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Posted by: restore2seater Nov 11 2004, 11:33 AM

Hi everyone. First post of my own to start.
I would like to buy a digital camera that would be used to upload pictures to this and other websites. Cost is an issue since most of the extra money goes to restoring 914. I suppose EBay would be one option but Im not sure I want to go that route. What does everybody use here? Taking pictures and getting them developed at a photolab takes too long and costs too much.

Posted by: Bleyseng Nov 11 2004, 11:37 AM

We have had this discussion a few times before but I still recommend the Nikon 3700 as the most bang for the buck. Its been on sale for $153 at Butterflyphoto.com for awhile. 3.2 mega pixels with lots of other features like it fits in your shirt pocket.

Geoff

Posted by: restore2seater Nov 11 2004, 11:41 AM

That was about the price I was hopeing for.
I guess I should have done a search before posting this.

Posted by: SteveSr Nov 11 2004, 11:45 AM

I use a HP435, 3.1 mega pixels,also fits in your shirt pocket,accepts a Secure Digital memory card and is about $149.00 on HP's web site.

SteveSr

Posted by: boxstr Nov 11 2004, 11:56 AM

Kodak EasyShare DX 6490 has been a good one for me. The thing I like is the docking station. You take pics, slip into the docking station, loads onto the computer and it charges the batteries.
Not sure on the cost, check your local retailer.
CCLINSAYCHEESE

Posted by: type11969 Nov 11 2004, 12:36 PM

I just got the Nikon 3700, I really like it. Good balance of size, battery life, features, cost, etc. If you are only looking for a garage camera, get an older camera off ebay for cheap from someone upgrading. Since you are already going to have to reduce the picture size to upload it to a website, no point in getting a camera with a big megapixel rating. Something in the 2mp range will probably be more than enough. Just a thought.

Posted by: brant Nov 11 2004, 04:29 PM

Hi Pat...
nice to see a first post...
I had the same camera question a month ago...

I got a ton of helpful advice and links to do comparison shopping with...

I ended up going with the bigger lense. It was more than I initially intended to spend, but should work good for distance photos (track photos)

here should be the old thread:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=18349&hl=camera

Posted by: Carlitos Way Nov 11 2004, 05:09 PM

If you're frugal, try www.froogle.com

Shopping web site by Google. I've found some great prices on electronics in the past. make sure you check out specs and such... but usually it's a great resource once you know the item you want to buy.

Regards,

Carlos

Posted by: Racer Chris Nov 11 2004, 06:12 PM

I'm real happy with my Canon PowerShot S200.
Shiny metal case, compact size, Compact Flash card.

Posted by: tbil Nov 11 2004, 06:40 PM

Check out the HP's on thier web site. Have the R607 (I think) which may be a few more $$ than you want to spend but they have some pretty good options at lower prices. Have been very happy with it.

Posted by: seanery Nov 11 2004, 06:50 PM

my opinion here. Buy a camera from a camera company:
Nikon
Canon
Minolta
Pentax
Kodak
Sony

Posted by: Racer Chris Nov 11 2004, 07:39 PM

Sony is a TV/Radio company, not a camera company.

Posted by: seanery Nov 11 2004, 07:42 PM

I was waiting for someone to say that.
~85% of all television you see is from Sony, they make very good cameras. Cannon glass is the glass most have.

Posted by: vortrex Nov 11 2004, 07:47 PM

I just got the panasonic DMC-FX7, really nice but kinda expensive. you can get a 3MP canon SD200 in the $200 range.

Posted by: Jake Raby Nov 11 2004, 07:49 PM

I have a Nikon cool pix 2100 and I love it..

Posted by: Ctrout Nov 11 2004, 10:14 PM

http://www.dpreview.com has all the info you would ever need to know on this subject.

Posted by: Bruce Allert Nov 11 2004, 11:30 PM

Just read an article regarding the Easy Share. It's touted to be the most purchased, affordable and ease of use camera today. Personally, I haven't had a chance to pick one up for trial, just going by what my Photography mag spews I'm going with the Cannon Digital Rebel. I now have an Olympus C-2100 ultra zoom. Great cameras

.....b

Posted by: RON S. Nov 12 2004, 06:06 AM

I bought a Kodak easyshare 4530 I think.
Really simple camera to use.I got it at a walmart.They had a package deal going,camera and a docking port for $280.00 .The camera is rated at 5mg-pix.
I will say that the photo editting sofware that comes with it sucks though.It's to limited in it's features.
Not much you can do with it.

