How To ... Choose a new digital camera

[bsbrian]

Howdy Folks!

I'm in the process of starting to look for a new digital camera. Right now I have a Canon Powershot G1 3.3 megapixel. I'm considering going with a SLR type because I like the options of lens selection. My budget is something about the price of a Canon EOS Digital Rebel up to a Canon EOS 10D Digital. I have a preference for Canon and Nikon, but am open to other suggestions. The camera would be used non-professionally, but by an avid consumer.

I also have a number of specific questions:

1. With my current camera there is a very noticeable delay between when I press the button to take a picture and when the camera actually takes the picture. Do the digital SLR cameras also do this?

2. Most of the cameras I've looked at are 6 megapixel. There are non-SLR digital cameras in my price range that are 8 megapixles. Is the gain of 2 megapixles with the loss of versatility of lens options?

Thanks in advance for any information and help you can provide.

bsbrian

 

[watergirl]

I don't even know!

I'm not sure what SLR is... but I had a Sony 5 mgpx & was thoroughly happy with everything it did.

Happy shopping! I'm not sure where you are, but Best Buy usually has all the different models out & available for you to play with in the store before you purchase, if you have one of their stores near you. Circuit City might be the same way.

 

[Honeysucklevine]

Sounds like you are a little more advanced than I, but I love my DX6340 Kodak Easy Share and printer dock 6000. However, I too have noticed the "delay". Very annoying! Would love to know if this is just a "digital" thing.---------- Happy Shooting!

 

[sparky2]

my first post

I'll help you since i know some stuff about digital cameras...

The Canon 10D isn't really for an amator... It's mostly used professionaly so no use spending $ that way if you're not gonna make money out of it. If you want a DSLR i suggest Canon 300D (Digital Rebel) or the Nikon D70

1. That delay is probably the AiAF (Artificial Inteligence AutoFocus) that means that the camera takes some time to focus on the subject. But that time is significally shrinked if you either set it on MF (Manual Focus) or just put AiAF OFF from the menu. In DSLR the AutoFocus is done 3 to 4 times faster than your G1. But there is also the Shutter Lag (which is also not bothering in the DSLRs) which is the time that the Camera takes to process the pressing of the shutter and taking the picture.

2. Those cameras at 8 MP are no good. You probably mean Minolta A2, Sony F828 etc. They are no good because the new 8 MP CCD Sensor is practicaly new and not so tested therefor not very improved. For example the Canon Digital Rebel takes a lot better shots than the Sony F828 ! The Digital Rebel at 6.3 MP can do wonders!

Oh and DSLR = Digital Single Lens Reflex

 

[Weird Harold]

1. With my current camera there is a very noticeable delay between when I press the button to take a picture and when the camera actually takes the picture. Do the digital SLR cameras also do this?

Is the delay actually in taking the picture, or for compressing and storing it? My cheap digital camera takes a while to process a picture and get ready for another, but it does capture the moment in time when I pressed the button.

An SLR camera has an inherent delay built into it because the mirror has to move out of the way before the shutter can activate. A digital SLR shouldn't be much different -- except for the delay in compressing and storing a picture before it's ready for another picture.

In theory, a Digital SLR should be able to take more frames-per-second than the same body in 35MM format with a motor drive. In practice, I'm not sure whether that's the case.

2. Most of the cameras I've looked at are 6 megapixel. There are non-SLR digital cameras in my price range that are 8 megapixles. Is the gain of 2 megapixles with the loss of versatility of lens options?

If the primary reason you're thinking of upgrading is for the versatility of interchangeable lenses then the extra 2MPx isn't going to satsify your need.

When it comes to Megapixels, ask yourself what you plan to do with the pictures.

My sister has a camera that takes absolutely beautiful pictures, but they're nearly a meg in size and totally unsuitable for sharing via e-mail or viewing on-screen at most peoples' normal resolution of 800x600. She used the camera in her real estate business, but very rarely prints a picture bigger than 5x7 inches for a brochure cover. IMHO, her camera has way more megapixels than are required for what she uses it for because the pictures have to be "reduced" for most of them.

I don't think you'd miss the extra 33% resolution over a 6 MPx camera, but you WILL miss the versatility of interchangeable lenses.

 

[bsbrian]

Thanks for the advice!

Hey everyone.

Thanks for all the advice!

Watergirl - That's a great idea to go by Best Buy to try them out. I didn't even think about it. That's always the problem with buying something online ... The price may be nice, but you don't get to try it first.

