What Kind of Still Camera? About This Page:

[RogerRabbit]

MAKE: Sony
MODEL: DSC-P200
# of Megapixels or film size: 7.2
Optical Zoom: 3X (I think, I can't remember.)
Type of recording media: Memory Stick
Normal recording Mode (jpg, tiff, raw, other): jpg
What do you like most: The size and the mp's.
What do you dislike: I haven't found anything I don't like yet.
What would you buy if you bought a new camera now: Probably another Sony. We have several in the family and have had great luck with them. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[DawnDenise]

MAKE: Kodak Easyshare
MODEL:DX7630
# of Megapixels or film size: 6 MP
Optical Zoom: 3X optical zoom, 4X digital zoom
Type of recording media: SD Card
Normal recording Mode (jpg, tiff, raw, other):JPG
What do you like most:Small and easy to use, although I'm still trying to figure out the night settings. It's my first digital and very happy with it for the most part.
What do you dislike: Not enough zoom.
What would you buy if you bought a new camera now: Looking right now for a camera and still shopping. Looking @ Nikons right now.

Back-up Camera
MAKE: Minolta
MODEL: Maxxum 5 SLR
# of Megapixels or film size: 35mm
Optical Zoom: Have two lenses...28-90 and 70-300
Type of recording media: Film
What do you like most:The flexibilty of the zoom.
What do you dislike: Much more to carry around and the film and processing fees. Also not knowing what the picture looks like until I get them developed. I'm a little spoiled by digital now. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[duck addict]

Make :Nikon
Model: Coolpix 5200
5.0 Megapixels
7.8-23.4 mm (3X)Optical Zoom
Media: Smart Media (have 2 1-gigabyte chips)
Like: Size-Pack of cigarettes size. Special scene modes for no flash (museum) fireworks etc
Dislikes: Only (3x) zoom, but wanted SMALL size [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[A & J's Dad]

MAKE: Nikon
MODEL: D50
# of Megapixels or film size: 6MP
Optical Zoom: SLR, Nikon 18-55 & Tamron 28-200
Type of recording media: SD
Normal recording Mode (jpg, tiff, raw, other): All of the above plus Nikon's proprietary RAW mode.
What do you like most: Interchangable lenses, program modes, easy sensitivity adjustment and its my first Nikon.
What do you dislike: Low avialable light AF and AE
What would you buy if you bought a new camera now: I just bought it a few months ago so this is what I would have gotten.

BACKUP
MAKE: Sony
MODEL: DSC-S70
# of Megapixels or film size: 3.1MP
Optical Zoom: 3X
Type of recording media: Memory Stick
Normal recording Mode (jpg, tiff, raw, other): JPG
What do you like most: Low available light AF and AE. It feels like a real camera, not too small or light.
What do you dislike: It's dying [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
What would you buy if you bought a new camera now: Dunno. DW just got a Canon A520. I wouldn't get one of those. Its too small for my hands.

Craig

[LizardCop]

I got another camera, imagine that

MAKE: Olympus
MODEL: EVolt E-500 DSLR
# of Megapixels or film size: 8MP
Optical Zoom: Depends on the lens
Type of recording media: XD and CompactFlash
Normal recording Mode (jpg, tiff, raw, other): All
What do you like most: 8MP and the ability to change lenses to get what I want. I got the 14-45MM (28-90 35MM equivalent) and the 40-150MM (80-300 35MM equivalent) lenses with it. The max zoom is almost 10X in prosumer camera talk...
What do you dislike: So far, nothing...
What would you buy if you bought a new camera now: :headslap:

[TinkerBelz]

[ QUOTE ]
[b]I got another camera, imagine that [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]

MAKE: Olympus
MODEL: EVolt E-500 DSLR

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey we went out looking for cameras for me today and we saw and picked up "your new camera". Man that's a biggie! Very nice!

[Nala]

MAKE: HP
MODEL: photosmart 945
# of Megapixels or film size: 5.3
Optical Zoom: 56x (8x precision 7x digital)
Type of recording media: SD card, up to 520mb
Normal recording Mode (jpg, tiff, raw, other): jpg
What do you like most: Being able to take pictures in color, black and white or sepia. When I was using film I was running around with two cameras. One with color film, one with black and white film. Now I just change the settings.
What do you dislike: I have no clue how to use it! Or at least use some of the more advanced functions. But I guess that's not the camera's fault!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]
What would you buy if you bought a new camera now: A Canon Digital Rebel

[debsta922]

MAKE: Canon
MODEL: Digital Rebel EOS
# of Megapixels or film size: 6.1
Optical Zoom: Depends on which lens
Type of recording media: Compact Flash
Normal recording Mode (jpg, tiff, raw, other): JPG
What do you like most: I loved the film version of this camera, and was so excited when they made the digital version. You have your choice of being fully automatic or fully manual.
What do you dislike: Nothing now because I was finally able to get my wide-angle lens.
What would you buy if you bought a new camera now: The 8.0 megapixel version of this camera

[Postal9995]

I use
Canon 30D SLR
8.2 Megapixel
Interchangeable Lenses: 18-85IS (28-135 35mm equilalent)
70-200 2.8IS(110-310 35mm)
2x converter
2 4gig compact flash cards
I shoot primary in Raw gat about 440 pics per card
Love the camera takes great pics no problems

Backup Canon EOS1v -HS 35mm camera

[travelinsara]

