I know fuckall about digital cameras...

[Lisa]

Been looking in all the catalogues that have been dropped in my letterbox (which normally I hate but are very handy when you actually want to BUY something).

There are several cameras in my price range, with different features, and I'm not sure what I should be looking for.

Do I want more optical zoom or higher megapixels? Is digital zoom relevant at all?

Apart from the promised tit pics, it will mainly be used for taking pics of the kids, and extended family, with some scenery/nature type stuff I guess...but not a lot, mainly people pics. I'll also be trying for one with 'movie mode', if I can get one.

Any help much appreciated. :)

[Dravyk]

Digitial zoom is definitely helpful. It's a common feature nowadays on the cameras and often goes both ways, back towards 35 or 50 as a wider angle, and of course the other way as a telephoto.

I'd say you want no less than 4 megapixels. Though others may say 5 or get as many as you can, I've found anything beyond is really overkill, IMHO. I have to resize mine down 1/4 tp 1/5 just to get them to 800x600 pixels.

Movies ... I'll have to leave that to someone else. Mine just has a short clips feature and I haven't had reason to try it out yet.

[Lisa]

Seems like I have to trade off optical zoom for megapixels...or vice versa, in the cameras I've been looking at.

So that's really my question...if it's a choice between say 3x optical zoom and 5.0 megapixels, or 6x optical zoom and 4.1 megapixels...which do I want?

[Trev]

Mkay... just one more post before bed:


WTF?!?!?

Can you please speak human at least? :blink: :scratchin

[Lisa]

Trev, if I understood what I was saying, I'd translate. :)

[Dravyk]

Can you please speak human at least? http://oprano.com/msgboard/images/smilies/blink.gif http://oprano.com/msgboard/images/smilies/scratchinghead.gif I thought you were the Linux-touting, Raptor-knowing geek boy?! Sheeeesh! http://oprano.com/msgboard/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Trev]

Trev, if I understood what I was saying, I'd translate. :)
So it's not just me.... obviously not or you wouldn't have started a thread. ;)




Drav... Can we get an english breakdown for us non knowing disposable camera group please :)

[Dravyk]

Seems like I have to trade off optical zoom for megapixels...or vice versa, in the cameras I've been looking at.

So that's really my question...if it's a choice between say 3x optical zoom and 5.0 megapixels, or 6x optical zoom and 4.1 megapixels...which do I want? You made me get out my user guide and actually read it. http://oprano.com/msgboard/images/smilies/smile.gif

Let's see I have a Cannon PowerShot A95, 5 megapixels, 4.1x digital (with a combined 12X with the optical.) Sounds like what I have is right in the middle of what you're talking about.

I can tell you the telephoto is amazing on this. It goes waaaay farther than the old days when I had a 200mm zoom lens I bought extra for my old "analog" SLR.

So between your example of 5.0 megapixels with 3X zoom and 4.1 megapixels and 6X zoom .... I'd suggest go with the 5 megapixels, because a 3X zoom is plenty, and a 6X is probably overkill, unless you want to take a closeup of the other side of the soccer field or the tops of trees.

In other words, I'd take the one up in pixels as opposed to the one with twice the zoom.

[Trev]

I thought you were the Linux-touting, Raptor-knowing geek boy?! Sheeeesh! http://oprano.com/msgboard/images/smilies/tongue.gif
You have me confused with the new Oprano manho, I don't use linux or tout it as it's software that I don't like on a user machine, I'll take it on a server erverytime though :)

Plus the Raptor drive is hardware ;)

[Dravyk]

You have me confused with the new Oprano manho All you Limeys look alike. http://oprano.com/msgboard/images/smilies/tongue.gif


Plus the Raptor drive is hardware http://oprano.com/msgboard/images/smilies/wink.gif So's a camera, you ding-dong! http://oprano.com/msgboard/images/smilies/fish0111.gif

[Newton]

You have me confused with the new Oprano manho, I do use linux as well :)

You Rang! lol

[Red]

I don't understand anything about digital cameras either, but reading all this tech talk is getting me...well, frankly, a little excited.


It's either that or Newton answering to manho. :yowsa:

[DrGuile]

Digital zoom is useless. Optical is the only zoom that matters.

You can "digital zoom" once the picture is taken all you want, with better result, in photoshop.


Megapixel is important only if you want to print to photo paper. If it's all to stay on the computer, i'd say 4 is plenty... If it's to print, well it all depend how big you want it printed to.

Hope you get something you like.

Dont forget, if it's to carry and such, size and weight comes into play. A camera is not very usefull if you leave it home because it's too much trouble.

[Newton]

Digital zoom is useless. Optical is the only zoom that matters.

You can "digital zoom" once the picture is taken all you want, with better result, in photoshop.


Megapixel is important only if you want to print to photo paper. If it's all to stay on the computer, i'd say 4 is plenty... If it's to print, well it all depend how big you want it printed to.

Hope you get something you like.

Dont forget, if it's to carry and such, size and weight comes into play. A camera is not very usefull if you leave it home because it's too much trouble.

Excellent post and spot on ;)

[Lisa]

Ok I couldn't wait any longer...and went shopping (and missed DrGuile's post...unfortunately).

I got a Konica Minolta...5mp, 3x optical zoom...takes video clips. I do want to be able to print to paper, so despite not having more zoom, I'm pretty happy with the 5mp.

By batting my eyelashes at the salesman, I managed to get thrown in a 256mb memory card, carry case, and a battery charger which will charge 4 batteries in 1.5 hours, and can be plugged into the car.

I am one excited girl right now...tho I haven't quite figured out how to use it yet (including the bit about getting the pics from camera to puter).

I'll play over the next day and by the time the kids go to their dad's tomorrow night, I should be able to produce the promised pics. :)

Nick...thank you! :)

[Sin]

I don't understand anything about digital cameras either, but reading all this tech talk is getting me...well, frankly, a little excited.


It's either that or Newton answering to manho. :yowsa:

I have a digital camera, it works, that's about all I need to know about them ;)

I'd say it was the Newton answering to manho that gave me my thrills for the night. I'll definitely have sweet dreams now! lol