Sparky2 - Welcome to the boards! I think it's the shutter lag that's driving me nuts with my G1. I half-press the button to get it into focus and after that's done I press it the rest of the way to snap the picture. It's after that last half-push that I notice to lag.

Thanks for the info on the 8 MP sensors. I can easily get caught up in the techie "more is better" and didn't realize the differences in sensor quality.

Wierd Harold - I think sparky2 hit the nail on the head about the delay. I think it's shutter lag. I know what you're talking about on the "taking the time to compress the image" issue. My G1 doesn't seem to have a problem there, I just lose some pictures because because the dog/cat turns their head after I had already pressed the shutter button.

I think you're right that I'd miss the interchangeable lenses. The lens on my G1 is has been a limitation on pictures I've wanted to take.

Thanks for the responses. I appreciate all the input. I've got a little more research to do and some more money to save, but hopefully before too much longer I'll have a new camera.

bsbrian

 

[TirelessTongue]

When choosing a digital camera, remember that.......

Optical Zoom > Digital zoom

And the more optical zoom, the better. My camera has a 10X optical zoom. I've never had to use my digital zoom, and never will.

Happy shopping.

 

[Weird Harold]

Re: Thanks for the advice!

Wierd Harold - I think sparky2 hit the nail on the head about the delay. I think it's shutter lag. I know what you're talking about on the "taking the time to compress the image" issue. My G1 doesn't seem to have a problem there, I just lose some pictures because because the dog/cat turns their head after I had already pressed the shutter button.

I think you're right that I'd miss the interchangeable lenses. The lens on my G1 is has been a limitation on pictures I've wanted to take.

It does sound like Sparky2 knows what he's talking about and it sounds like you need to take note of how fast the auto-focus is funtion on the cameras you consider -- and how easy it will be to disable it when you're doing something with depth-of-field where you don't WANT the camera changing the focus on you.

I'm more and more convinced that modern cameras are far too smart to be useful to anyone who actually want to indulge in Photography instead of just taking snapshots.

 

[sparky2]

If you buy a DSLR you have to think about investing some more in equipment or else it's like you get the ultimate computer but play average games on it. If you buy a DSLR you have to get a fast enough CF (Compact Flash) for your camera because a DSLR is very fast! Both in writing on the card and in focusing. But you have to get a really good CF of at least 512 MB... then you would have to get a tripod (i hope i spelled it right, english is my 2nd language)... Good luck!

 

[sirmed]

from a Pro... of 20 years..... Look at the Canon 10 d.. lenes change and cmos is sharper but more expensive.. but the size in relation to 35mm is the same..... If you want to jump ship..

Look at the Fuji.S2 or S3.... both on the Nikon frame and have superCCD.. in the 8 mega pix
range.....
he is right the bigger the files the slower the computer runs.....

look at that option also../

 

[bsbrian]

Thanks for the suggestions sirmed. I'll have to check out those cameras as well. I guess I have some research to do on these cameras. Hopefully I'll get the chance to do my checking and be back with more questions by the end of the weekend.

Thanks to everyone for being so helpful so far!

bsbrian

 

[Arden]

I bought an Olympus C750 last November, and love it. While it's not an SLR (which was what I wanted) it has 10x zoom, manual and auto modes, different lenses available with adaptors, and a hot shoe for external flash. It's about as close as you can get to a digital SLR without emptying your bank account. I believe this model has been replaced by the C765 or C770 at this point.

The clarity of the pictures is wonderful, I can choose from 4 different resolutions. The only downfall of a 10x zoom is that you need to use a tripod for the pics when you push the zoom to it's limits. If you hold it in your hands and move a fraction of an inch, you lose detail. I have a standard tripod that I've had for decades, and bought a tabletop tripod at K-Mart for about $8.00. Both serve their purpose.

Shutter lag seems to be standard with most that I researched, but I rarely use it for rapid shooting, as they do with modeling or sports coverage. The video mode is more than adequate too, great detail.

My other camera is a '79 Canon A-1. It's so heavy that I have a hard time carrying it around my neck these days.

When you do make a decision on which camera to buy, be sure to search for the best prices online. You might try Froogle.com. I paid hundreds less than msrp. I bought accessories and cards from two other sources, but even with shipping came out better than if I'd bought all of them from one place.

Good luck with your search!

 

[car nut]

edited.....