOTS of manual features.

I think the price just dropped to $499. Most everyone sells them for this 'street' price. I'd be suspicious of someone selling them for much less.

Some cameras have TTL viewing and 10-1 continuous zoom. These will probably cost more. But the saving in not having to buy an accessory telephoto lens will make up the difference.

Generally these 10-1 zoom cameras are going to be bigger in size - comparable or larger than a 35mm camera with zoom lens.

The 995 is pretty compact and can fit in one of those 'extra pockets' in your camera bag.

Sony has several models now that store images on 3" compact disks. The high end ones have through the lens viewing as well as the LCD screen.

There are HUNDREDS of choices.

Re: Best Digital Zoom Camera #187155 07/27/02 12:54 PM
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eastpoint Offline OP
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Thanks Bud and John

John I looked at the 995 and I liked the size but I guess am not sure about the zoom. Do you use your zoom and what type of results have you gotten?

Hank

Re: Best Digital Zoom Camera #187156 07/28/02 12:50 AM
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Bud Schrader Offline
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Hank, in my opinion a decent zoom is essential! Just be careful you get the correct info on what the real zoom will be, in terms of optical/digital maybe John can clear that up. The camera I used was 3x optical, I think that would be about like a 38-115mm? (help) Anyway, it was decent for general shooting, but for lighthouse trips, I'd want more zoom. That's my take on it. Sorry if I've messed up real facts. Hope john can help me here.


Bud
Re: Best Digital Zoom Camera #187157 07/28/02 01:02 AM
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Hank, here is a photo of the Nubble Lighthouse tower I took last April with my SONY Mavica FD87 using the zoom for comparison with whatever John comes up with. I left it large and didn't tinker with it at all, just put it in quick for you to see. I like my camera, think it went for around $400 but they probably have better/more expensive ones too. I also have a Nikon sitting in my closet that I never got the hang of, but that's probably just me!

(Fortunately I didn't spend a nickel for either one of these, one was a prize and one was a gift!)

http://a0.cpimg.com/image/76/FB/11610230-d38a-028001E0-R.jpg
Re: Best Digital Zoom Camera #187158 07/28/02 01:52 AM
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Dave H Offline
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One thing you need to consider (in addition to zoom capability) is how you plan to use the output. If you are going to use primarily for posting on the net, I would think you can get by with fewer megapixels. If you plan to print pictures, the bigger the print the more megapixels you need to have.

I have am Olympus C-700 which I am very pleased with. It has one of the longest zooms you can get. It goes 10X optical, with another 2.7X digital. So, with the optical zoom you can go from a 35mm equivalent of 38 to 380. With digital on top of that, you can reach almost 1000, but the pics will not be the best.

This camera is a 2.1 megapixel, has a very small footprint and is very light. Cost when I bought it was about $450 (wheeled & dealed and on sale). One thing I wish it had was image stabilization. The camera uses smart media cards for storage, and will take one up to 128Mb.

Dennis Whelan's son has a cousin to this camera, the C-2100. The big difference is that it does have image stabilization, as I recall, and is a little larger.

I have been very pleased with this Olympus. The pictures have been very good, and I have been able to even use it in very low light without using the flash. It even has a "sports" program setting, allowing some movement. I have used it at swim meets and had pretty good luck shooting diagonally across a 50 meter pool.

Do be sure to invest in several sets of NiMH batteries and a good charger, as you will need them! John noted that some cameras use very proprietary batteries, and this is worth taking into consideration.

Try this site (Dennis posted it some time ago) to get some suggestions. Just choose digital cameras.

Dave

Re: Best Digital Zoom Camera #187159 07/28/02 02:34 AM
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The Nikon 995 has a 4-1 optical zoom (8-32). It works smoothly. It then has an additional 4X digital zoom which increments in factors of 0.2.

1.2, 1.4, 1.6 etc up to 3.8 then 4.0.

That would make the top end 128. The higher the digital zoom factor, the more 'noise' you MIGHT experience. But I haven't really experienced problems at the top end of the zoom.

You WILL need a tripod at these extreme focal lengths.

I also purchased an auxiliary 3x telephone lens. (Nikon also makes a 2x auxiliary.) (The lenses are auxiliary because they do not REPLACE the basic lens, but screw on the front.)

When you add auxiliary lenses on the 995, you program the camera to tell it which lens it has on it.

I'll shoot some examples of wide, normal and telephone shots tomorrow and post them.

------

Once you've narrowed you choices down to a few, you might want to visit "shortcourses.com" and print out their free user guides. Then you can see how simple or complex the camera might be and what special features it has:

http://www.shortcourses.com/guides/guides.htm

Re: Best Digital Zoom Camera #187160 07/28/02 02:38 PM
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TERRY BARFIELD Offline
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I have the Oly 2100 and I am very pleased with it.

Re: Best Digital Zoom Camera #187161 07/28/02 04:40 PM
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Dave H Offline
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Olympus web site was jammed up yesterday and couldn't get in to find what I wanted. Here is a link to the "C" series of Olympus cameras. To quote them: "Designed for the avid photographer, these easy-to-use digital cameras combine simplicity with technology to give you as much or as little control over your pictures as necessary."

I did not mention the Camedia software that comes with the cameras. It is a really great and easy to use piece of software. From doing minor "tune ups" on pictures, to cropping and re-sizing it is very easy to use.

MSN had an article today about choosing a digital camera . Might be of some help to you.

Dave

Re: Best Digital Zoom Camera #187162 08/01/02 03:40 AM
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JTimothyA Offline
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Canon G2 or Nikon Coolpix 4500 (successor to 995)

read tons of reviews of digital cameras here:

Digital Photography Review

Re: Best Digital Zoom Camera #187163 08/01/02 04:03 AM
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More on the Coolpix 4500 (Courtesy of Tim)

http://www.digitalsecrets.net/secrets/nik4500.html

Re: Best Digital Zoom Camera #187164 08/02/02 06:35 PM
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Todd Shorkey Offline
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For the 'Grandaddy" of digital zoom cameras, the Sony Mavica FD-91 has the best with an optical zoom of 14X. While they are not sold by Sony any longer, you can find them on eBay in the $500-$600 dollar range.

In my opinon, digial zoom is pretty useless. I post freighter photos to the news page at boatnerd.com on an almost daily basis and any photos that were taken with the digital zoom appear pixalized when brought up to full size. Optical zoom is the way to go if you can.

-Todd

Re: Best Digital Zoom Camera #187165 08/02/02 08:26 PM
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Don't worry about buying a camera that's soon to be obsolete...

...you will.

Re: Best Digital Zoom Camera #187166 08/03/02 03:00 PM
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GerryBu Offline
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I have just recently purchased a Canon S330 Elph and really like it. Extremely small and portable and takes great clear pictures. It is 2.0 Megapixel with 3X digital zoom. Looking forward to taking many lighthouse pictures in the future with it. cool cool


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