I looked for that photography thread we had going a while ago, but couldn't find it.
I'm in the market for a new digicam, and wanted some of the experts' opinions. I think I have settled on the Cana Powershot s3 is (6.2 megapixel, 12x optical zoom, and other stuff). I know I want an optical zoom >=10x, and this seems to fit the bill. My buddy was in St. Louis a few weeks ago, and he had this camera. It was simply amazing. Any experience or thoughts about it?
A few sample pictures taken from the s3 I hijacked from flikr.
(http://static.flickr.com/122/296942611_3faf12f960.jpg?v=0)
(http://static.flickr.com/97/241557692_d895c1487d.jpg?v=0)
(http://static.flickr.com/102/300270569_8b07b8c09d.jpg?v=0)
(http://static.flickr.com/90/226461027_33b8b0503b.jpg?v=0)
I'm a Canon fan also. I had a Nikon digital that was an absolute POS.
I got my DD an S2 last year, and she absolutely loves it. I wish I had one.
The pixel count is pretty much overrated these days (point of diminishing returns)...but the big zoom and excellent lens are great.
I'm sure I'm being retarded, but what's a DD?
Quote from: Zanshin on November 23, 2006, 11:34:56 AM
I'm sure I'm being retarded, but what's a DD?
Duh... Dolly Parton!
Quote from: Zanshin on November 23, 2006, 11:34:56 AM
I'm sure I'm being retarded, but what's a DD?
Dear/Darling/Damned/Dumbass Daughter.
So I went ahead and bought this camera today, while it was still on special for Thanksgiving. Of course I opted for the free shipping method, which means it will be 1 to 2 weeeks before I get it. :boom
Quote from: Father Demon on November 24, 2006, 08:21:18 PM
So I went ahead and bought this camera today, while it was still on special for Thanksgiving. Of course I opted for the free shipping method, which means it will be 1 to 2 weeeks before I get it. :boom
Cheapskate. :D
My sister told me she wants a digital camera for Christmas (I want one too but I'll get hers first). If you don't mind my asking, FD, how much was the Canon? The pics up there look phenominal.
And where did you get it?
I ordered a Canon Elura 100 MiniDV digital video camera yesterday. w0ot toys.
I picked it up through CircuitCity.com -- they had the lowest price outside of ebay (which were "slightly used"), but I'm not comfortable buying something like that through ebay. It was on sale for $355, down from $399.
I did a lot of searching for prices, and there were a few for $350 through stores I didn't know (using Froogle), but again, if there's any kind of problem, I know exchanging through CC will be easy.
I can't wait to get it... unfortunately, I'll have to.
I'm in the market for a new camera, and this one looks nice. Let me know how you like it, if you'd be so kind. I'm hoping to hold out until I find a deal where I can get it for $325 or so.
I want something with a good optical zoom that takes nice pictures, and offers the ability to take shots in quick succession. My father in law just bought a really nice Nikon D80, but I don't want to drop $1000 on a camera.
This seems to have everything you are looking for, just by going with what my buddy showed me with his. Once I get it, I'll let you know my own experiences.
I was thinking about waiting for $310 - $325 as well, but then figured I just want it and the extra 30 bucks wasn't going to kill me. A man must have his toys.
Yep, I know the S2 has a "burst" mode for taking a bunch of pics in succession. The S3 is about a half step above it.
Quote from: Father Demon on November 25, 2006, 09:32:56 PM
This seems to have everything you are looking for, just by going with what my buddy showed me with his. Once I get it, I'll let you know my own experiences.
I was thinking about waiting for $310 - $325 as well, but then figured I just want it and the extra 30 bucks wasn't going to kill me. A man must have his toys.
I'm thinking after Christmas there might be a deal I'd jump on. In the meantime, I'm still using my Cannon PowerShot digital elph. There's nothing wrong with it, other than the battery which is on its last legs, but I have had a number of occasions where I could have used the better zoom, the quicker shots, and the greater resolution. The one I have is a 3.2 megapixel that I got four years ago or so. So, I figure this will be the one I'll get the wife to keep in her purse on occasion, and I'll go bigger an better for the new iteration. That's the long way of saying I want a new toy.
Any thoughts about this one, from anyone in the know? Tough call between the two, I think.
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-FZ7-Digital-Optical-Stabilized/dp/B000EBK3FW
Two comments:
1) The pics above cannot be considered typical: they were obviously taken by someone experienced in lighting, exposure, shutter speed, etc. That's not to say your pictures will not be very nice - but an expensive camera does not a professional photographer make.
2) I speak from experience ;D - and while I don't crank out pictures like the above, I absolutely love our Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT. It is so nice to be able to take pictures indoors without a flash - it really changes the whole feeling of the picture (50mm lens, f1.4).
Quote from: Zanshin on November 25, 2006, 09:00:56 PM
I'm in the market for a new camera, and this one looks nice. Let me know how you like it, if you'd be so kind. I'm hoping to hold out until I find a deal where I can get it for $325 or so.
I want something with a good optical zoom that takes nice pictures, and offers the ability to take shots in quick succession. My father in law just bought a really nice Nikon D80, but I don't want to drop $1000 on a camera.
if you dont mind the size. check out the Minolta DiMage Z series (Z4, Z5, Z6). they come with at minimum 5 megapixels, and 8x-10x optical zooms. they arent these mini camera's mind you, it's a digital SLR. i have the Z4...i love it. and it has a progressive shooting feature where you hold the button down and it takes up to 5 frames in 5 seconds.
i just bought my wife a Canon Powershot A630 for xmas, i think it's a good camera
My wife just bought a Kodak 6.1 megapixel camera at Target for like $98.