Ron

Posted by: davep Nov 12 2004, 08:31 AM

What I really look for now is the lense. The autofocus doesn't work with indoor lighting most of the time. The bigger the lense the more light it can collect, and the better everything works. The best thing is to try the camera before you buy. Be sure to test it indoors, and see if the autofocus still works. Most have no provision for manual focus, so if the AF doesn't work, then it is nearly useless. Also test moving targets. Trying to take pictures of my dogs is so hard because they are in constant motion. You see a good pose, press the button, and several seconds later the picture is taken, then you find the subject has already moved and the shot is wasted. They go through batteries like no tomorrow, and the rechargeables tend to fade far faster than the alkaline. Some newer cameras have a short movie capability, and newer still can record audio also. Look for a lense with a good optical zoom range.

Posted by: tbil Nov 12 2004, 11:52 AM

With regards to buying form a camara company, keep in mind were talking digital here. In this arena, HP is a camera company.

You want expertise in CCD's and algorythms, not necessarly strengths of a traditional camara company. Optics are important as well and the camera companies of course have expertise there. HP does development work and supplies components, CCD's and algorythm's, for many of the camera companies.

Posted by: ! Nov 12 2004, 01:01 PM

I just bought the Olympus 5.0 m/pixel....$299....my third one...I'm hard on them as I use them at work for picture evidence on my tickets....will take wide angle and bigger lenses with an adapter. Haven't needed those as yet.

Posted by: anderssj Nov 12 2004, 09:02 PM

I've been using a Canon Powershot A60 for a year--really like it. The pictures surprise me sometimes . . .

B-17G ("Fuddy-Duddy") at Newport News/Wmsburg Airport a couple of weeks ago . . .


Attached image(s)

Posted by: hargray2 Nov 12 2004, 11:52 PM

This was a gift. Kinda off the wall brand, but they have some good stuff to say about it
on their site. It will do 90 minutes of video with audio with a 512SD card.
http://www.mustek.com/html/prod_camra/mdc4000.html

Posted by: cnavarro Nov 13 2004, 07:23 AM

OMG, mustek still exists... I had one of their scanners 10+ years ago and it sucked even then!

Charles Navarro
LN Engineering
http://www.LNengineering.com
Aircooled Precision Performance

Posted by: seanery Nov 13 2004, 10:13 AM

I had one too! Scanned ok, but drivers and support were nonexistant!

Posted by: Rhodes71/914 Nov 13 2004, 10:49 AM

Gotta put in my .02

First digital I had HP something POS
Second one was a Kodak before they came out with the doc thing it was good but a little big.
Now I have a Cannon power shot S50, prolly more camera than you need but they have cheaper models.
I like the Cannon best of all of them.
Have used a Nikon cool pix before and was impressed with it.

Posted by: hargray2 Nov 13 2004, 04:37 PM

You say Mustek sucked 'even then' like technology was better then.

I don't think my camera sucks. It will take just as good pictures as the popular brands.
Most cameras don't do audio with the video either. The camera was a birthday gift, but
I would buy another if something happened to it. I really like it.

They all use the same cheap ass internal components anyway.

Posted by: restore2seater Nov 13 2004, 08:46 PM

Well I went with Geoffs pick. Nikon 3700 from http://butterflyphoto.com . I went to http://reviews.cnet.com to check out the camera. The negative comments about the camera didn't really concern me. They were mostly about options that I have no need of. Mostly for high end users of the camera. I just wanted a middle of the road camera. The price and options of the camera was perfect for my needs. The only drawback was the memory card. (16M) Too small. So I went to http://dealram.com and bought a 512M chip. The price was $42.00 and had a $15.00 rebate. The camera should be here in about a week or two.

Thanks for everones opinions. I really wasn't expecting this big of a response.