[WinsOBoogi]

Well, I think it's about time that I buy a digital camera, no?

Imagine that..I can take as many pictures that I want and not have to pay for developing

And, I can actually use iPhoto...imagine that...iPhoto.

Now, I'm a poor college student, so I probably won't have more than $250-$270 for the budget. Obviously, I'm investigating to find the best digital camera for that price.

So, I need your help

What should I be looking out for in terms of features? What brands are the best? Is thereany specific model that anyone would recommend?

Thanks guys..I know that I cna count on you to help me out here.

-Brad

[Sander]

A digital camera is a great idea. I don't know about other models but I can tell you about mine. I have the Fujifilm FinePix A201. It's 2.0 Mega Pixels and comes with a 16MB SmartMedia card. I paid $350 Cdn so it should be less than $200 US.

So, I took some random test pictures and connected it with my iBook with the supplied USB cable and immediately iPhoto lauched and I was able to import all the pictures. (A hard drive icon also appears on the desktop so you can transfer your pics maunally.)

The camera comes with drivers, viewing and editing software (for Mac) but I didn't even need to install anything thanks to iPhoto. I use OS 10.1.4. It's so easy to use that I take pictures way more often. Plus, with iTools, I can make photo album homepages in less than 10 minutes. Really. My friends are always impressed how quickly I get party photos online. (This is when I start talking about how great Macs are and they slowly back away...)

The camera also can take a 20 second video with no sound. I haven't used that yet but I imagine it will come in handy one day.

Check out the Fujifilm website for further details such as digital zoom and the exact size of the LCD screen on the back. I like it very much.

I hope this helps a little.

Cheers.

[Max8319]

you can find ALL digital camera reviews at www.dpreview.com

also, take a look at the iphoto compatibility page. that'd be a good starting place. of coarse, you can use a media reader, but that's an extra $20-$30

unfortunatley, i got my camera 3 or 4 weeks ago and had to get a media reader becuase it was supported by iphoto. welp, iphoto 1.1 DOES support it so i have an extra media reader that i'll never need again

oh well. sh!t happens

[Paul S]

I have been very happy with Kodaks cameras. Many of my friends have them too. The DX3600 is a nice choice.

Hey.

I've been doing some research on buying my first digital camera too. I'm looking for sub $300 and at least 2 megapixels.

I think I've finally settled on the Canon Powershot S330 (also known as the IXUS 330 abroad). Review here.

Why? Well, it has 3x optical zoom, which was the minimum I'd settle for. Probably preaching to the converted, but digital zoom is a fancy way of saying "cropping". It also has a great deal of manual control. I don't really know that much about photography, but am interested in learning and being able to experiment. The manual mode on the Powershot allows you to set the shutter to be open for 15 seconds! Which I'm eagerly looking forward to using for fireworks, creepy cemetary pics, and just gettin' all arty.

Mac compatibility looks good, it is OSX compliant (though apparently not all features), and fully 9.x compliant. I dunno about iPhoto compatibility, as I'm just using Classic on my iceBook (10 gigs wasn't enough for two OSes and everything else). It does look like it can be mounted as a drive though, so ya don't hafta use their propietary software or iPhoto.

My "features to look out for" include:
Optical zoom: at least 3x
Macro (can take extreme close-ups, like inches)
Some degree of manual control (the more the better)
Smartcard or Compactflash (no floppies, mini-cds, etc.)
USB (pretty much universal)
Decent pictures (www.dpreview.com has EXCELLENT reviews including in-depth picture analysis)

Hope this helps, and good luck! There's a lotta info to wade through and a balancing act between features to decide on.

splode

[Chazzmandu]

Brad,
Take a look at the new KODAK EASYSHARE LS420. http://www.kodak.com/global/en/digit...20/ls420.jhtml

I just got mine at Best Buy.
. Pocket-size
. 2.1 megapixels (niiiice pictures)
. Video with sound
. 16 MB internal memory
. 3X digital zoom

Also Includes:
. Camera Dock, which transfers your pictures SEAMLESSLY into iPhoto AND keeps the Li-Ion battery charged. I have yet to get a low-battery signal - it just keeps going!
. Cables
. Software
. Case
. Strap

Everyone who sees mine wants one. It's the perfect size, takes great pictures, and is really easy to use. I've never taken so many pictures in my life!