I am glad to see this list, I am in the market for a camera. I have been seriously considering a Canon IS02 (I think) until the camera guy showed me photo's taken with another camera, I do not recall the brand at the moment. I just know where it sits on the shelf at the camera store.... I had a Sony P51 and it died very quickly, like within a month after the warranty. (I was at WDW when it happened, did anyone hear me screaming?!) CM told me someone else had the exact same problem the week prior. So, for me I am looking for ZOOM, & fast shutter, not real large in physical size, optical zoom of at least 10, variety of settings and the capability to do some manual/fancier things after I get used to the camera. The camera guy said you don't need image stablization if you have a fast enough shutter, for those of you that have more experience with digitals, is this in fact the case? A different store told me it depends on the speed of the memory media??? I just thought the memory stick/card thing held the pic's until you downloaded them. Any and all advice is very welcome! Thinking the camera will be BDay for us for the 50th BD for me/DL trip, **goal...see 50 characters! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img]

[GoofyMom]

MAKE: Canon
MODEL: PowerShot A70
# of Megapixels or film size: 3.2mp
Optical Zoom: I'm not entirely certain - I think it's 3X
Type of recording media: CF
Normal recording Mode (jpg, tiff, raw, other): jpg for sure, and it takes videos but we still haven't figured out how to upload the videos onto the computer! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]
What do you like most: it takes decent pictures but the best thing is that it uses "AA" batteries so I can replace them anywhere batteries are sold if I don't have any back-up ones in my bag
What do you dislike: The major thing is the settings dial on the top of the camera can be jostled and it changes to a different setting. I'm a point and shoot kind of person so I usually don't check the setting. I also think that the digital delay is a little longer than newer cameras have now
What would you buy if you bought a new camera now: I'm just starting to look - every once in a while some wonky electronic stuff happens when I turn it on (wavy lines and flickering on the viewscreen). I'd love for it to be able to use "AA" batteries and it definitely has to be point-and-shoot friendly!

[WillCAD]

[ QUOTE ]
I am glad to see this list, I am in the market for a camera. I have been seriously considering a Canon IS02 (I think) until the camera guy showed me photo's taken with another camera, I do not recall the brand at the moment. I just know where it sits on the shelf at the camera store.... I had a Sony P51 and it died very quickly, like within a month after the warranty. (I was at WDW when it happened, did anyone hear me screaming?!) CM told me someone else had the exact same problem the week prior. So, for me I am looking for ZOOM, & fast shutter, not real large in physical size, optical zoom of at least 10, variety of settings and the capability to do some manual/fancier things after I get used to the camera. The camera guy said you don't need image stabilization if you have a fast enough shutter, for those of you that have more experience with digitals, is this in fact the case? A different store told me it depends on the speed of the memory media??? I just thought the memory stick/card thing held the pic's until you downloaded them. Any and all advice is very welcome! Thinking the camera will be BDay for us for the 50th BD for me/DL trip, **goal...see 50 characters! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Those guys don't understand what image stabilization is, or what it's used for.

When you take a picture, the shutter opens long enough to let in enough light for the film or sensor to capture an image. In bright situations, the shutter can open for a very short time and enough light gets in.

In low light, you either need to keep the shutter open longer, or open it wider, to let in enough light. But once the shutter is all the way open, the camera has no choice but to leave it open longer (which is called 'slower' shutter speed) to let in enough light.

When you take a picture, the camera is always moving. Your breathing, heartbeat, and muscle shakes all vibrate the camera a tiny bit. This causes the light that hits the film or sensor to streak around like a flashlight swinging in the darkness. The quicker the shutter opens and closes, the less streaking you will get, resulting in a more sharp image.

But in low light situations, the shutter has to stay open longer, which would result in blurry images as the light streaks around on the film or sensor. Image stabilization compensates for that streaking effect, up to a point, by moving the lens around to keep the light from streaking as much on the film or sensor.

Think of it this way: You're in a park in the middle of the night. Your kid gets on a swing with a flashlight in his hand and starts swinging back and forth. To you, the flashlight looks like a streak as it moves around.

But if you get on the next swing and start swinging at the same speed as your kid, the flashlight doesn't look like a streak any more - it looks like a round flashlight beam again.

Image stabilization moves the lens of a camera around a little, using a gyro system, to compensate for the movement of the camera when the shutter opens. Thus, you can take sharp pictures with the shutter open longer that you could without the IS feature.

The IS feature has its limits, but it generally gives you the ability to get a sharper picture at shutter speeds as slow as 1/15sec without using a tripod. Of course, that varies greatly depending on camera, lens, lighting conditions, ISO sensitivity, how still you can hold the camera, etc. etc. etc.

[travelinsara]

Thank you for the great info, I realize some of the guys at the camera store might of been selling refrigerators at their last sales position (NO OFFENSE to anyone intended) but they don't seem to take me really seriously, I would LOVE to be able to take one out for a 24 hour trial and really give it a good comparison. For the type of camera I feel is a good fit for me, is a 'toy' by the professional camera guys standards, so they aren't really interested in giving me solid info! Just here, this is a good one. Thanks, I will be reading all the posts on the list to make a much better decision on a camera that I plan to have last a good 5 years minimum. Thanks

[disneygramma]

Make: Canon
Model: Digital Rebel SLR
# MP: 6.1
Optical Zoom....
Type of Recording Media: Compact Flash
Normal Recording Mode...for me usually the jpg
What I like most: flexibility in utilizing various modes and interchangable lenses for different photo experiences
What I dislike: nothing really, although too bad it is not a bit ligher weight
What would I buy if I could buy another camera: the higher MP version of this same camera type by Canon
Note: Just recently added ANOTHER filter to my arsenal so I look forward to some great Wishes shots so I can use my cross screen 4x filter to add even more excitement to the final photos.

[Melissa1214]

I don't know any of the details of the cameras, but I have a Kodak EasyShare DX6340 that I use on occasions when it's not practical to carry the good camera. Our good camera is a Nikon D100 and I love it. It takes awesome pictures and is relatively easy to use. There are a ton of features that I haven't experimented with yet, but my husband does and the pictures turn out great everytime.