Author Topic: Planning New Digital Camera Purchase (Read 3812 times)

Dave1 · « **on:** December 07, 2005, 07:27:58 AM »

I am planning on purchasing a new digital camera and am undecided what is best suited for me. I had a Cannon 35mm before that lasted over 20 trouble free years so I am leaning toward the Cannon brand.

I am a hunter, offshore fisherman, diver, etc. and need a good sturdy and durable camera. My photos will be in bright daylight on the boat in the ocean, normal around the house/yard photos, photos of wild game at distance in the woods, and maybe some after dark closeups. I was thinking I wanted a higher powered lens say a 10x or 12x optical zoom and optical image stabilization but I don't want to sacrifice normal or close up photo distance ability in the process. Most of all I want sharp clear photos that can be cropped and enlarged.

The camera I was/am thinking about is the Cannon S2. It has all the above mentioned and much more. I am just not convinced I need that much camera or that much expense. Maybe a lesser expensive point and shoot model 4 or 5 mp camera with a 5x lens would be OK. Still thinking.

Any info or feedback that would help influence the decision would be appreciated.

Dave
davisalf@aol.com

Jack Crevalle · « **Reply #1 on:** December 07, 2005, 02:33:47 PM »

From this review it looks like it does all your asking, is reasonably compact to take hunting and uses easy to get AA batteries.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0504/05042201canons2is.asp

For the price I saw it seems worth it.

The only drawback I see is taking on your boat. You might want to see if there's an enclosure for it.

Ahab · « **Reply #2 on:** December 12, 2005, 04:40:21 AM »

Pentax has a waterproof camera that has received good reviews. It sounds like you need two cameras too fulfill all your needs.

Qtip · « **Reply #3 on:** December 25, 2005, 01:22:48 AM »

I just purchased a Kodak Z740 10X optical about a week ago and I love it. But it's not waterproof. I got great reviews too and I'm sure that once I learn all its features it will be a blast using it. If I'm going to be fishing I use my Canon 35MM compact auto that's waterproof. It's worth about $270, but it has been discontinued.

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

flyfisher · « **Reply #4 on:** January 06, 2006, 04:58:36 AM »

I just purchased a Nikon CoolPix 4600. 3x optical and 4x digital zooms. 4 Megapixels. Got it at Staples with a free printer for $149. So far I really, really love it. Great quality, good detail and clarity, and a great value.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #5 on:** January 06, 2006, 04:16:55 PM »

I bought the Kodak Easyshare Z2700. It has a 5X optical and a 20X zoom. So far I have been really impressed with it. Great pictures and the EasyShare base station makes transferring pictures easy. If you go the Alaska Forum, I did a caribou hunt a while back and the pictures there are from that camera.

Be sure to get the extra chip that allows you to take more pictures. I think I can take about 575 pictures. I have neven run out of battery power with it either.

srwshooter · « **Reply #6 on:** January 13, 2006, 03:16:58 AM »

try a panasonic fz20 ,12x leica optical and 48x digital zoom with image stabilizer . i've had mine a year and 3600 pic's later it still amazes me daily, its a 5mp.

g8r · « **Reply #7 on:** August 07, 2006, 03:36:45 PM »

I'll second the Panasonics. Always get great reviews. If you get a camera that takes a special battery then get a spare to rotate with.

dukkillr · « **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2006, 06:50:04 PM »

I've got a Panasonic DMC-FZ7. It's gota 12x optical zoom and a 4x digital for a total possible magnification of 48x. I love it. I carried a lightweight spotting scope tripod during turkey season and took some great pictures and videos. For deer season I have a mounting bracket. Image stability is an issue at the highest magnification, but there is no loss with normal ranges. Thus you're not losing anything by getting the extra range except that the camera is bigger and more expensive. This is the second camera of this series that i have owned and I liked them both.

bearfat · « **Reply #9 on:** September 15, 2006, 04:53:55 PM »

I almost bought the Canon couple of months ago but went with the Sony DSC-H5 because of the availability of different lens; close up, and wide angle. Other than that they were neck in neck in comparsion I thought. I have a HP M407 Photosmart 4.2 mp as my first digital and was amazed at the photo quality. The smaller digital is so much easier to use. I think you would find a cheaper $200.00 4 or 5 mp with 5x optical plenty good for your needs.

I'm still experimenting with the Sony 7.2 mp as I also wanted better close up's and low light shots, and of course the 12x zoom for wildlife. It appears very promising with some of the pic's I'm getting. I'm attaching a low light shot, close up, and maybe a shoreline shot for you to look at. These were taken with the cheaper 4.2 mp camera NOT THE SPENDY BIGGER DIGITAL. Two of the shots I've blown up to 8x10 and hang over my desk.