Hope this helps. Happy hunting! Come back if you have questions.

[G4ME]

I have been having my eye out for a nice digital camera and that Cannon S330 looks reall nice, I got a chance to use one at Best buy and Circit City, very soild. But whats the differance between the S330 and the S300? or the S110?

[zythemac]

Man, you can't beat the Minolta S404, especially for the price. It wasn't listed on Apple's site, but works great with OS X and iPhoto. It's 4MP with a 4x optical zoom. Got it from Amazon for $475 - no tax or shipping. Also got a 128MB card from them or $45. They say get as many MP as you can, and it's hard to pass up 4MP for that price. Check out the reviews at Amazon too - all 5 stars. Beautiful pics! The only thing with this camera is that you would want to get some rechargable AA nickel batteries. You can get a Rayovac set-up at Home Depot for about $30.

[rambo47]

I love my Nikon Coolpix 885, but the $500 price tag is above your threshold. Maybe the Coolpix 775 is closer. Seemless intergration with iPhoto is fabulous, battery life is good, and the picture quallity is outstanding for an amateur photographer. I place a high value on ease of use, and the Coolpix 885 gives me that, plus 3.2 megapixels resolution.

[Leia's Right Bun]

The Fuji's stink.

The Nicon 775 is very small and the best in its class. Apple even pushes them at the Apple Stores.

I love my 775.

[Footy]

I'll agree with this one. I just bought it last night. I went into Best Buy with an idea of what I wanted. The Kodak reps were there and did a good job of confusing me. I had made the dicision to buy the DX 3500 over the LS420 (I don't know why, cause the LS420 is probable the better choice) but they didn't have one. So, I go to CompUSA to look for the DX but see that CompUSA is offering a free 32MB card with the LS. Made the decision easy. I bought the LS420 and glad I did. Very nice setup with this camera, small with good options.

Go with the LS420 if you looking to spend around $300. And if you can get to a CompUSA today I think the free memory offer is good thru today.

Very happy with the purchase.

lloyd

Originally posted by Chazzmandu:
<STRONG>Brad,
Take a look at the new KODAK EASYSHARE LS420. http://www.kodak.com/global/en/digit...20/ls420.jhtml

I just got mine at Best Buy.
. Pocket-size
. 2.1 megapixels (niiiice pictures)
. Video with sound
. 16 MB internal memory
. 3X digital zoom

Also Includes:
. Camera Dock, which transfers your pictures SEAMLESSLY into iPhoto AND keeps the Li-Ion battery charged. I have yet to get a low-battery signal - it just keeps going!
. Cables
. Software
. Case
. Strap

Everyone who sees mine wants one. It's the perfect size, takes great pictures, and is really easy to use. I've never taken so many pictures in my life!

Hope this helps. Happy hunting! Come back if you have questions.</STRONG>

[Ken_F2]

WinOBoogie,

I've tried all the recent models from Kodak and Canon...the Canon's are definitely the better camera.

The Canon S330 is great as a pocket camera that will fit in your pants pocket without causing too noticeable a bulge. The S400 is also a nice compact; it's also among the fastest cameras available as far as the autofocus, actual taking of the picture, etc. Both have integrated lense covers, so you don't have to worry about constantly refitting a lense cover to protect against fingerprints, dust, etc.

I personally use the Canon G2 as my main camera, in good part for its excellent battery life. It gets me nearly four hours of battery life while switched with the LCD, which is &gt;50% more battery life than all other cameras mentioned in this thread. Thus, there's no need to run home and stick the battery into the recharger every few days, or even every week.

Whatever camera you get, the bundled CompactFlash card probably won't be sufficient for serious use. Get yourself one of the 256Mb cards from either Kingston or Viking. If you are on a strict budget, I suppose a 128Mb card would suffice. Some of the no-name cards will substantially increase the time it takes to save pictures [that you've taken] to the camera, as well as the time to read the pictures off the camera or card. As Dpreview illustrated in its review, some of the popular CompactFlash cards take nearly twice as long to save images, and load images to a Mac/PC, as do those from the like of Kingston and Viking.

