Camera & Camcorders
 

Anyone have an opinion on best digital & camcorder? Want easy use, medium priced and want to get distance with both. Thank you Mutt

Most digital cameras have movie capabilities now and with a big memory card, you may not need both.

I love my new digital camera - Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1. 5 megapixel, with a 10x optical zoom with image stabliization. Doesn't have the shutter lag that my old digital camera had.

BarbaraS has the right idea. Long zoom (optical zoom) and image stabilization. The newer cameras have much better 'recovery' (faster second shot) capabilities. Don't know about the 'medium price' requirement. Look at Steve's Digicam web site for some good ideas and you can choose the price range: http://www.steves-digicams.com/ Also would look for one with 'burst' capabilities. Great for those action shots.

a more specific web address: http://www.steves-digicams.com/best_cameras.html
Look at the various categories and then at specific recommendations.

In that niche, look at the new Canon S3. 6 mega pixels, 12 optical zoom, good picture quality.

You can point and shoot, or do some very sophisticated things.

Keith

I think that's the next generation of my Canon S1 (and S2). It is a GREAT camera and the rotateable LCD monitor is just a terrific feature.

If I was going to buy a new camera, I would get a Canon S2 IS. There is an S3, as others have mentioned, so you can prolly get the S2 for a bit less now.

What do you mean by medium priced? I have a Canon Rebel XT that takes excellent (8-megapixel) pictures. It's around $700-800 on beachcamera.com. I use it for my wedding phtoography and for travel pictures.

If you want a cheaper point-and-shoot, the Olympus Stylus Epic is my personal favorite. The picture quality is awesome -- the color saturation is amazing -- and it even takes video with audio.

I'm seconding BarbaraS' recommendation for the Panasonic Lumix... I just bought one in NYC for $299, plus $35 for a 1 gig memory card (J&R Camera - check out their website). I love the results, it's very easy to use and doesn't have the shutter lag I hated so much with my old camera. I've taken a lot of short videos too, with sound! It's very small and light. I bought it on the advice of a very high-tech knowledgeable friend. Highly recommended for travel!

Most newer models have overcome the lag problem. The LUmix does have a Leica lens--not an inconsiderable point.
I think the Canon S2 could be a great buy.
As for "color saturation" of the Stylus, it's digital, yes.
Video with audio--or even stills with audio are possible with the Canon--and lots of others. Even my original 1MP Kodak--that cost as much as the Rebel mentioned--at the time!! How times have changed.

I considered the older S2, but it was only about 10% cheaper.

Keith

Gretchen,
You say "As for 'color saturation' of the Stylus, it's digital, yes" as though every digital camera has equal color saturation. I've used Sony digitals before that come out flat as far as colors go, whereas I've been consistently impressed with the Stylus. Ditto my friend's Canon Powershot -- always seems to take gorgeous pics.

Interesting you would mention Sony and then Canon. One recommendation I make when talking about digitals is to get one that actually made real cameras--not just computers. The lens does make a difference. As in the Panasonic Lumix--a Leica lens. Not too shabby.

Gretchen -- I've found exactly the same thing! After our first set of pictures with the Sony my husband and I wondered why on earth we bought a camera from an audio company. :) Sold it almost immediately and bought the Olympus. Mutt, a good general rule -- opt for a camera made by a camera company.

To alleviate your concerns, Sony has purchased KonicaMinolta's camera business in April. So, you cannot complain that Sony isn't a camera company anymore, though their current camera products are not developed by KonicaMinolta. Just not yet.

topping for Pat2003.

Since this thread has been revived, I'd add that Sony has released their first Konica/Minolta-based dSLR - the Alpha a100. Go read about it in magazines. Very competitive in price and features when compared to Canon's Digital Rebel XT or Nikon D70.