DWTim · « **Reply #10 on:** September 16, 2006, 07:42:34 AM »

I was going to recommend a Konica-Minolta, but they went out of business. Considering what I got for the money, they were probably giving away the store, so to speak.

dougk · « **Reply #11 on:** September 18, 2006, 11:52:46 AM »

I looked long and hard and finally went with the Canon S3. Found it online for $339 with free shipping and 1 GB SD card.

bearfat · « **Reply #12 on:** September 19, 2006, 04:29:21 AM »

Holy smokes who had it at that price? Think I paid around 470.00 for the Sony. I could have put a different barrel on my NEF with the savings!!!

Niner · « **Reply #13 on:** November 02, 2006, 07:28:57 PM »

A Pentax Optio W20 seems like a good choice. I got my fishing camera drowned and non fuctioning recently and so found this camera to take its place that is water proof to the extent it can take a dunking and keep on ticking as well as compact for carry in a pocket without noticing it. It is also supposed to be operational under water to 1.5 m. I'm not interested in using it under water, but with a moderate telephoto and being able to be wet and still not hurt is a big plus. So far I find it to take decent pictures with lots of easy to use features. And the cost is significantly less than $300.

SDS-GEN · « **Reply #14 on:** December 22, 2006, 01:47:44 PM »

Maybe too late to get in on this but this year aI got a Canon PowerShot A700. Really like this camera. It is my second digital, I still shoot a little bit of film through my Minolta SLR but this digital does everything. It is a fairly compact camera with a 6x zoom and available macro and zoom lense (brings zoom up to 10.5x). I took this camera to Alaska this fall on a bear hunt, kept it in a ziplock in the pocket inside my waders, the only problem I had was with the lense fogging in the high humidity. I think there is now another camera in the line with a 6x zoom, PowerShot a710 maybe.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** December 22, 2006, 02:15:36 PM »

Ummm this thread started over a year ago, but what the heck, if someone gets some benefit out it, that's good!! I just bought a camera for the same use as Dave1 describes, it's an Olympus Stylus 720SW, it has great reviews and not only is it waterproof to 10', but it's also shockproof to a 5' drop. The Pentax Optio was my pick until I read the reviews on the Olympus. I found it for $258 at Broadway Camera, also ordered 2 extra high capacity 900mAH batteries for it from Blue Nook for $27 shipped. Also got a 1Gb Xd card for it from Circuit City for $25 after the $15 rebate.

Tim

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/stylus720.html

http://reviews.cnet.com/Olympus_Stylus_720_SW/4505-6501_7-31675516.html

str8shooter48 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 29, 2006, 09:30:54 AM »

Quote from: dougk on September 18, 2006, 11:52:46 AM

I looked long and hard and finally went with the Canon S3. Found it online for $339 with free shipping and 1 GB SD card.

Great price, I also went with the S3. Not as good a price, but a great camera. Office Max $349 and a free 512 SD card

Grandpa Jack · « **Reply #17 on:** February 19, 2007, 07:53:34 AM »

Take a look at the Olympus 720 SW or 770 SW. Both are waterproof and shock resistant-supposed to be able to withstand up to a 5 ft drop. 720 is waterprooof up to 10 feet and 770 up to 33 feet. The 770 is new but 720 has received excellent reviews. Pretty sure one of these will be my next compact camera. I have used Olympus film cameras for years and they have always given good value for the money. You should be able to find the 720 in the $275-$300 range, maybe less in near future as 770 just came out to replace it. Take a look here for info on it: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1287 or here for review on 720: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0601/06012602olympus_720sw.asp or here for review of 770: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0701/07012505olympusstylus770sw.asp.

bearfat · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2007, 09:01:02 AM »

WOW

That 770 with 7.1mp is some camera Grandpa Jack. The scuba divers are going to love it along with rafters etcetera. And the price is only $379.00 which is less than I just paid for a 12x zoom 7.2mp.

Very interesting camera for those of us out in the bad weather. The size is super.

Definitely going to be on my list as a replacement digital when my little 4.2mp goes belly up. I had bought my daughter the same one, her boyfriend dropped it and no more. If she had the 770 sounds like it would have survived the drop.

I like the pics my bigger 12x zoom 7.2mp takes but the size is a hinderance. The little guy 4.2mp is getting out into the rough more than the big camera. And the pics are almost as good.

Capt Gary · « **Reply #19 on:** September 20, 2007, 08:32:02 AM »

Olympus 770 SW Waterproof.......great little camera.
I carry mine on a lanyard everyday. It works great when you don't have time to get the big gun out (Nikon D200). It's always with me and I get lots of shots that I would normally have to pass up.