I was skeptical but the thing actually took excellent photos.
Edited - here it is:
(http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/2058/17656999640mk6.jpg)
It's funny reading the consumer reviews of these cameras-- everyone thinks the one they have is the absolute best.
I have an older Kodak Easyshare camera. One that looks almost like an SLR, but isn't. The high zoom is great. And under ideal conditions, it takes pretty decent pictures. In low light, the autofocus sucks. The Kodak is okay for everyday snapshots and such...but my daughter's Canon is much better in all areas.
Agreed, Sus.
Just saying, $98 for a 6.1 MP camera is crazy, especially for one you're using for standard photos.
Oh, you can get great deals for a camera if you look hard enough. I got my Canon Elph a few years ago for about $100, and that included a nice Pixma printer. Was a ridiculous deal. That's really why I'm hemming and hawing at this point; I'm looking for a laugher of a deal, but I'd also like to get something before the holidays.
Eh, I think that the s3 "feels" like the way to go. I tried both out in a couple of stores, and while the s3 is heavier than the z7, it feels better-made and more comfortable. And it's almost impossible to judge the picture quality by looking at the LCDs. The resolution on the z7 is pretty crappy, even though I hear the pictures are good.
I see that I can get the s3 from Dell for $330 or so. Anyone ever buy anything other than a laptop from Dell? Recommend it?
Never got anything else besides a PC from them. But $330 is a pretty good deal.
http://www.pricescan.com/digiphoto/items/item173516.asp
$600 from Kohls...sign me up for that ;).
The Dell deal didn't include Tax, which drove it up a bit. Not worth the hassle.
I did end up buying it, though, from Amazon.com for $325 total (free shipping and no tax). They had it on sale, then I took another $30 off by applying for a Amazon business credit card. Not a bad deal, based on what I've seen.
Sounds good. I just saw one in Target selling for $400. Bzzzzzzt! Sorry, Target...too farging high!
Quote from: Susquehanna Birder on November 29, 2006, 12:40:09 PM
Sounds good. I just saw one in Target selling for $400. Bzzzzzzt! Sorry, Target...too farging high!
Used Cars, right?
LOL...good catch! I looked for a pic of the Colonel blowing up the Mercedes...but no dice.
Quote from: Father Demon on November 25, 2006, 09:32:56 PM
This seems to have everything you are looking for, just by going with what my buddy showed me with his. Once I get it, I'll let you know my own experiences.
I was thinking about waiting for $310 - $325 as well, but then figured I just want it and the extra 30 bucks wasn't going to kill me. A man must have his toys.
And yet you opted for the free shipping. Nice work el cheapo.
Quote from: Susquehanna Birder on November 28, 2006, 01:17:50 PM
I have an older Kodak Easyshare camera. One that looks almost like an SLR, but isn't. The high zoom is great. And under ideal conditions, it takes pretty decent pictures. In low light, the autofocus sucks. The Kodak is okay for everyday snapshots and such...but my daughter's Canon is much better in all areas.
Same here with the Easyshare. Although I don't know if I'd say mine is old....I've had it about a year. Then again, but today's technological standards, anything more than 1 year old is archaic. But I digress. It's a great camera for every day use but I agree that in low light, the thing flat out sucks. Inexpensive camera and easy to use so it works for me. It's not like I'm an ameteur photographer or anything.
I got my camera the other day, and started fiddling around with it. SOOOO many buttons and options, it will take a while to learn how to do everything. So far, I can take pictures in auto mode, and super macro...
two pics I took this afternoon:
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/richbo/treelights.jpg)
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/richbo/iciclesmall.jpg)
I used Picassa on the top one to just color the one bulb, and the second one looks really cool when it is at full size, but it's like a 3 meg picture and I didn't want to kill everyone's browsers.
You've got icicles. I hope Phanatic slept inside last night. There's still people walking around in shorts and t-shirts here.
Demon, did you guys get hit by that snow storm? I was talking to a buddy of mine in KC yesterday and they were leaving work early because of the weather.
It was 71 yesterday, and 30 in KC at the same time. Right now it's 25 here.
The storm started rolling in last night, and so far it's all been rain early and now ice. The kids were sent home early. The snow is supposed to start tonight, and they are calling for 3 to 9 inches, depending which area of StL you live in.
(http://image.weather.com/web/radar/us_stl_closeradar_plus_usen.jpg)
They look good; looking forward to getting mine.
You may have stumbled on it, but here's a pretty friendly forum for the S3 IS; the folks in there seem helpful:
http://www.canons3is.com/forum/index.php
I hadn't... Thanks, Z...
Well, just got the camera...and here are, literally, the first few pics.
(http://www.thistleweb.com/pictures/albums/uploads/2006_12_06/normal_IMG_0097.JPG)
(http://www.thistleweb.com/pictures/albums/uploads/2006_12_06/normal_IMG_0102.JPG)
(http://www.thistleweb.com/pictures/albums/uploads/2006_12_06/normal_IMG_0074.JPG)
(http://www.thistleweb.com/pictures/albums/uploads/2006_12_06/normal_IMG_0105.JPG)
The close-up of the light is a little fuzzy, but that outside shot is pretty nice. <jealousy>
Tripod would have helped in all cases, I'm sure. I was surprised they came out as clear as they did, considering I didn't use a flash.