Camera Shopping
I find buying a digital camera a frustrating experience. Often, it can be difficult to find the right information about a camera. For example, many of the hardcore camera sites really focus on digital SLR's, and don't get involved with the point and shoots at any level of detail. I also find that many sites, including PC Mag which does a good job with many products, has an "Editor's Preview" of some cameras, totally based on the specs regurgitated in prose, and never using the camera firsthand. Two good websites that actually do a really good job of testing camera gear are DP Review and DC Resource. However, they are both hampered by the same challenge that their review process is so exhaustive that they only get to a minority of the cameras that get released in any given year.
Fear not, I wouldn't be posting this if there wasn't an answer of some sort. While it doesn't replace a review, I suggest that you check out some images made with the camera. This is also useful to supplement reviews for a specific question about a camera, such as how the performance in night photos, or action will be. Once you know where to look, it can also be instructive to see what amateur photographers can capture with a camera, as most of us are not pros in a studio.
The answer is to head on over to Flickr, which is an online photo sharing site, and one of the larger ones. Jump on over to the Camera Finder section, and find the model by manufacturer. They have just about every model, as long as someone, at sometime, uploaded a picture with that camera. Then we can see if the colors are really bold, or simply oversaturated, before we plunk down our "one way cash" on that new camera that cannot be returned in most cases. Other features include the ability to see the most popular camera (Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi), or the most popular camera in a phone (Nokia N73).
Happy shopping!
Fear not, I wouldn't be posting this if there wasn't an answer of some sort. While it doesn't replace a review, I suggest that you check out some images made with the camera. This is also useful to supplement reviews for a specific question about a camera, such as how the performance in night photos, or action will be. Once you know where to look, it can also be instructive to see what amateur photographers can capture with a camera, as most of us are not pros in a studio.
The answer is to head on over to Flickr, which is an online photo sharing site, and one of the larger ones. Jump on over to the Camera Finder section, and find the model by manufacturer. They have just about every model, as long as someone, at sometime, uploaded a picture with that camera. Then we can see if the colors are really bold, or simply oversaturated, before we plunk down our "one way cash" on that new camera that cannot be returned in most cases. Other features include the ability to see the most popular camera (Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi), or the most popular camera in a phone (Nokia N73).
Happy shopping!
Labels: digital camera, shopping
posted by digitaldoc at 10:30 PM
2 Comments:
My first digital point and shoot was an Olympus C2100 with the built in image stabilization. I now also have a Canon S2IS, which also has image stabilization.
Both cameras were purchased for their optical zoom range as my wife and I take pictures of birds that come to our feeders. Both cameras have a lot of features that I've never learned how to use!
When I was looking to upgrade the Olympus, I looked a the Digital Rebel. A professional photographer buddy of mine talked me out of it. Said it was too much camera, and I'd end up spending a bundle in lenses. His take was that for the type of photography I do, a point and shoot was better. He was right on the money.
Having used both the Olympus and Canon I can tell you without question that the software that comes with the Canon stinks. It's the pits. In fact it's so bad I bought a card reader so I could download images from the camera without using the Canon software. The Olympus software was much easier to use and much more intuitive in my opinion.
My biggest gripe about all these digital cameras is the NiMh AA batteries. They pack a lot of power into a small package, but they self discharge very rapidly. You can't charge your AA's a couple of days before you plan to use them and expect them to work.
MaHa, a company that makes some nifty chargers, has come out with some new AA's that claim to have solved the self discharge problem. I plan to order a couple of sets and see if they are telling the truth.
Oh, and if you plan to take a lot of flash pictures with your point and shoot, consider an external flash or external battery supply to power the camera. The flash really eats up the batteries.
Too many features? No such thing!
I'd love to have a Digital Rebel, but the lenses are a serious investment, and not the for the casual photographer on a reasonable budget.
Look for NiMH batteries that pack some extra power. They're not all the same. I use the slow charging ones, and have a set that are rated for 2500 mA's. With an overnight charge, I've has usable power for months in my Epson. My HP is not as thrifty with the juice with the large LCD.
The software for these cameras is a constant disappointment. I always download directly from the card through a reader; the added benefit is to save on the batteries.
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