Have you all seen the Kodak digital picture frames? They were discontinued, but can still be found on ebay in the like. It looks like a standard picture frame, but rotates among the 640x480 images that you store in the frame. My mom is soooo going to love it for Mother's day.

[Eug]

I go with a 2 MP Canon or something.

Just don't plan on getting serious usage out of iPhoto. The camera will work fine with it, but the program is too rudimentary.

[ 05-11-2002: Message edited by: Eug ]

[G4ME]

That cannon S330 still is the best for me, its great size, and style, thats why I bought a mac right?

[G-mac]

I too am in the search for a digicam. I want one that will last a few years and provide the ease of use and features that allow a total amateur (maybe not even amateur yet) to get decent photos.

After months of looking around, I think I'll end up with either a Nikon, Canon, or Olympus - whichever has better deals within the next month or so. The Canon Elphs & A40, Olympus D520 & D550 Zoom, and Nikon Coolpix 775 are at the top of my wish list. They're all sturdy, small, and popular with the majority of internet and magazine reviewers. I was also advised to stick with a digicam maker who specializes in cameras since they tend to use better lenses, etc. The Fuji 2600 also seems to be a very nice camera, but they're hard to find around here.

I'd go to a local shop and try out the cameras - some of them just don't feel good in your hands or have a cheap, creaky feel to them. You ultimately need one that suits your feature list as well your hands.

[mgl]

I went with the Canon A40 ($300 plus I bought a 32MB CF card to replace the 8MB card it came with) because:

- I liked the physical size, feel in my hands, etc. It just felt natural and it felt like a camera, rather than a gizmo.

- It has a decent user interface on it. I spent 5 minutes reading the manual and then tossed it aside. I'm never going to use the advanced features. Turning on and off red-eye is as advanced as I will ever get.

- It was good quality (1600x1200) for the money.

- Reviewers seem to think the equivalent Sony model goes through batteries more quickly.

I've been very pleased so far. I've taken lots of pictures and synched with iPhoto many times.

My only complaint is that the pause between the time I want to take a picture and the time the picture is taken is too long (at least when taking pictures of my cats ;-). I know this is a problem with many digital cameras and the reviewers point it out as very serious with some cameras but not with the A40.

[edheaded]

I too am looking for a digital camera but I'm going for the cheap & cheerful. I was looking at the l'espion but it's just not good enough. The new sipix blink looks very good but isn't Mac compatible. I've also been told that Virtual PC won't deal with it. So... does anyone else know of a small, cheap camera or a way to get the blink working?

[msykes]

I've got a Canon S100 (precursor to S110, which preceded the S200), and I love it. As a few other people have mentioned, the size (ie small) of these cameras makes them perfect for me.

Honestly, if I could not fit the camera easily in my pocket, I would never take it anywhere, and would never use it. The mere fact that I can carry it with me means it gets used an awful lot. Picture quality tends to be pretty good -&gt; great (maybe I should read the manual to help), battery like okay, zoom not quite enough.

The 330, with the better zoom and only slightly larger size may well be a better choice if you plan on shooting anything that isn't close up to you.

[FXWizard]

I've got the Canon S30 and am very happy with it.

Rather than getting one big CF card (or whatever storage meda the camera you purchase uses), I'd recommend getting a couple of smaller ones -- that way if something goes wrong with the media you won't necessarily lose all your photos you taken, just the ones on that piece of media.

Also, I found that if I try to import more than 150 images into iPhoto it would crash on me (although I haven't tried it with the latest version), so I used Image Capture to bring the pictures into my Mac and then brought them into iPhoto with no problems.

[ 05-15-2002: Message edited by: FXWizard ]

[G4ME]

Well I did took the plunge and got the Canon S330 from outpost.com and will get it tomarrow, love their overnight, only 11 bucks, I also got a Kingston 256MB card for only 130 shipping included, I hope I will love it.